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CVSMTraining
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Captivate Cannot Open File Error

Jul 30, 2012 7:43 AM

VERY simple project is generating error above.

 

Menu screen with some buttons linked to F4V files inserted as "slide Videos".  The videos are large files and run in 1024 x 768. It saves properly after  a looong time compressing and will not open. This only happens after I've inserted the slide videos and linked to the buttons.

 

The error says " Cannot open file XXXXX. Ensure that file is not open already etc....."

 

I've done this a tonne of times before and can't figure out what is happening.

667 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: wcai, Aug 1, 2012 10:07 AM
 
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  • AndyKingInOC
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    1. AndyKingInOC,
    Jul 30, 2012 8:36 AM   in reply to CVSMTraining
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    I'll presume you're using windows, but it should be similar with Mac.

     

    1) ensure your files are all stored locally.  Saving on network drives will cause some significant delays opening/saving/closing.

     

    2) look in the folder whre the file is saved and enable viewing hidden files, if it isn't already.  Tools > Folder Options > View > Hidden files and folders > Show hidden files and folders

     

    3) look for a file names something like ~cp_prj_name_of_project.cptx_lock   If you are confident the file is not open somewhere, delete that _lock file and try to open the project.

     

    That lock file keeps 2 people from opening the project at once.  Sometimes the _lock file is not cleaned up properly when the project is closed (usually when there's a crash).  Hopefully that fixes it for you.  If not there is a way to try and retrieve the file from backup (if you have backups turned on) or from the cache.

     

    Any luck?

     
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  • CVSMTraining
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    2. CVSMTraining,
    Jul 30, 2012 9:07 AM   in reply to AndyKingInOC
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    1) All are local

    2) No lock file

     

    Now here is some more background. I went back to scratch and added the video files in 1 by 1 (6 in total). (Each file is 1024 x 768 and each one runs about an hour and is around 6-800 meg) It saved fine each time and opened fine until I added the final, or 6th video file. I took a second and recreated the project and added ONLY the final video to see if it was the file itself causing the issue, and the project opens and closes fine. Which leaves the question.... the is the project file just too damn big? With the final video added the project steps up to about 4.2 gig from 3.6 in the previous save that worked. If this is the case should I just be creating seperate projects for each HUGE video file and tying em' together with aggregator?

     
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  • CVSMTraining
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    3. CVSMTraining,
    Aug 1, 2012 7:53 AM   in reply to CVSMTraining
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    Bump.

     
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  • RodWard
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    4. RodWard,
    Aug 1, 2012 7:59 AM   in reply to CVSMTraining
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    Thud...

     

    You're trying to insert 6 x 1 hour videos (6-800 meg each) into a single Captivate project which ends up being 4.2 Gigabytes in size... and you're wondering why Captivate has decided it cannot open it?

     

    I think you were right. The file is just too big.

     
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  • CVSMTraining
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    5. CVSMTraining,
    Aug 1, 2012 8:29 AM   in reply to RodWard
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    LOL... I've never seen THUD to a Bump.

     

    But Yes, nowhere does Cap mention a top file size so to me the question is quite legitimate. It had no problem up to 3.9 gig.

     

    Something that may seem very straightforward to someone with your level of experience is not so to someone with my level. It's best for me to confirm with folks like yourself prior to making the necessary change.

     

    Would you agree, then, that creating individual projects for each video would make sense and just linking to the projects?

     

    Most of my projects are INSANELY media heavy.

     

    Thx for your help.

     
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  • AndyKingInOC
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    6. AndyKingInOC,
    Aug 1, 2012 8:35 AM   in reply to CVSMTraining
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    Just throwing out an idea, do the media files have to be embedded in the captivate swf, or can you link to them as external files?

     
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  • wcai
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    7. wcai,
    Aug 1, 2012 8:46 AM   in reply to AndyKingInOC
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    hello，i also met the same problem opening my file~~ I deleted the lock file but still cannot open it still! It's strange that once I tried to open the file, the lock file will appear~~

    Do you know whats the matter? Thank you so much! I need to make changes in my file and only saved one version~<

     
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  • AndyKingInOC
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    8. AndyKingInOC,
    Aug 1, 2012 8:56 AM   in reply to wcai
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    wcai wrote:

     

    It's strange that once I tried to open the file, the lock file will appear~~

     

    The lock file should always appear when you open the file.  That's its whole purpose, to keep someone else from opening it while you're editing it.

     

    If you still can't open it, and it's on a local drive, it's possible the .cptx file is indeed corrupt.  If you have backups turned on (and if you don't, you should), you can try to retrieve it from there.  You can also search for the instructions to retrieve it from the cache files, but that's not always successful

     
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  • CVSMTraining
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    9. CVSMTraining,
    Aug 1, 2012 9:50 AM   in reply to AndyKingInOC
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    I'm not sure Andy. I thought the only way to do this was to embed the file using the slide video or insert video function. Can I link straight to a F4V without embedding? I also like having them embedded as the user doesn't have to leave the environment to access the doc.

     

    Thanks for the reply.

     
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  • wcai
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    10. wcai,
    Aug 1, 2012 10:07 AM   in reply to AndyKingInOC
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    Thanks! I will try!

     
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