The Logical Blog by IconLogic

ADOBE CAPTIVATE: Continue Playing Project Option

by Lori Smith, COTP

I’ve been teaching and developing projects in Adobe Captivate for years. My particular area of strength is advanced actions. Just when I think I know everything about Captivate, a seemingly teeny, tiny option gets added by the Adobe engineers and I end up looking silly. 

 

Standard Actions, such as Show can be used to easily show a hidden object. The problem is that the project will continue playing after the action occurs (after the shape appears). If you wanted something else to happen while the learner is still on the slide (perhaps another object appearing), it’s too late because the learner has automatically been taken to the next slide after the hidden object appeared. 

 

To get around the problem in the past, you needed to create an advanced action that showed the hidden object instead of using a standard action. Why would you need an advanced action for something so simple? Because the Continue Playing Project behavior does not automatically occur with advanced actions like it did with standard actions.

 

That was so yesterday! There is now one of those teeny, tiny deals I mentioned earlier on the Properties inspector: a simple checkbox on the Actions tab labeled Continue Playing the Project. It is checked by default so if you use a standard action to show an object, you’ll still end up on the next slide. However, if you want to keep the learner on the current slide, all you have to do is deselect Continue Playing the Project. (In the simple scenario I mentioned above, there’s no longer a need to create the advanced action.)

 

 

The Continue Playing the Project checkbox originally appeared in Captivate 9. I missed it. In prior versions, it wasn’t possible to stop a project from continuing to play if you used a standard action. Because Continue Playing the Project is selected by default in both Captivate 9 and 2017, it’s an easy option to overlook, especially if you’ve been developing in Captivate for years like me. 

 

Though the Continue Playing the Project option means that you no longer need to create an advanced action for the behavior I’ve described above, you will still need to create advanced actions if you want an interactive object to perform multiple actions once clicked. If advanced actions have you a bit intimidated, join me for my Captivate Variable and Action Deep Dive series. The 101 class starts with the basics. As we move through 201, 301, and 401, we will continue to build your skills and practice with Captivate Variables and Advanced Actions.

 

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Lori Smith, COTP, is IconLogic's lead programmer and Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Captivate. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT as well as a Master’s in electrical engineering from George Mason University. She has been working in the field of software engineering for more than 20 years.  During that time she worked as an embedded software engineer at Raytheon (E-Systems) and ARINC.

 

 

Online Training: Learn to teach live, online classes on just about any subject!

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Stay Current or Perish

by Kevin Smith, COTP

Not that many years ago, computer technicians were limited to being just that: computer technicians. They installed memory chips (RAM), replaced hard drives, changed video cards, and instructed users on how to use these new and mysterious machines

 

As user confidence increased, the PC technician’s knowledge requirements grew horizontally but at a much more rapid pace. How did the technology support industry keep up? They added more technicians and in doing so added industry certifications.

 

Every product or service that enters the marketplace requires technical sales, installation, user training, product repair and service, ongoing support (help desk), upgrade services, and update training. In addition, every technical product has an end of life, and its disposition can also be the responsibility of the PC technician.

 

Without turning this article into a lecture or a history lesson, you need only look back 10 years and compare the technologies then to what’s available today. Nothing is the same. And, what about new technologies? The best technician who changed fields or retired 10 years ago would require a technology skills update if re-entering the field today or run the risk of being left behind (or perhaps unable to find employment).

 

Take a glimpse into the future via this YouTube link about Microsoft HoloLens. The systems and devices shown in the video require technical sales, installation, configuration, training, support, and upgrades.

 

With all the new technologies along with the existing ones, it is education, training, and maintaining your skill level that makes the IT Technician such a valuable component in the industry. When called, will you be ready to meet these new challenges?

 

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Looking for IT training? Check out our live, hands-on, online classes.

 

***

Kevin Smith is a service veteran and has been teaching the CompTIA A+ Certification prep course since 1999. He has served CompTIA as an A+ Subject Matter Expert for several versions of the A+ examination. Kevin, who is the author and publisher of the “A+ Study Hall’ electronic courseware, which includes practice testing, received his A+ Certification in 1997 while owning a small computer service company. 

 

Kevin is a graduate of the SUNY Buffalo system, holds the CompTIA A+ Certification, and is a Certified Online Training Professional (COTP) with the International Council for Certified Online Training Professionals (ICCOTP).

