Is there a way to stop background audio using an action?

[Paul Vineyard]

I am trying to get a looped sound effect to play throughout the project, but to terminate when a specific button is pushed. This would then stop audio for the rest of the project. Any ideas?

[RodWard · Accepted solution]

You can loop Background Audio in a project but you cannot then stop and start that audio via Advanced Actions.

There is no native way in Captivate to control the background audio at run-time.  If you have access to programming expertise it might be possible but I have not seen it done.

[Paul Vineyard]

Thanks. I decided to use the CpCmndMute variable to turn audio on and off.

[RodWard]

OK.  Sorry. I thought you were only trying to terminate the looped background audio not all audio across the entire course.

[Lilybiri]

Have a look at: 1 action = 5 Toggle Buttons - Captivate blog

If you only want to stop all audio cpCmndMute is the way to go. But as Rod points out, if you want total control over audio, don't use Background audio. Even slide audio is limited if you want to have control. Use audio objects or the command Play Audio for better developer control.

Audio Objects: Control them! - Captivate blog

[Paul Vineyard]

Thank you all. I have not attempted to fully describe this situation, due t it's complexity. However, here is a more detailed description.

1. This course is a virtual environment, where the learner can navigate throughout the entire course, at any time.

2. I need a background sound to play initially, until the user finds the correct interaction and then turns it of via a trigger.

3. There are other slides that contain audio, that also need to play, regardless of whether the background audio is triggered on or OFF.

[Lilybiri]

As is explained already before, background music can be dimmed but not controlled. You can mute all audio by the correct interaction, and turn on audio again with the On Enter event of the next slide.

[Paul Vineyard]

Thanks. since my project has nearly 300 slides, I was trying to avoid having to customize the audio control on each slide. The solution is a combination of using the "On Enter" event, as well as muting and un-muting through various advanced actions. My particular situation s very complex, so there really is no great systematic answer.

Thanks for all the detailed and helpful responses!