Use Captivate to create PDF Manuals

We have been research "single-source authoring" solutions, such as Datango, uPerform, STT Trainer, UPK, etc.  They promote the ability to capture screenshots and generate Job Aids, Videos, Sims, and EPSS resources with a single click. 
My Q - Has anyone used Captivate to create handouts / job aids?  I played around with a few of the Print publishing outputs, and I don't think we can use them.
If you have used it, it would be very helpful to see an example of a job aid that you created.
Until I find a way to do it, I'm taking one of the print publish outputs and significantly modifying them to look like our current quick reference guides.
Thanks!
Micky

Hi Micky
mickyfokken wrote:
...I hope my days of manually pasting screenshots into word documents are over.
I'm not sure they are.
Captivate allows you to record what is happening. For example, perhaps you are describing how to open Windows Character Map. You Start Captivate, define your recording area and set about opeingin Windows Character Map. Then you stop recording. Captivate will have captured the screens that were involved. You would see a screen of the desktop with the mouse moving to the Start button. Another screen where the Start button is clicked. Another screen where the mouse moves to the Run command and clicks. Another screen where you see charmap being typed into the field and Enter is pressed to launch the application. That would be the Captivate project. You would thien tell Captivate you wanted to create a SWF of that.
With RoboHelp, you create HTML pages which are known as Topics. And you might also describe the same process of opening Character Map in one or more topics. Much like Word, you would type information in and capture screen shots. (Possibly using RoboScreen Capture if you like). But each screen capture would need to still be inserted into the topic(s). No way around that, I'm afraid.
I'm unfamiliar with how Frame works. To me it's bewildering. So I'd have to leave it to others to describe that to you. But I do believe it works in a similar manner to RoboHelp, in that you type your information into it. Frame simply handles very large documents more easily. It also stores and arranges the content differently.
Hopefully I've helped more than hindered here... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links
Captivate Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form
Adobe Certified Captivate Training
SorcerStone Blog
Captivate eBooks

Similar Messages

  • Does Adobe Reader for iOS have the ability to open inbedded links to additional PDF docs?  If not, then what would be the best way to use these already created PDF's?

    Does Adobe Reader for iOS have the ability to open inbedded links created with Acrobat Standard to additional PDF docs?  If not, then what would be the best way to use these already created PDF's on an I Pad?

    driddy61,
    As of June 2014, none of the Adobe Reader mobile products support the hyperlink action for opening a separate PDF document.
    Adobe Reader for iOS
    Adobe Reader for Android
    Adobe Reader Touch for Windows 8
    In addition, the Reader mobile products do not open multiple windows/documents simultaneously, which would make the navigation between PDF documents nearly impossible. (Once a hyperlink takes you to a different PDF document, you have no way to go back to the original PDF document.)
    The only Adobe Reader product that fulfills your department's requirements is Adobe Reader XI (mostly for Windows/Mac desktop/laptop computers).  Acrobat Pro and Standard are paid products.
    Because you are in search of a less expensive device for your department, you could get a Windows tablet instead of a Windows desktop/laptop computer. Microsoft Surface Pro (that you've mentioned in your previous reply) is just one example.  You can also find other less expensive Windows tablets.
    Tablets
    However, please keep in mind that there are two different types of Windows tablets running two different operating systems.
    (a) A Windows tablet with an Intel-based processor running Windows 8.1 Pro
    Example: Surface Pro 3
    You can install and run traditional desktop apps (e.g. Adobe Reader XI) and new Windows Store apps ("Modern" or "Metro-style" apps).
    (b) A Windows tablet with an ARM-based processor running Windows RT 8.1
    Example: Surface 2
    You can only install and run Windows Store apps (e.g. Adobe Reader Touch) but not traditional desktop apps like Adobe Reader XI.
    In general, type (b) tablets are more affordable than type (a) tablets.  However, if you want to run Adobe Reader XI, you do need to check the technical specification of each tablet and make sure the following conditions are met.
    Processor: Intel
    Operating system:  Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 8/8.1 Pro, not RT
    Hope this helps you choose the right device for your department.  Please let us know if you have any questions about system requirements or supported features in the Adobe Reader products.

