Captivate 9 Publishing to LMS Errors

[ceadams]

Hi.  I hope you can help me.

TIA! 

I published a Captivate 9 tutorial to my desktop (zipped file).  I tried this several ways... with reporting disabled (there is no "quiz" in this tutorial; it's just an interactive "chapter highlights" project.  Then I tried it  with reporting enabled selecting SCORM 1.2 and when that didn't work I tried SCORM 2004 (both should be compatible with Canvas (our LMS).

Within Canvas, I navigated to files.  I tried just uploading the zipped folder directly to files... but then when you click on it... it only gives you the option to download it.

So I created a new folder in Files... and then opened that... and clicked upload.  I chose my zipped folder and selected "expand it."  All files uploaded to the new folder.

After everything finished uploading, I clicked on the htm file and received this error:

When I hit "OK" a blank screen shows up and nothing happens.  If I try to click the htm again and when the error pops up, click on "cancel...."  Then the tutorial loads and plays in the browser (using Safari).... maybe I should try Chrome...?

Anyway.... I thought all was well... the tutorial seemed to work fine!  ...but the videos I added to the slides are not there... ?!@#! 

What is happening and how do I fix this?

... finally, when I try to play the pdf version... Canvas just spins and spins (little blue circle of death) and never opens the pdf version.... so I'm not sure if the videos play or not.

The video files I added to my project are all mp4's.  They play in the preview mode, but not from the htm file.  They don't show up if I try to play them from Canvas or from my unzipped, "published" folder on my desktop.

I need to get this to work for my professor ASAP!  Please help!  Thank you!

More settings:

[Lilybiri]

Some LMS's allow uploading a 'package', which would have been your zipped published folder without reporting (not a SCO). You would have to indicate to unzip the package and launch the index.html file. It looks like your LMS doesn't have that functionality?

Any LMS will accept a SCO which means you have to turn on reporting (use SCORM1?2), you kan indicate just a % of slides to be viewed as criterium. You get a zipped folder automatically, and uploading should now work easily.

Since you also mentioned the interactive pdf, which is based on Flash, I wonder if you have issues due to the fact that Flash player is disabled in the browser (or the LMS)? I hope your output is to HTML5?

[ceadams]

I don't seem to have an html file... just an htm file...

I didn't publish as HTML5 because I'm using rollovers and I thought HTML5 won't support rollovers so then SWF and PDF are my only options.  I did some searching and found that Canvas should work with SCORM 1.2 and 2004.  So I tried publishing as those.  I don't really need "reporting" though bc it's not a "graded" assignment.  I just created an interactive tutorial but didn't create any knowledge checks or quiz slides.  We just wanted to provide some visuals of chapter highlights since the text book doesn't have many image/examples...

I hope that makes sense.

I don't know if Flash Player is disabled by Safari... I'm not sure how to check that either... (my background is online education... and now I'm a 2nd yr learning design master's student... )  I was never IT!    I'm pretty good with programs but I'm still not IT!  --so tread lightly on the "lingo!"   

Do you have a step sheet for how to upload to Canvas?

--like ... go to files... then upload the zipped folder directly?

Or should I make a new folder and upload the zipped folder to that?  --do I expand the files?  or not?

When I tried uploading the zipped folder... once I click on it in files... it just gives me the option to download and that's it.  I can't open it.

Thanks again!

--the PDF will open if downloaded and works on my desktop but not in the LMS.  Nothings works right in the LMS.  😕

... And why aren't the videos playing in the htm file?  they have "disappeared" in the published version yet play perfectly in Captivate's preview mode.... ?

[Lilybiri]

If you have only a htm file you have published to SWF, not to HTML5. Browsers tend to disable the flash player plugin, it needs to be activated. Same with the pdf: it needs Adobe Reader with a Flash Player plugin for it. You probably have that installed and that is the reason why it works for you.

Sorry, I never used Canvas as LMS, just can help with Captivate.

[ceadams]

OK... how do I "enable the flash player" in the browser?  ... will it work then?  --will the videos show up too?

Thank you again! 

C

[ceadams]

PS... I just checked the "plug-in settings" for Safari... and I think Flash is enabled....

[Lilybiri]

It is for you, but everyone watching this course has to do the same. That is why you'd better avoid publishibg to SWF. The Flash plaer EOL has been announced

.

[ceadams]

But I can't use HTML5 because of the interactive features like rollovers and text entry and drag and drop I built into this tutorial.  That's why I'm using SWF. 

[Lilybiri]

Drag&Drop Text Entry Boxes work perfectly in HTML5 output. WHo told you they didn't?  Rollovers can work on desktop, but are not available on mobile devices.  How will you do a rollover on a phone?

