Validate Quiz Passed or Failed Using Advanced Actions in Adobe Captivate

Let's say you have your own custom certificate and you want to user to access the certificate only if they pass the test and send and email if they fail. If the user fails the quiz, they will not be allowed to continue to the certificate. You can do this in Adobe Captivate using Text Entry Boxes, Variables (User and System), Standard, and Advanced Actions. This post will provide step by step instructions. 


Before you begin - create your custom certificate - You can easily create a border in PhotoShop or PowerPoint. Go online to get some ideas. 

INSTRUCTIONS

A.     Create 3 Variables. In the toolbar: Go to Project/Variables

1)  The Variables window will pop up.

2)  Click Add New

3)  Create these variables Go to Project/Variables

• Add New
• v_name
• v_department
• v_ConstantNull

4)  Save each variable

B.    On the Terms and Conditions Slide:

1.    Insert a Continue button

2.    In the Properties Panel: Name the Continue button

3.    Make the Continue button invisible

4.    Set the Action to Continue to Next Slide

See image:

Create an image or use wingdings to create a check mark

1.    Insert the check mark onto the slide

2.    In the Properties Panel of the check mark: Name it and

3.    Make it invisible

•   Insert a Transparent button or smart shape (click make into button) to place over the check

1.    With the button/smart shape selected in the properties panel. Under Action

2.    Select the drop down and select Execute Advanced Actions

3.    Then select the tiny folder underneath that to create the Advanced Action

Create the a Standard Advanced Action for the button over the check mark

1.    Name the Standard Action: Check

2.      Double click in the first column and select Show

3.    Double click in the row to the right and select your check

4.    Double click in the next row and select Show

5.      Double click in the column to the right and select your Continue Button

6.  Update

  

C.    Quiz Not Passed Slide

• On the Quiz Not Passed Slide: Insert email button – in the properties panel/Action/On Success, select the Execute Advanced Actions. 
• Script/click on the small folder on the right to bring up your advanced action box. 
• Keep the Action Type as a Standard actions
• Name the action/EMAIL
• under Actions tab. double click in the first column and select Send Mail 
• In the column to the left of that type in the email address
• In the column to the left of that, double click and select New (to open the email in a new window)
• Even though with advanced actions, the slide should pause. Just to ensure that it does pause and not automatically go onto the next slide you can click in the next column down and select Assign
• In the column to the left of that double click and select: cpCmndPause
• With double click in the next column and type in the number 1 and select Enter on your key board. 
• Click Save

D.    To validate User input slide: 
One the  Quiz Passed Slide

1.    Insert a Text Entry Box: From the Tool Bar select Insert/Standard Object/ Text Entry Box 

b.    With the Text Entry Box selected in the Properties Panel  

·      Variable, select the drop down and select v_name 

c.    Insert another Text Entry Box and repeat the above steps except select v_department 

d.    Insert a Highlight box to go underneath the Name text entry box 

·      Name the highlight box  

·      Make the highlight box invisible 

e.    Insert a Text Box with the message “Before proceeding you must type your name in the box 

·      Name the text box  

·      Make the text box invisible 

See image 

E.    Create the Advanced Action for the Continue Button

1)    Insert the Continue Button, with the button selected in the Properties panel under Action 

2)    Select the drop down and select Execute Advanced Actions 

3)    Select the tiny folder to the right  

4)    The Advanced Action window will pop up: Select the Drop down under the Action Type and select Conditional actions 

5)    In the Action Name type Name it such as ValidateUserInput

6)    Under the IF (all conditions are true), double click and select Variable then select v_name (probably at the bottom of list) 

7)    Double click to the right and select “is equal to” 

8)    Double click to the right and select Variable, then select v_ConstantNull 

9)    Under Actions Tab, double click and select Show 

10)   To the right select your highlight box 

11)   In the next row, double click and select Show 

12)       To the right column, double click and select your Text box 

13)       Click on Else 

14)       Double click in the Actions column and select Go to Next slide 

15)       Double click on the next row down and select Continue 

See image 

F.    Insert a Text Caption onto your certificate

1)    Double click in the text caption to make sure your cursor is in it

2)    In the Properties panel under Format click on the Variable  (looks like an [X]

3)    The Insert Variable window will pop up, click on the drop down and select your name variable

4)    The default maximum length is 15, I typically increase this to 45 (number of characters in the name)

5)    Click OK

 Note 1: You will have to create your own certificate in PowerPoint or PhotoShop or whatever medium you use to create images and then import the certificate background as an image

G.    Insert a Text Caption for the department

Repeat the above instructions for the department name 

H.    Insert a Text Caption for the date

1)    Double click in the text caption and type “Issued On’  

2)    In the Properties Panel click on the [X] 

3)    The Insert Variable window will popup click on the drop down for Variable Type and select System 

4)    Click on the drop down for Variables and select cpinfoCurrentDateString 

5)    Click Ok 

See image: Date

Note 2: To print, I use CpGuru’s Intelligent Print Widget because it will print in Horizontal.  It can be found at www.cpguru.com. Also, place the widget on the top after everything else has been inserted. The print widget that comes with Adobe Captivate will only print in Vertical.

I. In Main Tool bar: Go to Quiz/Quiz Preferences 

• Under Quiz/Pass or Fail
• Pass/Fail Options: select your pass % score
• If Passing Grade
  • Action: Jump to Slide
  • Slide: slide 8: or whatever slide has your validate user input 
• If Failing Grade
  • Action: Execute Advanced Actions
  • Script: Jump to Slide 7 (whatever slide has your email button on)
  • Assign: cpCmndPause with the literal value of 1
  • 
    Click OK

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