Here's something that's been driving me nuts for a long, long time. Can I
really be the only one? (I haven't found any posts on this...)

I have an annoying habit of inadvertently rearranging my slides on the film
strip. I can't figure out how (circumstances under which) I keep doing this,
but it is annoying as all get-out. Somehow I unwittingly drag a slide around on
the filmstip, and occasionally I don't realize slides have gotten out of order
until it's been published and a reviewer says 'this doesn't make any sense."
And it is sometimes hard to remember in a detailed recorded capture what the
order was originally.

Okay, /rant. Anybody have any experience with and advice on this 'phenomenon'?
<insert smiley here>

Thanks a bundle!

Hi dratndarn

No idea on the cause, but the following might help if it is you and not the
program.
Try hiding the slide strip until you need it, then use and hide again, should
help keep focus on what you are doing in the strip this way. If you use this,
then rather use the next/previous slide buttons in the toolbar to navigate
through the slides.
If this sounds like nonsense, then use the label properties to label each
slide sequentially as to where it should be. If the sequence goes out now, at
least your numbering system will indicate the correct sequence.

Hi Andrew. Thanks for the ideas.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's me -- not an app bug. (Mea culpa, mea culpa.) Just
seems like a mistake I keep making over & over, so thought there might be a
usability problem and possibly some way to lock the film strip to prevent
rearranging like you can lock objects on a slide. I also need to figure out how
how to change whatever my bad habits are that are causing it.

Unfortunately, I am in the film strip constantly while I'm editing - tweaking
timing, object positions, etc. (hence the problem), so hiding it isn't gonna
work. But I *do* think your renaming idea is a really good one. Cumbersome
perhaps, but probably a really good preventative measure--and good best
practice anyhoo. Thanks!

Don't worry you are not alone. I do this too. Any tips would help!

Hi again All

Re using the film strip constantly due to editing etc is something that I am
not sure I understand. And then it hits me, I am a keyboard junkie and tenf to
use that rather than the mouse in a lot of cases, so try the following and
maybe THIS helps:
Page Up/Down for Previous/Next Slide
Home = Slide 1
End = Last slide
Shift/Ctrl/D for slide Properties

I tend to use the above for all that is normally required of the film strip
and, once you get used to it, this method is actually faster than using your
mouse in the strip.

Your point is valid and it would be an enhancement. First, contact Adobe and
make the suggestion. This sounds like a simple option that could be added to
the next release of Captivate.
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/...?name=wishform

I agree that moving the slides around in the StoryBoard View is a good
alternative becuae you can see many more slides. So closing the Filmstrip is
not a dead-end, you just switch to the Storyboard View.

Sequential numbering of the Slide Name is a good proof tool. I typically name
the first slide as COVER and then last slide as END. You can then Number the
slides by eidting the Properties of each slide and giving the slide a number.
I also tend to name my Quizzes or Zuiz Pools as Quiz1 and Quiz2, Etc.

This is all a nice workaround, but not as friendly as a "lock slide order"
option for your workflow style.

Joe C.

Thanks for your feedback, everyone.

Here's one example of the work flow style that causes me to use the film strip
a lot.

I have some linear WBTs that include branching. In other words, I need to
enforce a mostly linear order, although there are some branches to support
certain interactions. So I need to control the nav and I don't include the
playback control, but I do believe in allowing the learner to control the pace
as much as possible. I have individual image nav buttons that appear on each
and every slide. Depending on the slide, the timing, and the branching
situation, the button may operate differently from one slide to the next. (And
yes, I make sure it remains predictable to the user.) So I typically get all my
content in, then go back in and work on the nav and the timing, adding the
buttons and then going through and adjusting their behavior, slide by slide. I
have not found a way to do this wholesale with different 'types' of image
buttons. This is much easier to do if I can look at the individual slide, but
see it in context simultaneously with the filmstrip thumbnails, and be able to
jump two up, three down, whatever, to make related tweaks to timing, etc.

These are software training WBTs, with conceptual stuff sprinkled in. I guess
I'm surprised that this is an unusual way to work.

The idea of numbering the slides is great, but I do a fair amount of
rearranging as I go, as the flow gets tweaked. However, I could see renaming
with topics, so at least I know that a particular misplaced screen-shot slide
belongs down in the "Managing Lists" section, or whatever.

I would also prefer to use the keyboard. I typically move up and down the
filmstrip w/the arrow keys. I know you can't do that with the individual slide
view. Didn't occur to me to try page up/down, though. (Duh! Silly moi.) Thank
you, Andrew! That is one of those simple habit things that will just help
immensely.

Thanks again! I will submit the 'feature request' too.

Hi dratndarn

If you are using Captivate 3, there is a feature that could help you with
this. As you get slides in a sort of completed state (or even from the
beginning if you want) you are able to select a group of them, right-click and
elect to Group them. This could assist in simplifying things where you don't
easily get them misplaced.

Just thinking out loud... Rick :smile;

Hey, Rick! That grouping thingie is EXCELLENT! I was not aware of that feature.
Not sure it solves my sticky-fingers issue, but it certainly will help in many
other ways! Thanks for pointing it out!!

Thanks again for the tips, guys!