"dwknapp" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:f1sf9u$om2$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Thanks to you for all of your comments. Looks like I stumbled onto a sore
> spot. Should we choose Authorware, what are the most nagging limitations
> that
> somone spoke of?

In my opinion, the most nagging limitation of Authorware is that a new
operating system and at least one new browser have come out since the last
version of Authorware, and there has not been a peep from Adobe about
whether they are committed to at least keeping the product working with the
most recent versions of the environment Authorware has to run in. If I had
a client approach me who had no legacy products in Authorware and did not
already have a project in development, I would probably suggest they look
elsewhere unless they knew that their product would always be an exe and
would never need to connect to the internet in any way. And the project
would also have to be one that would not require administrator rights to do
anything.

However, even then, I'd tell them to think twice, since I would feel it is
in the client's best interest to use a product that either has a recently
released version or some plausible prospect of a new release in the future.

I remember back a few years ago when Macromedia moved the Authorware 5 web
player and broke everyone's content. With the priority Adobe gives
Authorware today, if that were to happen today, I don't know one way or
another whether Adobe would be motivated to fix it, and if so how quickly.
And that's a bit scary from my POV.

-Amy

Thanks for the excellent comments. So, given that I am new to this genre of
software, what other products should I be researching? The purpose would be
for doing in-house, in-department training developed by a couple of
subject-matter experts who are not computer programmers. They have no web
support, but do have experience in non-computer training. The subject matter
is very technical, health-care related. Doubt that multi-media would play much
of a part, but perhaps narration would be involved.

Trivantis Lectora is generally considered a fair competitor to
Authorware and is currently being maintained. I've played with it a
little and, IMO, it simply pales in comparison...but it does allow
decent interaction development and multimedia support.

Outstart...Trainer? I see mentioned here and there. Outstart has an LMS
and authoring tool...I'm not sure of their respective names. I don't
have a good impression of the product but not sure why.

Flash is where we are going with most of our development, but it's not
an easy environment to learn. I believe there are products built on top
of Flash to allow a more friendly authoring experience... RapidBuilder?
I'm not sure of those names either, but a search for something like
'Flash-based media authoring' or somesuch may reveal.

Articulate has some decent tools but mostly for creating super-fancy PPT
files with SCORM tracking and quizzes at the end, as far as I've seen.

When I started in this field, Authorware, Director, Toolbook, Quest, and
TenCore were the primary tools. Kinda interesting how many of those are
still at the top of the field (none).
But there are surely a lot of options out there. May be best to just
search for 'multimedia authoring tools' or something like then post back
here, or any other forum, and see if anyone has experience with such tools.

I'll still use Authorware where I can but, as Amy says, without support
for latest OS, browsers, and Flash - it's becoming less and less likely.
Erik

dwknapp wrote:
> Thanks for the excellent comments. So, given that I am new to this genre of
> software, what other products should I be researching? The purpose would be
> for doing in-house, in-department training developed by a couple of
> subject-matter experts who are not computer programmers. They have no web
> support, but do have experience in non-computer training. The subject matter
> is very technical, health-care related. Doubt that multi-media would play much
> of a part, but perhaps narration would be involved.
>

--
Erik Lord
http://www.capemedia.net
Adobe Community Expert - Authorware
http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.awaretips.net - samples, tips, products, faqs, and links!
*Search the A'ware newsgroup archives*
http://groups.google.com/group/macromedia.authorware

Naturally the project determines what tools are best. Authorware will get
you a lot farther without knowing any "programming" because the icons on the
flowline represent many of the common tasks. You can get farther than
Captivate in some areas but Captivate can be easier than Authorware in
others. Building software training is a lot easier in Captivate because
that's it primary function. But Authorware's power is unrivaled IMHO.
Considering the extensibility features that Authorware supports there is
literally nothing that it can't do. That comes at a premium though. The
farther you want to go the more chances you'll run into the need for
programming. One example is that Authorware doesn't have any kind of UI for
database connectivity because the time hasn't been spent on creating an xtra
to do it. Unfortunately there are many advancements throughout the industry
and Authorware has not kept up.
To many people the problems that Vista and IE7 have presented are not
challenges brought on by a change in environment, they're bugs in
Authorware, and the methods found to make things work are not solutions,
they're 'workarounds'. For me, after more than 20 years programming in over
a half dozen different languages and tools, these things are just par for
the course, growing pains, being on the bleeding edge, etc. I have never
held a position where things went right every time and there were no
challenges to overcome. Regardless of what happens with Authorware in the
future I have confidence that the product will continue to do what it does
now and it does work with Vista and IE7.