  • Random error when using cfpdfform to create pdf

    I have a series of pdf forms that have been created with extended rights in reader using both Acrobat Pro 9 and Acrobat Pro X. I use cfpdfform to pre-populate the form and name it with a unique guid.  Some people randomly are getting the error in reader "This document enabled extended features in Adobe Reader.  The document has been changed since it was created and use of extended features is no lonfer available.  Please contact the author for the original version of this document."
    I have tried to replicate the error using the exact same settings of windows, browser and reader version and cannot replicate.  I have researched extensively online and see many people experiencing the same error message but no clear resolution found.  Below is the code that I am using to save the prepopulated form.  Has anyone else run into this issue?
    <cfset uuid = createuuid()>
            <cfpdfform   source="forms\#url.frpdf#"
                        destination="forms\exh\#variables.uuid##url.frpdf#" overwrite="YES" overwritedata="YES"
                        action="populate">
                <cfpdfformparam name="name" value="#rtrim(variables.company)#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="address1" value="#rtrim(variables.address1)#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="address2" value="#rtrim(variables.address2)#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="address3" value="#rtrim(variables.address3)#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="citystatezip" value="#rtrim(variables.citystatezip)#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="city" value="#variables.city#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="state" value="#variables.state#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="zip" value="#variables.zip#">
                <cfpdfformparam name="country" value="#variables.country#">
            </cfpdfform>
    <cfcontent file="#expandpath(".")#\forms\exh\#variables.uuid##url.frpdf#" type="application/pdf">

    Depending on your application you may or not be able to carry the links over (reason for graffiti's question). To carry them over you need to use PDF Maker (the create PDF icon in WORD and several other products).

  • Using Captivate to create iOS like emulators

    In some of the emulators I use at work, I would like to be able to use a gesture to emulate the "slide" feature in iOS 7.
    For Example, if you have an iPhone that is locked, the first thing it asks you is to "slide" the screen to the right and then enter your code (if enabled).
    I currently have a button that requires a mouse click but would much rather have it where you can hold the mouse down and drag the screen to the right to emulate that effect.
    Is this an option and if so, what do I need to do? I'm using Captivate 8.
    Thanks

    Everything with Captivate is prerecorded, so you can't do a
    "live" webinar.
    However, as long as you're willing to do the production work
    to make it look and work professionally, you could certainly come
    up with a rather convincing canned presentation.

  • Can I use layers to create PDF slideshow?

    I have a multi-layered AI file I've opened in Acrobat. I can easily toggle the view of each layer. What I'd like to do is select various layers to view, then assign the various selections to bookmarks and ultimately view the file as a slideshow, complete with transitions. I'm guessing layers can't be controlled this way, but maybe I'm wrong. Any suggestions?
    Thanks,
    Ray

    Thanks for the suggestion Grant.
    I'm sharing layers above and below the sandwiched layers so I really didn't want to introduce new artboards.
    My workaround was to duplicate the page in Acrobat and selectively turn layers on for each new page. Then I optimized the PDF and I'm good-to-go.

  • When using Bridge to create PDFs I get an error message

    The error message says there's insufficient space, yet this happens with images that are low resolution and on disks that have plenty of space. What am I doing wrong?

    Thank Curt, unfortunately I'm still having the problem on my desktop, hard drive and my cloud drive.
    Can you clarify on that, are you using Bridge on one computer and have trouble in saving itself and other locations or do you use multiple versions.
    Can specify the details about OS, computer and Bridge version
    Did you try and refresh the preferences for Bridge and have you checked your permissions for that disks and folders. If on a Mac did you try to run check and repair permissions)

  • Converting a PDF to a word document using the online "create PDF" tool.

    So, the title of this message is what I am trying to do.  However, when I do this it acts like it is uploading a file and then nothing ever happens.  I have been waiting hours to see if it was just taking a long time.  Is there a size limit to this service?  My file is 43 MB.

