Automatic and manual recording with Captivate

When you record using automatic recording, Adobe Captivate captures screenshots automatically and places them on separate slides. Mouse, keyboard, or system events are the common triggers for capturing screenshots. Automatic recording is the most commonly used recording method in Adobe Captivate.

In the recording options (File > Record New Software Simulation) , you choose one of the following autorecording modes:

• Demonstration mode

• Training mode

• Assessment mode

• Custom mode

Depending on the mode, one or more of the following objects are added automatically during the recording. You can change recording preferences for the various modes. The descriptions for the various modes assume that you have not changed the default recording preferences.

Text captions are used to point out certain areas on a slide, explain concepts, or provide users with additional information. Text captions can be created automatically or manually. If you are autorecording a project, you can have Adobe Captivate automatically create text captions. Text captions are generated for the various mouse and keyboard events.

The text captions use the labels in the application to describe a step. For example, if the user clicks File in the menu bar, a text caption with the text, “Select the File menu” is created automatically. You can later edit the captions to your requirements. When the user views the movie, the actions performed during recording are displayed along with the captions

Text entry boxes are Adobe Captivate objects that require user input. During recording in some of the modes, text entry boxes with default hint, success, or failure captions are added to the slides. You can later edit the text in these captions.

A click box is an object in Adobe Captivate that designates an area around the place where the mouse was clicked during recording. Click boxes help users try out an application or website using the movie. After viewers click a click box, you can have the project perform different actions. For example, the project resumes playing, opens a new project, or opens a specific website.

Highlight boxes are transparent, colored rectangles that can be placed over areas on a slide to draw attention to the area. You can edit the formatting, color, transparency, and size of all highlight boxes. If you automatically record a project or slides, Adobe Captivate creates a highlight box for the area on which a mouse event occurs. If you have an existing project, you can also add highlight boxes manually.

Demonstration mode

Use the demonstration mode when you want to demonstrate a procedure or feature. The movie produced in this mode however, does not provide any scope for user interaction. The user can only passively view actions that were performed when the project was recorded.

When recording a movie in the demonstration mode, Adobe Captivate does the following:

• Adds text captions using the labels of the controls in the application. For example, if the user clicks File in the menu bar, a text caption with the text, “Select the File menu” is created automatically.

• Adds highlight boxes to highlight those areas where the mouse is clicked.

• Adds text that is typed manually during the recording.

See Record software simulations for more information.

Training mode

Use the training mode when you want the user to try the procedure during the movie. The movie moves to the next slide only after the user has performed the previous action correctly.

When recording slides in training mode, Adobe Captivate does the following:

• Adds click boxes at places where the user must click the mouse.

• Adds text entry boxes for user input. The failure and hint captions are added to each text entry box.

See Record software simulations for more information.

Assessment mode

Use the assessment mode when you want to test how well the user has understood a procedure. You can set a score for every correct click. You can also set the number of times the user can attempt a procedure. When the user fails to click the right option in the number of attempts provided, the movie moves to the next step. The user does not get any score for the failed attempt.

When recording slides in assessment mode, Adobe Captivate does the following:

• Adds click boxes at places where the user must click the mouse.

• Adds text entry boxes for user input. The failure caption is added to each text entry box.

See Record software simulations for more information.

Custom mode

Use the custom mode when working on a project where you need a mix of features available in the other modes. This mode allows you to achieve the highest level of customization in Adobe Captivate. Using the custom mode, you can create a project that is part demo, part training, and also includes assessment. None of the Adobe Captivate objects are added by default during recording in the Custom mode.

For example, let us consider a movie meant for training the user on editing a file. In the first few slides for simpler tasks like opening the application and opening the file, you can retain the slides created in the demo mode. When you move to the slides describing the procedure for editing, you can add the various objects with which the user can interact. Finally, you can provide for assessment slides at the end of the project.

See Record software simulations for more information.

Multimode recording

When you record an Adobe Captivate project, you can choose to record in more than one mode. Multimode recording helps you save time when working on projects that require outputs in more than one autorecording mode.

See Record software simulations for more information.

Manual recording

You can create a project manually by taking screenshots during recording. Use manual recording when you want to pick and choose a few screenshots during the recording process. The procedure can get tedious for complicated procedures involving many steps.

See Record software simulations for more information.