I'd suggest you get the trial and run through the tutorial. The
documentation is pretty lousy compared to what we used to get back with v
3.5 However there are several files called ShowMe that highlight specific
concepts. They'll give you an idea of how you can solve particular problems
with icons rather than lines of code.
Get yourself an "intro to computer programming" at your local community
college or whatever. The kind of course that teaches the 'conceptual' ideas
of programming. Why do you use 'for.. next', 'if.. then.. else..', and how
do you combine them to solve certain problems like searching or sorting.
These concepts are universal across different languages and will invaluable
regardless of the tool you choose.

Mike
====================
Mike Baker
Adobe Community Expert
mike-baker@cox.net


"dwknapp" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:f1sf9u$om2$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Thanks to you for all of your comments. Looks like I stumbled onto a sore
> spot. Should we choose Authorware, what are the most nagging limitations
that
> somone spoke of?
>
> Also, how hard is it to learn? In poking around in some other threads,
some
> answers looked like the user would need to be familiar with "programmer
type"
> stuff like variables, branching, etc. Is this a product geared for a
training
> course specialist or is it suitable for the department head (a scientist)
to
> make some training materials without devoting his/her life to learning the
> Macromedia version of Visual Basic?
>

"Mike Baker **Adobe Community Expert**" <mike-baker@cox.net> wrote in
message news:f1sobv$6im$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> <snip>
> Unfortunately there are many advancements throughout the industry
> and Authorware has not kept up.
> To many people the problems that Vista and IE7 have presented are not
> challenges brought on by a change in environment, they're bugs in
> Authorware, and the methods found to make things work are not solutions,
> they're 'workarounds'. For me, after more than 20 years programming in
> over
> a half dozen different languages and tools, these things are just par for
> the course, growing pains, being on the bleeding edge, etc.
<snip>

Authorware has not kept up, yet the challenges we face with it are because
we're on the bleeding edge...

O



K


:-P

Many thanks for your succinct assessment of Captivate, Steve, and to all of you
for your thoughts on AW, alternatives, programming, etc. This forum sure does
provide a great education for a newbie, and this one at least is most grateful.
Here?s hoping for an AW update . . . .

I must admit I feel bitterly let down by Adobe and in some respects Macromedia
because back in late 2005, early 2006 I was constantly told through several
sources (i.e. aware, taac and several forums) that, "just hang in there" as
there is an authorware update coming out soon.

This gave me confidence that someone out there was actively creating a new
Authorware release and now we all no thats just not true. By keeping quite and
not commenting on these articles, rumours etc.. Adobe have basically let people
believe "what they want to believe" and that is that a new release of
Authorware is just around the corner.

Well this is just not going to happen. I feel swindled and cheated as I
recommended Authorware to several people who I know went ahead and purchased
Authorware licenses back in early 05/06 for a great deal of money on the back
of it being updated and this has just not happening.

If anything the product looks like its going into a long retirement and Adobe
are just milking it for evey penny its worth before they say "Sorry, we not
actually updating it after all..." If I could get my hands on those Adobe
salesman, directors, ceo's I would give them a piece of my mind.

Surely the Authorware Community should do something about this by starting an
action group to get things moving. This course of action has worked before on
other legacy products and so it can work again with Authorware. This community
could start an action group to actively sort this whole mess out and have the
goal of putting Authorware back on the map and on track again.

Draft Action Plan:

1) Get the authorware community to nominate up to 5 people to form the basis
of this action group. Name to be decided.

2) Create a website to get the suport and backing from businesses. companies
and proffessionals alike in moving Authorware onto the next level.

3) Once the group has been formed arrange a delegation from the committee to
visit Adobe HQ which I believe is in Seatle to start the process of getting
Authorware back on track. If Adobe are non committal about Authorware then ask
them can they move it into the open source arena. Should be interesting to see
what they say to that.

and so on......

At least if you guys and girls can start to have dialogue with Adobe you can
hopefully get things moving again because if you don't do something now you
seriously run the risk of Authorware joining the long list of products which
have died away and go into the legacy support bracket and we all know where
that leads.

I for one are quite willing to help get this going. The balls in your court.

> At least if you guys and girls can start to have dialogue with Adobe you
> can
> hopefully get things moving again because if you don't do something now
> you
> seriously run the risk of Authorware joining the long list of products
> which
> have died away and go into the legacy support bracket and we all know
> where
> that leads.


Macromedia were developing Authorware 8 when Adobe took over.

That development stopped.

There has been heavy campaigning. Adobe has been silent.

It's hard to campaign and negotiate when the conversation is one-sided.

Not sure what else to say ...

Steve

To add to Steve's reply, while your disappointment and motivation are
admirable...

Adobe is headquartered in San Jose. So I guess we better find group
leaders who live in California, eh? Cause I can't even afford to fly out
there for conferences, much less on a hopeful meeting.

If the folks who are fairly well tied into Adobe, especially the
Community Experts, can't get any word already, why would a trip to their
HQ get any better result? A brief meeting with a PR guy who spins again?

