Feedback on Captivate as alternative to Authorware, or suggestions for better alternative?

Question

Hi -
I've been using Authorware for a number of years to create questionnaires for research studies...and I'm glad it still works on Windows 7 and we're going to test our applications on a Windows-based tablet soon.
But I know I will need to find a new solution for a development tool as technology moves forward.
I've seen suggestions to head towards Captivate.  We purchased a copy and I've been testing it.
I'm learning that Captivate does not support arrays, and will only support a limited number of user-defined variables (although I haven't received a clear answer as to the exact number....but the estimates I was given were really small).  In Authorware, we've created systems that use 3000+ variables using arrays and have had no problems.
From the Captivate forum, I'm learning that it appears that there is not a simple way to export data to a text file on the computer (like Authorware's WriteExtFile and AppendExtFile).  I'm told I need to have an internet connection, and set up a LMS (learning management system).
Our projects are research studies, so we're not grading or scoring...we just need to capture the answers that people provide and write that data to a text file.
Two different people suggested that SurveyMonkey would be the better option.
We would prefer a solution that allows for the creation of a standalone executable file with a nice graphical user interface, audio, easy data handling, and not be required to have an internet connection, etc.
As Authorware users, would any of you have a suggestion for an Adobe (or other) product?  Or should I just learn Captivate and grow with it and hope some better features are added in the future?
Thanks!
Scott

Answer 1

Yeah, it'll be a while, I think, before CP is anywhere close to the capabilties of Authorware. If you want the 'ease' of Captivate, you likely have to rethink how your product will work. Overall, filesystem access is going to be a challenge - very little software seems to allow that these days, and understandably so considering security issues.
Lectora may be the best more for you, all that said. I'm not positive they allow filesystem access (write text files) but I think so. It's also not Flash-based, so if you do want to move to mobile delivery without Flash plugin support issues, well, there ya go.
On the other hand, I believe Adobe's AIR product (method of bundling a Flash application for local playback) may now allow filesystem access, so if you can pick up Flash or Flex, publishing to an AIR application may be an option.
OR you could try to get a Flash Widget made that you insert into CP to handle the text file writing, though that doesn't get you around the custom variable limit...
...BUT do note that CP can call JS functions in the parent HTML window, so you might be able to do what you want, as far as variables go, by creating the functions, values, etc. in JS then have CP call those functions...?
All that said, Xerte may be a good option for you. It's got quite an underground (i.e. quiet) following:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/
It's designed to be an Authorware replacement in design and form, though I've not touched it in years so have no idea how far it's progressed (the support listserve is pretty active though).
And it's free...!
HTH
Erik