I am extrememly surprised no one has posted that the new version of Captivate is available to download.
I just watched a webinar introducing all the new features and that's when I learned that the new version will NOT open Captivate 2019 files and there isn't a way to convert them. Adobe will stop supporting the 2019 version in 2028.
The new Captivate seems fine and cool and all that, but it's still missing a lot of features that people have been asking for and missing some features that Captivate 2019 has. They said they will slowly add new features over time.
I guess my team needs to decide whether we convert all our current lessons to the NEW Captivate, or look for another company's solution.
Just wondering what everyone else's thoughts are....
Project Charm is the name given to the new version of the new Captivate while it is in development, but it has not yet been released. It is still undergoing BETA testing. I am one of many people involved in the BETA.
To be honest, it looks to me as if the website you showed may have taken one of the presentations given to the BETA group and posted it for view on the internet. I would hope that they have Adobe's permission to do that, but I tend to doubt it because all members of the BETA team have signed NDAs promising NOT to reveal details about functionality of the software.
Bottom line: You need to wait until the next version of Captivate is released before making any decisions about whether or not to use it for your own projects. To my knowledge no date has yet been given for that release.
But if you DID decide to go with another vendor's e-learning authoring software you are still going to need to rebuild all of your courses.
So I'm wondering if I have to rebuild all my courses, wouldn't I want a product that has most of the features I want already implemented instead of waiting years?
I've mostly really enjoyed using Captivate over the years. I'm just feeling a bit shocked that I can no longer use 2019 cptx files going forward.
OK. My apologies. This is news to me. I have not received any such email from Adobe and I can find no announcement on the BETA program website to the effect that the product has already been released.
But I cannot argue with the fact that the new version is being advertised on the Adobe website. The testimonials shown there are all from people who were involved in the BETA. Adobe seems to have done this without informing us. I guess they are allowed to do that. They own the app after all.
As you said, Adobe will continue to support Captivate 2019 for several more years to ensure it will work on OS versions that are released. But you won't really be getting any new enhancements to 2019, just updates to keep it going. So you can still continue update your existing courses created in Captivate 2019 but I wouldn't recommend creating new ones with it unless you are sure they will have a short shelf-life.
If you want to evaluate all the available e-learning tools to see whether there is a better option, NOW would definitely be the time to do it.
No problem. I agree - the way this was released feels strange. There have been bigger announcements for patches.
I'm currently creating a lesson in 2019. Do I immediately stop and learn the new version? Wait a year and see what they continue to add to the new Captivate, and then switch if I don't like it? I came here to see what other Captivate users will be doing.
I will definitely be looking to use the new Captivate (whatever they call it) going forward.
But I would recommend caution before diving into using the new version for actual projects that need to be delivered within the next month or two.
I have used Captivate since version one and have witnessed many such new releases. One thing I know for sure is that any release that has drastically changed the underlying technology of Captivate will come with a slew of unresolved bugs to fix. Adobe will of course get around to fixing them eventually. But that initial period (which can last for months) will be extremely frustrating for any users desperate to get a course finished and uploaded to their (or their client's) LMS.
If this new major update Captivate version has just been released, by all means download it and start playing around with it to learn the way it works. But otherwise sit back and watch the Captivate User Forum carefully to see what other people are complaining about BEFORE you dive into creating actual projects. If after a month or two the issues seem to be minor, THEN jump in and use it for project work.
I am not sure if this was mentioned during the webinar, but want to add this information. Since the new version is at this moment only meant to create responsive projects with several of the present limitations for Fluid Boxes projects, you are entitled to use both CP2019 and version 12 on one license. If non-responsive projects are used (as is the case for most of my clients) please keep to CP2019. The new version needs a completely new learning curve, not only for using the cool UI but for all workflows. Do not expect all features presently available as you already have learned.
Both versions will continue to be supported.
Software simulations are non-responsive, the workflows are identical to CP2019 but I prefer the present version which allows adding content slides, quiz slides and simple objects which is not possible in version 12.
I have created a library of over 60 non-responsive modules (and growing) developed in CP2017/CP2019 that will need to be continually updated in the years ahead. I'll have a death grip on this version for quite some time. I would hope that, if Adobe decides to bench CP2019 in the future, they'd offer a perpetual license (or some other model) to users like myself who need to support legacy-developed courses. Otherwise, I am in a world of hurt.
Totally understand your frustration. We got the promise that you are able to use CP2019 at the same time as the new version 12 on one license, as long as all the features of CP2019 are not available in the new version. I hope that promise is kept, because both versions are completely incompatible at this moment.
Let's keep our fingers crossed. When Flash died, I lost a library of courses (still stings), so I'm very sensitive to this. Was not cost effective to convert.
Sure, I am afraid to answer when clients would contact me to update their Themes, Libraries (lot of shared actions), Preferences in version 12. All is gone...
I'm sure you saw this, Lilybiri, but it looks like for now, what you were told regarding a single license for both versions is correct. Putting this up to hopefully help others coming to this thread:
"You do not have to buy Adobe Captivate Classic (2019) separately. All subscription plans of Adobe Captivate includes access to both the versions – the all-new Adobe Captivate and Adobe Captivate Classic. You will be able to install, launch and activate both the versions in the same computer."
For now, it appears that they're going to support two versions. Of course, it doesn't mean they won't kill off Classic in the future, but this gives me hope.
@sabre123 Sure, this decision has been made quite a while ago with the promise that the new version first would need ALL the features now available in CP2019 before they would kill it. I am telling this everywhere on social media, because not everyone will have a look at the FAQ in the product page. Both versions will be supported, and I hope they will create two different forums here (got a vague promise about that as well) to avoid confusion. That promise is not yet done so far.
I will continue to support CP2019 as I have done since years.
We have hundreds of courses authored in CP2017/2019. Not happy that the new Captivate is not backward capatible --we might have to rethink our authoring tool I am hoping that we can somehow at least download/upload graphics and audio from one library to the other or be able to do some kind of side by side copy and paste. And I thought the death of FLASH, which affected only certain slides in some courses, was bad. This is going to be very painful.
I would still use the Classic version for now. Even if Adobe stops supporting it after 5 years, the software should still run (especially if one stops updating the OS at the same time).
The new version looks useful for some features and will definitely be worth checking out.
Some features I would need/like to see*:
Conversion of old projects.
Partial preview of slides (like selecting page range when printing)
FULL conversion for PowerPoint project (aka Storyline); this was something I've asked for previously
*I only installed it last night so I'm sure the list will grow.
David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
I admit I'm a little confused. I was all set to install the new Captivate (after the upgrade of 2019 to "Captivate Classic", but the only thing I am able to get for the Mac is 2019 (...which I learned after a lengthy download). Is it Windows-only at this stage?
Don't waste your time downloading it is horrible. They need to fire the whole staff and start again. No tts, no import of old projects and issues go on and on.
...but, tell us how you really feel ;)-- Mark L. Sheppard,
Moderator: please don't put your personal credentials in a public forum. As moderator I took them out for your protection, following the etiquette rules.
20
Replies
AdChoices