File size too large?

[mary1492]

I have been making simulations of a software package with different Captivate files and I packaged them together in a SCORM package. The SCORM package is 138 MB published. It does work, but it has some problems. At the end of every SCO the LMS times out when the user clicks on the Exit Module button. The button works eventually, but users are not willing to wait. This make users think there is something wrong with it and complain.

I am using HTML5 output. SWF was banned on our network recently. I also have audio in the files. I don't know if that is contributing to the problem or not.

Anne

[RodWard]

If they have reached the final slide and that slide doesn't have any audio then loading the audio would NOT be causing the timeout issue.  It's more likely to be related to server latency or something like that.  (When you are terminating the session, the server doesn't respond fast enough and so the e-learning module doesn't close down until it gets a confirmation that the LMS has correctly received all the data it just sent.  That delay is called 'latency'.)

I would suggest you add some text on that Exit slide to explain how long the users may need to wait.

[VickieM]

Hi Mary,

I do agree with RodWard that Server Latency is more than likely the cause of your user’s issues.

Suggestions:

-       This is from experience: You might consider in the future limiting the file size of your HTML5 output package. 138 MB does not seem like much, but remember that one HTML5 output alone, when published, can generate hundreds of files.  When several HTML5 outputs are combined, Server latency can reek havoc on your online learning project once uploaded to the LMS’s server side.  You also have to consider that other applications may also be running on this server that may take first priority over the LMS’s functions.

The LMS Administrator should be able to set your online learning project to not timeout from the LMS side.

-        In the Advanced Settings check to see if the “Never Send Resume Data” is unchecked.  This can help cut down the activity between the online learning project and the LMS server side.  This should not affect the scoring.  However, it will keep the resume data/bookmark information for each user from being sent to the LMS.  Each time the user re-enters the online learning it will start from the beginning.  

-        One last suggestion would be to package your HTML5 outputs separately and have the LMS Administrator set them up with perquisites from the LMS side.  Example:  the user would not be allowed to move on to the second HTML5 output without completing the first HTML5 output.  However, this may be treated as separate courses in some LMS.

Thanks

[dan561]

I agree with Veem's second suggestion - link the courses on the LMS side through prerequisites. Our LMS allows multiple SCOs to be set up as a single course which learners must go through in order. Works great!