Create widgets



    Create static widgets

    1. In Adobe Captivate, select File > New > Widget in Flash.

    2. In the Create New Widget dialog box, do the following:

      1. In the Widget menu, select Static.

      2. In the ActionScript Version menu, select the ActionScript version that you plan to use when writing the widget code in Flash.

      3. Click OK.

    3. In Flash, right-click the Actions layer in the Timeline, and select Actions.

    4. The Actions panel appears with the template code for the static widget. Customize this code to create your widget.

    Create interactive widgets

    1. In an open project, select File > New > Widget In Flash.

    2. In the Create New Widget dialog box, do the following:

      1. In the Widget menu, select Interactive.

      2. In the ActionScript Version menu, select the ActionScript version that you plan to use when writing the widget code in Flash.

      3. Click OK.

    3. In Flash, right-click the Actions layer in the Timeline, and select Actions.

    4. The Actions panel appears with the template code for the interactive widget. Customize this code to create your widget.

    Create question widgets

    1. Select File > New > Widget In Flash.

    2. In the Create New Widget dialog box, do the following:

      1. In the Widget menu, select Question.

      2. In the ActionScript Version menu, select the ActionScript version that you plan to use when writing the widget code in Flash.

      3. Click OK.

    3. In Flash, right-click the Actions layer in the Timeline, and select Actions.

    4. The Actions panel appears with the template code for the question widget. Customize this code to create your widget.

      Note: You can add question widgets to question pools. They are treated as any other question slide.

    Create a .wdgt file

    A WDGT file is a widget format in which the widget uses linked files.

    The WDGT file is a file with .wdgt extension containing linked SWF files, and a description.xml file that contains information about the linking.

    1. Publish the FLA as a SWF file in Flash.

    2. Create a description.xml file. If the main SWF file, ABC.swf, uses two linked files PQR.swf and XYZ.swf, the description.xml file is in the following format: 
      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?> 
<widget> 
<Description>This is a ABC widget(static)</Description> 
<Type>isStatic</Type> 
<Name>ABC.swf</Name> 
<linkedfiles>PQR.swf</linkedfiles> 
<linkedfiles>XYZ.swf</linkedfiles> 
</widget>

    3. Do one of the following:

      1. Create a folder, and copy the SWF files and the description.xml files into the folder. Change the extension of the folder to .wdgt, and place it the Widgets folder of the Captivate installation folder.

        Note: If you create a widget in this method, you can insert the widget only from the Widget panel.

      2. ZIP the file, and change the extension of the zipped file to .wdgt.

        Note: If you create a widget in this method, the widget is not listed in the Widget panel. You can insert the widget only by selecting Insert > Widget.

    Properties of widgets

    In addition to the parameters defined by the widget developer, Adobe Captivate allows you to set properties for widgets. You can modify the properties of a widget when inserting it, or using its Properties dialog box.

    Widget tab

    Transparency
    The transparency of the widget. At 0% transparency, the widget is opaque, and at 100%, transparency, it is invisible.

    On Success
    The options available if the user successfully fulfills the criteria specified in the widget. For more information, see Defining project navigation.

    After Last Attempt
    The options available if the user fails to fulfill the criteria specified in the widget in the defined number of attempts. For more information, see Defining project navigation.

    Options tab

    Item Name
    Enter a unique name for the object. You can use this name when defining the visibility conditions for the object.
    Visible
    Deselect this option if you want the object to be invisible on the slide by default. Use the Show action to make the widget visible. For more information, see Controlling the visibility of objects.

    Display For [Time]
    Specifies how long the widget appears on the slide.

    Appear After [#] Seconds
    Specifies the delay between the first appearance of the slide and the first appearance of the widget.

    Pause After [#] Seconds
    Specifies the point at which the project pauses so that the user can follow the instructions in the widget.

    Effect
    Transition effect for the widget. You can apply a fade in or fade out effect, and set the time for the fading effects.

    Success Caption
    The caption displayed when the user successfully completes the task assigned by the widget.

    Failure Caption
    The caption displayed when the user does not provide the input required by the widget.

    Hint Caption
    The caption providing a hint to the user. The hint is displayed when the user moves the pointer over the widget.

    Pause For Success/Failure Captions
    Pauses the project until all success and failure captions are displayed.

    Audio tab

    If you want to add audio to the widget, click the Audio tab. Select from the following options:

    Record New Audio 
    Opens the Record Audio dialog box. (Recording audio requires some basic equipment.)

    Stop 
    Stops playing the audio file.

    Play 
    Plays the audio file.

    Import
    Displays the Import Audio dialog box. This dialog box lets you browse to an audio file and import it.

    Library
    Opens the Audio Library. The Library lists all audio files that are already part of the currently open Adobe Captivate project.

    Edit
    Displays the Edit Audio dialog box. This dialog box lets you edit the audio file in various ways, such as inserting silences and adjusting the volume.

    Delete
    Removes the audio file associated with the button.

    Fade In [#] Seconds
    Specifies the number of seconds until the audio fades in to full volume.

    Fade Out [#] Seconds
    Specifies the number of seconds until the audio fades out to silence.

    Settings
    Opens the Audio Settings dialog box. You can change audio settings such as input source, quality level, and calibration. Click the Settings button and make your selections.

    Reporting tab

    If you want to keep score for the widget or coordinate the score with a learning management system (LMS), use the Reporting tab.

    Include In Quiz
    The points assigned to the widget are added to the score results for the current quiz.

    Report Answers
    Sends the score to the learning management system (LMS).

    Objective ID
    Maps to an objective ID set in your LMS.

    Interaction ID
    Sends tracking information to the LMS based on the interaction ID specified by the LMS.

    Points
    Points assigned to a correct answer. The maximum is 100 points; minimum is 0.

    Add To Total
    The score of the button is added to the quiz total.

    Size And Position tab

    To define the exact size or location of the widget in terms of pixels, click the Size And Position tab. Select from the following options:

    Left
    Position of the left border of the object.

    Top
    Position of the top of the object.

    Width
    The width of the object.

    Height
    The height of the object.

    Constrain Proportions
    Maintains the height-to-width ratio when the object is resized.

    Widget Parameters tab

    The Widget Parameters tab includes parameters that you can use to customize the widget. These parameters are available only if the developer creating the widget has made provisions for customizing the widget. A snapshot of the widget may be displayed in this tab.