    Hi, could you share a screenshot of what your page looks like immediately after you upload a file? It could be that it just is taking a long time to upload. Do you have a high-speed internet connection?
    This page shows you how to post a screenshot: http://forums.adobe.com/message/4721586

  • Getting general error when saving site using "create PDF from"

    I'm using Adobe Acrobat Professional 8.0.0 for Mac, trying to save websites. This started working fine, but I had to shut down in the middle of a site being saved. Now when I try to save a site  using Web Capture/create PDF from I get a "general error, nothing was saved". What do I need to do, remove, replace, reinstall or whatever to get this feature working again?
    Also can anyone tell me how to set the feature that saves web pages with the headers and footers showing date, time, URL, page title, etc. I often use the print feature (save to PDF) and up until a day or so ago it always saved with those headers and footers. Now they're missing, which is what prompted me to try saving entire sites, above. I remember setting these a long time ago and being able to choose what went on the left, right,header and footer, but I cannot find those settings now.
    Thanks,
    Michele

    Well, after downloading Applejack, I am completely confused. I'm not sure I understand what will happen if I do any of these steps: see 3a.. "clean out all cache files including the Launch Services database and any cached User Pictures". What kinds of things will I lose? Can I choose only the Acrobat cache files?  I don't want to have to spend hours or days resetting things as I'm in the middle of a project with a close deadline. I also don't really understand fully what will happen with all the other things they discuss.  The instructions say (I just copied and pasted these):
    3.  Auto mode: You can let the script run through its tasks automatically by typing 'applejack auto'. If you want the machine to automatically restart at the end of its tasks, use 'applejack auto restart'. You can also tell the computer to shut down automatically at the end by using the command line 'applejack auto shutdown'.
    3a. Deep Auto mode: If you want to let AppleJack clean out all cache files, including the Launch Services database and any cached User Pictures, use 'applejack AUTO' instead. Use this if you still have problems booting after running AppleJack already.
    4.  Interactive mode: To run through just one task, or to run the script manually, type 'applejack' and then choose tasks from the menu. Running the script in interactive mode has the benefit of giving you options for working with user level cache and preference files, not just the default system level caches and preferences. To select an option, type the highlighted number or letter associated with the action, and then hit return. Whenever you enter a choice in AppleJack, you will need to hit return for that choice to take effect.
    4.  Corrupted preference files are moved into a directory that will mirror the original preference directory, with (Corrupt) added to the directory name. For example, corrupt preferences files found in ~/Library/Preferences will be moved to ~/Library/Preferences (Corrupt). After running AppleJack, you'll probably want to take a look at them (and most likely throw out those folders). As of version 1.4.2, AppleJack now creates a copy of the directory tree inside the (Corrupt) folder so that if any files were deeply nested inside the original preference folder, they will be placed in an identical directory hierarchy in the new (Corrupt) folder. This way, if for any reason you would want to move a preference file back, you know where it should go.
    6.  AppleJack has a primitive logging mechanism. It writes a journal of most of its activity to /var/log/AppleJack.log. AppleJack will automatically reset the log the next time you run it, if the file should ever reach a size somewhat over 500k.

