Need help downloading assets to Captivate 9

[Steffi_Pi]

Hi there,

I need some assistance. I am stuck at work using Captivate 9 and I've been trying to figure out how to download assets to it because out of the box there's hardly anything useful there. I have tried a two different ways:

1. Downloading them to my computer from sites like elearning.net and eLearning Brothers and then importing them, but that doesn't seem to work. I go to File > Import and it gives a list:

• Photoshop File
• PowerPoint Slides
• Preferences (preferences? What kind of preferences can one possibly import to a program like Captivate?)
• Import GIFT Format File
• Question Pools
• Styles
• Project Captions and Closed Captions
• From XML
• External Library

I've tried External Library since I thought that's what the downloaded assets most closely fit but I only get to the computer's file folders. From there I located a folder called Adobe eLearning Assets that showed up but in there are just unintelliglbe folders like "packages > CCM", "packages > core", "packages > D6" and stuff like that. I don't know if i'm in the right spot or where to go from here.

2. The other thing I tried is to go to Assets. Then I got the eLearning Brothers login and found a beautiful plethora of downloadable things, so I went to town. Now, I can't find these downloaded items. They didn't download to the computer's download folder, but there was a pop up window asking for an admin password to install the downloads. I entered it, it did its thing, but the downloaded items are nowhere to be found. For example, I downloaded a character - Evelyn. She's not in the characters library. How do I close the loop between downloading and actually being able to use the files? Can someone help me?

Also, do you really have to download each pose for each character separately? There must be a better way that I'm missing. Any pointers would be so appreciated.

[VickieM]

Hi Steffi,

eLearning Assets:

Check the eLearning Assets folder located on your C drive. Look for the eLearning Assets folder.

Depending on your directory structure it may look like the following.

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Adobe\eLearning Assets\SampleProjects

You should see those downloaded assets listed.

If not, I suggest doing a search of your directory.

Thanks and good luck.

[Walte58]

Is there a way to get assets to download to a different folder. My C drive is SSD and I cannot store assets there due to size and storage restrictions. I can't find any way to change the folder or to get Captivate to look elsewhere.

[Paul Wilson CTDP]

I think that's an excellent idea for a feature request to edit this download location for precisely the reason you mentioned. Fill one out here:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

I'll do the same.

[Walte58]

Thanks, but I guess that means it can't be done. I'll make the request, but it likely means  won't be purchasing Captivate at the end of my trial since this makes the app more or less unusable on my laptop.

[Lilybiri]

Install the eLearning Assets to another drive, have done that when the primary SSD has not enough space.

[Walte58]

I installed Captivate on my D drive, but it is not giving me a choice of where to download assets. Whenever I click download it simply downloads to my C drive into the eLearning assets folder. If you could explain how to do this I would appreciate it.

[Lilybiri]

eLearning Assets is a separate installation, why didn't you install it also on the D-drive?

[Walte58]

Unless I missed something, the assets button was already in Captivate the first time I opened it. But if it is separate, then uninstalling and re-installing should fix the problem. I don't see any way to only uninstall the eLearning Assets separately so I will uninstall Captivate, then re-install. Maybe that will work. I'll let you know.

[Lilybiri]

eLearning Assets are a separate file to download and install. Default location is in Public Documents. Google for a way to relocate Public Documents and you are all set. I always relocate my personal documents also on another drive, not to the default location.

[Steffi_Pi]

@Veem: Mine seem to be here:

C:\Users\user\Desktop\Adobe eLearning Assets\Adobe eLearning Assets

But in there are only three folders:

• packages
• payloads
• resources

In packages and resources is just gobbledygook. Folders that make no sense to the user (I am assuming Captivate needs those for something behind the scenes). In payloads I found a folder called Adobe-eLearningAssetsFull-mul and in there was a folder called Assets2_1.zip. I unzipped it, but the file names in there are meaningless and I can't open the items. How do I get them into Captivate to use?