[ceadams]

Maybe I have misunderstood... I was reading Siegle's Captivate Essentials book and from my understanding... HTML5 wouldn't support al the interactive features (ex. rollovers) and I want to use those.  But from what you are saying... is that the rollovers will work with HTML5 on a desktop... just not on mobil devices.  My professor isn't concerned that this tutorial wouldn't be playable on mobil devices.  I will try to publish then as HTML5 and upload to Canvas and see if that works....

But I still don't know why the PDF and HTM files won't open and work properly in Canvas..... and what about the videos that won't show up in the published version?  Is that a Canvas (LMS) issue or do I need to convert the mp4s to something else and re-embed into the Captivate 9 file and republish?

thanks again!

[Lilybiri]

If you publish to SWF the mp4's will probably be converted to FLV. Are you sure the mp' have been correctly encoded? Try to use the Adobe Media Encoder to be sure the codec is correct.

How did you insert the video;: event video or multisynchronized video?

[ceadams]

OK... so I re-published as SWF and HTML and PDF to a zipped folder.... I uploaded all the published folder files to Canvas... (which I just found out isn't supporting SCORM at this time)... (but also that shouldn't matter for us bc we didn't design a quiz)...

So should I publish as a "reporting SCORM1.2?" or just uncheck the "reporting feature?"  Does that matter?

--Anyway.... So I went to the LMS, Canvas and to one of the "pages" we have set up to test our tutorial... I added 3 links:  one to the HTM file, one to the PDF file and one to the SWF file.  The HTM file opens and plays everything but the videos are not showing up. Also... it's too "large" in the window that Canvas opens and I can't resize it... I can pan around but that's not user friendly.

The pdf file will download to my computer when I click on it but not open anything in Canvas. 

The SWF file will open and play... and it's the perfect size in the window! --the roll overs work... so that's awesome... but the videos are still not showing up.

I think if I can fix the video issue... I'll be OK.  I can republish... re-upload the published files to Canvas Files... then link to these files from an activity page.  ... Why are the videos not showing up and what should I do?  ... I think it's with the way I saved them.  I'll try to "covert" them with the Adobe Converter...

They are already mp4s... what should I tell Adobe Converter to make them now?

... after I convert them, I'll replace the videos in Captivate 9.

--Oh, originally, I just clicked the media tab and then selected video... browsed for the correct mp4 and it added it to my project (on the slide).

[Lilybiri]

A LMS that doesn't support SCORM? That sounds crazy.

Do publish ONLY to HTML5 please! The pdf has no sense, as I explained already twice.

Sorry, you don't seem to understand what I have tried to explain. This is a user forum, I am just a user and spend quite a lot of time tryhig to help other CP users. But here it looks like you really need a teacher.

[ceadams]

Thanks for your patients... I'm sorry I wasn't understanding what you meant about the PDF publishing, but know I am trying!

Hopefully if I can figure this out, we will help other people.

Yes. It does seem crazy SCORM isn't enabled in our LMS (Canvas)... I think it can be but it's not at this time.  Some "powers that be" will have to enable that.  I think there's a "process" my professor can go to to request that be set up in her class...

That said... I think it's helpful you corrected my thinking about HTML5... I thought it didn't support roll-overs but now I understand that's only on mobil devices and not desktop computers... so that's good.

I just need to figure out what I can try to get my videos to show up when I put the HTML5 file in Canvas.  I'll just publish as that next time like you suggested.  --let me know if you have any idea what I should convert my mp4 video clips to with Adobe Converter and I'll try that... then replace the old videos with the new ones, publish as HTML5 and see what happens.

Thanks!

[RodWard]

Each web server (and that includes LMSs) need to be configured to allow certain types of files that are not allowed by default.  MP4 and other video file formats are often not enabled by default.  That would explain why your videos worked when served from the Brightspace LMS but not from Canvas.  They're probably different server configurations.

Talk to your LMS server administrator about checkiing whether or not the Canvas server is configured for the MP4 mimetype.

[sepyle]

Ceadams,

Joining in late on this discussion - Although, I have also been having issues for the last week uploading SCORM to Canvas! In another forum where I was posting in on Instructure's website, other users reported issues with specifically using Captivate 9 in SCORM over the last week.

I put in a few tickets with Canvas, but haven't gotten any resolution yet. As far as I know, they fixed the issue with publishing the SCORM content using Articulate, but not Captivate. When I upload files to the SCORM tab, I usually get the "404 not found" error.

If the quiz questions do not need to be recorded in the gradebook, you could just upload the package as a zip file to the "Files" tab. Canvas will prompt you to unzip it there, once uploaded. Then, you can post a link to the "index.html" file and the students should be able to view the presentation as long as the whole folder is "published." At the very least, you should be able to use the full functionality of the swf/html5 file, minus the ability to pass grades into the gradebook.

