SWF to AVI or .MOV

> No, you had a particular nastiness about your response. It was
> condescending.
> Captivate is not a cheap product, and it's typically used by
> professionals,
> not someone who bought a $20 shareware product.

Let's go back to what I what I responded to:-

"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."

If the cost of Captivate is so high and so painful on the purchaser's
budget, then due diligence should be done to make sure they buy the product
that does the job they intend to use it for. Failure to do so is neglectful
and can be very costly. If I made that sort of mistake, I could lose my job.
If it is offensive to the original poster to have that mistake highlighted,
then shame on him - I'm sure it would be even more offensive to his boss or
client to realise he failed to do appropriate research ahead of making the
purchase.

> The market has evolved. People created interactive content, and then
> wanted
> to put that type of content on YouTube. Even Adobe recognizes this and
> blogs
> about how to get your content up on YouTube.

Sure - but beating on the *current* version of Captivate can't change its
features.

>
> Maybe you're not a strutting jackanape. Maybe you simply don't realize
> you're
> coming off as nasty.

It wasn't my intent to be nasty. Looking at the rest of that thread, there
was plenty of vehement comment thrown at adobe and anyone offering any sort
of counter comment was greeted with derision. A nice reception for freely
offered, volunteer assistance.

There were also plenty of suggestions for successful workarounds, but the
dead horse of Captivate's failing somehow still gets more beating. I think
it has been discussed plainly that the current version of Captivate does not
publish flat video, and only a new version of Captivate could fix that.
There's nothing to be gained by kicking that dead horse further.



Steve


--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

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

Steve:

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


No, you had a particular nastiness about your response. It was condescending. Captivate is not a cheap product, and it's typically used by professionals, not someone who bought a $20 shareware product.

The market has evolved. People created interactive content, and then wanted to put that type of content on YouTube. Even Adobe recognizes this and blogs about how to get your content up on YouTube.

Maybe you're not a strutting jackanape. Maybe you simply don't realize you're coming off as nasty.

But instead of making someone feel stupid for a perfectly reasonable request (and having paid a bucket of money for the product), it would be far nicer just to understand their frustration (as opposed to pointing out how stupid they are). Something like "I understand, and I hear Adobe is working on more functionality there, in the meantime, here are few suggestions".

It's totally understandable that Adobe is late to the game in getting better format support. I am in software development. I understand these things. The best thing, in my mind, is to let your customers know what the plan is. Customers will understand and be forgiving if the explanation is provided in the right way. I used both Camtasia and Captivate now. Like them both, each has their strengths and weaknesses. Camtasia, as you know, has tremendous format support and also supports a good range of interactive options.


>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.

Stunned by the nastiness? I was stunned by yours. I guess it's a matter of perspective.


>Multiple posts from multiple names is kind of funny too.


That's possible, I have two Adobe accounts and I can't remember which one I log in with.

> My company is growing and wanting more options like output to mobile
> devices.
> I knew Captivate was incapable of that, so I hoped Flash or Premiere would
> allow me to accomplish my goals.

Perhaps these will help:-

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/captivate/articles/ipod.html
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/captivate/articles/mobile_captivate.html


> I've never used Flash, so the integration is
> foreign to me and, as has been stated previously, other Adobe products
> can't
> effectively import SWF files or Captivate projects.
>
> Getting back to Nick's suggestion, it's important that Adobe recognizes
> not
> only their intended use for Captivate, but how user's actually use, or
> want to
> use, the software.

Yes, that is true. And they do. But it takes time to create new versions,
unfortunately.

> I like the interactivity, but I need to export to other
> formats sometimes. I don't want to buy Camtasia or anything else. I want
> Captivate to be my one-stop shop. I don't think I'm as in the minority as
> some
> think. If I am, it's probably because Adobe is stuck on *their* intent
> rather
> than mine, so they are missing that part of the market share.
>
> If I read correctly, that may be a future enhancement, and I will jump up
> and
> down with joy when it's released. Please, understand that this is
> constructive
> criticism and not complaining. We just want Captivate to keep up with us
> and
> our needs.
>

Your points are clear, and fair. Asking for enhancements is completely
reasonable. Adobe *do* monitor these forums and they *do* understand the
changing needs of the users of the product. And they provide wishlist forms
so we can all direct our requests right to the engineers, so you can be sure
that missing features can be brought to their attention and added to the
product as time, technology and priorities allow.

Steve


--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

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

I'm in agreement with nick5454, I'm a believer in Captivate for training videos that simply show users how to do something. So far, I haven't gotten into too much interactivity other than a Replay button.

I tried Camtasia and Captivate about 3 years ago when we were evaluating, and Captivate's quality and mouse movements were a big seller for us. It just looked so much cleaner than Camtasia's real-time mouse movements.

We've been able to post our files to our website using Flash output with an HTM file, so output has been pretty good too... until now.

My company is growing and wanting more options like output to mobile devices. I knew Captivate was incapable of that, so I hoped Flash or Premiere would allow me to accomplish my goals. I've never used Flash, so the integration is foreign to me and, as has been stated previously, other Adobe products can't effectively import SWF files or Captivate projects.

Getting back to Nick's suggestion, it's important that Adobe recognizes not only their intended use for Captivate, but how user's actually use, or want to use, the software. I like the interactivity, but I need to export to other formats sometimes. I don't want to buy Camtasia or anything else. I want Captivate to be my one-stop shop. I don't think I'm as in the minority as some think. If I am, it's probably because Adobe is stuck on *their* intent rather than mine, so they are missing that part of the market share.

If I read correctly, that may be a future enhancement, and I will jump up and down with joy when it's released. Please, understand that this is constructive criticism and not complaining. We just want Captivate to keep up with us and our needs.

thanks for everyones help with this

Great article. It does provide me with great insight. Thanks!

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.

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?