ADOBE CAPTIVATE: Free Troubleshooting Guide for Screen Recording Issues

Both Jennie Ruby and I have been teaching Adobe Captivate onsite and online for years (you can see our huge Captivate course lineup on the IconLogic website). During class, there are a few issues that routinely occur. Have any of these happened to you?

• You can’t see the red recording area/can’t make it snap to your application.
  
  
• When you record in Training and Assessment mode, you get no interactivity and no captions.
  
  
• When you try to record, you get an error saying something about high-density monitors.
  
  
• You're on a Mac and you're having trouble recording. (You get an error message, get no captions when you record, etc.)
  
  
• Your application menus open outside of the area of your application, and therefore don’t get recorded.

You'll be happy to know that Jennie put together a troubleshooting guide that you can use to work through any or all of the issues mentioned above. You can download the guide for free from IconLogic's eLearning Resources page.

eLEARNING: The Struggle for Online Attention

by Karin Rex, COTP

Which of the following statements do you think are true?

 

A. By 2019, 80% of ALL web traffic will be video.

 

B. 64% of customers say they are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. 

 

C. 59% of decision-makers would rather watch a video than read a blog or article.

 

If you said all three, you are correct (Source: Hubspot, 2017). 

 

The impact of video is astounding... and growing! Whiteboard videos have proven to be especially attention-getting as they allow a story to unfold in front of your eyes on a blank canvas.

 

Why Whiteboard Animation Works

 

Whiteboard animation, or scribing, is a novel take on video that has been proven to be three times more likely to be shared than a talking head video. Scribing brings a message to life through visual metaphors, captivating the viewer and holding attention until the last scene plays out. Why?

 

Viewer Completion. One of the secrets of video scribing is the concept known to artists as “viewer completion.” When you see two circles and a curved lined, your mind instantly jumps to the conclusion that you’re seeing a human face. Your brain fills in the details, completing the image.

 

Viewer Anticipation. Scribe videos also kindle viewer anticipation by inviting the brain to speculate about what is being drawn. Anticipation creates surprise which then rewards the brain with dopamine. Viewer anticipation helps explain how mesmerizing whiteboard videos can be–it can be tough to tear your eyes away from them.

 

Scribes are Judged Differently

 

If you’ve ever tried to make your own professional video, you know how difficult it is to produce anything that resembles what a high-price videographer using professional equipment can create. The visual simplicity of whiteboard animations puts them in a category of their own and lets them be judged differently. On top of that, with today’s software, anybody can learn how to make a professional-looking scribe.

 

Watching a scribe is an immersive experience, which gives them great staying power. A scribe reveals information gradually, sparking curiosity and allowing information to be processed one small chunk at a time. When viewer anticipation and viewer completion kick in, the message is processed at a deeper level and the message is more likely to be retained. 

 

The Data

 

Cognitive psychologist Richard E. Mayer established that combining images with a voiceover to be the most effective way of communicating information – 50-75% better, in fact. Three groups were studied:

 

• Group 1 listened to the content. 
• Group 2 watched the content. 
• Group 3 listened and watched the content simultaneously. 

 

The result was kind of a no-brainer: those in the Group 3 had more accurate recall and retained the information longer.

 

Mayer’s research also concluded that people learn best when corresponding words and pictures are presented closely together; people learn better from animation and narration than from animation and onscreen text, and people learn better when extraneous material is not included. (In other words, the simpler the better.) Does that sound familiar? These are pretty much the central principles of video scribing!

 

Scribe vs. Talking Head

 

Sparkol, makers of VideoScribe, sent 1,000 people a whiteboard animation and another 1,000 people a talking head video, both of which used the same audio file and provided the same content (a business coach making a pitch for new clients). After watching, viewers answered a set of questions that tested their comprehension, retention, enjoyment, and inclination to respond positively to the pitch. 

 

The scribe video outperformed the talking head video in all tests.

 

Those who had seen the scribe performed better in four out of five memory tests. The scribe was three times more likely to be shared and more than twice as likely to be recommended. Twice as many scribe viewers said they would buy the service. The scribe video came out on top in all age brackets and for both sexes. 

