multiple text entry boxes

Report · May 20, 2008

I need to simulate filling out a form in Captivate. There are no correct entries -- anything the learner types in the form would be correct; therefore, I didn't type anything into the Correct Entry area for the Text Entry Boxes. The shortcut key to go from one text entry box to another is ENTER. Each text entry field on the form has the following settings: Infinite attempts, Display for rest of slide, On Success Continue, Appear after zero seconds, No Transition, Pause for success/failure captions.

The problem is that the ENTER key isn't working. The learner fills out the first text entry box, hits ENTER, and nothing happens. They are able to click in the next text enter box and type information, but don't have the convenience of hitting ENTER. The learner should be able to click in the first text entry box, hit ENTER, jump to the next text entry box, fill it out, hit ENTER to get to the third text entry box, and for forth.

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to make this work. If anyone has a suggestion, I'd be so grateful.

Report · May 21, 2008

Hi Jay

Normally I place Text Entry Boxes on different slides. For example, they interact with the first on slide three, press Enter and (assuming the evaluation worked) they jump to slide four. On slide four, I'd have an image of the Text Entry Box from slide three in its completed state and the next Text Entry Box would be waiting for input.

You might try actually assigning some expected text to the box. Then allow a single attempt and use the area for "If user enters text incorrectly" to choose the action. So they press Enter, the text doesn't evaluate and elicits a Failure, then the action specified in the incorrect area is carried out.

Maybe that helps?

Hope so... Rick

Report · May 21, 2008

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the suggestion. I want to make sure that I understand you correctly.

In my case, there are no "expected" entries since the entries are people's names which could be any combination of alphabetic characters.

I gather from your suggestions that there is no way for the actual text entered by the learner into the Text Entry Box on one of the slides to appear in the same fields of subsequent slides. If that is the case, I really have no way to duplicate what the user entered on one slide into subsequent slides. Is this correct?

If so, I wonder if there is another way to accomplish this.

Report · May 21, 2008

Hi Jay

Well, there are a couple of widgets over on the Captivate Exchange that you may find useful for this.

Click here to visit the Captivate Exchange

The widgets are named Text Input/Output

Cheers... Rick

Report · May 20, 2009

I'm reading this post a year late. The text input/output widget is no longer on the site. Do you have it and can you share it?

Report · May 20, 2009

Hi there

Do you have Captivate 4? If so, there is no longer a need for the Text Input/Text Output widget.

The files are still up on the Exchange. You need to know how to find them. At the top of the Exchange are buttons that allow you to sort in different ways. You need to sort by "Most Recent", then begin traversing backward. I think it's two or maybe three screens deep.

Cheers... Rick

Report · May 20, 2009

Thanks for that! Alas, I am still working with CP3...

Sarah H. Todd

Training and Development Coordinator

West Corporation

402-716-0738

116-0738

Report · May 30, 2008

Is it possible for you to tell them what to type? If the most important thing is for them to learn the form and not necesarrily specific information you could give them what they need. I created a simulation of a computer system and it involved names of clients and other data that could vary from client to client. For this simulation, I told them in every case what to type in the fields that way I could predict the answers and explain what each field was for at the same time.

I also used the transparent button to get everything to go from one place to another. I also used Rick's idea of each slide was one field and the Enter key advanced them to the next slide. I had some fields where they had to click with the mouse to advance since that was how the system worked.

All in all it was a good simulation that is in use for both new people and those who need refresher training.

Report · May 27, 2008

Rick -- Thanks for the tip. Although the widget won't solve the problem in this case, it works well and could be very useful in other instances.

Report · May 30, 2008

I think this could be done in Flash, but not Captivate. For example Flash ActionScript would include a variable like UserInput01 and when they hit enter that variable would be automatically inserted as text on the next slide. Probably too complex a solution for this case though.