Captivate Classic vs All-New Captivate

Overview

Adobe Captivate has consistently been a tool for developing interactive e-learning content. The launch of the all-new Captivate offers users a redesigned experience with improved features and a more efficient workflow. This article will delve into the key differences between Adobe Captivate Classic and the all-new Captivate, shedding light on how the evolution impacts content creators and instructional designers. 

Adjust the slider to contrast the visual differences and interface improvements between the two versions of Captivate. The image on the left represents Captivate Classic, while the image on the right showcases the all-new Captivate.

Captivate Classic
All new Captivate

Table of differences

Point of difference

Captivate Classic

All-New Captivate

File type

.CPTX file

.CPT file

User interface

The classic version offers a familiar and traditional user interface with menus, panels, and toolbars.

The latest version boasts a modern user interface with a sleeker design, a more intuitive layout, and contextual menus for enhanced efficiency.

Responsive design

While responsive design capabilities are present in the classic version, they can be perceived as intricate, requiring significant manual adjustment to ensure compatibility across various devices.

The new Captivate simplifies responsive design by introducing content blocks that are adaptive to different screen sizes. This enhancement helps create courses for various devices and improves the overall user experience.

Interactive learning

In the classic version, interactive elements require extra customization to reach the desired levels of engagement. Basic interactions like quizzes and click-through slides are available, but crafting more intricate interactions can present challenges.

The latest version elevates interactive learning experiences with enhanced features such as interactive video overlays and scenarios.

Type of users

It is ideal for experienced users who prefer granular control over a wide array of features.

Users of any experience level who need responsive design, a focus on accessibility, and faster workflows will benefit from features such as pre-built templates, simplified interactions, and a more intuitive editing process.

Import from PowerPoint

Yes

No*

Video demo

Yes

No*

3600 VR courses

Yes

No*

Question pools & random questions

Yes

Yes

Visual design capabilities

  • Manually adjust layouts and move objects
  • Slide-based content
  • Rich media asset library
  • Readymade layout slides and design options
  • Long scroll + slide-based content
  • Rich media asset library

Import questions as CSV

Yes

Yes

Customizable closed captions

Yes

Yes

Quick start projects

Yes

Yes

Customizable smart shapes

Yes

No*

Image editing

Yes

Yes. Responsive by design for multiple device views.

Widgets

The functionality is not available out-of-the-box and would require custom development, which necessitates Adobe Flash (no longer supported).

The following features are available: Card, Hotspot, Drag and Drop, Tabs, Carousel, Timeline, Click to Reveal, and Certificate.

Learning interactions

Yes

Yes. They can also be customized using widgets

Sharing and Collaboration

Requires installation of reviewer app for commenting and collaboration.

The Share for Review feature facilitates seamless collaboration between eLearning content creators and project reviewers. Reviewers receive notifications by email, can access project slides, post comments, and offer crucial feedback directly in the browser, all without installing Captivate or any other application.

Resize Project

The size of the slides in the project can be customized.

The all-new Captivate emphasizes responsive design, ensuring that your project adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes (desktops, tablets, or phones) and eliminating the need for manual adjustments. It allows you to modify the width and height of a content block, which then scales proportionally to preserve the responsive design across different devices.

Note:

Features denoted by an asterisk '*' are not yet available in the current version of the all-new Adobe Captivate.

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