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A
Anonymous
September 8, 2011
Question

URL in Powerpoint not working in Captivate 5.0

  • September 8, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 3447 views

I created a new Captivate file by importing a Powerpoint 2007 file.  The file contains many links to external URLs, most of which work fine when I preview the file.  However, on two slides, where there is one link each, the links do not work in Preview mode. The links are different. One of these URLs exists elsewhere in the Captivate file on a different slide and it works fine there, so it is not the link itself.  It has something to do with the individual slides. When I edit either slide, the links are there.  When I run the slides in Powerpoint's Slide Show mode, the links open the URLs in Internet Explorer as they are supposed.  I've tried deleting the links and creating new ones in Powerpoint, but that doesn't work.  There are no animations active on either slide in Powerpoint and no other objects except for the header and body text boxes. 

I've also done the Flash Security Settings fix to eliminate that as a culprit.

I don't want to create buttons in Captivate to handle these URLs because buttons either pause the play when clicked (continue playing is turned off) or continue the play (continue playing is turned on), and neither action is acceptable because there is a separate Continue button which shows up after 5 seconds pauses the play and sends it to the next slide when clicked.  This button, which is on every slide throughout the file, doesn't work correctly when another button is on the screen. 

Anybody have any ideas how to fix these links? 

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Since I first asked this question 9/8, I recreated these two slides from scratch in a new Powerpoint file (9/12), and then imported them into the Captivate.  There is a photo on each slide, which I captured via Snag-it, so when I recreated the slides I wasn't using the original image files.  I also cut and pasted the text to Notepad and back into the new ppt file to remove all formatting.  When I ran the ppt in Slide Show mode, the links worked.  When I imported these new slides into Captivate, the links still did not work and when you run your mouse over the links, they do not change to a hand cursor.  Again, it's odd because one of the links is found on another slide in the Captivate and works fine there.  Any ideas out there???

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    AndyKingInOC
    AndyKingInOC
    Legend
    September 20, 2011

    I don't think text links in PPT convert to Cp.  I'll admit I don't normally import slides to Cp so maybe I'm wrong, but you can't create a text link in Cp so I was under the impression it didn't work.

    To make text hyperlinks in Cp, the workaround is to use a transparent button or a clickbox positioned in a layer above the text.

    AndyKingInOC
    AndyKingInOC
    Legend
    September 20, 2011

    i stand corrected.  the links do import.  I tested it in 5.5, but didn't have the result StandUp did.  The only change I did experience was that one text link doesn't look like a hyperlink (underline, text color) but it does function properly.  /shrug

    sorry i can't be more help.

    Maybe try importing the problem slides individually?  Not an ideal solution but it may at least solve your problem for the time being.

    AndyKingInOC
    AndyKingInOC
    Legend
    September 21, 2011

    Hi there

    I believe the question was answered by AndyKingInOC earlier in the thread. Sorry

    The thing is, links don't survive the trip when the PowerPoint is converted to Captivate format. If you want links, you will need to add them yourself after importing. I do see the other typical issues of the links not working when testing locally have been covered, so I won't rattle on about that.

    Andy suggested using a button. Personally I disagree. I have no clue why so many folks believe a transparent button is the thing to use. A Click Box does the same thing and is already invisible by default. What you are seeing with the interference of operation when additional elements are added simply underscores my own description of Captivate. And that description is: Captivate is "deceptively simple". I say that because it's usually drop dead simple to just create something and show it. But once you begin embellishing it and adding new elements, complexity creeps in as those elements interact with one another. Buttons and Click Boxes for example. Both of these elements normally pause the slide. And the pausing may cause other elements to appear not to work. Fortunately, the pause may be turned off if you like.

    The bottom line is that if you want to add a link, you need to add something like a Click Box, configure it to open what you are linking to and superimpose it over the area the user will click.

    Cheers... Rick

    Helpful and Handy Links

    Captivate Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form

    Adobe Certified Captivate Training

    SorcerStone Blog

    Captivate eBooks


    Captiv8r wrote:

    Andy suggested using a button. Personally I disagree. I have no clue why so many folks believe a transparent button is the thing to use. A Click Box does the same thing and is already invisible by default.

    In my defense I did say a transparent button OR a clickbox

    M
    MarySaunders
    Inspiring
    September 20, 2011

    I don't know if this will help you or not, but I was also having trouble with a link in Captivate 5.  I went through similar steps (Flash security settings, etc).  In the end, the answer was just to put it on our web server. All worked fine from there. I'm not sure that you will be posting to a web server, but hopefully you will and this will solve your issues.  As far as the hand symbol goes, that is a setting in the Properties box under Options -- simplye select the box "Show Hand cursor over hit area."  Hope this helps!

    Mary

    A
    Anonymous
    September 20, 2011

    Are you saying that even though it didn't work in Preview mode, once you put it on the Web Server, the link did work?  I will be putting this on a hosted LMS, so, yes, it will be on a Web Server once it is moved into production.  Should I try that now and see if the link works, even though it didn't work in Preview?

    M
    MarySaunders
    Inspiring
    September 20, 2011

    No, sorry. My link worked in Preview mode. Do you have more than one link on the slides that do not work?

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