The 'plan' is appreciated. If you're willing to participate, why not
just start the plan off yourself? And why post anonymously?
Erik



Beta Test User wrote:
> I must admit I feel bitterly let down by Adobe and in some respects Macromedia
> because back in late 2005, early 2006 I was constantly told through several
> sources (i.e. aware, taac and several forums) that, "just hang in there" as
> there is an authorware update coming out soon.
>
> This gave me confidence that someone out there was actively creating a new
> Authorware release and now we all no thats just not true. By keeping quite and
> not commenting on these articles, rumours etc.. Adobe have basically let people
> believe "what they want to believe" and that is that a new release of
> Authorware is just around the corner.
>
> Well this is just not going to happen. I feel swindled and cheated as I
> recommended Authorware to several people who I know went ahead and purchased
> Authorware licenses back in early 05/06 for a great deal of money on the back
> of it being updated and this has just not happening.
>
> If anything the product looks like its going into a long retirement and Adobe
> are just milking it for evey penny its worth before they say "Sorry, we not
> actually updating it after all..." If I could get my hands on those Adobe
> salesman, directors, ceo's I would give them a piece of my mind.
>
> Surely the Authorware Community should do something about this by starting an
> action group to get things moving. This course of action has worked before on
> other legacy products and so it can work again with Authorware. This community
> could start an action group to actively sort this whole mess out and have the
> goal of putting Authorware back on the map and on track again.
>
> Draft Action Plan:
>
> 1) Get the authorware community to nominate up to 5 people to form the basis
> of this action group. Name to be decided.
>
> 2) Create a website to get the suport and backing from businesses. companies
> and proffessionals alike in moving Authorware onto the next level.
>
> 3) Once the group has been formed arrange a delegation from the committee to
> visit Adobe HQ which I believe is in Seatle to start the process of getting
> Authorware back on track. If Adobe are non committal about Authorware then ask
> them can they move it into the open source arena. Should be interesting to see
> what they say to that.
>
> and so on......
>
> At least if you guys and girls can start to have dialogue with Adobe you can
> hopefully get things moving again because if you don't do something now you
> seriously run the risk of Authorware joining the long list of products which
> have died away and go into the legacy support bracket and we all know where
> that leads.
>
> I for one are quite willing to help get this going. The balls in your court.
>

--
Erik Lord
http://www.capemedia.net
Adobe Community Expert - Authorware
http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.awaretips.net - samples, tips, products, faqs, and links!
*Search the A'ware newsgroup archives*
http://groups.google.com/group/macromedia.authorware

You will also learn Lectora in a weekend...and also hit it's limits at
the same time.

mark

Erik **AdobeCommunityExpert** wrote:
> Trivantis Lectora is generally considered a fair competitor to
> Authorware and is currently being maintained. I've played with it a
> little and, IMO, it simply pales in comparison...but it does allow
> decent interaction development and multimedia support.
>
> Outstart...Trainer? I see mentioned here and there. Outstart has an LMS
> and authoring tool...I'm not sure of their respective names. I don't
> have a good impression of the product but not sure why.
>
> Flash is where we are going with most of our development, but it's not
> an easy environment to learn. I believe there are products built on top
> of Flash to allow a more friendly authoring experience... RapidBuilder?
> I'm not sure of those names either, but a search for something like
> 'Flash-based media authoring' or somesuch may reveal.
>
> Articulate has some decent tools but mostly for creating super-fancy PPT
> files with SCORM tracking and quizzes at the end, as far as I've seen.
>
> When I started in this field, Authorware, Director, Toolbook, Quest, and
> TenCore were the primary tools. Kinda interesting how many of those are
> still at the top of the field (none).
> But there are surely a lot of options out there. May be best to just
> search for 'multimedia authoring tools' or something like then post back
> here, or any other forum, and see if anyone has experience with such tools.
>
> I'll still use Authorware where I can but, as Amy says, without support
> for latest OS, browsers, and Flash - it's becoming less and less likely.
> Erik
>
> dwknapp wrote:
>> Thanks for the excellent comments. So, given that I am new to this
>> genre of software, what other products should I be researching? The
>> purpose would be for doing in-house, in-department training developed
>> by a couple of subject-matter experts who are not computer
>> programmers. They have no web support, but do have experience in
>> non-computer training. The subject matter is very technical,
>> health-care related. Doubt that multi-media would play much of a
>> part, but perhaps narration would be involved.
>>
>

--
------------------------------------------------------

www.AuthorwareXtras.co.uk

EuroTAAC eLearning 2007
www.eurotaac.com

www.freelists.org/list/flashelearning


Authorware Media Synchronization Command:
www.authorwarextras.co.uk --> Commands

Media Synchronization made easy !