I would also recommend having the file open in a new tab since Canvas gives you a fairly small viewing window if you open it on their default page.

[ceadams · Accepted solution]

Hi, Sepyle....good to have you!

... I wanted to post an update on this sitch for everyone too....

That's good to know that I'm not the only one that thinks Canvas sucks.    Seriously... though... I'm glad the issue isn't "all my fault."    ... What's weird is our University doesn't even have a "scorm" tab... I think we can "get scorm" enabled for Canvas... but there's this whole "process...."  I don't think our institution is utilizing the feature right now... but hopefully they will in the future.  Right now... the reporting isn't needed for what I need.  I created an interactive tutorial to supplement a series of chapters (one tutorial for each of about 5 chapters) on Learning Design principles.... and now I'm trying to publish the 1st on Canvas so my professor can utilize it.

Lilibiri told me to publish as HTML5... (I didn't before bc I thought it wouldn't support roll overs but Lilibiri said that's only true for mobil and not laptops... so I was glad that got cleared up.  So .... I republished as HTML5 and SWF.  I uploaded the zipped file to Canvas Files... and into a new folder.  Then I selected "unzip" the files when finished.... everything loaded.  If I click the SWF file, everything plays but the videos (blank space where videos should be).  If I click on the index_HTML file in Canvas... that opens and the videos play perfectly as they should!  --so issue resolved.  I'm still not certain why the SWF won't play... I have Flash 11 and set the CP file to open with Flash 10... so IDK>.... but I'm just glad the HTML5 works now.

I have a new question though... no matter what file I try to open... the SWF or HTML.... I get that error code I pasted above: the "unable to acquire LMS API" one... If I hit "OK" nothing happens.  (blank white screen).  If I hit "cancel" the tutorial loads and works perfect... (except for missing videos in the SWF version).... HTML version plays fine.

I would like to get rid of this error code so it doesn't confuse learners if possible.  Any ideas?

--also... you mentioned having the HTML tutorial open in a new window.  I didn't know I could do that!  --how do I do that?  From Canvas or is it something I have to check before publishing in Captivate?  --can you link me to the steps or write them here?!  Thanks!

Thank you so much both to Sepyle,  Lilibiri and Rodward!

You guys are amazing!

C

[ceadams]

I would LOVE a teacher on all this!!!!  --I have taught myself everything about Captivate and Canvas... and Brightspace... and the entire Adobe suite of products... I started out in Art Ed... but moved to teaching online... I wear many "techi" hats though! 

[ceadams]

PS... This is very interesting.

I published as SCORM 2004 and uploaded to another LMS Brightspace (working with that LMS on another project I'm designing in CP 9 as well) per these directions:

1148: How to Import a Captivate file

I upload the exact same project that I have been trying all morning to get to work in Canvas.

The uploaded worked as outlined in the link with no problems.

When I clicked on the linked file in the newly created Brightspace module... the error code showed up again:

But just like in Canvas when I clicked "OK."  The tutorial began to load... then it played perfectly... this time INCLUDING the videos!  --and I didn't change anything with the videos in Captivate 9 before publishing for Brightspace.

... what does this mean? ... is it something with Canvas (the other LMS?)  Is there anything I can change to get the videos to show when I put the published tutorials into Canvas?

It's also interesting to note if I unzip the SCORM 2004 files... the HTM and PDF will open but the videos don't show up/play but they will play in Brightspace.  That's good for me when I finish my other tutorial and upload to Brightspace...

But I need to get this tutorial to play right in Canvas... what should I do to get these videos to "play nice" with Canvas?

Thank you!

PS... why do I keep getting this error message (see image above) and how do I get that go go away.  That will confuse my learners.  Thanks!

[ceadams]

PS... Yes... they were "event videos" sorry...

And I think that the videos were auto converted by AME....

I did not need to do anything to the videos... just publish as HTML... (like you said)... and then when I link to that "index_html" file... it all works!  --videos play correctly.  I don't know why the SWF version won't play the videos.

I also don't know how to get rid of that error code... (the 1st one I posted).  That would be nice to do...(get rid of the error message when the tutorial is clicked/opened).

... and I'd love to know how to get the HTML file to open in a new window in Canvas... do you know how to do that?  Is it a setting in Canvas or Captivate I need to set?  Thank you!  I've learned some really helpful bits of info from you!

C

[sepyle]

ceadams,

Glad you are moving in the right direction on getting things working. To answer your other questions:

Error code - You are probably getting the error code because you turned SCORM on when you published the file. Re-publish the file but turn off the "eLearning output" in Captivate. It should read "Disabled" when you go to publish it. Since you probably have it enabled, it is giving you an error message because it is unable to connect to Canvas' SCORM API.

