The Future Direction of eLearning with Project Charm (Adobe Captivate)

[@micm2845]

Thanks for always keeping us informed. My disappointment is in Adobe for taking this long for what appears to not be a huge revolution in the software unless something is happening in the background that we are not aware of. I know when it finally comes out, that I will be directing my students of Adobe Captivate back to your web-site and Channel for the newest and most up-to-date updates. You're a great leader and mentor, Paul. Thank you.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

At first glance, the software may not seem that revolutionary, but consider that the classic version of Adobe Captivate has run the same codebase since at least version 5 (perhaps even longer). That codebase contained features that relied heavily on Flash-based technologies. All of that needed to be rewritten from the ground up. Each time Adobe released a new version of Adobe Captivate, it was very incremental. For example, Adobe Captivate 2019 was a cumulative update of 2017, and so on. The New Adobe Captivate (coming shortly) is the first time since at least version 5 that Adobe will not use the previous release's codebase. It's tremendous work for a small team like the Captivate group.

[@Suroky232]

Thanks for posting this. I love that it is all responsive now and modern looking. This will be much easier to create a good looking elearning project on all fomats.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Stay tunes to elearning.adobe.com to try it out for yourself.

[@EMiller500]

Thanks so much for recording this, Paul! I especially appreciate how steady you kept the camera for a FULL 17 minutes! It's starting to seem like Project Charm is finally coming together. Maybe you'll have some reports from the "test kitchen"?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

The test kitchen was pretty much what you saw here. I had the benefit of a chair to steady my arm during the recording.

[@leesmillarddesign]

Thank you for streaming this for us Paul!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome Lee.

[@rickbauer4315]

Thanks, Paul. You have more influence on Adobe than the rest of us combined. Please let them know that we have projects now, and the drum is beating louder and louder to migrate away from Captivate's unfulfilled promises to other software. Charm needs a beta date, a release date, an honest message to its loyal and cash-paying customers (It probably needs a name, "Charm" just sounds like some tired PR propaganda). This process is way too slow, as if Captivate was not a real part of the Adobe suite of design products. It also needs a new way of supporting the product--not with users "getting freebies" in software, but with people who actually work for Adobe. There are big product management details that need to accompany any technical improvement. I hope you are already having these discussions, and thank you for representing us "littles" in this long-delayed process.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

While I have some gained notoririty from this channel, I'm still just a user like you. Take the time to share your concerns with Adobe. Remember that this time around they are completely rewriting the software. There are bound to be delays. Use the wish form from Adobe to communicate your wants in the next release.

[@tewaarathon215]

Thank you Paul! Very informative, I look forward to trying charm out.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Yeah it's pretty neat. I'm enjoying this version of the Beta but it's far from complete.

[@johnleggett5054]

Thanks for sharing Paul!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome.

[@LuisMiguel-mo4hs]

looks great hope as they say keep the heavy lfting tools like javascript, Thanks for sharing!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

The final version with all the features should come out in mid 2023 but it will be nice to have more people testing the early version of the product between now and then.

[@dennislamberti6543]

Thanks for that. I am now excited. :)

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome, and thanks for watching. If you haven't already, please subscribe to my channel. goo.gl/iuA6Lm Click the bell icon to receive notifications when I post a new video.

[@mrahmedsaad4535]

best thing i see is the book mark for everything...this will make variables more easily..and the greeat scrolling page...❤

[@CaptivateTeacher]

This is a much earlier build than what we have today.

[@lelesgab]

Looks interesting! What did you think Paul?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

I'm optimistic but I will continue to use Captivate 2019 for the foreseeable future.

[@ffamii]

Thanks for the recording. Having to wait for the dynamic properties menu to animate in and having to scroll to EVERY setting is going to drive me insane. Lets hope for an option to undock important panels.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Their goal is to eventually have a version to release that has everything in Captivate Classic. If you decide to participate in the beta in a few weeks when it goes public, be sure to provide feedback that this is a feature you want.

[@joyzeller7081]

Hi Paul, I attended a Captivate Certification class a few months ago that you taught. You are awesome. Quick question: our organization is confused if Project Charm is replacing Captivate, as a program, or if it's just an updated version of Captivate. We are in the process of converting our online learning portfolio over to Captivate and are worried that we will have to do another conversion after "Project Charm" goes live. Thank you for your help.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Eventually Charm will replace Captivate but I have it on good authority you will not be forced to update until you are ready. In fact you will be able to run both versions so you can learn the new stuff and continue to support your old projects and workflows.

[@tedhildebrandt_BeL]

when is the release date for Charm? Thanks for putting up this demo!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Some time in mid 2023 but you will be able to download the beta in a few weeks if you want to test it out. It is feature incomplete at this point though.

[@tedhildebrandt_BeL]

@@CaptivateTeacher Thanks!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome.

[@manovacina]

Thank you so much, please make more tutorials like tNice tutorials. You explain better than any other guide I've seen on youtube, very clear and

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome, and thanks for watching. If you haven't already, please subscribe to my channel. goo.gl/iuA6Lm Click the bell icon to receive notifications when I post a new video.

[@lelesgab]

Hi Paul! Is Project Charm still going to be released?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Yes it will. It is currently in beta and will be available to current subscribers in time for the Adobe Learning Summit in October this fall (2023).

