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Add text entry boxes with Adobe Captivate Classic

  1. Captivate Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Captivate
    1. What's New in Adobe Captivate
    2. Adobe Captivate System Requirements
    3. Responsive Project Design with Adobe Captivate
  3. Captivate Classic Release Notes
    1.  Adobe Captivate Classic 11.8.3 Release Notes
    2. Adobe Captivate Classic 11.8.2 Release Notes
    3. Adobe Captivate 11.8.1 Release Notes
    4. Adobe Captivate 11.8 Release Notes
    5. What's New in Adobe Captivate (2019 release) Update 5
    6. What's New in Adobe Captivate (2019 release) Update 2
    7. Adobe Captivate Release Notes
  4. 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
  5. 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. How to manage objects with the Main Options toolbar
    7. How to merge objects in a slide
    8. How to manage objects in the library
    9. How to group objects in Adobe Captivate
    10. Edit object information using the Advanced Interaction panel
    11. How to copy, paste, and duplicate objects in Adobe Captivate
    12. Control the visibility of objects
    13. How to change the display order of objects in Adobe Captivate
    14. Apply shadows to objects
    15. How to align objects in Adobe Captivate
    16. How to add reflection to objects in Adobe Captivate
    17. Import assets into a Captivate project
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Video
    1. Slide videos
    2. Work with event videos in Adobe Captivate
    3. Differences between events and synchronized videos in Adobe Captivate
  11. 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
  12. Interactions
    1. Create drag-and-drop interactions in Adobe Captivate
    2. Use Adobe Captivate variables in widgets
    3. Set the properties of widgets with Adobe Captivate
    4. How to create static, interactive, and question widgets in Adobe Captivate
    5. How to add widgets to your Adobe Captivate project
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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

Text entry boxes are text fields into which users can enter text. Text entry boxes are a great way to test users’ knowledge. After the user answers a question, Adobe Captivate Classic matches the answer with the answers that you have set when creating the text entry box. You can even provide a hint to the user if you want to.

Add a text entry box

  1. Open the slide to which you want to add a text entry box.

  2. Click Text > Text Entry Box. The text entry box appears on the slide.

    Launch Text Entry boxes
    Launch Text Entry boxes

  3. Size and drag the text entry box as desired.

    Sample Text Entry Box
    Sample Text Entry Box

  4. To change the properties of the text entry box, click the box and change the properties in the Property inspector.

Properties of text entry boxes

To view the properties of a text entry box, select it on the slide. The Property inspector displays the properties of the text entry box.

When you change the properties, the changes are instantly applied to the selected instance of the text entry box. Click the Apply to all icon to apply the changes to all the click boxes in the project or to those that use the same object style.

Text Entry Box

Text entry box name properties
Text entry box name properties

1

Enter a unique name for the text entry box. You can use this name when defining the visibility conditions for the box.

2

Clear this option if you want the text entry box to be invisible when the project is played. The object can be made visible when a specific event occurs such as the entry to a slide or exit from a slide. For more information, see Controlling the visibility of objects.

3

Select a style for the text entry box. To define a new style, select Edit > Object Style Manager. For more information on object styles, see Object style.

Style tab

Properties in Style tab
Properties in Style tab

1

Displays the default text that appears in the text entry box. The user can overwrite the displayed text to type the answer. For example, you can set a default text for the text entry box saying, “Enter the answer here.”

2

Allows users to view their previously entered answer if they return to this slide using the Back button.

3

Enables or disables the visibility of the text entry box frame. Choose this option if you want to hide the corners of the text entry box.

4

Displays asterisks in the text entry box to indicate that the box is a password field.

5

Validates the input provided by the users. The box behaves like a form field and accepts any user input.

6

Lets you specify the following options:

  • Maximum Length: Number of characters that you want to limit the input to.
  • Auto Submit: This option is enabled if you have specified a limit on the number of characters. When you enable this option, the users' input is automatically submitted when the limit is reached without them having to click Submit.
  • Numbers: Click if you want only numeric data to be entered by users.
  • Uppercase: Click if you want only uppercase characters to be entered into the text entry box. All characters that are typed into the box are automatically converted to uppercase even if users type them in lowercase.
  • Lowercase: Click if you want only lowercase characters to be entered into the text entry box. All characters that are typed into the box are automatically converted to lowercase even if users type them in uppercase.
  • None : Click to remove all restrictions that you have set (numbers, uppercase, or lowercase).

