Custom Theme Colors: will not save

[TommyTwoDogs]

Captivate 9. Windows 8. Error: Applying Theme Colors > Changing Current Project Theme Color Scheme = frozen on 25%. Have to kill via Task Manager.

I had the same problem before doing an uninstall/reinstall.

[Lilybiri]

Do you clear the cache regularly? Maybe you should refresh the Preferences: run the CleanPreferences file for your system from the subfolder Utils under the Captivate installation folder.

Another question: which theme are you using? Is it one of the themes packaged with Captivate 9 (check version: 9.0.1.320), an upgraded theme or a custom theme?

[TommyTwoDogs]

Contacted Adobe Support.

Several Captivate issues I have experienced are related to me installing Captivate resulting in the Default File locations on network drives. Changing the locations to local drive (C:) does not fix.

Work at a college on a networked PC. Will have IT staff reinstall so that Default File locations are on local drive.

Thanks for suggestions!

[Lilybiri]

I forgot to ask the usual questions about folder locations, you also need to get the permission to run Captivate as administrator.

How did you change the paths to cache and to projects?

[RodWard]

Having Captivate reinstalled will not automatically change the Default folder locations.  The install automatically points to folders inside your My Documents folder.  If your organisation uses virtual My Documents folders that are situated on a network drive somewhere then reinstalling Captivate will only get you the same result you already have.

If you are able to start Captivate at all then you should be able to open the Edit > Preferences dialog and change the Default Folder locations on the first screen there.  Set up two folders on your C drive. One for the Project Publish folder and another for the Project Cache.  Use these instead, and remember that if you ever need to reset your preferences folder or update Captivate you may need to go back in and point to these folders again.

[TommyTwoDogs]

In a Chat with Adobe Support, the tech un-installed, then reinstalled under my user profile. My org does use virtual My Documents folder resulting in the Default File locations being on a network. Adobe Support indicated that Captivate would need to be installed by a "local" Admin so that the Default File locations were on a "local" (C:\) drive.
This was done. Working to see if issues were resolved.

[TommyTwoDogs]

Applying Theme Colors to a Responsive Project still "freezes" at 25%. Project Cache was cleared and is on local drive C:.

[Lilybiri]

Was that Theme Colors Palette created in the same version of Captivate? I really want to know what is happening for you, seems so strange. You cannot create a new palette from scratch, it is always starting with an existing palette that you can rename, then customize. Which palette did you start with? Do you launch Captivate as Administrator? That is also important for any customizing. Which responsive theme do you use?

[TommyTwoDogs]

I was trying to create a new palette from scratch.

Default Locations
Publish At: H:\My Adobe Captivate Projects (network "home" drive, assigned at login)

Project Cache: C:\_Captivate Project Cache

1. Launch Captivate 9 as Admin (full permissions)
2. Edit > Preferences > Project Cache
3. New > Responsive Project > Create > Mobile Portrait view > (default everything)
4. Themes > Theme Colors > "Clean" Theme Color
5. Applying Theme Colors > "Changing Current Project Theme Color Scheme > 25% (FROZEN HERE)
6. Task Manager

[Lilybiri]

The Documents folder is again a networked folder, that is what is causing all your problems. I thought it was solved now, it is not only the Cache folder that should be pointing to a folder on your system but the Publish At (which is the folder where your documents are saved as well) has to be on your system.

You cannot create a Theme Colors Palette from scratch! I have been exploring them quite a lot, these two articles are about theme colors:

Colorful 2015 with Adobe Captivate - Captivate blog

Theme Colors - Captivate blog

I mentioned both also in a recent article: What's in a Theme - a Template? - Captivate blog

Which new Theme Colors Palette did you apply? That theme is normally associated with a palette Clean.  I am almost sure that the issues are due to that networked drive H, but I could double-check for you.

