I have encountered the same problem.  I created a project that had buttons linking to multiple external assets, in multiple file formats (pdf, swf, doc, and xls). When publishing the file to CD-ROM (using an exe output format with an Autorun), I could not get Captivate to recognize the "relative" paths to the asset files. Paring down the file path to the file name only, as some forums suggested, did not help--in such instances, Captivate couldn't recognize a file name without a path; assumed that I must want a URL; and added "http://" to the file name so when I clicked on buttons in the exported project I instead got a browser window with an error message.

After hours of trial and error, I figured out that adding "file:/" before the name of the file seems to tell Captivate to look in the root directory. I know this because when I tested the project within Captivate, I was able to confirm that button clicks were now pointing to files in the root of my C: drive, so the project worked when I copied files there. However, this success didn't translate to a published exe file that now should be looking within the root of D: (or whatever letter your CD/DVD drive is).

Adobe, if anyone is listening, my own suggestion is that there be independent choices for "Open URL" OR "Open File" under the "If the user clicks on the button" pull-down menu, rather than "Open URL or file," as Captivate seems to incorrectly assume URL as the default.  Secondly, the program should be able to intuitively recognize the relative paths to external assets accessed as a result of button clicks.

In the meantime, if anyone else has a better workaround than I was able to come up with, I'd love to hear it.  Thanks.

In CP5 trying to link to multiple PDF files (articles) have not been able to get CP5 to locate these PDF resources in the project folder so

will try the file:\  convention and see if that resolves the issue

I am having the same trouble!  It only works when i have the absolute path.

I am new to all of this so please forgive my basic questions. In one of teh posts it said to use "file:\name of file" are the quotes around the path needed?

Thanks!

Ok.

I have a word document named "test.docx"

The document is saved in this directory "c:\TEMP"

The project is saved in the same directory and it is named menu.cptl

here is the path i have set up in my project for a button: "file:\TEMP\test.docx" (no quotes as you specified)

when i run it and click on the button nothing is happening.

So what am i doing wrong?

Thanks for any help!

The paths are working on if i have it local. i burned the project to a CD and any links go directly to my

home page. i copied all of the files from the CD to the hard drive of another computer and it works just fine. Any suggestions?

Hi There,

If your issue is still not resolved, I would advise you report this issue and send us.

-Manish

blogs.adobe.com/captivate

it works when i export to an SWF and run the htm file. but its the export to executable that isnt working now...

I've tried to set every kind of link, but the problem still cannot solve:

1. when output to EXE, cannot open a file, when we click the button, no software (ie or acrobat reader) running.

2. when we output to SWF, with HTML, we can open the file under ie.  But if we lauch the SWF directly (not using html or ie), the button have same problem just like output to EXE, nothing happen when we click the open file button.

So I think the problem is related to IE or any other web browser,

the web browser cannot generate to run acrobate reader or microsoft word to open those file!

So any other suggestion?

I've uploaded the testing CP file and output exe/swf file into this link:

http://designcall.me/goh/Captivate_5_Testing.zip

I think we should solve this problem,

otherwise we cannot take a risk to get a job from clients...

Thanks again for your help!

Lulu

Malaysia

I hate to tell you this, but I went through this same situation over a year ago when we purchased CP4.  Unless you have Menu Builder, or Adobe develops something similar to resolve this issue, you will not be able to open pdf or other files when a project is burned to a CD, regardless of the path.  If someone can prove me wrong, that would be great, but it was a very frustating process for me as well, and after spending endless hours trying all types of paths, it was obvious that it was not happening.  I reported this to Adobe when I discovered it, and the adjustment was not made in CP5.  Apparently Menu Builder was included in the earlier versions of Captivate when it was still a Macromedia product and when Adobe acquired it, they thought that Aggregator would replicate Menu Builder's capabilities.  Unfortunately, they were not aware of how critical it is for those of us who are still required to burn projects to CDs for our clients to open other files.  That "Open URL or file" option is a joke when it comes to EXE file publishing.  Hopefully if more people complain this issue will finally get resolved and a solution will be provided in CP6.

Thanks! That will at least save me some time!

It does work when I create the Mac version of a .exe, so I'm not sure why it won't with the .exe

I'll make mention of it to Adobe.

Cheers!

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen!  What a piece of crap.  Same problem.  No resolution.  You should be ashamed, Adobe!

Hi,

I'm confused about one thing.  How do you name the disc in Captivate?