 

Examples

 

To see scribing in action, check out a few of these examples:

 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkahn9v81k8
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKlgn-yDBQc
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcft5B1c-JE

And here's a sample video that I created with VideoScribe to promote my IconLogic class: Whiteboard Animation with VideoScribe.

Learn to Mesmerize

There’s something mesmerizing about a drawing coming to life. People are drawn to scribe videos like a crowd gathering around a portrait artist at the fair. In my new three-hour intensive course, you will learn to tell your first story using VideoScribe.

 

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Geeky Girl Karin Rex is an online learning pioneer and whiteboard animation evangelist. Since 1989, Karin has owned Geeky Girl, LLC, a boutique learning organization, where she devotes her time to writing, course development (instructor led and eLearning), and teaching.

 

Karin has authored several technology books, including: Office 2010 Demystified (McGraw-Hill) and hundreds of user guides, reference manuals, and tutorials. She’s also developed an extensive number of learning programs for a wide variety of global clients.

 

Karin is a Certified Online Training Professional (COTP), certified synchronous facilitator, designer, and producer, with a master’s degree in professional writing. Additionally, Karin teaches undergraduate writing courses for Penn State University and is the Instructional Design Lead for InSync Training.

ARTICULATE STORYLINE 360: Publishing to Video

by Kal Hadi, COTP

When teaching my students how to publish Articulate Storyline projects during my beginner class, I often get the following question:

 

Student: “How do I publish my project as a video (MP4)?”

 

Me: “You can’t.”

 

Cue the crickets along with disappointed comments in the chat pod, especially from Adobe Captivate users (Captivate has been able to publish projects as a video for years). 

 

Why would a Storyline developer want to publish a project as a video (especially when you lose any interactivity you've built into the slides)? Video files are self-contained. They can be viewed on just about any device without the need for a web browser. You can email the video output to a colleague who does not have Storyline, so they can view your slides. And published videos can be uploaded into video streaming servers such as YouTube and Vimeo. 

 

Given that publishing as a video has been a requested Storyline feature for some time, I’m happy to report that Articulate Storyline 360 now allows you to publish a single video of a Slide, a Scene, or the Entire Course. 

 

There are some settings and best practice options in the Publish to Video dialog box we’ll discuss.

 

Under Size and Quality, there are a few choices:

• Dimensions. This is where you can select a size for video from a drop-down menu. If video size is not a factor, you can go as high as full 1080p HD for nice quality.
  
  
• You have two sliders for Video and Audio Quality that ranges from Low to Very High. There is of course a tradeoff between quality and file size. High is usually a good choice.
  
  
• “Set the same volume level for all audio” makes all sounds volume consistent throughout the project. If you want to keep the volume the same as you originally had it in the Storyline project, deselect this option.
  
  
• Prior to publishing, you can also control how the slides flow (or the Navigation). You can either follow the “next” button actions in your course, or show the slides sequentially based on their slide number (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, and so on).

If you need to publish a course to video, I suggest that you duplicate the project and prepare a copy for video output that automatically goes through all content flow without missing main content stored in layers. You’ll likely need to adjust the Triggers so they execute automatically. For example, if a user needs to click a button to show a specific layer, you can adjust the Triggers so one layer shows when the timeline of a previous layer end. 

 

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Looking for Storyline training? Check out these live, hands-on, online classes.

 

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Kal Hadi, COTP, is a Certified Adobe Instructor with CompTIA CTT+ credentials. He has over 15 years of experience in the field of computer graphics, imaging, and electronic publishing. He was recognized by Adobe as one of the top five trainers worldwide in 2009. He is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology Electronic Publishing graduate program. He is also the author of many books and papers in the fields of graphics and web publishing including IconLogic's Articulate Storyline books.

 

 

ADOBE CAPTIVATE: It's Gotta Be Friday Somewhere!

by Lori Smith, COTP

Happy Friday! Ok, maybe it's Friday when you're reading this, maybe it isn't. However, if it's not a Friday, let's pretend that it is.

 

You'd like your Adobe Captivate eLearning module to greet the learners with “Hello! It’s a lovely Friday to learn a little something. Let’s get started!” 

 

Are you wondering how to get Captivate to perform this little bit of magic? You could simply write the words “Hello! It’s a lovely Friday…” into a Text Caption or Smart Shape. However, the learner would only be greeted correctly once out of every seven days.