7

Indicates the name of the variable that stores the value entered in the text entry box by users. To specify a different variable name, click the ‘X’ icon, type the name of the variable, and click Ok.

Text properties

Text properties
Text properties

1

Indicates the background color of the text entry box. To change the color, click the Fill box and click a color in the color palette.

2

Set the following font properties:

  • Character
  • Style
  • Size
  • Format
  • Color

3

Set the following properties:

  • Shadow: Select the check box to apply shadow to the text entry box.
  • Direction: Select the direction: inner or outer. The preview of the selected direction is displayed on stage.
  • Presets: Click one of the images in Presets to apply a shadow with a standard angle, distance, blur, and color settings. You can customize these settings using the appropriate options in the Shadow accordion.
  • Color: Click to select a color for the shadow. Specify the alpha for the color, in percentage, in the adjacent field.
  • Blur: Specify a value, in pixels, for the blur of the shadow.
  • Angle: Specify the angle for the shadow.
  • Distance: Specify the distance, in pixels, at which the shadow must be displayed.
  • Reflection: Select the check box to add reflection to the text caption. Choose one of the presets.
Note:

When you change the properties in this section, the object style in the General section is prefixed with a ‘+’ sign. This indicates that the style is now in a overridden state. For more information on object styles, see Object style.

Actions tab

Properties in Actions tab
Properties in Actions tab

1

Specifies the event that occurs when a user clicks the box. For the description of the available options, see Project navigation using interactive objects.

2

Allows users an unlimited number of attempts.

3

Specifies the number of times the user can attempt the question before the specified action takes place. By default, the number of attempts allowed is infinite. To specify a number, clear the Infinite Attempts check-box and then click the numeral associated with the Attempts option.

4

ou can specify a keyboard shortcut for the mouse-click. Users can use the keyboard shortcut instead of the mouse. For example, suppose you select Control+Shift+Enter as the keyboard shortcut for the mouse-click. The click is treated as correct (a click within the box) when users press this combination. If they press the wrong combination, it is treated as a click outside the box.

Note: If your Adobe Captivate Classic project is displayed in a browser, set keyboard shortcuts that do not conflict with common browser shortcuts. For example, F1 is frequently used as a keyboard shortcut to display Help. The Control, Alt, and Shift keys map to the Control, Option, and Shift keys on Macintosh® computers, respectively.

5

Select the action that should be performed when the user presses Enter or Tab.

Success and failure text options

Success and failure options
Success and failure options

1 Select this check-box to include a caption to be displayed when the user submits a correct answer.
2 Select this  check-box  to include a caption to be displayed when the user submits an incorrect answer.
3 Select this check-box to specify a hint to be displayed to users. The hint is displayed when the user moves the mouse over the click box.
4 Select this check box to pauses the project until all success and failure captions are displayed.
5 Adds a Submit button to the text entry box by default. Click the button to change its properties such as the label for the button and the formatting of the characters in the label.
6 Displays a scroll bar when the user exceeds the space available in the text entry box.
7 Considers the text entry box as a question in the current quiz. The points assigned to this box are added to the score results of the current quiz.
8 The score that you want to assign to the question. The maximum is 100 points, the minimum is 0. The points assigned to this text entry box are added to the score results of the current quiz.
9 Includes the points for the correct click in the total score.
10 Sends the quiz score to the learning management system (LMS).
11 Sends tracking information to your learning management system. Use the interaction ID specified by your learning management system.

Options tab

Properties in Options tab
Properties in Options tab

1

Allows you to associate an audio with the click box.

2

Use this section to define the exact size or location of the text entry box in terms of pixels. You can also specify the rotation of a text entry box in this section.

  • X: Position of the text entry box on the X-axis.
  • Y: Position of the text entry box on the Y-axis.
  • W: Width of the text entry box.
  • H: Height of the text entry box.

