SWF to AVI or .MOV

Report · Jan 12, 2008

My goal is to publish training videos on a Ning site that I am designing as an extranet for freelancers working with me. I understand that I need to convert the SWF files to mov, .mpg, .avi, .3gp or .wmv for me to be able to upload to that site . I have been trying all the different trial versions of SWF conversion software programs including Sothink. When one publishes from CP there are a lot of SWF files created and I could not figure out how to convert them all into a single AVI video. I read about unchecking the borders in the skin section under projects and that would create a single SWF and I thought that might work for me, and for whatever reason it does not work I have just as many file as before. I thought I could work around that problem by using the main (largest file size) SWF in the folder and not the ones that say "fullmotion" because the entire video with sound plays without a problem on my computer, but when I drag the same file into one of the SWF to AVI converters I have been experimenting with, the file plays a limited amount of frames and then stops. I am stumped there must be a way to do this without jumping through hoops.

I don't know if that was clear? My goal is to convert my CP project's SWF file into an AVI or another acceptable format for the web and then upload it! --Thanks

Report · Jun 10, 2008

After hours of head banging, the link you provided alex_is to the youtube conversion process was brilliant....worked first time.....thanks!

Report · Jun 14, 2008

I echo all of the frustrations of the other posters who are trying to figure out a way to get our Captivate presentations onto the web.

I see some defensiveness on the part of the moderators, and I recognize that they are free volunteers.

However, the frustration level is extreme. I think the problem may come from many of the "classic" Captivate users coming from the world of e-learning, where exporting videos to YouTube, etc. is simply not a major issue.

The problem is that many companies, mine included, are all moving to videos as a major method of communication with our customers.

We have standardized on Captivate in our company and completely regret the decision, because it's simply unusable for the purposes of exporting rich video presentations to various parts of the web (whether its your own site, or YouTube).

The reality is that the right decision is to simply use Camtasia Studio instead, which is really what most people who do video presentations use. Captivate has its place in the e-learning world, but is simply hidebound by its lack of output support.

We have produced rich web videos that have sound, multiple animations, slides, etc. The various solutions (inserting blank slides, using the swf converter program) are not usable.

At any rate, if anyone can successfuly convert one of our presentations to mpeg or AVI (with virtually the same quality as the original), I'll give them $500. Just contact me at alexeck(at)gmail.com.

Alex

Report · Jun 14, 2008

Hi Alex

I receive my replies via E-Mail and was astonished to see that you were initially offering $500 to anyone that wanted to try. I'm pleased to see you amended the post to say successfully convert.

This will probably surprise you, but I think your point is valid when it comes to things like YouTube. Camtasia is probably what I would recommend to someone if they said that they were planning on creating things that they will place on YouTube. So I totally concur with you on that point.

Unless you were one of the unlucky few in the same boat as me with being unable to run Captivate in trial mode, I don't see your point with regretting the decision. Adobe and Techsmith both offer a 30 day free trial. That's 30 days to put both products through the paces and see if they fit your need. So, again assuming you made it into trial mode, I find it odd you would be totally at ease with the output until after you ponied up for the real deal, then be shocked that it doesn't port easily to format that works well on YouTube.

I totally don't understand the claim about being unable to put the presentations on your own site. YouTube makes sense, as they seem to restrict uploading to specific types. But you have free reign with your own site. Unless your web admins are blowing smoke and saying it HAS to be in this format or other.

Sincerely... Rick

Report · Jun 14, 2008

> I find it odd you would be totally
> at ease with the output until after you ponied up for the real deal, then
> be
> shocked that it doesn't port easily to format that works well on YouTube.

I find it odd that anyone would buy a tool that is designed to create
interactive content, so that they can output to non-interactive video. There
are scores (probably hundreds) of tools for creating video.

Steve

--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Report · Jun 15, 2008

Steve, Rick,

Thank you both for your thoughtful comments, and for agreeing that Camtasia is the better solution.

