User Guide Cancel

How to work with master slides in Adobe Captivate

Search
  1. Captivate User Guide
  2. Introduction to Captivate
    1. What's New in Adobe Captivate
    2. Adobe Captivate System Requirements
    3. Download Adobe Captivate
    4. What's New in Adobe Captivate (2019 release) Update 5
    5. What's New in Adobe Captivate (2019 release) Update 2
    6. Adobe Captivate 11.8 Release Notes
    7. Adobe Captivate Release Notes
    8. System requirements and download instructions for Adobe Captivate Draft
    9. Responsive Project Design with Adobe Captivate
  3. Create Projects
    1. Create different types of projects in Adobe Captivate
    2. Customize the size of an Adobe Captivate project
    3. Responsive Project Design with Adobe Captivate
    4. Create Virtual Reality (VR) projects
    5. Work with responsive text in Adobe Captivate
    6. Work with themes in Adobe Captivate
    7. How to apply view specific properties in responsive projects
    8. How to create backup files for Adobe Captivate projects
    9. Asset panel
    10. Create branching and forced navigation in Captivate
    11. Replace image on the stage
  4. Add and Manage Objects
    1. Work with multi-state objects in Adobe Captivate
    2. Object effects
    3. Insert web objects in Adobe Captivate projects
    4. Work with object styles in Adobe Captivate
    5. How to rotate objects in Adobe Captivate
    6. Resize and reposition objects by pixel
    7. How to manage objects with the Main Options toolbar
    8. How to merge objects in a slide
    9. How to manage objects in the library
    10. How to group objects in Adobe Captivate
    11. Edit object information using the Advanced Interaction panel
    12. How to copy, paste, and duplicate objects in Adobe Captivate
    13. Control the visibility of objects
    14. How to change the display order of objects in Adobe Captivate
    15. Apply shadows to objects
    16. How to align objects in Adobe Captivate
    17. How to add reflection to objects in Adobe Captivate
    18. Import assets into a Captivate project
  5. Slides
    1. Add slides to an Adobe Captivate project
    2. Editing slides in an Adobe Captivate project
    3. Delete Adobe Captivate project slides
    4. Change slide order in Adobe Captivate
    5. Set slide properties in Adobe Captivate
    6. Add and convert slide notes to audio files with Adobe Captivate
    7. Set up knowledge check slides in Adobe Captivate
    8. How to add slide transitions in Adobe Captivate
    9. How to work with master slides in Adobe Captivate
    10. How to lock Adobe Captivate slides
    11. How to hide or exclude slides in an Adobe Captivate project
    12. How to group and ungroup slides in Adobe Captivate
  6. Timeline and grids
    1. Use rulers and guides
    2. Work with grids in Adobe Captivate
    3. Work with the timeline
    4. Shortcut keys in Adobe Captivate
    5. Working with the filmstrip
    6. How to customize the Adobe Captivate workspace
    7. How to use the Adobe Captivate Library
    8. How to use the Branching panel in Adobe Captivate
  7. Create Quizzes
    1. Insert question slides in Adobe Captivate projects
    2. Set quiz preferences for Adobe Captivate
    3. How to enable learners to submit all quiz responses simultaneously
    4. How to set up question slides with Adobe Captivate
    5. Using random question slides in Adobe Captivate
    6. How to allow users to return to quiz
    7. Import questions from CSV format files
    8. Import questions from GIFT format files
    9. How to insert pretests in Adobe Captivate
  8. Audio
    1. How to insert audio into an Adobe Captivate project
    2. How to preview audio in Adobe Captivate
    3. How to edit audio files with Adobe Captivate
    4. View audio details in Adobe Captivate
    5. Set audio recording preferences and recording audio
    6. How to export audio from Adobe Captivate
  9. Video
    1. Slide videos
    2. Work with event videos in Adobe Captivate
    3. Differences between events and synchronized videos in Adobe Captivate
  10. Interactive Objects
    1. Add interactive buttons to your Captivate projects
    2. Create click boxes in Adobe Captivate
    3. Add text entry boxes with Adobe Captivate
    4. How to add audio to boxes and buttons
    5. How to add JavaScript to boxes and buttons in Adobe Captivate
  11. Interactions
    1. Create learning interactions in Adobe Captivate
    2. Create drag-and-drop interactions in Adobe Captivate
    3. How to configure widgets and interactions in Adobe Captivate
    4. Use Adobe Captivate variables in widgets
    5. Set the properties of widgets with Adobe Captivate
    6. How to create static, interactive, and question widgets in Adobe Captivate
    7. How to add widgets to your Adobe Captivate project
  12. Non-interactive objects
    1. Create and edit smart shapes
    2. Edit and create text captions with Captivate
    3. How to use images and rollover images with Captivate
    4. How to customize smart shapes in Adobe Captivate
    5. How to create zoom areas in Adobe Captivate
    6. How to set audio for noninteractive objects
    7. How to create rollover slidelets in Adobe Captivate
    8. How to create rollover captions in Adobe Captivate
    9. Change mouse properties in Adobe Captivate
    10. Use highlight boxes in Captivate
    11. Work with swatches in Adobe Captivate
    12. Fix size and position of non-interactive objects
    13. Add animations to a Adobe Captivate project
  13. Advanced Editing and Project Reviews
    1. How to link Adobe Captivate projects
    2. Import, export, and delete content
    3. Skins
    4. Create accessible projects in Adobe Captivate
    5. Create a table of contents (TOC) with Adobe Captivate
    6. Resize Adobe Captivate projects
    7. Projects and project preferences
    8. How to preview projects in Adobe Captivate
  14. Variables and Advanced Actions
    1. Adobe Captivate variables
    2. How to create user-defined variables in Adobe Captivate
    3. Advanced actions in Adobe Captivate
    4. Shared actions in Adobe Captivate projects
    5. Edit or delete user-defined variables in Adobe Captivate
    6. How to assign advanced actions to an event
  15. Record Projects
    1. Create interactive videos
    2. Automatic and manual recording with Captivate
    3. Set recording preferences in Adobe Captivate
    4. Record video demonstrations with Adobe Captivate
    5. How to record software simulations in Adobe Captivate
    6. How to pause recording
  16. Publish Projects
    1. Preview and publish responsive projects
    2. Publish project to Adobe Captivate Prime
    3. Publish projects as HTML5 files with Adobe Captivate
    4. Publish projects as executable files
    5. Publish projects as MP4 files with Adobe Captivate
    6. Set publishing preferences in Adobe Captivate
    7. Using web fonts from Adobe Fonts in Adobe Captivate
    8. Report quiz results to an internal server
  17. Use Adobe Captivate with Other Applications
    1. Import and edit PowerPoint presentations in Captivate
    2. Upload an Adobe Captivate project to a Learning Management System
    3. Learn about the Common JavaScript interface for Adobe Captivate
    4. How to publish Captivate projects to Microsoft Word
    5. Using Adobe Connect with Captivate
    6. How to add Captivate projects to a RoboHelp online help system
    7. How to package multiple SCOs using the Adobe Multi-SCORM Packager
  18. Troubleshoot Adobe Captivate
    1. Resolve known issues and limitations in the latest versions of Adobe Captivate, Adobe FrameMaker, and Adobe RoboHelp.
    2. Early build for Captivate (2019 release) on macOS Big Sur (macOS 11)
    3. Hotfix for VR content not playing on devices
    4. Configure SSL for Live Preview on Devices
    5. Captivate (2019 release) activation issues on macOS Catalina
    6. Captivate responsive courses will not auto-play on browsers
    7. Issues with Asset panel in Adobe Captivate (2019 release)
    8. Error 103 while installing Adobe Captivate
    9. Issues when previewing a Captivate project