  • Create PDF from Web page using Acrobat X - Page Order

    I have a structured web site that is in fact Program Help The web pages are structured as follows:
    index.html - Main Topic Index page with links to all topic subject index pages
    topic/index.html - Topic Subject Index Page with links to all subject pages
    topic/subject.html - Subject page
    .....etc
    Using Acrobat 5 "Create PDF from Web Page" created a perfect logical PDF  page structure in the page order of of the web site. In Acrobat 5 page 1  was the Main Topic Index Page, page 2 was the 1st Topic Subject Index  Page, page 3 was the 1st Subject Page, then the 2nd subject of the 1st  Topic, etc. until the Topic Subjects were exhausted after which the 2nd  Topic Subject Index Page and so it went on. As a result the bookmark  structure was sensible. The page order was as follows:
    Main Topic Contents
    Topic 1 Contents
    Subject 1 of Topic 1
    Subject 2 of Topic 1
    Topic N Contents
    Subject 1 of Topic N
    Subject 2 of Topic N
    Acrobat X (just purchased) produces a differently structured PDF from the same HTML pages. The order is:
    Main Topic Contents
    Topic 1 Contents
    Topic 2 Contents
    Topic N Contents
    Main Topic Contents (a second time)
    Subject 1 of Topic 1
    Subject 2 of Topic 1
    Subject N of Topic 1
    Subject 1 of Topic 2
    Subject 2 of Topic 2
    Subject N of Topic N
    Question: Is there any way I can get back with Acrobat X the same page order I got with Acrobat 5?
    Any help appreciated. The website is www.caliach.com/caliach/vision/help/index.html
    Chris

    Acrobat is using the underlying mark up of the rendered HTML page.
    This may or may not provide an adequate input to Acrobat when it is noodling out how and what to tag.
    I suspect you may find that, to obtain an adequately tagged PDF, you may have to capture the web page content with the create bookmarks and create tags options off.
    Once you have the PDF make working copies.
    Try letting Acrobat tag this already created PDF to see what happens.
    You may have to manually tag the PDF.
    n.b., The default read order for western language can be altered by user selections in the accesibility setup or by selection in the PDF page(s) Page Properties.
    Be well...

  • Can't Create PDF "from file" using any MS Office files

    Acrobat 8.1.1 Pro. (OS = XP), as part of the CS3 premium edition.
    I can no longer get Acrobat to recognize any of the MS Office applications extensions (.doc, .ppt, etc...) for use with either Create PDF "From File" or when using the Combine Files feature to Merge or Package. The extensions are no longer even listed as an option in the dialog box, or in the Preference settings under "Convert to PDF".
    FYI- I can still use the PDF Maker functionality from within the MS Office application to create a PDF.
    Any Idea what could have happened, or more importantly how to fix?
    ***Update***
    I have re-installed the Acrobat 8 application, and the problem still exists.
    I'm truly puzzled.

    I get this with my PC and I ran detect-repair and reinstalled. Some PDF's I can open and other's I cannot. I can send the email to a cohort and they can open fine.
    "Can't create file: Right-click the folder you want to create the file in and then click Properties on the shortcut menu to check your permissions for the folder"
    Any ideas would be great.
    Thanks!

  • I have a problem using the "save as pdf..." command of the print panel of MS Word (lower L corner).  When file has a few photos in it, the pdf file becomes huge; 7 mb Word file becomes 31 mb., on MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo processor , OS X 10.5.8

    How can converting a MS Word file to a pdf make the file 5x bigger?  Can someone tell me how to update the "save as pdf..." feature when "printing" a file in MS Word (Word:mac 2008, ver. 12.2.5).  The problem is that using this to create pdf files gives huge files when the Word file has graphics pasted as pictures from Powerpoint, even for simple graphics and when first exported at low resolution (180 dpi) as jpg files from Powerpoint and inserted into Word.  

    Here's a little more info on the save_as_pdf issue.  It is Word files in 97–2004 format (doc) that get 5x bigger.  The conversion works fine and file size is normal if the Word file is saved in most recent Word format (docx rather than doc).  Somehow MS Word can't save its own files properly in pdf format.  Thanks Bill for all the frustration.

  • Creating pdf from scanner in 10.6.1

    The one feature I loved in Acrobat was the ability to scan multiple pages directly into Acrobat as a single file by using the option "Create pdf from scanner."  After upgrading to Snow Leopard, this feature still appears in the menu, but no scanners are found. I know of the issues with printers and file extensions, but I guess scanners are seen as another form of printer?  I hate scanning to Preview then saving each page as a pdf, then opening in Acrobat to concatenate the files, rotate pages and make any necessary changes.  Will the create pdf from scanner ever work again as it used to? Please . . . .