For now, I have some ideas I'm going to be experimenting with, such as using Camtasia to record the Captivate presentation, and then using a tool like Total Recorder to record the audio. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

I also have a couple of nice people from the forum who have taken me up on the offer, so I'll contact them offline.

Cheers

Alex

Report · Jul 01, 2008

First off i agree with every complaint above.

I was looking for a way to simply recording what was going on within my screen...i came accross Captivate and said "wow didnt know adobe made a screencapping software".

After downloading it and playing with it i realized they dont, they make a semi finished or broken program that records your desktop in a useless format.

WTH am i suppossed to do with 10 SWF files for a 20 second recording of what i did on my desktop...suppose i dont want to have users on my website have to goto a full webpage just for a short demo?

Forget the program not supporting AVI or WMV or any other popular format....i cant even get it to output 1 SWF or FLV file. Instead i get a bunch of files...

For 600+ bux this program should do other favors for me aside from recording...how the devs failed to overlook offering user friendly ways of outputting files makes my brain hurt.

Seriously forget the other guys offer for 500 bux to get this to work...the world will pay someone millions to create a simple to use screencaptureing program...all the ones ive tried seem to either suck or not do what they claim (from the free ones to the 600+ dollar ones like captivate)

Report · Jul 03, 2008

> WTH am i suppossed to do with 10 SWF files for a 20 second recording of
> what i
> did on my desktop...suppose i dont want to have users on my website have
> to
> goto a full webpage just for a short demo?

I guess what you didn't do was look and see what Captivate actually is
designed to do.

If all you want is a non-interactive movie of something happening on screen,
then Captivate is not the tool for you.

Steve

--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Report · Jul 15, 2008

Steve is right (albeit I wouldn't have phrased it in as nasty a manner -- but that is the way with the moderators of this forum -- they're get real grumpy if you dare to criticize Capitivate -- it's especially irritating to have that self-righteous tone when you just blew a lot of money on licenses like I did. But whatever).

Here's the bottomline: Captivate is completely useless if you want to output to the web, YouTube, Vimeo or anything else that's on the web these days. Furthermore, this functionality is apparently planned, but don't expect it for at least another 12 months.

The solution is simple; Move to Camtasia. It's an outstanding product, and it's what a lot of the professional demo people use (for example, demogirl.com).

Right now, the only real solution I've figured out to move my big, beautiful Captivate recording to the web (at least for my complex demo) is to use Camtasia to record the screen, while using Total Recorder (www.highcriteria.com) to record the audio. You can try this yourself with demo versions of the programs.

Captivate is apparently useful for producing courseware or for grumpy "I never watch that darned YouTube" luddites. I will give it this: It's a beautifully engineered program, and incredibly nice to use, and I love how it works (which is why I bought it). But for many cases, it's just absolutely useless for outputting to any file format other than SWF.

Good luck all.

Report · Oct 14, 2008

quote:

Originally posted by: Newsgroup User
> I find it odd you would be totally
> at ease with the output until after you ponied up for the real deal, then
> be
> shocked that it doesn't port easily to format that works well on YouTube.

I find it odd that anyone would buy a tool that is designed to create
interactive content, so that they can output to non-interactive video. There
are scores (probably hundreds) of tools for creating video.

Steve

--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Not having a possibility of exporting to multiple formats is why people became angry with Microsoft products a long time ago. And thats why they support many different formats now.

I'm trolling this because 1, you insulted him for wanting a product for multiple uses which is common in IT, and 2 its ignorant for Adobe to think we should only want to export to flash. When, in reality a lot of Fortune 500+ companies do not allow users to have Flash on thier PC's. Sometimes we just can't use Flash.

If I knew this about Captivate I would have protested against it, when the Tech Writer requested it.

