Links to exe and back to menu builder not working

Question

I have read through all of the messages in the Forum and have
seen similar questions on this topic but no actual answers for this
precise situation. I apologize if I've just missed it. I'm fairly
new to Captivate and am using version 2. I am building a project
that will have 15 - 20 standalone .exe files.
This client is one of of the very few that does not have
Flash Player and will not due to security reasons. We will publish
and play from a DVD/CD.
The problem -
I need to have a course menu to link to each exe and then
link back from each exe to the main menu.
I have built a sample menu builder and exported it as an exe.
The links to the other files from this main menu work; however, I
cannot get the links in the separate exe files to access the main
menu exe (i.e. menu builder file). I either get a blank browser
window or other url window, or nothing happens and the screen just
stays there. The same thing will happen if I'm using the menu in
the skins feature.
I have ensured that all my files are in the same folder. I
have variations on the link, such as "relative" links as suggested
(i.e., removing path information and including only the file name).
I'm not sure Captivate Player will help because it sounds
like that is more for Web applications.
Please help!
Thanks
lahkab

Answer 1

Hi Don
Sure thing. The weird part of this is that it will require
using both MenuBuilder and Captivate to accomplish it. As you have
seen, Captivate likes to open things by feeding into HTTP. So
often, you wish to open a Word Document or a .PDF and you see a
browser open. The bizarre part of all this, is that if you look at
the address bar of the browser that opens, the path and filename
are correct! You click there and press Enter and by golly it loads
up. Go figure.
So here goes.
1. Note the exact file name you wish to open. Perhaps
"Menu.EXE".
2. Open MenuBuilder and create a new totally blank project.
3. Set your width and height by clicking Options > Project
Options. I think the smallest you can go is 320 wide and 200 high.
4. Click Insert > Clickbox.
5. For the link part, just type "Menu.EXE" (or whatever you
noted in step 1) Note that you should not enter any path. JUST the
file name. You might also click to place a check mark in the "Save
file with project" check box, just to be on the safe side.
6. Export the project as a Flash SWF.
7. Close MenuBuilder and open your Captivate project.
8. Edit the slide where your user will click to open the .EXE
and click Insert > Animation...
9. Insert the .SWF you created using MenuBuilder. Position it
over where you wish your user to click.
10. Publish your Captivate and test the link.
In case it will help, I've got a zip containing all the files
so you can see them in action (I included the source). No cloak and
dagger with this next part, just conserving bandwidth, as I'm
limited with this service and I don't wish everyone and their
brother to use it all up just looking to see. Shoot me an E-Mail
message to captiv8r (at) kc (dot) rr (dot) com and I'll send you a
link to download the files for you to play with.
Hopefully something here is helpful... Rick