 

Master slides define background and common objects such as logos, headers, and footers for your slides. They provide a uniform appearance for your entire project.

All the artefacts on a master slide, such as, objects and placeholders reflect on the slide that is linked with the master slide.

A group of master slides make up a theme. For more information on themes, see Themes.

When you create a blank project or a project from template, Adobe Captivate uses the default (Blank) theme. A theme contains the following types of master slides:

Main master slide

The main master slide is the first slide in the Master Slide panel. The name of this slide is the same as the name of the theme. Objects and background color of this master slide appear on all other master slides. Each theme has one main master slide.

Content master slides

Contains layouts and objects that you can use for content slides, for example, a Title master slide can be used for the title of the project. A theme can contain one or more content master slides.

Question master slides

Each theme contains a separate master slide for the following question types:

  • Matching

  • Hot spot

  • Likert

  • Other question types: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true-false question, short answer, and sequence questions

  • Result slide

Each question master slide contains placeholder questions, answers, and captions with the style related to the theme.

Each slide, except main master slide, contains placeholders for different objects such as text caption, images, or a generic content placeholder. A content placeholder lets you insert any of the following:

  • Text caption

  • Text animation

  • Image

  • FLV or F4V video (event video)

  • SWF animation

You can insert new quiz and content master slides or edit an exiting slide to suit your requirements.

Viewing master slides

  1. Select Window > Master Slide.

  2. To view and edit a master slide on stage, select it in the master slide panel.

Master slide panel

The Master slide panel displays all master slides your project has. Unless you have added additional master slides, the Master Slide panel displays the slides associated with the current theme of the project.

Timeline

There is no timing information for master slides. The timeline for a master slide helps only to order, lock, or hide the objects added to it.

