The Logical Blog by IconLogic

Articulate Storyline 360: Emphasis Animations

Articulate updated Storyline 360 to include interactive emphasis animation effects like pulsing, shaking, and teetering.

To get the latest build, start Articulate 360 and install the update. Once installed, you'll be working with Storyline build 3.84.31647.0.

Create or open a Storyline project and insert an image onto a slide. In the example below, I inserted a cute puppy from the Content Library.

Select the image and, on the Animations tab, click Add Emphasis Animation.

There are currently five emphasis animations: Pulse, Grow, Shrink, Shake, and Teeter. I selected Shake.

Once the emphasis animation has been applied, you'll have some options. For instance, I've set the Shake amount to Medium.

Then I set the animation's Duration.

A trigger is added to the Triggers window. Double-clicking the trigger offers the ability to edit the trigger as appropriate.

I published the sample emphasis project and uploaded it to my web server. The interaction is very subtle, which I like. You can see it here.

If you're looking for Storyline help, we offer virtual training, mentoring, and development support. Send me an email and let's discuss your needs.

Adobe Captivate: Customizing Quiz Question Feedback

I love the quizzing functionality in the new Adobe Captivate (version 12.2) and find it superior to Adobe Captivate Classic. However, editing the question feedback in Classic was easier and more straightforward. In Classic, you edit the question feedback directly on the slide. In the new Captivate, the process for editing the feedback captions isn't so easy.

First, insert a Captivate question slide by clicking Create New Slide and selecting a question type.

In the example below, I'm using a multiple-choice quiz question and settling the age-old debate about the world's greatest breakfast cereal.

In Captivate Classic, you can specify a correct answer directly on the slide. It's super easy. In the new Captivate, you first need to click Select answer on the Visual properties to select the correct answer.

On the slide, now you can specify the correct answer by clicking to the left of the answer (this part is just like Classic). To set the answer, click Done. I've made the only correct answer in the example below: Cap'n Crunch.

If you preview the slide and answer the question, you'll see feedback captions for an incorrect or correct answer. In the example below, I've answered incorrectly. The default feedback is That's incorrect! Click anywhere or press 'y' to continue.

I'd like to customize the feedback. When I mentioned things being muddy earlier, this is what I mean. Remember, in Classic, the feedback can immediately be edited onscreen. In the new Captivate, muddy means there's no obvious way to edit the feedback. Where are those pesky captions?  Read on, and I'll clear things up for you.

On the Visual properties, Components area, click Show.

At the top of the slide, you'll see the green correct feedback area. But there's no obvious place to edit the content. This is where you'll need to modify states--a process very different than Captivate Classic.

Select the feedback area at the top of the question slide to display the States panel. There are states for a correct answer, an incorrect answer, and a message for an incomplete answer. In the example below, I've selected the Correct state and, onscreen customized the feedback message.

In the example below, I've selected the Incorrect state and customized the incorrect feedback message.

And here is what the slide looks like when previewing.

If you need help with Adobe Captivate, we offer Captivate development services, training, and one-on-one mentoring. Send me an email ([email protected]) or give me a call at 888.812.4827

Adobe Captivate: Export and Import Themes

Themes in Adobe Captivate 12 allow you to control such project attributes as colors, fonts, image presets, slide background colors, and UI components, including buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, input fields, and drop-downs.

You can edit a project's existing theme, export the settings, and import the theme into any Adobe Captivate 12.2 (or newer) project.

To begin, click the Project properties icon from the lower right of the Captivate window.

Click the Edit Theme button.

Select a category (such as Color Palette) from the left side of the Themes window.

Once you have finished editing the categories, click Export. You can save the file anywhere, even a network resource.

To use the exported theme in a new Captivate project, click the Project properties icon and then click Import.

Your theme is now available for use. Click the Change Theme button on the Project properties screen and select the imported theme. You can select the imported theme as the default theme by clicking the three dots and choosing Set as default.

If you're looking for Adobe Captivate 12 training, we've got you covered with this hands-on, project based vILT Captivate course.