Participating Frequently

Question

Link not working to another file/unit

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
June 10, 2009
2 replies
1184 views

I have developed a course with 11 units. At the end of each unit, the user is asked to click a button to open the next unit. All units open great, except for one. When I test the link from unit 1 to unit 2, it just redisplays unit 1. I've verified that I have specified the correct file to open. I've replaced the button and re-established the link from that button to unit 2. I've checked project settings, slide settings, etc. I've confirmed that it's not set to loop and replay itself. What am I missing?

Thanks!

SAM

This topic has been closed for replies.

J

jamesnotjim

Inspiring

The latest Captivate 4 update fixes a problem with files linking via absolute path (instead of relative path), which might be causing your problem if the files are moved to a different location for deployment (which is almost always the case, right?).

But, have you considered not doing it this way and creating an aggregator project for your 11 files instead? That would give you a TOC, and the files can play one right after the other (downward through the TOC entires). It's very flexible and one of the nicest features of version 4. I've redone all of mine this way, and I like it quite a lot better.

A

Anonymous

Hi there,

A couple of things to bear in mind when using the Aggregator:

1. Sometimes when the Aggregator starts playing your SWF files, in some cases, the sound from subsequent files play for a fraction of a second. I have noticed this in both Firefox and Internet Explorer. To get around this problem, do the following:

a. Choose Edit > Preferences > Project > Start

b. Uncheck the Auto Play box.

Note: You will need to do this for all the SWFs you want to include in your Aggregator project.

This will now fix the way that the Aggregator both handles and loads all subsequent CP SWF files.

2. Another troublesome issue is that sometimes when you first load an Aggregator project into your web browser, you mght see some weird box outines for a fraction of a second. I am still unsure as to why this happens, though, I have found that if you publish your CP files as AS 3 projects the problem goes away. Below are the steps to publish to AS3. Bear in mind though that any Flash animations you may have inserted into your CP project may not play properly and will therefore also need to converted to ActionScript 3 format in Flash and re-inserted into Captivate.

a.Choose Edit > Preferences > Publish Settings

b. Choose the ActionScript option: AS3

c. Click OK.

HTH

Best - Mark

<a href="http://macrofireball.blogspot.com/"><strong>Visit the macrofireball blog</strong></a>

S

Scout's Mom

Inspiring

Mark and SAM,

A best practice that I've been using since the RoboDemo days seems to eliminate the ghosts of audio past:

1. On the last slide (which will become the second to last slide), set all graphics (but not navigation objects) to 'Display for rest of project.' (I usually use this slide to tell the user they've completed the lesson, they can review by rewinding or can go to the next lesson by clicking Forward. i park a slick box in corner and add a 'Click Forward' prompt to the screen.)

2. Insert a blank slide as the last slide. Set the slide to the appropriate Quality (Slide Preferences), set it for about 0.2 sec, and set it for "Go to next slide". This slide is blank in the thumbnails but displays the graphics of your former last slide and has no audio or anything to impede it.

3. Set navigation to the next file in Preferences.

4. Publish.

As the trainee goes through the training, they arrive at the next to last slide and hear its audio. Then they navigate to the new and very short last slide. The last slide (without audio) ensures the audio from the penultimate slide is off and, they go to the next file.

It works every time.

--Leslie

S

Scout's Mom

Inspiring

SAM, What's your Captivate version?

How are you navigating to the next unit? I find it's best to navigate via the Preferences. In C3, it's Edit > Preferences > Start and End > Action > open other project. Then make sure all your slides in all projects are set to go to Next Slide and that you're not navigating to the next unit from the last slide or with your button. The beauty of this method is that you can use the skin's playback controls.

Hope this helps. --Leslie

S

sam01110Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Leslie,

I'm using Captivate 3. I'm using a Next button, and I have the Next button on the last slide set to Open URL--the URL of the next unit. This works great on the other units/files. Yesterday in troubleshooting, I did use Edit | Preferences | Start and End on the problem file, and I also set it there to Open the URL of the next unit. It's still redisplaying the same unit instead of going on to the next one.

I know in Preferences you can also set how long each slide should display, but I'm an internal consultant, and my internal clients do NOT want the slides to move forward on their own for any reason (except for demos). So I have a Next button with a click box over it so that the training waits for the click.

I'd appreciate any further suggestions!

SAM

RoboWizard

Inspiring

Hi SAM

Perhaps try using "Open other project" instead of the URL or File option.

Don't sweat the fact you browse to another CP file to open. Captivate will sort what it needs internally.

We have seen many cases where the URL or File option fails but Open other project works. I'm at a total loss as to explain why. I just know it does.

Cheers... Rick

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