I'm done venting about Adobe marketing being retarded. It makes perfect sense that we want interactivity in 90% of the cases, and a video in 10% of the cases. For instance, a demo showing customers that we have top notch help with the product. And we would like to show that we have help in Silverlight demonstrations. There are plenty of circumstances to validate needing an AVI created from the product. If a Customer pays for a product, why would he be expected to buy questionable 3rd party products and have quality be degraded for wanting output in a different format 10% of the time. That makes no sense.

And when it is Integrated with RoboHelp. I sometimes here the TechWriter cry in his cubicle.

Have a good day.

Report · Oct 14, 2008

Steve,

Your response shows you for the strutting jackanape that you are.

If Captivate was only to be used for interactive content, then why is Adobe (supposedly) going to implement support for more export formats in the future?

In the end, this rage will die down with existing users when Adobe finally does implement some decent export options. But until then, yes, there will be a constant stream of bitching.

Report · Oct 15, 2008

"alexeck12381231
> Steve,
>
> Your response shows you for the strutting jackanape that you are.

I think stating my opinion, without calling people names or poking fun is
just that - stating my opinion.

>
> If Captivate was only to be used for interactive content, then why is
> Adobe
> (supposedly) going to implement support for more export formats in the
> future?

Because the product is evolving. Captivate up to version 3 does not export
flat, non interactive video by default because that was not the intention of
the product.

>
> In the end, this rage will die down with existing users when Adobe finally
> does implement some decent export options. But until then, yes, there
> will be
> a constant stream of bitching.

You are more than welcome to you opinion, but you don't get a better hearing
by using name-calling in your posts. I'm still stunned by the nastiness you
are using just because the product is not designed to do what you want and I
had the nerve to point that out to you.

Multiple posts from multiple names is kind of funny too.

Steve

--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Report · Oct 15, 2008

> And when it is Integrated with RoboHelp. I sometimes here the TechWriter
> cry
> in his cubicle.

Can you explain what you mean by integrated with RoboHelp?

I ask because you can easily insert Captivate into RoboHelp. Here's a great
example of what you can do with the current version of RoboHelp:-

https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a295153/airinelearningtour/

On slide 4 you should see a demo of an integrated Captivate movie.

HTH

Steve

--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Report · May 14, 2008

Report · Apr 04, 2008

> The suggestion by a moderator herein encouraging me to use the Wish Form
> certainly has merit and I have done that.

I just wanted to clarify - there are no moderators on this or any other
Adobe forum. There are Community Experts who volunteer their time to try to
offer help and guidance, but they are not formally 'moderators'. Of course,
that doesn't stop some making efforts to guide the conversations and
attitudes of those posting here.

Steve

--
Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

Report · Apr 17, 2008

Using Captivate is a PDF version of the contents of Captivate Help, ... using Captivate commands and features. The PDF file is available on the Macromedia

Report · Jul 15, 2008

I have a presentation that I just created in Captivate ready to upload to a Blackboard site. The 4 files generated from the Publish function were 1) a Firefox Document (2KB), 2) a Shockwave Flash Object (14251 KB), 3) a Shockwave Flash Object -- the skin (11 KB), and 4) a JScript Script File (1 KB).

I'm not sure how to upload these files so that they will open as a flash file in Blackboard. I thought I would get a single swf file that I could link on a site. Help?

Report · Jul 16, 2008

Welcome to our community, Ann

Not sure why you appended your first post to this long and gnarly thread, as your question doesn't seem to relate to what is in the thread. But that's okay. We found it!

If all you want is a .SWF to upload, just point at the main .SWF object If you want to banish the skin .SWF, click Project > Skin... > Borders tab and DE-select the "Show borders" check box. Then re-publish your project.

Cheers... Rick

Report · Jul 16, 2008

The point is (still) Captivate creates multiple *.swf files which are linked (somehow) to create one main presentation. Sure you can get rid of the 'splash' screen, sure you may be able to republish. But, the question remains "why so many frames?" Can the amount of frames be reduced to just 1? We have to make a comparison here Camtasia is superior in this way AND for the variety of ways to publish the final product. Captivate allows SWF that's it. Pretty sad when you have to buy a third party product (SoThink) and hope the third party product will work.