Adding a master slide

To add additional master slides, do one of the following actions:

  • Insert > Quiz Master Slide and then choose the required type of slide

  • Insert > Content Master Slide

Though a project contains multiple master slides, you can link a slide to only one master slide.

Use the Property Inspector (Window > Properties) to:

  • Label the master slide: Specify a unique label in the text box.

  • Provide background color: Deselect Project Background and then select a color from Stage.

  • Insert background images: Click the Browse icon to select a background image.

Add objects to master slides

You can insert the following standard objects to a master slide:

  • Text Caption
  • Rollover Caption
  • Rollover Image
  • Highlight Box
  • Smart shapes

All other standard objects are disabled.

You can also insert the following:

  • Text Animation

  • Widget

  • Image

  • Animation

  • FLV/F4V files (event video)

Note:

You cannot add audio to a master slide.

You can add placeholder objects on a master slide. While authoring, you can double-click the placeholders on the slides based on the master slide and insert appropriate content.

To add objects to a master slide,

  1. Select the master slide in the master slide strip.

  2. Add objects in the same way as you do in the slides in your project.

Using master slides

When you work on your project slides, use the Property Inspector (Window > Properties) to:

  • Link to a different master slide: In the Master Slide drop-down list, make appropriate selection. You can also apply a Master Slide to a group of slides.

  • Display master slide objects on top of the objects in your slide: Check Master Slide Object on Top.

Note:

Objects on the main master slide are always below the objects on other master slides in the Z-order.

Master slide maintains its own timeline. Therefore, master slide objects are not shown on the timeline of the linked slide. You cannot adjust the timeline of master slide objects or change their Z-order on a project slide timeline.

  • Use master slide background: Select this option to use background color or background image from master slide.

 

Editing Master slides

Objects on a master slide can be modified only on the master slide. The objects cannot be selected or edited on the slide that inherits the master slide.

On the slides in the Filmstrip, you can edit or delete the placeholders that are inherited from a master slide.

Reusing Master slides

  • Duplicate master slide: Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) and then select duplicate.

  • Copying contents: Select the contents and then click copy.

  • Import/Export: You cannot import or export master slides, but you can copy and paste them across projects.

  • Import/Export to XML/Microsoft Word: Like the content on your project slides, you can import/export the master slide content to XML and Microsoft word.

Designing content Master slides with Fluid Box

  1. In the Master Slide view, insert a content Master slide, and give the master slide a meaningful name.

  2. To insert three vertical layouts into the slide, click FluidBox > Vertical > choose three layouts.

    Choose FluidBox layout
    Choose FluidBox layout

  3. On the slide, resize the layouts using the blue handles, as shown below. The aim is to have areas for a header, images, and buttons, as an example Master slide.

    Master slide layout areas
    Master slide layout areas

  4. Right-click outside the slide area, choose Placeholder Objects , and choose Text Caption. Make the caption sticky, so that you can move the caption anywhere in the layouts.

    Text caption
    Text caption

    Similarly, add the image and button placeholders in the Master slide, as shown below:

    Master slide with placeholders
    Master slide with placeholders

  5. Exit from the Master slide view, insert a blank content slide, and from the list of Master slides, choose the Master slide you have created.

    Content slide
    Content slide

Designing quiz Master slides with Fluid Box

  1. In a responsive project mode, open the Master Slide view (Window > Master Slide), and insert a Quiz Master Slide (Insert > Quiz Master Slide > Other Question Types).

    Quiz Master Slide
    Quiz Master Slide

  2. Rearrange the objects in the master slide so that there is less clutter when you publish or preview the project. For example, you can overlap the Success, Failure, and Hint captions, since the captions appear only once and never together.

    Question master slide with rearranged objects
    Question master slide with rearranged objects

  3. To apply a FluidBox layout, click Suggest FluidBoxes in the Properties panel. Depending on the placement of the objects, FluiBox assigns layouts to the objects and divides the slide area into smaller FluidBox layouts.

    Quiz Master Slide- FluidBox
    Quiz Master Slide- FluidBox

    The numbers represent the FluidBox containers, as defined by the hierarchy in the Properties panel.

    FluidBox hierarchy
    FluidBox hierarchy

  4. In each FluidBox container, rearrange the objects, make te objects Static, and customize the template. Drag the handles to adjust the size of the containers.

    Quiz Master Slide - FluidBox static objects
    Quiz Master Slide - FluidBox static objects

  5. Exit the Master Slide view, insert a question slide, and you can see the new Master Slide layout in your question slide.

Note:

If a Fluid Box comes from a Master Slide, you cannot delete the Fluid Box from the Filmstrip view. Go to the Master Slide view and delete the Fluid Box.

Download sample projects

To learn more about Captivate and how you can create engaging learning content, download the following projects:

Adobe logo

Sign in to your account

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy