How can i change the background slide on a PPT import

[JimWWest]

I imported a PowerPoint pres into captivate 1.0. No amination, just a static presenation that i wanted to add audio to.


I added my audio and all went well.

Now I am adding some callouts.

When i go to a given slide, I see the powerpoint image suring the entire duration of the slide. It is the bottom layer.

I want to be able to shorten or change when it displays this layer, but the bottom layer doesn't seem to be editable or trimable.

is there a way to make it a normal layer and delete the background layer that is inflexable?

I want the background to just be a light blue. BTW- Where do i set the bkg color for the entire presenation? For all the slides...

[JimWWest]

I found a workaround. I can copy the bkg and paste it as a image, but it still won't let me delete the bkg. How do i delete the bkg or at least make it solid light blue? Can i do this for all my slides, or do i have to maticulusly do this for each slide.

thanks in advance
jim

[CatBandit]

Whoa. If you can come to terms with the idea that Captivate doesn't deal with "layers" you will be a happier user (it is not a graphics application, exactly, and you appear to be treating it as one, or at least expecting it to act like one).

So to start over, you have imported one or more PPT slides into Captivate as a new movie, and now you would like to change the background for slide #1 (or whichever). There are ways to do what you want:

Way #1: Right-click slide #1 and select "Copy Background". This will place the background image on Windows clipboard, so you can then open your favorite image editor, paste the clipboard as a new image, make your edits, then copy the changed image back to the clipboard and reverse the process . . .

Way #2: If the background you would like to change to is on one of the slides in this movie, you can copy the background from that other slide, then paste in to slide #1. Same idea as "Way #1", but all done internally within the current movie.

Way #3: Select any image and resize it in your favorite image editor to be the same size as your existing project, then insert it via the CP "Insert > Image" menu, position it, then right-click and "Merge" it into the background (replacing the current background with the new image).

Where you set the background color for the entire project is at:
Movie > Preferences > Preferences (tab) > Movie Background Color

Last thoughts: Think of your Captivate movies as a background (it can be a captured image, or a "Blank", etc.) on which you (or Captivate) place various other objects including other images, highlight boxes, text-caption boxes, and so on ... as well as interactive objects such as click-boxes and buttons. Everything can be altered in one way or another.

Specifically regarding "layers": We don't normally refer to "layers" but ifit makes you feel good, go ahead. The objects on the bottom of the timeline "stack" are the bottom layers, and the higher on the stack they sit, the higher the "layer" they occupy (like I said, we don't normally talk this way, but anything to accommodate ...).

You can easily change the "layer" of any object EXCEPT (1) the slide itself**, which always occupies the bottom layer UNLESS there is audio on slide-level, in which case ... (2) any audio placed at slide-level is locked as the bottom layer, with the slide itself sitting on top of it.

**The slide itself contains]\ the background image (if any exists for that slide) - as an integrated part of that slide.

From the type of question(s) you are asking, it might be very helpful to watch the half-dozen Captivate tutorial movies that are a part of the install package. They are all listed in the right-column of the main user interface. Best of luck!
.

[Captiv8r]

Hi JimWWest

One way to do this is by inserting a Highlight box. Set the color as desired with NO transparency. Then stretch it out so it covers the whole slide. After you have done this, copy it to the Windows Clipboard. Now in the Filmstrip, click and select all the slides you want to change. After you get them selected (via either Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click) paste to the selected slides.

Sorry, but this next part will have to be on a "slide by slide" basis. You edit each slide, right click the Highlight box, then choose "Merge into background". You will see a dire warning. Just acknowledge the warning and continue. The warning is simply advising you cannot undo the operation.

See if that meets your needs. Hopefully it will.

Cheers... Rick

[Captiv8r]

Oops! Sorry Larry, didn't see you there.

JimWWest, Larry has probably forgotten more about RoboDemo and Captivate than I will hope to ever learn. Whatever he offers, you should follow!

Cheers all... Rick

[JimWWest]

Thanks larry and rick for the awesome answers. You saved me.

I have one other questions:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?forumid=67&catid=464&threadid=1209983&e...

I just posted it.

if you could help me on that one, i would be most appricative.

Thanks
Jim