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alexandra111
alexandra111
Participating Frequently
October 20, 2015
Question

How do I update a custom button so it updates in the Image Button dropdown?

  • October 20, 2015
  • 2 replies
  • 975 views

I've created a custom button and placed it in the Buttons folder in the Gallery folder so it shows up in the Image Button dropdown within Captivate, so I can select it. I have updated this button in the Buttons folder, but it doesn't update in the Image Button dropdown within Captivate. I tried clearing the cache; what else can I do to show the latest button version?

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

K
KenThomas
Participating Frequently
April 24, 2018

Captivate doesn't like to let things go!  Here's how I've solved the issue:

Rename your button image files and attach the new files.

Example:

You've created three states of the same button image with the following names:

ChecklistIcon_up.png

ChecklistIcon_down.png

ChecklistIcon_over.png

You've created a new image button and used the folder icon to select the ChecklistIcon_up.png file.

(Problem)

Now you've updated the image (e.g., new colors, fixed typo), and Captivate won't let you update the button image, even by selecting the revised files.

(Solution)

Rename the files accordingly:

ChecklistIconV2_up.png

ChecklistIconV2_down.png

CheckllistIconV2_over.png

Select your button in Captivate and use the folder icon to select the ChecklistIconV2_up.png file -- your button image is updated.

RodWard
Community Expert
RodWardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 25, 2018

I understand your issue, but if you make many changes to buttons, doing things the way you mention could result in your Gallery > Buttons folder getting clogged up with a lot of redundant files.

Captivate caches the Image buttons originally inserted from the Gallery > Buttons folder inside the CPTX file.  So if you update the files in the gallery but don't change the filenames, Captivate doesn't show you the new buttons IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING FROM THE ORIGINAL CPTX.

However, if you were to open up a brand new CPTX project and then look to insert buttons from the Gallery, you WOULD see the new version of those buttons.

It's an annoying quirk in Captivate's behaviour that nobody has mentioned much lately because most people seem to be using Smart Shape Buttons instead nowadays.

K
KenThomas
Participating Frequently
April 25, 2018

That approach covers future projects, but if you have a large project that the client has requested a change to your button image, creating a new course file might not be a practical solution.

Smart Shape buttons are awesome, but sometimes they just can't match a classic image up/down/over button.  If they're the same, by all means, go Smart Shape.

RodWard
Community Expert
RodWardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 21, 2015

Create a new blank project and insert it.  Then you will see the updated button.

Alternatively, change the name of the updated button in the Gallery and Captivate will think its a different button.

alexandra111
alexandra111Author
Participating Frequently
October 21, 2015

Thanks for the reply. But sorry; this does NOT work. (this is Captivate 8, BTW.) I renamed the button, and I also added ones with _up, _over, and _down in the file names to the Buttons Gallery folder, just in case. Then I opened a new project and still not showing up in the Image button dropdown. I saw another question of the same type in this forum with no answer except clearing the Preferences Cache, which I tried first. One person was having to delete the buttons and pasting in a whole new button set each time they do an update. I do hope that's not necessary, but looks like this is an issue with no real solution.

thanks anyway.

Captiv8r
Captiv8r
Legend
October 22, 2015

Hi there

Perhaps try clobbering the preferences?

To do this, close Captivate and right-click the Captivate shortcut and look at properties.

Hopefully you see a button labeled "Open File Location". If so, click it. If you don't see it for whatever reason, note the location of Captivate and navigate to that folder.

In this folder should be another folder named Utils. Drop into that folder.

You should see a file beginning with "CleanPreferences" (There is one for Windows and one for Mac)

Double-click the appropriate file to run it.

Restart Captivate and see if your images now show.

Cheers... Rick

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