 

Instead of manually typing the day, let Captivate share the information with your learners. Believe it or not, Captivate already knows how to get the information: via a System Variable called cpInfoCurrentDay. 

 

If you wanted to have the day show up in a text caption, all you’d need to do is type the following text and the name of the Variable. 

 

 

I thought I had done pretty well... except this is what I ended up with:

 

 

What’s that “6” doing there? Captivate did exactly what was asked. I asked for current DAY, and the 6th day of the week appeared... Friday.

 

The reason for the confusion can be found in Captivate’s Variables dialog box (via the Project menu). The Description for cpInfoCurrentDay: “Day of the week as set on the user's computer. Values range from 1-7 starting with Sunday. Sunday=1, Monday=2, and so on.” And that explains why Friday displays as the number 6.

 

 

I’m going to show you how to create a quick Conditional Advanced Action that will ensure that 6 is displayed as Friday in my current project.

 

First, open the Variables dialog box and add a new User Variable called myDay. 

 

 

Replace the cpInfoCurrentDay variable in your caption with your new myDay variable.

 

 

Next, open the Advanced Actions dialog and create an action that looks like this (I named mine determineDay):

 

 

Be sure to create and fill in the Decision Blocks, one for each day of the week. As you create the Decision Blocks, remember to set the value for each appropriately (Sunday is 1, Monday is 2, etc. as shown in the images above and below).

 

 

Execute the advanced action somewhere in your project. (I’d suggest via the On Enter drop-down menu on the slide where you’ll want to display the day of the week. In the image below, I'm executing my determineDay action.)

 

 

Assuming it's Friday, preview the slide and you'll see this in your text caption:

 

 

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Like this little action? Want to learn how to create more actions like this, and more complex ones too? Join me for my Captivate Variable and Action Deep Dive series. The 101 class starts with the basics. As we move through 201, 301, and 401, we will continue to build your skills and practice with Captivate Variables and Advanced Actions. Next? We conquer the world!

 

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Lori Smith, COTP, is IconLogic's lead programmer and Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Captivate. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT as well as a Master’s in electrical engineering from George Mason University. She has been working in the field of software engineering for more than 20 years.  During that time she worked as an embedded software engineer at Raytheon (E-Systems) and ARINC.

 

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS: Score Big with Town Hall Meetings

By Phil Hanyok, COTP

Every quarter, employees gather in the cafeteria for town hall meetings. The tables are removed, and seats are placed in neat rows. The podium, microphone, and projector screen are tested and ready. 

 

As employees enter the room and take their seats, the senior vice president who will present the latest company information talks quietly with one of his direct reports. At 9 o’clock he steps up to the podium, says good morning and begins reading the first slide. By the third slide, the employees look bored and ready to leave. 

 

Meetings like this don’t work. Employees prefer hearing company information from leaders who talk with them, not to them, and engage them with authentic conversation and actions.

 

Polls have shown that most employees are not engaged, even during town hall meetings. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

 

Leaders can turn boring town hall meetings into engaging experiences that score big with employees. As communicators, it’s our job to help leaders do it well so that they increase their credibility and build trust, which helps employees connect with the individual and the organization.

 

Try these techniques with your leaders to create authentic conversations and make their next town hall meeting a hit with employees.

 

Greet employees as they enter. This is a time for face-to-face conversation with leaders. Don’t waste the opportunity. The presenter and others should shake hands with employees, thank them for coming, and let them know they are appreciated. 

 

Invite new employees to stand and give them applause. Do this at the start of every town hall meeting. Choose a suitable time frame. Introduce new leaders or people who will interact with many employees. Talk about company growth.

 

Don’t read slides. Use images and talk about the slide topic in an authentic, conversational way. Give an example, highlight a challenge and how it was met, and put the information in context. Explain what it means for the future. This requires leaders to know the topics and practice their presentation. 

 

Recognize teams and individuals who have had big successes. Explain why their success is important. Use this example to highlight company values and direction. Tie it to the company vision. Ask employees to applaud those being recognized. If your town hall meetings don’t have several celebratory rounds of applause, you are missing great opportunities to engage. Mention social media that highlights successes.

 

Ask questions. For example, say, “By a show of hands, how many …” Have someone note the results and use that informal polling to help guide future engagement. Don’t be afraid to express surprise at the reaction, and let employees know what you think about the response. That will show you are listening authentically.