[@swenkuthe]

Thanks for sharing this Video. Im interested in the functions from Captivate like Screen Capture, Demo and Simulation. Did you see them in charm too.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

This first beta will just include the basic responsive design workflow. Additional workflows like screen recording will come out in a phased approach with the complete product released some time in mid 2023.

[@mariolima4298]

Hi, did they announced when this update will be available?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

The beta should be available in the next couple of weeks. The final version will be some time in 2023.

[@katiec9802]

Any ideas on a release date?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

The beta will be out to more people in a few weeks. The actual product will be mid 2023.

[@TheSaf7uk]

Thanks for this, any idea when an official version will be released?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

some time in 2023. The beta will be available sometime in the next couple of weeks if all goes well.

[@jlluck]

Any word as to when we can expect the new version to come out? We are starting to look at other options for developing our eLearning. We need our applications to be more updated and it's taking way too long for Captivate to update.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

I'm curious what features you feel are missing from Captivate Classic. Let me know and I can let the Adobe team know what you need.

[@jlluck]

@@CaptivateTeacher Our biggest problem is requiring learners to retake an entire quiz with no option to only retake questions missed. Another problem is the Action shortcut key option doesn’t work right. When setting a shortcut of CTRL+], it ignores the CTRL and activates the action when the “]” key is pressed. In general, updating for better stability and performance. We would really like it if we renamed a file when publishing that Captivate would remember it. Adobe does great with every other application they have when it comes to updating but Captivate seems to have gotten lost. It still has Flash references, and the interface hasn’t updated to match other Adobe applications. I get updates to the Adobe Creative Suite all the time, fixing security issues or performance. It’s nice knowing Adobe is active in keeping the Suite up to date.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're preaching to the choir. My advice is to provide this feedback to Adobe and they can do their best to implement it in the next release: www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html I can tell you that they do read these and if a feature request comes from enough people you will likely see that improvement in a future release.

[@pimvles]

Hi paul. Wil project charm be a cloudbased authoring tool??

[@CaptivateTeacher]

No it will be a regular application for Mac or PC

[@LearningLabyrinthbyKimEdwards]

When is this version being released and will subscribers get it?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Remember this is a beta of what will someday take over as the main version of Adobe Captivate. In a few weeks the public beta will be launched on the elearning.adobe.com site. Subscribers will get it some time in mid 2023.

[@sarahkennedy2848]

Can the scrolling through the course feature be turned off? Often for compliance/safety trainings, we need to prove that all users actually viewed/listened to all content. I am concerned that this feature may limit forced navigation options. Additionally, would users be able to scroll back up during the quiz to find the answers?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Yes. This is only an optional feature. Hiding the playbar entirely and relying on your own forced navigation will still be an option.

[@sarahkennedy2848]

@@CaptivateTeacher Thank you for the clarification!

[@CaptivateTeacher]

You're welcome.

[@32shumble]

Does anyone know how to get Captivate certification in the UK? The Adobe site has prices in dollars and won't let me fill in the form without selecting a state! Googling the issue doesn't help.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Try sending an email to [e-mail] for a more personalized help with certification.

[@AdiKamath]

Have they mentioned anything about it's release date or even beta test date?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Stay tuned to elearning.adobe.com but I would think in the next 2 weeks we will see an opportunity to get in on the public beta.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Keep watching adobe.ly/3CQhVmC for an announcement about the public beta.

[@MrAdgye]

finally movement comes in. does anyone know if there are also improvements in terms of variables ?

[@CaptivateTeacher]

It's still very early days for this beta software. Adobe adds features a little at a time, so for those beta testing, we are not seeing a feature complete version. I advise you to provide Adobe feedback about what you want to see in this next version. You can use the wish form to give them your thoughts. Here's the link: bit.ly/AdobeCare

[@MrAdgye]

@@CaptivateTeacher Thank you very much, Paul. I will definitely do that. At this point also a big thank you for your great videos.

[@daniel.staten]

Looks great but would love to see it actually in beta.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Those at the conference all got to install the beta while at the conference. It should be rolled out to anyone else who wants to test it in the next few weeks.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

Send an email to [e-mail] and request access to the Project Charm Beta.

[@aniceto11]

I still think that captivate in obsolete in many ways. Is better to create in powerpoint or even canvas than captivate and the interactiveness on captivate is a lie. Go to articulate or presenter, ways ahead... sad

[@CaptivateTeacher]

It's the classic Mac versus PC debate. I find that Captivate is far more powerful than other authoring tools out there. It depends who you ask.

[@aniceto11]

@@CaptivateTeacher I never saw that way, but really adobe should put more effort on developing captivate.

[@CaptivateTeacher]

I know that the Adobe egineering team didn't want to just release an updated version of the old software. Completely writing a new application that meets the needs of the existing software and introduces new features is a massive project that clearly takes years. Add to that the pandemic and new hardware and operating systems from both the PC and macOS worlds has made this a huge task. I'm looking forward to the next Captivate but I still find the software extremely useful in my business of creating eLearning for my clients. I just know to avoid certain features and come up with creative solutions that allow me to introduce new features of my own design.