3

  • Constrain Proportions: Maintains the height-to-width ratio of the text entry box when you resize it.
  • Angle: The angle of rotation of the text entry box.

Timing inspector

Timing inspector properties
Timing inspector properties

1

Specifies how long the text entry box is displayed on the slide.

2

Specify the time in seconds.

3

Specifies the delay between the first appearance of the slide and the first appearance of the text entry box.

4

Specifies the point at which the project pauses so that the user can enter text in the text entry box. The project continues only after the user submits the correct answer.

Example 1: Creating a text entry box

In this example, use a text entry box to capture text and display the text back on a different slide.

  1. In a responsive slide, click Text > Text Entry Box. Add a vertical Fluid Box.

  2. Stretch and expand the Text Entry Box so that it looks like the one shown below.

    Text Entry Box expanded
    Text Entry Box expanded

  3. Set the following properties for the text entry box:

    • Set the default text to "Write your answer here"
    • Select the check-box Retain Text
    • Select the check-box  Show Text Box Frame
    • Set the maximum length of the text to 250
    Text entry box properties for example 1
    Text entry box properties for example 1

    In the Actions tab, set the following properties, as shown below:

    • Select the check-box Infinite Attempts
    • Choose Go to the next slide in the On Success drop-down list

    Also, choose the option Show Scrollbar.

    Actions tab properties for example 1
    Actions tab properties for example 1

  4. In slide #2, insert the text entry box variable, so that in runtime when you enter text in the text entry box and click Submit, the text displays in slide #2.

    Insert a text caption and click [X] in the Property Inspector for the caption. The following placeholder displays:

    $$Text_Entry_Box1$$

  5. In slide #1, in the Fluid Box options, set the Padding properties for the text entry box, as shown below:

    Fluid Box properties for example 1
    Fluid Box properties for example 1

  6. Preview the project. Add some text into the text entry box, and when you click Submit, the text appears in the second slide.

    Sample output text
    Sample output text

Example 2: Creating a text entry box to validate null values

In this example, use a text entry box, which does not accept an empty (null) value as input. Set the properties such that the text entry box only accepts a pre-defined value.

  1. In an empty slide, insert a Text Entry box. Also, insert a smart shape that displays an appropriate caption when you click the Submit button without entering any value.

  2. Create two variables, v_name and v_null. Using these variables, you can compare if the entered name is empty or non-empty.

  3. Create an Advanced Action, where you compare the values, and if the value of v_name is null, the smart shape displays, which is hidden initially.

    Advanced Action for example 2
    Advanced Action for example 2

    In the ELSE section, choose Actions as Go to Next Slide.

  4. In slide #2, insert a smart shape, which displays a name that you have entered in the text entry box. The smart shape includes the variable name for the name to enter. For example,

    Hello $$v_name$$

  5. Preview the project. If you click the Submit button without entering any name, the Try again caption appears.

    Try again caption when null
    Try again caption when null

  6. Preview the project again. Enter any text and click the Submit button. You can now see the entered text appearing in the next slide.

    Display entered text
    Display entered text

Example 3: Creating a text entry box and using Success and Failure captions

In this example, use a text entry box, which when accepts a value, displays Success or Failure captions depending on the value.

  1. In an empty slide, click Text > Text Entry Box.

  2. In the Property Inspector, in Style tab, choose the option Validate User Input.

    You can set the Correct entries by selecting Validate User Input from the General group on the Properties panel and then specify the terms in the Correct Entries dialog box.

    Click + to add more entries.

    For example,

    Correct entries for example 3
    Correct entries for example 3

  3. In the Actions tab, choose the Success, Failure, and Hint options, and set the respective captions, as shown below:

    Options for example 3
    Options for example 3

    Also, set the following:

    • Choose On Success drop-down list to Continue
    • Select the Infinite Attempts check-box
  4. Preview the project. When you enter Real Madrid and click Submit, the Success caption appears.

    Correct answer for example 3
    Correct answer for example 3

  5. Preview the project again. When you enter a value other than Real Madrid and click Submit, the Failure caption appears.

    Incorrect answer for example 3
    Incorrect answer for example 3

Download sample projects

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

 Adobe

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