Create your Screencast Create your Screencast in a Flashin a FlashAdobe CaptivateAdobe Captivate

Edward MetzSystems LibrarianUSACGSCFort Leavenworth KSEdward.metz@us.army.mil

What is Adobe Captivate?What is Adobe Captivate?

A tool for creating screencasts or “movies” A tool for creating screencasts or “movies” on your computer with a narrator on your computer with a narrator explaining what is happening as the action explaining what is happening as the action unfolds.unfolds.

Uses: e-learning, tech training, simple Uses: e-learning, tech training, simple how-to presentationshow-to presentations

OverviewOverview

Record your interaction with a computer Record your interaction with a computer application such as a database in a web application such as a database in a web browser. browser.

Insert additional screens as necessary Insert additional screens as necessary with images or graphicswith images or graphics

Add captions, call-outs, audio and other Add captions, call-outs, audio and other effects as neededeffects as needed

Run the result as a seamless “video”Run the result as a seamless “video”

Show me – Demo type videoShow me – Demo type video

CARL TutorialsCARL Tutorials http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/tutorials/i

ndex.asp Show timesShow times

http://tweaket.com/LibraryStuff/Screencasting/ShowtimesCaptivate_demo.swf

Show me – Interactive type videoShow me – Interactive type video

InteractiveInteractive How to use Refworks

Adobe Captivate FeaturesAdobe Captivate Features

You can integrate sound, video clips and You can integrate sound, video clips and visual effectsvisual effects

Easily insert PPT slides and images Easily insert PPT slides and images Record all the screen motions including Record all the screen motions including

mouse movements and clicks mouse movements and clicks Add audio commentaryAdd audio commentary Easy to updateEasy to update

Adobe Captivate Features Adobe Captivate Features

Output options include MS word Output options include MS word handouts, Shockwave file (.swf) with handouts, Shockwave file (.swf) with HTMLHTML

Start, stop and pause controls on the Start, stop and pause controls on the “skin”“skin”

Can create interactive options, rollovers, Can create interactive options, rollovers, buttons and even quizzes.buttons and even quizzes.

Adobe Captivate - ChallengesAdobe Captivate - Challenges Costs about $699Costs about $699 Need a Windows PC with min. 1GB Ram, 1GHz Need a Windows PC with min. 1GB Ram, 1GHz

ProcessorProcessor Users need to have a web browser with Flash Player Users need to have a web browser with Flash Player

installedinstalled Learning curveLearning curve

Not difficult and fairly intuitive but do need to learn Not difficult and fairly intuitive but do need to learn something new.something new.

Interactive screencasts require more planning and Interactive screencasts require more planning and familiarity with advanced featuresfamiliarity with advanced features

Does require some time to plan, record, edit and Does require some time to plan, record, edit and publish, upload to webpublish, upload to web

Preplanning ConsiderationsPreplanning Considerations

Keep it short. Bandwidth.Keep it short. Bandwidth. Screen size not to exceed 800x600 pxScreen size not to exceed 800x600 px Avoid capturing browser bars and toolbars in your Avoid capturing browser bars and toolbars in your

screen. screen. Prior to recording screenshots close your Outlook or Prior to recording screenshots close your Outlook or

other email programs.. (pesky email alerts).other email programs.. (pesky email alerts). Inserting images? Make them web-ready first.Inserting images? Make them web-ready first. Think ahead to future updates. Keep your files together.Think ahead to future updates. Keep your files together.

The Process – The Process – what topicwhat topic

Topic idea. (Ask yourself exactly what info you want to Topic idea. (Ask yourself exactly what info you want to impart).impart).

Show how to use a tool or just a particular feature?Show how to use a tool or just a particular feature? Who’s your audience? How tech savvy are they? Who’s your audience? How tech savvy are they? Just demonstrate or do you want some interaction? Both?Just demonstrate or do you want some interaction? Both? Better to make several small screencasts than produce one long Better to make several small screencasts than produce one long

magnum opus.magnum opus.

The Process – The Process – Click pathClick path

Rehearse the click path several times Rehearse the click path several times Sketch out the flow on paper. Strongly recommended if you plan Sketch out the flow on paper. Strongly recommended if you plan

on making it interactive or lengthy.on making it interactive or lengthy. Makes you think about how you’re going to impart the desired Makes you think about how you’re going to impart the desired

info.info.

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

Select “record or create a new project”Select “record or create a new project” At next screen select “custom size” optionAt next screen select “custom size” option

• Select the dropdown arrow to choose which application screen to record. Select the dropdown arrow to choose which application screen to record. (e.g. your browser window)(e.g. your browser window)

• Set the screen size to 800x600 px. Hit the snap to fit button. Then adjust the Set the screen size to 800x600 px. Hit the snap to fit button. Then adjust the red box to omit browser bar.red box to omit browser bar.

• Choose the options tab to review recording option defaultsChoose the options tab to review recording option defaults Go with Full motion recordingGo with Full motion recording Choose whether to retain mouse and keyword click audioChoose whether to retain mouse and keyword click audio Other Audio settings Other Audio settings

• Encoding Bitrate – FM quality 64 kbpsEncoding Bitrate – FM quality 64 kbps• Encoding frequency – select 44 KHzEncoding frequency – select 44 KHz

Select record and begin the screen captures along your planned click Select record and begin the screen captures along your planned click

path.path.

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

Click here

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

Set screenCapture size

Select application to record

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

Red screen capture box

1. Fit to size

2. Select options button

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

The Process – The Process – Screen recordingScreen recording

Recording tipsRecording tips Be economical in your clicks and mouse Be economical in your clicks and mouse

movementsmovements Be wary of scrolling in your screen captures. Be wary of scrolling in your screen captures.

