My Library Seems to Have Disappeared

[Guest]

My week of Captivate fun continues!

Okay, so the Library window of Captivate 4 serves two basic functions for me that I use often: it allows me to delete stuff that I'm not using in my projects, and it allows me to take specific slides and export them for editing in PhotoShop. Unfortunately, now, when I open this window, it looks like this:

So, yeah, it's slightly less-functional. I get the same thing in all my projects, even those which I have used the Library window in before.

Anyone know how I can fix this? Or in the interim, how I can edit slides through Photoshop without using the Library window? Thanks!

[mvlele]

Hi,

Is your Captivate project heavily loaded with resources? Can you tell us your Captivate project file size?

Also do you see this issue if you open a new blank project and check its library?

Kind of a basic solution, but try closing your Captivate Application completely, reboot your system and launch the Application again. All this because I am doubting if there is any memory usage issue.

Give it a try.

Regards,

Mukul

[Lilybiri · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Perhaps something has been corrupted. Try to delete the Captivate_...DAT file, in the folder Documents & Settings\Username\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Captivate. When restarting CP a new, bugfree DAT file will be created.

Lilybiri

[Guest]

It worked! Thanks!

[bwlker]

What a great suggestion. This is one worth noting for future reference in my project work.

Question: is there anything lost when the DAT file is deleted? I had some problems a while ago with cp files that seemed to become corrupted and I'm wondering if this would have been a safe thing for me to try for a fix...?

Betsy

[Lilybiri]

Hi Betsy,

Got this suggestion right from the Adobe Team itself, and up till now did not hear that this will destructive for anything. It is something I will never forget anymore because it was a big relieve when this solved my problem a couple of months ago.

Lilybiri

[Captiv8r]

Hi Betsy

Indeed certain things are sort of "lost".

The list of recently opened files that shows on the first page will be lost. Your associations between Fonts, Sizes and Colors are all reset for your captions. Your placement of panels is reset. I'm not sure on this one, but if you have configured some FTP locations, they will likely be reset as well.

Cheers... Rick

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[bwlker]

Hello there Rick!

Thanks for chiming in on this. Good cautionary things to remember. BUT in a dire circumstance, it might be worth losing those settings if it's a good fix.

Gracias!

Betsy

[mvlele]

Hi,

One more tip can be to make use of the backup file created in Captivate 4. Everytime a .CP project is saved and closed, already created backup file is updated with the changes. This backup file is present in the same folder where the .CP project resides.

So if for any reason, the project gets corrupted, you can always look for the backup file.

Regards,

Mukul

[bwlker]

In my albeit brief experience, however, this backup file has been useless, carrying all the same problems as the file it just backed up. I find it better to do my own manual backups and rely on those...

Betsy

[Captiv8r]

Hi Betsy

I do agree that sometimes it's necessary and helpful to delete the file. I was only attempting to answer the question you asked about what (if anything) is "lost" when this file is deleted.

Additionally, the backup file that Mukul mentioned will only be present if the feature to create one is enabled. Normally it's enabled by default, so it's a fairly safe bet the backup will be there. But since we are able to turn the feature off, I'd stop short of saying it will always be present, as that may prove to be technically incorrect.

Cheers... Rick

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[bwlker]

Rick - your comment about the DAT file was very helpful to me. Please don't feel you have to explain yourself, I got it and it's good information. It makes me realize that deleting that file could be a good option in some circumstances, and with your info I'll do it knowing ahead of time what to expect the ripple effect to be.

I have that default setting for the backup because I do get them as you describe. But I find they are not helpful for cp files that have problems, because they are identical to my active file and if that file has problems, so does the backup. They would be helpful if I inadvertantly deleted my project file, though.  That's all I meant by my post.

Betsy

[jay fresno]

Where is the DAT file located for Captivate 5 on a Mac?

[bwlker]

Sorry, I have no clue. I don't "do" macs, only PCs.

B