Select Project properties in the right toolbar.
- Captivate User Guide
- Introduction to Captivate
- Add a slide
- Design options in Adobe Captivate
- Add text blocks
- Add media blocks
- Interactive components
- Add branding blocks
- Widgets
- Create quizzes
- Add audio to a project
- Interactions
- Animations
- Accessibility
- Customize the timeline
- Customize TOC and Playbar
- Create a simulation project
- Preview a project
- Share a project for review
- Publish a project
- Upgrade projects in Adobe Captivate
In the all-new Adobe Captivate, a variable stores information in a project. This article introduces and explains variables in Adobe Captivate, the different types of variables, inserting, naming, and using variables.
What are variables
Like all programming languages, Adobe Captivate uses variables to store values. You can use variables while designing interactions, displaying a learner’s name on a certificate, or even using them to calculate assessment scores. In other words, you can use variables to track a learner’s progress, assessment, navigation, and more.
Types of variables
There are two types of variables in Adobe Captivate- System and User.
System variables
System variables are pre-defined variables in Captivate. You cannot create a system variable or change the name of a system variable. System variables are read-only.
The following are examples of a system variable:
- Date.DateDDMMYY is a system variable that returns the date in dd/mm/yyyy format.
- Quiz.Score returns the number of points that are scored in a quiz.
User variables
User variables are variables you can create and name as you like. The name you assign to a user variable must not conflict with Adobe Captivate’s internal functions, reserved keywords, exposed system variables, or other hidden variables.
List of variables
Variable data types in Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate supports three data types for variables.
- Number: The Number variable stores numeric values. Number data types are commonly used in reporting quiz scores, tracking user progress, mathematical operations, or gamification.
- True or False: True or False or Boolean variables contain a true or false value. Use this variable type to create conditional interaction logic, track user choice, or branching.
- String: The String variable stores text values. String variables store characters, such as words or sentences. Use this variable type to capture text-based input, display feedback messages, or hold locale-based content.
Create a variable
In this example, you’ll create a variable text_001 that stores your name. You’ll also add a description to the variable.
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Click the Create a variable (+) icon in the Variables section.
Select the + icon to create a variable. Select the + icon to create a variable. -
In the Variables dialog, type text_001 in the Name field.
Create a text variable Create a text variable -
Select String in the Type dropdown.
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Type your name in the Value field.
Enter the value of the variable Enter the value of the variable -
Type the variable’s description in the Description field.
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Click Create.
After creating the variable, you can view the variable in the list of variables.
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Select Project properties in the right toolbar.
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Click the gear icon in the Variables section.
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In the list of variables, navigate and select the variable you want to edit.
Edit the variable Edit the variable -
Double-click the variable and change its name.
Change the name of the variable Change the name of the variable -
Repeat the earlier step for the Value and Description fields.
Add variable description Add variable description -
After making the changes, click anywhere outside the dialog to save your changes.
Delete a variable
In this example, you’ll delete the variable you changed in the previous section.
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Select Project properties in the right toolbar.
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Click the gear icon in the Variables section.
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In the list of variables, select the variable you want to delete.
Select the variable to delete. Select the variable to delete. -
Select the trash icon.
Select the trash icon to delete the variable. Select the trash icon to delete the variable. Note:You can delete multiple variables at the same time by selecting the variables and clicking the trash icon.
Copy and paste a variable
In this example, you’ll create a variable, num_001. Then you’ll copy this variable and paste it.
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Create the variable num_001 of type Number. View the section Create a Variable to learn about creating a variable.
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In the list of variables, select the variable.
Select the variable Select the variable -
Select the copy icon. There’ll be a confirmation message that the variable is copied.
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Select the paste icon.
A new variable is created and added to the list of variables. The copied variable has _1 appended to its name. The copied variable retains the same value and description as its source variable.
Search a variable
In this example, you’ll search for the variable that you’ve created.
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Select Project properties in the right toolbar.
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Click the gear icon in the Variables section.
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In the Variables dialog, select the search icon.
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Type the name of the variable you want to search. The matching variables are displayed in the list.
Search for variables Search for variables
The search returns variables in the User and System tabs. Select the respective tab to view the variable.
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Select Add text blocks > Paragraph in the left toolbar.
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Edit the text in the text block. To learn more about editing text in Adobe Captivate, view Add text in Adobe Captivate.
Add text in a text block Add text in a text block -
In the text block, type $$ and select the variable from the list
Select variable in the list Select variable in the list The variable is enclosed with $$ at both ends.
When you’ll preview the project, the value assigned to the variable is displayed.
Value of the variable displays Value of the variable displays
Actions on variables
Adobe Captivate lets you add interactions to objects using variable-based actions. The following actions are available in the Action panel in Interactions.
To learn more about creating interactions in Captivate, view Create interactions in Adobe Captivate.