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Import questions from CSV format files

  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

CSV question import template

Instead of adding question slides in Adobe Captivate Classic manually, you can choose to directly import question banks from CSV files. Creating CSV format files and importing questions from them is useful if you have to add large number of questions in your courses.

CSV stands for Comma Separated Value, using which you can create questions using plain text. These files can be saved as csv files and can be imported into Adobe Captivate Classic or Moodle.

CSV format
CSV format

If you do not have the questions in a CSV format, you can quickly format your questions in the CSV format. Then, save the files as simple .csv files, and then import them into Adobe Captivate Classic. Here’s the generic syntax of the CSV format:

//Question type

Multiple Choice, True/False, or others.

//Points

Points assigned to the question.

//Question Stem

The quiz question.

// Answer Option 1,2,...

Different answer options based on the type of question.

Supported question types

  • True/False
  • Multiple choice
  • Matching
  • Fill in the Blank
  • Short answer

Instructions

Rule

Use

//Question type

Supported question types are MC, TF, MAT, FIB, and SA. Use the arrow next to the question type cell to choose the type of question you want to create. 

//Points

Points for the question. The points assigned must be between 0-100.

//Question Stem

The quiz question. A Question Stem is required for all questions.

//Answer Option 1,2,3, ...

Answer Options are required. Enter the options sequentially.

* (Asterisk)

Mark a correct answer or answers with an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the answer. It is only applicable for True/False questions and Multiple Choice questions. For Multiple Choice questions, if there is more than one correct answer, append * to all the correct answer options.

For Fill in the Blank and short Answer Option questions, all the Answer Options given are considered correct. For these question types, you need not append an asterisk(*) to an answer option.

* (Asterisk)

True/False questions require TRUE and FALSE answer Options. Prefix the correct answer asterisk (*).

| (Pipe)

For Fill in the Blank questions, add | (pipe) at the beginning of the answer option. For example,

The sun rises in the |

| (Pipe)

For matching questions, separate each answer choice and its match with a pipe (|). For example, Captivate Classic | Adobe.

| (Pipe)

For feedback in multiple choice questions, separate each answer choice and it's feedback with a pipe (|). For example, Captivate Classic | That’s Correct!.

Import questions

  1. Click Quiz > Import CSV Format File or File > Import > Import CSV Format File.

    Note:

    If you are importing a CSV for the first time, the default location is opened. The SampleQuestions.csv is located in the location below.

    Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Captivate Classic 2019 x64\Gallery\Quiz

  2. Select the file that contains the questions in the CSV format and click Open.

    The questions in the file are parsed and imported into Adobe Captivate Classic. If the file contains questions and answers that are not supported in Adobe Captivate Classic, an error message appears with the details.

Note:

When you add alternative characters in your CSV, the characters do not appear as expected in Captivate Classic. For example, if you add the word Québec in a CSV, the output appears as Qu颥c in Captivate Classic.

To fix this, when we add alternative characters, save the CSV as a UTF-8 CSV.

In Excel, click File > Save As > CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited).

After the questions are imported, you can specify the properties just like you do for any other Adobe Captivate Classic question slide. For more information on quiz properties, see Quiz properties.

Note:

You can also import questions in CSV format into question pools. See Create question pools.

Create CSV using a Macro

In addition to creating the CSV manually, you can also create the CSV using a macro. There is a .xlsm (CSVQuestionsCreationMacro.xlsm) file in the same location as the sample CSV file.

To use the macro:

  1. Open the file. Enable the content and the macros.

    • Click Enable Editing if you see it in the yellow Protected View message bar.
    • Click Enable Content if you see it in the yellow Security Warning message bar.
    • Click Enable Macros if you see the below Microsoft Excel Security Notice dialog box.
  2. Open the worksheet CSVInputForm.

  3. On the form, from the Question Type drop-down list, choose the type of question, for example, Multiple Choice or True/False.

    Assign points to the questions and also enter the question and answer options.

  4. After populating the form with the required information, you can click the following buttons for further actions:

    • Add Question: Click to add a question to the worksheet QuestionsCSV.
    • Clear Input Form: Click to reset the form.
    • Export to CSV: Click to create the CSV file (from the QuestionsCSV Worksheet), which you can import to Captivate Classic. Enter the filename when asked.
    • Go to Instructions: Click to navigate to the instructions worksheet.

Error messages

The following are the error messages that you can encounter.

Error in column 1. Invalid question type.

Error in column 3. Question field cannot be empty.

Answer options cannot be empty.

Number of answers cannot be less than two.

Number of matching answer options cannot be less than two.

Number of correct answer must be exactly one.

Number of correct answers must be at least one.

Number of answer options must be at least one.

Number of answers must be at least one.

Matching delimeter (|) missing.

 Adobe

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