Did you know that Captivate and Aggregator .exe projectors open local files in a browser window rendering the “open file or URL” option basically useless? This little gem will remove this limitation and open local files in their native application. It can be used in buttons, text entry boxes, click boxes, advanced actions, and slide entry and exit actions. It works for Captivate stand alone .exe projectors and aggregated .exe projectors. This widget was made with the easy-to-use CpGears framework.
How Does It Work?
It only takes one widget for your whole Captivate project. Just drop the widget on your first slide and you’re ready to roll.
See it in Action:
Watch the demo video and also a Captivate publishing bug to be aware of:
Requirements
- Adobe Captivate 5.0 ONLY (This issue has been fixed as of Captivate version 5.5.0.257)
- Publish for .exe output and Flash Player 10+
- Manually copy the files you want to open to the PUBLISHING destination
FAQ
Q: Will this work with Mac .app projectors?
A: This solution has not been tested with .app projectors. Sorry Mac friends, I don’t have access to a Mac for testing.
Q: Will this work with my project burned to a CD or DVD?
A: Yes. You can use relative file paths to open your files (See below)
Q: Can I use relative file paths to launch files?
A: Absolutely! Here are some examples:
(test.pdf is at the root of the PUBLISHED .exe project)
(List.xlsx is inside the “files” directory at the root of the PUBLISHED .exe project)
Q: Can I use this in a standard or conditional advanced action?
A: Yes. Below is an example:
Q: Can I have spaces in my file names or paths?
A: Yes. But the command to open the file will fire twice because of the spaces in your file path. If you’re opening a document, most applications will ignore the second command since you already have the document open. This is true for Microsoft Office docs, Open Office docs, PDF files, and most applications. However, if you are opening your own custom built .exe file, it will open twice (unless it was built using a mutex – Geek Alert!). The solution is to omit spaces in the file path. Examples:
Will open only once: (has spaces in path, MS Word will ignore 2nd command)
Will open 2x (has spaces in path, custom .exe file)
Will open only once (no spaces in path, open command fires once)
Known Limitations
- Cannot be used on the slide entry action of the very first slide of your project because the widget is initializing during this time.
- Cannot be used on the project end action found in the “Project: Start and End” settings. However, you can place an “open File or URL” action on the slide end action of the very last slide in your project.
- Does not work with F4 preview, or F12 preview in browser. You must publish your project and manually copy the files you want to open to the final published destination.
- Opening files with spaces in the file path can cause the open command to fire twice (see FAQ for details)
Note: Paypal accepts all major credit cards. For smooth transactions, please use your PayPal primary email address if paying through your Paypal account. All licensing is per Captivate Developer. If you have 3 Captivate Developers in your company, then you'll need 3 licenses.
