Object Effects Causing JavaScript Error - Cp 9

[angiee52078145]

We have a course that includes very simple effects (such as EaseInRight, AlphaToFrom) that is causing errors when published in HTML5. The error is in the form of the following: "Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'XXXX' of undefined(...)" and presents a blank slide with the audio playing. When I expand the triangle for the error, you can see more information below. The 'XXXX' property # changes as do the CPM.js.XXX numbers.

This behavior happens when we preview the project in Captivate via an HTML5 browser, and as well when we publish the file to the desktop and view the output via the HTML5 browser. I have tried Chrome, IE, and Safari.

Here is what I can tell you about this project, though I am not the main developer and am not JavaScript familiar. I am just being asked to answer for why this is happening. But in my opinion to use the basic effects in CP one shouldn't have to be JavaScript familiar to apply the effect and have it publish without incident.

• I am running Cp 9.0.2.437 (not in administrator mode because it is not allowed by our organization.)
• Built by importing PPT slidedeck into Cp9.
• Effects are applied in Cp9
• Every slide has audio that is added to the slide in Cp 9.
• When we remove the effects, it publishes just fine.
• I tried some other troubleshooting recommended by RodWard​ in a previous forum question presented about a similar issue in Cp8 by:
  • Removing the audio from the slide, deleting the effect, adding the effect back in, and adding the audio back in = no change in behavior
  • Adjusting the audio to start at 0.5 seconds after the slide
  • Adjusting the object to have a 3.0 second fade in transition (though one of the effects in question on one of these objects actually starts at 23.3 seconds after the object appears.)
  • Saving the project with a new name
  • Deleting my project cache
• We have never experienced this before.

Other information

[TLCMediaDesign]

What are you applying an effect to?

I never use PowerPoint, but I once did some work on one, nothing is editable in CP from PP.

[angiee52078145]

I would prefer not to use PPT either, but this is our current workflow.

In one example, The object is a rounded rectangle which is added to the timeline in CP. The shape appears over the text which is shown in PPT. The effect we added to this shape is to ease in and move to the right.

The issue appears to be related to the effect because when we remove it, the slide that the effect was on plays fine.

[RodWard]

I didn't see any reference to your testing this content output from a web server environment to see if the issues were in any way related to running the content locally.

Have you TRIED uploading the content to a web server and seeing if the issues persist there?  If not, please do that before you assume all is lost.  It's quite common for HTML5 to not work as expected outside a web server environment.

[angiee52078145]

Thank you, Rod. We tried it both locally on our web server. The issue was the same in both instances.

I had a customer support chat with an Adobe representative, and we believe the problem lies somewhere with using the PowerPoint import option as we didn't experience it when we brought some of the assets and materials over to a new blank project. However, we honestly don't have the time to rebuild the whole course, so we opted to just remove any of the simple effects in Cp.

[BDuckWorks]

Hi @angiee52078145 ,

I too am trapped in a workflow that is PowerPoint dependent.

You mentioned a rounded rectangle example, where the object is displayed over a PPT slide.

Have you checked the animations panel in PPT?

I usually advise that all PPT animations should be set to 'after previous' to avoid timing issues.

Is your case, I would scrutinize any animations within PPT for slides having issues in Cp. (Also look for other unique features: animated text, different object types (bmp vs jpg), and special characters inserted into text objects.

Obviously, the goal would be to minimize the effort needed editing the PPT for Cp publications, but if you can find a common theme, and trace it back to the PPT author, you can inform them of the delays associated with having certain features active in PPT.

If the PPT author has reasons for enabling those features on future project, you may need to establish a process of opening PPT files prior to Cp work just to inspect the Animation Pane!