Lilybiri, I have 9.0.0.223; how can I upgrade to 9.0.2 and is that a free upgrade or a paid one?

[Lilybiri]

Free upgrade, look under Help, Updates.  You'll need admin rights.

It looks like you never installed eLearning Assets, as I mentioned. What you see on desktop is the installation folder, look for an exe file to install please.

[Steffi_Pi]

I'll have to get IT involved; we don't have admin rights for our computers, but i'll reach out to them and try it. Thanks!

[Lilybiri]

Which exact version of 9? Make sure to use the most recent one: 9.0.2.437. Thrre were problems downloading assets from the eLearninb Brothers with previous versiosns.

[Paul Wilson CTDP]

Everyone is focusing on the second part of your question, however, when I see the first part of your question I realize that you are trying to import using the import drop down menu and I understand your confusion. If you wish to bring in assets that you have downloaded from third-party media sites such as images, audio, or video you actually want to use the Media icon in the large toolbar. Hope that helps answer at least part of your question.

[Lilybiri]

If you want to understand the meaning of the Captivate Libraries, please have a look at my blog post:

https://elearning.adobe.com/2017/07/library-which-library/

You will see how to import assets directly to the project library, which is a good practice to be preferred over inserting assets directly on the stage. Do never look under the Insert menu (which would be logical for most) because it has been deprecated since version 8.  Inserting all type of objects can only be done using the Big Button Bar (where you find Objects, Media....). Advantage of inserting in the Library is that you can drag any asset from that library directly to the stage or to an object (like an audio file to be attached to an object, or a shared action to be triggered by a slide event or an object event). 

You were talking about assets from the eLearning Brothers which you can reach directly from within Captivate, those will be inserted in default folders (look for an explanatiob in the eLB site). You were not able to do that because you never installed the main eLearning Assets folder as I suspect from your last answer. Even without admin rights, you should have access to that Public folder. The main reason why it is installed in Public documents (lot of the subfolders are duplicates of original folders) is that even without admin rights you have access and can add/edit assets in that folder.

[Steffi_Pi]

Lilybiri​, thank you! That solved some of my problems.

Some characters still don't download but most do, so I take it those that don't are just broken. But, there are plenty of characters, so that's ok, I'll chalk it up to that just being Captivate.

However, there are animated characters and those don't seem to show up in My Assets at all. Is that a known issue or am I looking in the wrong spot?

I found where themes download but how do I get a theme into Captivate that I got from a 3rd party (it's a legit one, from elearning.net). Do I just open it as a project and just informally use it as a template or do I need to save it a particular way?

[Lilybiri]

I am not sure what the format is of the animated characters and if they are included in the free assets with Captivate, cannot help with that.

About the themes, I don't know in which format you get those themes? The eLB talk about themes, but they offer a cptx project, whereas themes normally are provided as cptm files, include a Theme Colors palette, Object Styles, Master slides and setup of the Skin. Maybe another link will help you to see the big difference between a template (cptl file, do not use them, they are buggy) and a theme (cptm file):

https://elearning.adobe.com/2016/12/exploring-themes-and-templates-in-captivate/

[Steffi_Pi]

That's great, I'll take a look at the linked article about the themes / templates. And noted on the templates, thanks!

For the animated ones, they came in two formats: flash, so flv, and mp4, but I can't find either of the downloads. They were part of the eLB characters (I downloaded "Melanie" for now), they're like mini movies of movements, gestures, etc.

[Lilybiri]

There is for sure no default Captivate folder where they'll end up as you have for the static Characters, which will appear in the Characters dialog box. You shouldn't use flv anymore (Flash Player EOL).

[Steffi_Pi]

So, do I get to choose where to put them? There's not a dialog box when one of these movie files downloads; they just download and you get the confirmation dialogue box. Do I need to pull them in another way?

[Lilybiri]

Sorry, have no idea. I only rarely use eLB assets, some cartoon characters and that is it.  

[Steffi_Pi]

No worries, thanks!