Report · Jul 16, 2008

Thanks Rick! I was a little apprehensive about posting here ("gnarly," yes, a little!). I just tried to get toward the end of the line so someone might notice.

Anyway, the presentation got posted beautifully. I got it up on Blackboard, but the size was wrong. Then I remembered that we have an Adobe Connect server, and went that route. Perfect.

I am absolutely thrilled with the software, and I will be recommending it to my department at the college. Those of us teaching distance courses can use this. I learned it as I put together a presentation, which is another plus for this program. The help feature is well done, as are the tutorials. And this forum is pretty good, too! Thank you very much for a speedy, thoughtful response.

Ann

Report · Jul 22, 2008

Thanks Rick! That was the answer I was looking for.

Now I just have to figure out how to convert the project to a usable web format once I am finished editing. Since I have already cost my company thousands of dollars in software purchases, I don't want to buy anything else towards the completion of this project.

One of the threads above suggested exporting the project to flash. I have tried that method several times in my efforts, but one or the other of the programs crash. Have you had any success with this?

Report · Jul 22, 2008

Hello again

Sadly, no I'm not a Flash person. (And I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so I can't claim to be one.

)

Perhaps one of our resident Flashy types of folks can speak to that. Just as a suggestion, you might wish to open an entirely new thread to ask the question and see if someone bites. This thread is rather long in the tooth.

Cheers and best of luck to you! Rick

Report · Jun 03, 2013

I'm also having this problem & I don't want to have to pay extra for those swf to mov conversion programs.

I have a feeling that the effect is different on each export so I'm considering doing a few exports and then editing them together in premiere, a poor solution but it might work.

Does anyone even know what this problem is called? It's hard to search for solutions since I can't sum up exactly what is happening.

Any help on this much appreciated. I've attached a picture of the type of stuttered effect I'm getting.

Report · Jul 22, 2008

Todd, you might look at that earlier solution I recommended -- using Camtasia to record the Captivate output (simply Publish to a single exe, record the output in Camtasia) and then using Total Recorder to record sound.

I just did it and it worked PERFECTLY. My big Captivate presentation is now on Youtube, Vimeo, etc.!!!

Alex

Report · Jul 22, 2008

> Todd, you might look at that earlier solution I recommended -- using
> Camtasia
> to record the Captivate output (simply Publish to a single exe, record the
> output in Camtasia) and then using Total Recorder to record sound.
>
> I just did it and it worked PERFECTLY. My big Captivate presentation is
> now
> on Youtube, Vimeo, etc.!!!

Woohoo - :-)

Steve

Report · Aug 14, 2008

We have Captivate and Camtasia. I didn't have to publish to an exe to capture the video with Camtasia. Basically here are the steps below.

1. Caputre with Captivate (try to keep screen size to the same size as the output file to eliminate distortion in pixels on the final image)
2. Perform Edits, add captions, capture audio with Captivate.
3. In the Captivate Library, rename each audio file to coincide with the correct slide order.
4. Export the audio from the library to a folder on PC
5. In Captivate, preview project.
6. Pause project as soon as it begins
7. Open Camtasia Recorder
8. Set screen capture area to select the Captivate preview paine and capture recording.
9. When completed, stop Camtasia Recording and stop/close Captivate.
10. Open the Camtasia Producer, and import the Camtasia Recording and the Captivate audio files (captivate exports wav and mp3) I import the mp3.
11. In Camtasia Producer, line up the audio to the recording.
12. You can then publish to a variety of streaming outcomes

I know this sounds like alot, but it was extremely simple. Captivate is much easier to perform edits in. I also think the video quality is much better. It even survives on the final output from Camtasia.

I hope this helps someone.