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Menus and Submenus

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Originally a CBT was created consisting of 19 modules that were linked using Menubuilder. Because the client now wants to password protect the CBT, I have consolidated all modules into one very large file and have bult a menu with submenus using buttons. However, it appears that when moving from one menu option to another, resources are not being released to the oint that the script starts running very slow. I've investigated Captivate Player but it appears it is useful for linking multiple files not navigating within the same file.

Can you tell me what my options are in navigating within this CBT?

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FlournoyCorrect answer

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We are not using scoring for this course and password protecting the folder is not an option. It appears we have no other choice but to separate into files by module and use MenuBuilder to access each file requring the user to enter the password for each module. It is definitely not the way we would like to go but it seems we have no other choice.

Thank you for trying to help.

Flournoy

CatBandit

Inspiring

Another thought about the single-file approach: If there is scoring/reporting included, the user has to wait until the entire course is completed before the score is displayed. I've already noted I think the conbining of everything into one file is not the way I'd go so I won't beat it up further.

If I've understood everything, I think the answer to the (single) password problem is to password protect the folder. Again, I won't belabor the point here.

If you choose to use Menu Builder to create the main menu item, and build the sub-menus you want into the movies themselves, it should work just fine. Have you tried the sub-menu-as-a-part-of-the-tutorial approach?

I will apologize again for failing to understand why buttons or click-boxes won't work for navigation. Obviously, I'm still missing something because it is not possible (in the scenario I have in mind) for buttons or click-boxes NOT to work.

I'll leave you to these thoughts, and those of others reading this - I am out of ideas and though I think I know what you are trying to do, I cannot understand how there can be a problem with these common elements - sorry.

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FlournoyAuthorCorrect answer

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We are not using scoring for this course and password protecting the folder is not an option. It appears we have no other choice but to separate into files by module and use MenuBuilder to access each file requring the user to enter the password for each module. It is definitely not the way we would like to go but it seems we have no other choice.

Thank you for trying to help.

Flournoy

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CatBandit

Inspiring

Sorry, Flournoy, I just can't "see what you are seeing". You want to be able to jump to a specific slide in a project, but buttons won't do(??). I think my confusion arises from a total lack of understanding of what you want to do. I don't know if it's the "menus" that is confusing me, or the "submenus"(?) but I really need you to either (1) restate your question, or (2) find someone who understands what you are asking - I emphasize, it is probably my failure - not enough caffeine ... or too much caffeine - sorry.

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FlournoyAuthor

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Originally, we created training modules consisting of 10 modules. Because of the length of each module, 9 of the 10 modules were divided into separate files giving the user the ability to start at a specific point within a module. For instance, a module can consist of 3 parts each being a separate file that is accessed through a menu built using MenuBuilder.

A requirement was added that the course be password-protected but they did not want to require the user to enter passwords for each file accessed. It was thought that to meet this requirement, all files would be integrated into one file so that the password would only need to be entered once. A main menu was built at the beginning of the course that would move to a submenu consisting of the parts for that modules. I have tried using buttons and click boxes to navigate from a main menu to a submenu that jumps to a partcular section of the course. The beginning of each module has a button giving the user the ability to return to the main menu located at the beginning of the file.

In testing each method (menus using buttons and menus using click boxes), in navigating back and forth from the beginning of a module back to the main menu, the course slows exponentially until we finally get an error stating that the script is running slow.

We simply want to have one file that is password protected with the ability to navigate to a particular module or to a place within the module without encountering this error. Using buttons or click boxes to do this navigation is not working so I'm looking for other options. Any ideas?

Flournoy

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CatBandit

Inspiring

I have to answer a question with a question. Is a 33 Mb SWF going to play on the hardware commonly used by your target audience? That is an awfully large file, but I've seen larger, so depending on the sophistication of the equipment used by your end-users, you might get by with it.

But doesn't the idea of downloading to play locally sort of defeat the whole concept of developing in Flash (SWF) because it's a streamable format? Again, no reply to that is necessary - just throwing out food for thought.

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terrence_wood

Participating Frequently

Aside from the authoring issues you may face when managing a large CP, you will need to consider the delivery.

We recently had to solve the problem of delivering large files. It may be related to our intranet setup, but our experience is that large files do not travel well and caused problems for our users in terms of long loading delays and a reduction in the number of concurrent users (i.e it just wouldn't work). There are also other usability issues to consider e.g. how easy is it to return to the middle of a lesson?

There are many options available to you if you are devlivering via a web server, most web servers have authentication for folders built in as Larry mentioned, or you could use whatever scripting language your server has to built something with a bit more aesthetic appeal. Google user authentication to get you started.

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FlournoyAuthor

Participant

Because of the subject matter of the course, users will have beefed up systems so system performance and downlload speed are not anticipated to be an issue. However, your questions does bring me back to my first question which is how can I manage navigation within one file using menus and submenus to position the user to a particular module within that one file? Obviously using buttons in menu format to jump to a particular slide is not the answer. Any suggestions?

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CatBandit

Inspiring

You combined 19 lessons into a single SWF? And your development PC didn't crash? What is the size of the final CP (project) file, and what is the size of the final SWF (output) file? You really don't have to answer any of those questions.

I admire your willingness to please your client, but suspect you might have chosen a very expensive way to do so. What I'm saying is that the client - who will be viewing the project when done - will probably not be able to view the project when done . . .

One of several simpler ways might have been to password-protect the folder containing the 19-movie project(?), leaving a working project - still working. Just random thoughts from the twilight zone.

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FlournoyAuthor

Participant

Thanks for your response.

The size of the swf file is 33mb. It is planned that the course will be downloaded and run locally. Based on using the file in this manner, is this beyond the limitations of the product?

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