Specifications

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USING CAPTIVATE
Variables and Advanced Actions
Last updated 9/28/2011
For example, you can use user-defined variables to specify version numbers of products. At all places where you want
to add the version number in a project, add the variable instead. When you set the value for the version number in the
corresponding variable, the value is displayed at all places where you inserted the variable. Similarly, when you want
to modify the version number, you just have to change the value of the variable.
When you use system variables for this purpose, you do not have to manually correct the slide number when the slides
are reordered.
Variables extend the reach of Adobe Captivate by allowing you to do the following:
• Customize Adobe Captivate to your requirements: You can use variables in advanced actions to provide
advanced interactivity in your Adobe Captivate projects.
• Integrate Adobe Captivate with other applications: You can use get/set variables in Adobe Captivate from other
applications.
Create a user-defined variable
1 Select Project > Variables.
2 In the Type menu, select User.
3 Click Add New, and enter the following information:
Name Specify a unique name for the variable. Ensure that the name is intuitive enough to help users guess its
content. For example, a variable storing the version number of a product would have the name ProductVersion or
VersionNumber.
Value Specify a value for the variable. The value that you specify occurs at all instances of occurrence of the variable
in the document. You can also choose to set the value later by leaving this field blank. Variables with undefined
values appear as blank spaces in the project.
Description Optionally, add a description for the variable. For example, you could add a note for the authors
instructing them about when to use the variable.
4 Click Save.
Note: While assigning variables to text entry boxes, you can define the variable using the ‘x’ icon in the Property Inspector.
For detailed instructions, see
this blog by Lieve Weymeis.
Some of the variable names are reserved by ActionScript. Do not use the following variable names when creating your
variable: