How to start background audio on slide 2 instead of slide 1??
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Hello, I am using Captivate CS4. I imported an audio file that I need to play over multiple slides (looping when the audio finishes). I decided to add it as a background audio file, as this seems to work the best for my project - because it is impossible to know how long someone will be on a slide, so as a background audio, it will continue to play and loop when it finishes until they reach the end.
However, I do not want the background audio to play on the first slide, as the first slide is a welcome screen. When they are ready to start the training, they select "Start", which takes them to slide 2 - and this is where the background audio should start.
How can I do this? I have the Background Audio turned off on slide 1 (Slide Properties>Audio> "Stop background audio" is checked). This stops the audio from playing on this slide, however the audio must only be muted instead of turned off, because when I select Start and go to slide 2, the audio is already playing (not starting from the beginning). If the user spends a lot of time on the welcome screen then selects Start, the audio could start playing in the middle of the track.
I need it to start at the beginning of the audio track when slide 2 loads.
If anyone has any ideas, please reply ASAP. I am an experienced Graphic Designer, but I am not a programmer - so I am not too familiar with JavaScript or Actionscript - but I know there has to be a way to accomplish this.
Is there a way I can have no background music on slide 1, then program the Start button (with JavaScript or Advanced Actions) to start the background music when selected - so when slide 2 loads the background music starts?
Thank you in advance for your help!
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Welcome to our community
What about using the cpCmndMute variable? Configure an Advanced Action to toggle the value. Then run the Advanced Action on slide enter to Mute or Un-Mute.
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links Begin learning Captivate 5 moments from now! $29.95 Captivate Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form |
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I think the Rex has indicated that this is more or less what he gets by turning off Background Audio for slide 1. (Muted audio which then resumes playing at slide 2).
This is actually a very good question. I've never thought of trying to get the background audio to begin playing at anything other than slide 1. I'm not aware of any advanced action variable that can be used to initialise the background audio at a given slide. Is there such a beast?
It would also be great to be able to control the volume of the background audio at runtime. I find many elearning courses set the background audio volume too high and it competes with the voiceover, making it difficult to understand. It would be very useful if learners could reduce the volume of the background audio independent of the voiceover audio.
Actually, when it comes to triggering audio or sound files, Captivate could do with quite a bit more functionality. Something to keep in mind for enhancement requests for Cp6. I've added it to my IdeaScale list: http://captivate6ideas.ideascale.com/a/dtd/More-control-over-background-audio-start-end---volume/985... for anyone that wants to vote on it.
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Hi Rod
Ahhh, I believe you are right. I saw the line that read:
...This stops the audio from playing on this slide, however the audio must only be muted instead of turned off,...
And I interpreted this as meaning Rex only wanted to mute the audio and not simply initialize it on slide 2.
Rex, sorry I misunderstood! I'm surprised Rod doesn't have a widget for that!
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links Begin learning Captivate 5 moments from now! $29.95 Captivate Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form |
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"I'm surprised Rod doesn't have a widget for that!"
Been thinking about it...It would be nice if every shortfall in Captivate functionality could be fixed by a widget, but that isn't always the case. It's not so much what they can or cannot do, it's more whether or not it's worth spending the time creating and debugging a widget that would do it.
Widgets take quite a lot of time to build, and I can make much better money hour for hour just creating elearning for clients.
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LOL, no argument there!
I think I'm the king of expending gobs of effort for so little ROI!
Rick
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Rick,
Thank you for the lightning fast reply here!
I am not too familiar with how to create Advanced Actions in Captivate. I opened the slide properties and selected Advanced Actions from the "On slide enter" option. However, how do I add the action? I selected the Add Statement and selected "Assignment", and chose cpCmdMute, but what do I put after that?
Right now, it shows:
-> cpCmdMute := CaptivateVersion <+> <NewLine>
Also, will this command simply mute the background audio on slide 1 but allow it to continue playing or will it actually stop the background audio from playing on slide 1?
I need the background audio to start playing (from the beginning of the audio track) when slide 2 loads.
Thanks again!
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Hello again
I just tested to ensure it will work as I thought and it seems to.
Click Project > Actions to open the Advanced Actions.
Click the Advanced Actions tab.
Click Create a New Action and give it a name such as ToggleMute.
Click once on the Add Statement line and press the Spacebar.
Press the Spacebar a second time and choose the Condition.
Click where it says Select a variable and press the Spacebar.
Choose cpCmndMute.
Choose is equal to.
Choose Value.
Type 0 where it says <click to type>.
Press Enter.
Click the line reading Add Statement in the first area where it says begin.
Press the Spacebar.
Press the Spacebar again and choose Assignment.
Choose cpCmndMute again and assign 1 to it.
Repeat the process and assign 0 to the or Else area.
Click Save, then click Close and you have created your Advanced action to toggle the muting!
Here is an image of what mine looks like:
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links Begin learning Captivate 5 moments from now! $29.95 Captivate Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form |
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If your first slide is of a fixed length of time you could copy and paste some "silence" into the beginning of your background audio file, (silence of the same length as the intial slide.) Its not an "elegant" solution, but it might suffice in certain situations.
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