How do you link an external file (*.pdf) within the Captivate file and have it work AFTER it has been Published?

[Guest]

How can you link to a URL or file using the "click box"?  I can get it all set up, the link works perfectly on my machine, but when it is place on our Server for review, the Captivate file cannot find the referenced file.  It is still looking for the file on my machine.  I tried to use a "relative path" - but i still get the errors.  Please help if you can.  I am sure it is a simple step that I am forgetting - or never thought of..... Christime

[RoboWizard]

Hi there

Normally all you need to do is specify the file name. No path or URL needed. Just the file name. After that, ensure the file exists in the same folder as the Captivate.

Note, however, that if your server is a UNIX type, it could be persnickety about the case. So if your file is actually named MyFile.PDF and when you typed the file name into the field you used myfile.pdf, it likely won't find it.

Further note that some file types will be some trouble. But before we go there, let's see if what has been offered so far helps anything.

Cheers...

Click here for Adobe Authorized Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training Click here for the SorcerStone Blog Click here for RoboHelp and Captivate eBooks

[Guest]

Thank you sooooooooo much for that info.  I will try that now.  I was wondering if i needed to do something along those lines.  I remember the old days of DOS and the relative path thing.

Will let you know how it worked.

Thanks again....   Chris

[Guest]

  It works!!!  All the files pop open - no problem.

Now i have to work on the links to our URL  [https:// ]

Chris

[teknicsa]

I have a similar issue, but I'm publishing the files and writing them onto a CD. When I publish them as a swf format, the files (located in the same folder, or the cd) open up. But when I publish it as a exe, then only links to internet sites work, but not for files located on the disk. They open up in the browser as an html link, instead of opening up as a pdf or a word document. How do I fix this?

[RoboWizard]

Hi there

What version of Captivate are you using?

Cheers... Rick

Click here for Adobe Authorized Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training Click here for the SorcerStone Blog Click here for RoboHelp and Captivate eBooks

[teknicsa]

I was trolling through the forums and I found the Menu Wizard suggestion helped me fix the issue.

I also had an issue with the auto run, but after removing the spaces in the project and the auto run file, it worked!!!

[Guest]

Hi,

What do you mean by Menu wizard suggestion?

I face exactly the same problem - When clicking links to pdf documents in my .exe, the IE (instead of Adobe Reader) opens and reports an error.

Thanks in advance!

[RoboWizard]

Hi there

Take a peek at the link below fo an explanation.

Click here

Cheers... Rick

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[RoboWizard]

Hi again

Okay, that link I gave you was for one specific situation. I may have misunderstood. So please click the link below for what is probably closer to your situation.

Click here

Cheers... Rick

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[Guest]

Hi,

Great link, it helped a lot! Problem is solved now!

Thank YOU!!

[Guest]

I have Captivate 4 and I am still unable to click on the file after I have done the  steps listed above.I have tried entering the Path name as well as the document file name. The path name works but it points to my C drive and will not display once tested on another machine. the file name (pdf doc)  does not work and it is in the Captivate folder. 

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

Linking to PDF and DOC files can be tricky to do. Most everyone has resolved it by following what you say you have already tried.

If you are seeing that the link is attempting to open something pathed to your local C drive it means you have created an absolute link. Likely by simply browsing to the file instead of just typing the file name of the document into the field.

Cheers... Rick

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[Guest]

Thanks for your timely response. upon publishing the project I get a message that states "the files projects listed are linked to the open project.The linked files may require exporting.

Although the ms word doc and pdfs are located in the folder should I export all of my word or pdf docs separetly?

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

I'm not sure what you mean with this. The dialog is quite simply saying this:

You have created a Captivate movie. You told me to place the movie in Folder X. You have linked to a Word or PDF document. I did not copy the Word or PDF document to the folder for you. You need to ensure that you copy the file(s) to the folder as a separate operation if you want the links to work.

Cheers... Rick

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[NeedsHelp_37]

Glad you found the fix!

[Guest]

Don't think it's Linux - they are HP Servers -.  This course is just a low-end course and i am placing ALL the files in the ROOT directory.  Bad design, but i had a time issue.  The PDFs are generated by us and just placed out in the ROOT for the Captivate SWF file to reference.

Chris

[RoboWizard]

Hi Chris

Your post isn't clear on the question of whether you are now up and running or not.

Things working now?

Cheers... Rick

Click here for Adobe Authorized Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training Click here for the SorcerStone Blog Click here for RoboHelp and Captivate eBooks

[Guest]

Rick,

Still changing the paths to just the file names.  Alot of links!!!  But i am sure that was the problem.

Also, another issue is that it will be on a Secure Server.  [ https://   ] and it seems that the links to our intranet don't work.  is that because of our Firewalls?

Thanks.... Chris

[Guest]

I am having the same problem as well.  My links to documents, URLs, etc do not work at all after publishing.  I have tried the suggestions below and still they do not work.  I tried extending the path as well as the simple format.   Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

"Not working" can mean a varitey of things. Can you please elaborate?

Do you click the links and a browser opens, but refuses to display the linked item?

Do you click the links and nothing whatsoever happens?

Do you click the links an see an error message?

Where is the Captivate movie you are testing from? Local PC? Web Server? Network Server? Where will it be ultimately?

Did you ensure the linked item is in the same folder as the Captivate movie?

Cheers... Rick

Click here for Adobe Authorized Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training Click here for the SorcerStone Blog Click here for RoboHelp and Captivate eBooks

[Guest]

Thank you for responding.

See my comments below.

[Guest]

When i click on the links within the Captivate Movie, NOTHING opens!  I even tried to have my browser open hoping that the link would 'find its way' to the site.  No error message at all.

I am testing the file on my Local PC - Government Server???  I cannot even link to Google or other sites that i normally can go to directly from my PC.

Example:  Link:   www.google.com

Thanks....

[Captiv8r]

Hi Christine

In your case I'm guessing that following the steps outlined in the link below will help.

Click here

Cheers... Rick

Click here for Adobe Authorized Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training Click here for the SorcerStone Blog Click here for RoboHelp and Captivate eBooks