Adds considerably to file size.Adds considerably to file size.

The Process – The Process – Screen EditingScreen Editing

Edit each screen. (Add bullets, highlighting, images, Edit each screen. (Add bullets, highlighting, images,

captions). Adjust the timelinecaptions). Adjust the timeline as needed.as needed. Insert additional screens such as an introduction screen Insert additional screens such as an introduction screen

and a closing screen. You can import a PPT slide or a and a closing screen. You can import a PPT slide or a Captivate question slide.Captivate question slide.

Let’s look at some examples of text captions, highlight Let’s look at some examples of text captions, highlight boxes and insert a PPT slide.boxes and insert a PPT slide.

The Process – The Process – Screen EditingScreen Editing

The Process – The Process – Screen EditingScreen Editing

Text Captions, highlight box and other insert optionsText Captions, highlight box and other insert options

The Process – The Process – Screen EditingScreen Editing

Edit a text caption Edit a highlight box

The Process – The Process – Screen EditingScreen EditingTimeline

The Process – The Process – Audio recordingAudio recording

Prepare a script for each slide as needed. Add it to the Prepare a script for each slide as needed. Add it to the audio recording notes screen. Have the recorder read audio recording notes screen. Have the recorder read thru all the audio content prior to recording.thru all the audio content prior to recording.

Practice recording a short audio clip. Practice recording a short audio clip. Record the audio.Record the audio. Edit audio as needed and finalize your screen timingsEdit audio as needed and finalize your screen timings

The Process – The Process – Audio recordingAudio recording

Find someone with the “right” voice for recording.Find someone with the “right” voice for recording. Pause an instant at beginning of each audio segment Pause an instant at beginning of each audio segment

before speaking to avoid cutting off first words.before speaking to avoid cutting off first words. Leave a second or two of silence at end of each audio Leave a second or two of silence at end of each audio

segment.segment. Oh yeah…and the microphone. Just a simple $20 off-Oh yeah…and the microphone. Just a simple $20 off-

the-shelf audio microphone is adequate.the-shelf audio microphone is adequate. Microphone placementMicrophone placement

Tips

The Process – The Process – Audio recordingAudio recording

The Process – The Process – Audio recordingAudio recording

The Process – The Process – ADA ComplianceADA Compliance

Closed captions – hearing impairedClosed captions – hearing impaired

The Process – The Process – ADA ComplianceADA Compliance

Accessibility - Screen readersAccessibility - Screen readers

The Process – The Process – ADA ComplianceADA Compliance

The Process – The Process – ADA ComplianceADA Compliance

Note: this is only available if you check the 508 compliance box in Project

Preferences

The Process – The Process – ADA ComplianceADA Compliance

508 compliance for navigation508 compliance for navigation

The Process – The Process – Verify Project Verify Project Settings (Captivate 2.0)Settings (Captivate 2.0)

Select Project – Preferences :Select Project – Preferences : Start and End tabStart and End tab

• Fade in on first slideFade in on first slide

• Project end options – Action - Select Open URL or file. Enter the url Project end options – Action - Select Open URL or file. Enter the url you’d like to open at conclusion of screencastyou’d like to open at conclusion of screencast

• Fade out on last slideFade out on last slide

Preferences TabPreferences Tab Accept defaults – ensure 508 compliance box is checkedAccept defaults – ensure 508 compliance box is checked

Add playback control skin to your project. Select Project Add playback control skin to your project. Select Project – Skin– Skin

Modify the default settings as desired (color scheme, border, Modify the default settings as desired (color scheme, border, buttons etc)buttons etc)

Note: with Adobe Captivate 3.0 select Edit – Preferences – Project Settings

The Process – The Process – Verify Project Verify Project Settings (Captivate 2.0)Settings (Captivate 2.0)

PreferencesPreferences

The Process The Process Adobe Captivate Adobe Captivate 3.0 Project settings3.0 Project settings

The Process – The Process – Project SkinProject Skin

Skin settingsSkin settings

Note: with Adobe Captivate 3.0 the Skins menu is still found under Project - Skin

The Process – The Process – Review and PublishReview and Publish

Ask another colleague to reviewAsk another colleague to review Publish and export HTML. Publish and export HTML. Export HTML – Creates an HTM file with the same name Export HTML – Creates an HTM file with the same name

as the Captivate project. (.htm, .js and .swf file all should as the Captivate project. (.htm, .js and .swf file all should go inside same directory). go inside same directory).

To run the movie, create a link to the HTM.To run the movie, create a link to the HTM. You can add further branding to the html file if desiredYou can add further branding to the html file if desired

Publishing screenshotPublishing screenshot Publishing screenPublishing screen

Let’s do a quick oneLet’s do a quick one

Search CARL’s Historic Military Search CARL’s Historic Military Documents CollectionDocuments Collection Topic: Civil AffairsTopic: Civil Affairs

Review

1. Topic idea2. Rehearse the click path several times3. Record – review recording settings4. Edit - Add bullets, highlighting, images, captions, intro screen as

needed. Tentatively verify the timing for each screen capture. 5. Record audio – prepare script in advance6. Improve accessibility – ADA compliant7. Check your Project settings – eg Start and End slide settings,

Project Skin8. Publish – create SWF and export HTML for posting on web

Get inventive and have funGet inventive and have fun

InfotainmentInfotainment CARL Digital Library http://www.comarmsblog.com/2007/06/carl-http://www.comarmsblog.com/2007/06/carl-

digital-library-flash-movie.htmldigital-library-flash-movie.html