[TommyTwoDogs]

1. Launch Captivate
2. Edit > Preferences > Default Locations (ALL local folders, Drive C:\)
3. Clear Cache
4. Close Captivate
5. Launch Captivate
6. Edit > Preferences: verify Default Locations are on Drive C:\, not network folder.
7. File > New Project > 1024x627
8. Themes > White > "Yes" to apply Theme > "Cannot apply the new theme."
9. Themes > Clean > "Yes" to apply Theme > "Cannot apply the new theme."
10. File > New Project > Responsive Project
11. Themes > Clear > "Yes" to apply Theme > "Cannot apply the new theme."
12. Themes > Theme Colors > Simple > Customize > Modify Title Color > Change Theme Color to "CareerCenter"
13. Save > Close > Do not see a way to select Customized Theme. (?)
14. Themes > Simple > "Yes" to apply Theme > "Cannot apply the new theme."

[Lilybiri]

Did you perhaps change that theme (without changing its name) in a Blank, not-responsive project? That could explain why you cannot apply it to a responsive project.

Do you launch Captivate as Administrator, still do not know that.

[TommyTwoDogs]

Always launch Captivate as an Administrator with Full Rights/Permissions.

Chose an existing Theme, Customize, Change Name.

1. Launch Captivate (as Admin): New > Blank Project > 1024 x 627
2. Themes > Theme Colors > Smart
3. "Applying Theme Colors" > Changing Current Project Theme Color Scheme > 25% (FROZEN HERE)
4. Task Manager to End Task

[Lilybiri]

Sorry to insist, but launching with full Administrator rights is not the same as Run as Administrator:

Is it a full responsive theme?

[TommyTwoDogs]

Thanks, did Run as administrator, but really, why should this be required? A default for all users, or only those that experience quirky behavior?! 🙂

1. Launch Captivate (Run as Admin): New > Blank Project > 1024 x 627
2. Themes > Theme Colors > Smart
3. "Applying Theme Colors" > "Cannot apply the new theme" ( after progress to 100%). > OK

Is it a full responsive theme?

A "full responsive" theme as opposed to a default Theme in a Blank Project (what I selected)?

[Lilybiri]

No, you should have had a warning from Captivate when you started it without Run as Administrator, that it will not have its full functionality. It is something due to Windows, appeared with Win7 or XP (not sure), because of the safety settings that increased in those versions. For software simulations and for customization it is essential. For other projects you could perhaps leave it alone.

As for the themes: if you edit a theme (all original themes are responsive) in a Blank project, it can lose its reponsitivity. Good practice is always to save a theme under a different name when you customize, especially for Blank projects if you ever want to reuse that theme for a responsive project.

[TommyTwoDogs]

No warning on launching Captivate without Run as Admin.

Found this: http://www.infosemantics.com.au/adobe-captivate-troubleshooting/setting-up-your-computer-to-work-wit...

After launching with Run as Admin, Applying a saved custom theme colors, Captivate still freezes at 25% when Applying Theme Colors. Guess I'll just have to live with "plain vanilla" projects. 😞

Thanks for suggestions and advice!

[Lilybiri]

There should be a reason, I customize the Theme Colors Palette for every project that  I create.  Where did you save that 'custom theme colors palette'? Is it on your system?

[TommyTwoDogs]

Saved Custom Theme Colors does not appear in ...Layouts\9_0\en_US

It does appear in the Manage Custom Theme Colors list.

And Captivate freezes at 25% when Applying Theme Colors

[Lilybiri]

You can save a cptm file anywhere, it doesn't have to be in that Layouts folder at all.  Did you try to save the theme, it will include the theme colors palette, the master slides, object styles and skin. That is a cptm-file.

[TommyTwoDogs]

The only option is to Save. No options to save in a location.

[Lilybiri]

I talked about saving the theme, not the palette.

[TommyTwoDogs]

When I launch Captivate with Run as administrator, I lose access to my network drives where all my resources are including images. Will contact Adobe Support as there must (?) be a configuration that works in a WIndows network environment, common among a vast (?) majority of users.

[Lilybiri]

Good luck!