 

Tell an anecdote. Leaders who tell a story about their experience at the company and how it relates to the current situation appear more authentic and help employees understand who they are, which can strengthen relationships and build trust.

 

Show a movie. Highlight new products, employees who put company values into action, customer testimonials, advertising campaigns, volunteers in the community, or anything that includes employees doing great work. Keep it light and under two minutes.

 

Give swag to employees who ask questions. It’s not easy to ask the first question. Reward courage by giving the first person to ask a question and others something of value: branded merchandise, gift cards, time-off certificates, etc. Be prepared with seed questions to start the Q/A session if nobody steps up. The presenter can say, “Some of you may be wondering…” or “A question you might want to ask is …” Be creative with questions that encourage discussion about what’s on employees’ minds at the time.

 

Repeat the question. To make sure everyone heard the question and to confirm the presenter understood it, repeat or summarize the question, then answer it clearly. If appropriate, ask, “Does that answer your question?” This helps everyone know the presenter is listening. It also helps those taking notes for follow-up. 

 

End on a high note. Don’t end flat. The presenting leader should always end by mentioning something positive and encouraging, then thank everyone for the work they do and for making the meeting a success.

 

Want to know more about how to help your CEO and other leaders communicate well and engage employees? Enroll in my live, online class, “How to Improve Internal Visibility and Communications for Leaders.”

 

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Philip Hanyok, COTP, has more than 15 years of corporate communications and marketing experience. He helps leaders and organizations tell their story, promote their brand, and improve engagement. Philip’s expertise is broad and includes internal/employee communications, company intranets, marketing websites, public relations, executive speechwriting, town hall meetings, digital signage, executive messaging, crisis communications, project management, social media, magazines, and newsletters.

 

TECHSMITH CAMTASIA 9: Changes to the Duration Feature

by Kevin Siegel, COTP, CTT+

I recently received the following email from a reader of my TechSmith Camtasia 9 (Windows): The Essentials book. 

Hello Kevin,

I am really enjoying your Camtasia 9: The Essentials eBook that I purchased on Amazon recently, but I have run into a problem regarding how to extend the duration (pages 58-59) on the Timeline. 

I followed steps 1 and 2 on page 58 for the logo, but when I attempted to change (by typing) the Duration from 5 seconds to 20 seconds, I got the screen message “Please enter a number between .1 and 5,” and the time can’t be extended beyond 5 seconds. I am also attaching a screen shot so you can see the actual message. 

I have tried grouping the items as directed on page 59 and then trying to extend the duration in that manner, but that method doesn’t work either. 

I am using Camtasia Version 9.1.2. Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated.

I was able to replicate this issue on my computer, but I found this strange because when I wrote the book, the Duration feature worked just fine (changing the Duration of a Timeline object pushed items on the same track to the right). I reached out to TechSmith support and received the following reply (and the fix).

Hi Kevin, 

Sorry for the delay – I wanted to confirm some information with the Camtasia team first.  This change was a deliberate change made in Camtasia 9.0.1.  The reason for the change was because of feedback that we were receiving from users, which was (as Matt mentioned) that projects were getting out of sync when extending frames and durations.  So, this change was implemented, and we also published this tutorial with best practices on using ripple move and extend frame (similar to duration). https://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-camtasia-ripple-move-and-extend-frame.html   I am really sorry for any trouble this change has caused!  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,
Nate
Senior Support Specialist

Whew! It's good to know that I'm not losing my mind. To get past the Duration issue, press the [shift] key on your keyboard and manually extend the playtime for the object on the Timeline (instead of using Duration feature).

You can still use the Duration feature if there is enough space to the right of the selected object. For instance, you'll need a little over 5 seconds of space if you want to increase the Duration of an object by 5 seconds. Otherwise, you'll see the same error reported by the reader above.

New Adobe Captivate Advanced Actions and Variables Courses Posted

If you're an Adobe Captivate developer, here are some awesome new classes that are laser- focused on Variables and Advanced Actions.

• Variables and Actions 101: Quick Start
• Variables and Actions 201: Advanced Concepts
• Variables and Actions 301: Complex 
• Variables and Actions 401: Expressions

Each of these 3-hour classes are taught live, online, and are highly interactive.