My boss wants to use variables in HTML to change colors and images in a Captivate course...

[ddalasta]

Hi all,

I work for an information security training company, and I'm one of two eLearning developers here. Our boss wants us to embed custom variables in a course so that one of our web developers (who is also working on our own custom-built LMS) can use the embedded variables to change the color of a shape that is used on every slide (but isn't in the master because it needs to go in front of other objects on individual slides), the background image used throughout the course, and the logo. The idea is that we'll allow our customers to go into the LMS and upload their logo, choose a background image from 5 or 10 choices we'll have available, and give us a hex code for the shape. The system would then somehow change the value of the variables when the course launches (using javascript, I believe) so that those elements show up as the customer specified.

Is this even possible? We've figured out how to make it work for text (this was pretty simple to do), but I can't for the life of me figure out how to change out images or colors. Any and all help appreciated!

[Lilybiri]

This is not really an answer, but I just wanted to point out that if an object is on the master slide, you have the option to have it always on top of any object on slides that use that master slide. You can always create user variables, and it is perfectly possible to use JS or advanced actions, to use one of the shapes already in the course to show up while the other shapes remain invisible.

[ddalasta]

Lilibiri, can you tell me how to do that? I found instructions at the following link, but I can't find the "Master Slide Objects on Top" setting in the properties panel, so I don't have any idea what to actually do.

https://helpx.adobe.com/captivate/using/slide-properties.html

Here's what my properties panel looks like when I select a shape on the master:

[Lilybiri]

You are showing the Properties panel for a shape, you need to choose the Properties panel of a slide. In the Style tab you choose the master slide, and you'll find the option On Top:

I inserted the X (shape button) on the main master slides. All daughter master slides, if the option to include Main master objects is chosen, will show this shape button. It can be hidden behind other objects on the slide, but if you check 'Master Slide Objects On Top' it will have priority in the stack and be on top of everything.

[RodWard]

If this is about offering a customer the option to change their branding, I wouldn't be trying to use your approach with variables and advanced actions.  I would be telling them that they simply need to swap out the images in the published output with their own, and make sure their replacement images are the right size, bit depth, and file format.  They only need to do this once for each published module.  Your way could get messy (in my opinion).

[ddalasta]

I completely agree that it can and likely will get messy. But this is what I'm being told we are going to do, so I'm doing my best to find a way to make it work. I've already advised against it multiple times because we don't have nearly the amount of control over the final output that I think we should have.

The problem with having customers swap out the images in the published files is that we don't want them to have to mess around with loading them to the LMS. The whole point is that my boss wants the customer to be as hands off as possible, just uploading the couple of things they need changed. If they manipulate the published files, they could easily break stuff and cause more of a hassle. And since the LMS is ours and we do the administration bit, they'd simply be handing the zip file back to us for upload. 😕