DE Oracle @ UMUC

Using Captivate

Deborah Schroeder

Senior Instructional Support Specialist

Center for Support of Instruction

Published: January-February 2008

Category: » Tech-skills-software » Adobe-captivate

Getting Started

Preparation and Choreography (Workshop files)

What you will need:

• Script - A script is a tool that assists the author to choreograph a Captivate presentation. A script should include (sample script):
  1. Description of slide
  2. Spoken script
  3. Actions performed on slide (mouse-clicks, etc.)
  4. Text displayed on slide
• Application(s): Document(s) and/or windows from which slides will be captured, text copied, and/or audio recorded.
• Captivate Template (optional but recommended - sample template)

Decide whether to record a new project or use a template.

On Start Page choose:

• Record or create a new project OR
• Create project from template

For this tutorial we will demonstrate how to "Create project from template".

It is recommended that you create and use templates to develop Captivate projects.

Recording a Project

Record using a Template

With Captivate and application(s) to be recorded open:

1. File-->Open, and navigate to template file to open the template in Captivate.

2. From the Edit tab, select the slide insertion point by clicking a slide in the Slides list. This will allow you to add new slides after the selected slide.

3. Select the Record button from the menu.

4. The Record Additional Slides dialog box opens. By default "Record slides and insert after the slide selected" will be clicked. Leave this setting as is and click the OK button.

5. A new dialog box appears.

• Under the heading Record specific window choose the application you will be recording.
• The Recording mode should be set to Demonstration.

6. Click the Snap window button to fit the application to be recorded inside the red recording area.

7. The screen will "snap" into the red window. Adjust the red outline window as needed.

8.  Click the Record button to begin recording.

9. Capture the project slides by clicking the Print Screen key on the keyboard. Hit the Print Key for every screen capture item needed for the project.

Record all of the screens being used for the project at the same time.

10. When finished with the screen captures, hit the End key on keyboard to stop recording.

Previewing and Editing a Project

1. When one or all slides are recorded, click the Preview button to view the project.

2. Edit each slide as needed by clicking on the appropriate slide in the Slides panel.

3. To adjust mouse movements and make them consistent throughout the project:

• Double-click on the mouse arrow on a selected slide to open Mouse Properties window.
  
  
  
• Ensure that the following buttons are checked (see screen shot)
  
  
  
• Mark the check box next to Apply to all then select the Settings drop-down arrow and select the appropriate settings.
  
  
  
  
• Click the OK button.

4. To change the mouse pointer choose the appropriate icon from the list of pointers. (note: the current pointer selected will be listed first.)

5. Click the OK button to apply the settings.

Inserting and Formatting Text using the Text Caption Window

To add new text to a slide:

1. Select Insert-->Text Caption from the menu.

2. The New Text Caption dialog box will open. Type or paste appropriate text into the center window. Use the formatting tool bar to apply text formatting.

To edit text:

1. Double-click on the text box to open the Text Caption dialog box.

2.  Replace text as needed. To make stylistic changes to the text, highlight the existing text located in the text box and use the formatting tool bar to apply the formatting changes.

Adding Audio

Importing Audio files

1. From the menu bar select Audio-->Import

2. The Import Audio dialog box will open. Browse to where the audio file is stored.

3. Double click on the audio file to to add the clip to the slide.

Audio files: should be imported one at a time to Captivate slides.

Remove Burps: Creating silent space on the front and back end of audio file allows for better sound transitioning from one slide to another.

To remove burps grab audio layer and move to right 1 second. In same motion, bring audio layer back to ½ second. This will create a ½ second silence at the front and end of the sound layer.

Recording Audio within Captivate

1. From the menu bar select Audio-->Record

2. The Record Audio dialog box opens. Click on the Record button to begin recording.

If this is the first recording being done since Captivate was started an audio levels test dialog box will open. Select the Yes button.

3. The Calibrate microphone/line dialog box will open. Speak into the microphone until the red box "checking into input level" turns green "Input Level OK".

3. Once levels are okay, click the OK button. Recording will begin immediately.

4. Click the Stop icon to stop Recording.

5. Click the OK button when you are satisfied with the recording.

6. The recorded audio file will appear in the timeline.

Editing an Audio File

1. Double-click the audio clip located on the audio timeline.

2. The Edit Audio dialog box will open.

2. Click the Play button to review audio file.

3. To delete a portion of the audio, highlight the area to be deleted then click the Delete button.

4. Use the audio settings /options tool bar to further edit the audio clip.