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elearning_dude
elearning_dude
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Custom TOC WITHIN the Project?

Aug 21, 2012 11:47 AM

Tags: #toc #table #of #contents

One glaring weakness (in my opinion) of Captivate is the inability to truly customize the TOC. What is included is flat-out ugly, and the customization options are quite limited.

 

So it hit me today to try this:

 

Use an Advanced Action, along with a simple shape button to toggle the show/hide of the TOC.

 

I created a quick example and it works great....problem is, Captivate won't allow a grouped object that is pasted onto a Master slide, or any grouped object (or any object) anywhere to retain it's reference name across slides.

 

Has anyone else tried this before? I was thinking the only other approach that might work would be to develop the TOC in Flash, export as an AS3 swf, and then import into the Master Slide, and then trigger the showing/hiding of that via a shape button in Captivate. But, although we can import SWF to a Master Slide, we can't give it a reference name and thus cannot manipulate it via an Advanced Action.

 

Very frustrating....

 

Is everyone out there just sticking with either the stock TOC, or the not all that much better/different 3rd-party TOC widgets that are out there?

 

Any approaches I haven't thought of that you could recommend to solve this problem?

594 Views   11 Replies   Latest reply: Lilybiri, Sep 23, 2012 9:13 AM
 
Replies
  • RodWard
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    1. RodWard,
    Aug 21, 2012 8:08 PM   in reply to elearning_dude
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    Actually, to be honest, I've never regarded the Captivate TOC as "flat-out ugly" nor have I felt that the current set of TOC preference options constituted an "inability to truly customise" it. 

     

    There are always extra bells and whistles I'd like to see added to the TOC options, but by and large it's an attractive solution to the requirement to provide user navigation. Compared to other apps I've seen over the years, it stacks up pretty well.

     
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  • dss_aussie
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    2. dss_aussie,
    Sep 22, 2012 10:04 PM   in reply to elearning_dude
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    Don't know if this will help but I was watching a tutorial where to get around the issue of not allowing grouped objects, the person used a transparent button overlayed on the group and assigned the action to the transparent button. 

     

    Are you able to share your Advanced action code? I need something to work in HTML5 and I am just new to Captivate.  I can't find anything that shows you the commands or actions for opening / closing the TOC

     

    Thanks

     

    Danielle

     
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  • Lilybiri
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    3. Lilybiri,
    Sep 23, 2012 3:28 AM   in reply to dss_aussie
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    Danielle,

     

    Which version do you use? Since you talk about 'not allowing grouped objects' I'm afraid you are not using the latest version 6 (which has grouping of objects). And too bad, only in that version the system variable cpCmndTOCVisible became available to control the visibility of the TOC in overlay version.

     

    Lilybiri

     
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  • dss_aussie
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    4. dss_aussie,
    Sep 23, 2012 4:45 AM   in reply to Lilybiri
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    Hi Lilybiri

    I do use version 6 (but I am new to Captivate - this is my first project).  Are there any clear instructions about how to add my own button to activate (open/close) the TOC so that it works in both HTML5 and flash?  I would really appreciate any assistance

     

    thanks

     

    Danielle

     
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  • RodWard
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    5. RodWard,
    Sep 23, 2012 5:46 AM   in reply to dss_aussie
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    Captivate does not provide any default way to open or close the Overlay TOC via a button action, in either SWF or HTML5 output.

     

    As Lilybiri mentions, there is now a variable to make the separate TOC visible or hidden, but that doesn't help you if you wanted to use the overlay TOC and have it slide out or back in at the click of a button.

     
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  • Lilybiri
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    6. Lilybiri,
    Sep 23, 2012 6:22 AM   in reply to RodWard
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    Sorry, Rod, to disagree with you. Did you try out that variable? It is working only with overlay TOC for me, not with separate TOC.

     

    Danielle, create a button, for Success action in the Properties panel for this button choose 'Execute Advanced Action'. Then open the Adv. actions dialog box with the small folder icon right to the Script-field. Create this action;

    ToggleTOC.png

    This action will not release the play head.

    I talked about that kind of toggle buttons in a recent article on my blog (it was for shape buttons, but actions can also be created for default buttons of course): http://lilybiri.posterous.com/toggle-shape-buttons

     

    Lilybiri

     
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  • dss_aussie
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    7. dss_aussie,
    Sep 23, 2012 6:23 AM   in reply to RodWard
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    I actually just managed to get it working in swf (at least when I preview the project), but unfortunately not in HTML5, using the cpCmndTOCVisible variable.  I created a 'show' button and set the variable to 1 to show, and another 'hide' button and set it to 0. I am hoping if someone else has managed to get it to work in HTML5 they will share how to do it.

    Thanks

     
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  • dss_aussie
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    8. dss_aussie,
    Sep 23, 2012 6:30 AM   in reply to Lilybiri
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    Yes I actually used your very helpful tutorial as a guide.  But the html5 doesn't seem to work.  Any thoughts?

     

    Just checked the tutorial - it was for a different toggle/on off for play& pause.  Slightly different command. I will give your suggestion a go.  Thanks

     
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  • Lilybiri
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    9. Lilybiri,
    Sep 23, 2012 6:37 AM   in reply to dss_aussie
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    I didn't check in HTML5, indeed. Pointed to the blog to show the expression, I know that it was (not about play/pause) about play/stop audio. I thought you wanted a toggle button, that is why I explained that.

     

    Lilybiri

     

    PS Just checked, and you are correct, it is not working in HTML5, will log a bug report. Or perhaps this is another unknown feature that is not supported?

     
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  • RodWard
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    10. RodWard,
    Sep 23, 2012 8:28 AM   in reply to Lilybiri
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    Lieve is (once again) correct and I am mistaken.  I looked for the variable in the list available for the Assign action for buttons and it wasn't there.  But if you create a Standard Advanced Action to be executed by the buttons then you will find that the list of variables available for Assign in the Advanced Actions dialog includes a lot more variables, including cpCmndTOCVisible. 

     
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  • Lilybiri
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    11. Lilybiri,
    Sep 23, 2012 9:13 AM   in reply to RodWard
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    Rod,

     

    The list with variables in the Action accordion has always been very limited, the Adobe team told me that they only wanted the most used variables over there. And this variable is functional, but not for the separate TOC, only for the overlay TOC.

     

    Lieve

     
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