    Your problem isn't clear
    It is slow, so I understand that you can scan. Perhaps you can check the scanning resolution, if it is an heavy parameter, it is clear than the scan take longer.
    When you scan from another application, is it slow ?
    Scan Drivers are ok ?
    Try VueScan Pro, it is a scanning application that support more than 1700 scanner. Does it work better ?
    It can also replace your default driver.
    Let us know

  • Create PDF From Scanner - Items not tagged by default in Adobe X?

    Our associates leverage Adobe Acrobat's Paper Capture API to create PDFs directly from TWAIN-sourced scanners.  In Adobe Acrobat 9.x, the resulting PDFs were automatically tagged.  In version 10.x they are not, and I don't see a way to enable tagging automatically when using the "File -> Create PDF from Scanner" option.  Strangely, the option to tag the PDF is available when using "File -> Create PDF from Web Page."
    Any ideas?

    Also experiencing this issue.

  • Creating PDF forms in Frame (switch from  Word?)

    Here's another "can I switch from Word" question. I am an old (5.5) Frame ACE now in a new job where we use Word. Frame would be a much better choice in many ways, for many reasons.
    I could use some help figuring out whether Frame creates forms that convert easily to PDF. As an end product, what we need is a PDF form with a large number of fixed-length text fields; users must be able to download the form and fill it in at their leisure, either all at once or in stages, saving their work as they go.
    These files are currently constructed in Word out of tables. They are a terrible mess and must be recreated from scratch. If Frame handles forms well, we can start that work fresh in Frame and dump Word completely. (This is a question I could answer for myself in a few minutes if I could download a trial. Bad timing.)
    Can somebody with a current copy of Frame tell me how it handles forms and whether it's possible to use Frame to create PDF forms with plenty of fixed-length text fields, some of them quite long?
    Your help is much appreciated. Thank you!
    V. B. Beck

    Thank you, Sheila.
    Users are most likely to simply have Adobe Reader.
    Sorry to be asking for so much help--it is rather maddening not to be able to download the trial and take a quick look for myself.
    Are form fields defined directly within Frame, or is it necessary to hack the PDF? If within Frame, how is length of input defined--by number of characters? Or, as with LiveCycle Designer, can you "limit length to visible area"?
    Thanks as always and in advance for the help.

  • Create PDF From a backend web page

    Hello, this is my first post on the Adobe Forums
    I am trying to get a capture of a web page using Adobe Acrobe "Create PDF from Web Page" However, I cannot figure out how to capture a page after I have logged into the site. I thought that Adobe Acrobat would recognize that I had logged in from Internet Explorer, or my default browser.
    I keep getting the Wordpress login page. I need to be able to see the dashboard. Finding a solution to this will help me develop solutions to my other web capture questions.
    Regards,
    Greg

    That is a limitation of using that method. A workaround is to print to PDF from your browser after you have the page you want loaded, but I don't know if that's acceptable to you.

Maybe you are looking for

  • When i can see more tv chanels stream live on Apple tv

    Hello there ... Apple has changed the way they listen to music, Apple has changed the way we read books, Apple has changed the way we learn and many other things that our life has become easier ...but I expect like many others a new way to watch tv y

  • Brand new superdrive not working w brand new Mac Book Air

    Hi, just came home from Apple Store today with new computer and superdrive, which is not showing up when plugged in. When I put a CD in it reads it for a few seconds then spits it out. I am on the road so getting to an Apple Store will not be easy fo

  • Too many wrong password entries?

    Hi people. My brother has forgotten his ipod password and has entered too many incorrect tries. The message that comes up is in red background that says "iPod is disabled connect to itunes". But when I connect to itunes it says that it needs a passco

  • Free object of a picture

    Dear Abapers , I made a report and in the selection-criteria screen i inserted an image . The problem is that when the reports runs the image can't disappear  and is visible in the output of the report . How can i delete when the reports is showing t

  • QM: Material Transfer without Usage Decision

    Dear all, I need your help in mapping following scenario.Senario is like: Material is received from supplier with quality certificates. Material receipt is made on the basis of supplier certificate. Sample from received stock is send to third party l