Publishing in a new window - When you publish the SWF and HTML 5 in Captivate, you will see an option to check "Full Screen" below the output format. Check that box. Then, when you upload it to Canvas and unzip the file, look for the version of your file with the extension "fs.htm". That version will open in a new window when a user clicks it in Canvas. 

You could also embed the file as a link on a Canvas "page" and have the link open in a new window, alternatively.

Don't worry about "needing a teacher," I do all my learning in forums like this! It is great to have a community of people collaborating and sharing.

[ceadams]

Sepyle:

I followed your advice and re-published without enabling the SCORM reporting.  That got rid of the error message I was getting.  Your explanation also makes sense why I was getting that error since Canvas (LMS) isn't set up to work with SCORM at this time.  #notmyfault 

I also did what you said to make my tutorial publish in a new window (checked "full screen" option in the publish window).  The problem is... once I uploaded the zipped files (and expanded them) in Canvas, if I link to the "fs.htm" file... It opens and plays everything but the videos I loaded on the slides.  (videos are mp4's).  The only tutorial file that opens and plays perfectly (including the videos) is the "index.html" file.  In Canvas... after I link to the "index.html" file and save the page... the learner can choose to open in a new window by clicking this little blue "magnifying lens" icon next to the link.  So I guess we'll just have to instruct them to do that... (not the worst alternative).  The bummer is... the tutorial DOES fit in the window that Canvas provides... even when opened in a new window... but it just cuts off the play bar/controls at the bottom.  Learners might not even realize that's there... so I'll have to instruct them to "pan down" to get to the controls or hit "CMMD-" or "CTRL -" to "zoom out."  That works... then you can see the whole tutorial in the frame, including play bar controls.

I'm not sure if I republish checking the "Rescale for HTML" option if that would fix that minor issue... I have read some "caution" messages about enabling that feature though but don't really understand why I maybe should not.

And yes... Thank you to all the smart forum posters that solve problems for people like me!  --hopefully one day I can be a problem solver vs just another problem poster...

Although... if someone read through all this and it solves their uploading issues... I guess I already kind of am...

C

[sepyle]

ceadams,

There is one other thing you could try if you think it would be cumbersome for students to look for the magnifying glass.

Technically, the index.html file has its own hyperlink that you should be able to get by clicking on it while in the "Files" section of the course. When you click on the file in "Files", copy the link from your address bar. Then, instead of adding the index.html file to modules, add a new link to modules, copy and paste the address in there, and click the option "load in new tab".

That should do the trick. Just keep in mind you will need to update this link if you copy the course into a new course shell.

[ceadams]

OMG... you guys are SO smart!    How do you know everything about everything?!  ... I tried that out... and it will work!

--not sure if my prof wants the link outside of a "page" though but good to know we have that option.

Also... I did republish checking the "rescale" for HTML option and that corrected the "not fitting exactly" in the window within canvas issue.  I think I'm good to go now!

... Although I do still wonder why the SWF file won't show the videos in Canvas... not that I really need an answer to it since the HTML file works... it just bother's me. 

RodWard said that Canvas might not be set up for mp4's though (which is what I added as "event video" types)... I think this might be something with Canvas and nothing I can do to correct with Captivate... unless I use the AME (media encoder) to convert the videos to something else... but not sure what to "switch" them too...?  I tried a few options and nothing really made a difference....

Anyway... we can call label this one: #problemsolved!

Thanks so much, forum!  --I didn't know who else to turn to!  And you guys never let me down! 

[ceadams]

PS... I just tried downloading the pdf version of the tutorial to my desktop... and after it downloaded, I opened it and it worked perfectly.  But it won't open on the LMS (Canvas) when I click on it.... ?  Not sure what this means... but at least students can download the pdf version.  I wish I could get the htm file in Canvas to open in the browser without the error message popping up and then have the videos work.  Not sure why that's not working.... it's all the videos though...

I made the videos with screen cast (by recording content) since the YouTube Widget wouldn't work for me either in Captivate 9....

Captivate 9 wouldn't preview the raw-screen cast rendered files though... so I re-rendered them with iMovie as mp4's and then the movie files would play in Captivate's preview mode.

Once published, the videos don't even show up on the slides... except in the pdf.  (the pdf works from my desktop in the published folder if I click on it).  But it won't open if I click on the file from Canvas. (loaded into a new folder in "files" along with the rest of the files in the published folder). 

Can you help me get the videos working?  ... and be able to open both the htm file and the pdf file from Canvas without having to download?

thanks!

--I published as SWF and PDF only.  Couldn't use HTML5 bc I'm using rollover features. 

Thanks!

PS... yes... this is my first time trying to load a published Cap file to an LMS!  I don't really know 100% of what I'm doing!  But I want to!