Digital Workshop

Seems I always get stuck on the simple...

I've spent a couple of hours trying to do simple reveals according to the Help file. At first it appeared that the instructions following the statement about using a template for this was how to do it if you had not used a template. Nope. Then I tried adding a template to a master page. Nope. Then I started over and used a template with bullett points. Can't change the text in a box when using a master page. Nope.

Finally applied a template to an existing page. Worked, sort of. Only the last line displayed and that off the left side of the page no matter how much I moved the box around.

I have a two day seminar of 360 slides to transfer. It ain't going to happen at this rate...

Sheesh. What is up with this?

Dave

Any way you could attach a small publication so we could "see" ? And perhaps more of an explanation of what you want to happen?

I am just trying to get bullet points to reveal in sequence as described by the "show in turn" action in Help.

Attached is a self-extracting zip file example IMP.

Regards,
Dave

Dave,

What version of Opus are you using?

4.5XE

Do you have QuickBuild capabilities in that version?

Here's one way. I tried two different ways and both worked.

If you have Quickbuild, would suggest you go to Quickbuild, Script Templates, select Bullet Text, click on OK and then follow the instructions in the script object.

If not, here is one way to do it. Create your text. Create individual boxes for each bullet. Make sure all are set to initially hidden. One the Page level create an Action for Left Mouse click. Add a Show in Turn to it. You should see an Object List X in the name field and checkboxes for each piece of text. Order them as needed and make sure each one is checked. Then click on Apply and then on OK.
Create a Right Mouse click action for the Page and add a Hide in Turn to it. Make sure you select the same Object List you used in the Show in Turn and then make sure it is the reverse order of what you had in Show in Turn. Now this should all work.

Yes. Gonna upgrade soon as well...I've a LOT of stuff on my list for Opus.

I get the feeling the "Help" files are not accurate for this task.

So, I took a look at the Quickbuild method. Attached is a screen shot of the result. On each mouse click, a new "half" line is revealed, and the "No next page" error popped up. Dismiss it and click again and it reveals another half line and the error message. Then there is that piece of the last line sticking in from the right.

Sheesh, these issues with page one and only another 360 or so to go...

Good thing I am patient and persistent.

Dave

The example worked, but it is impractical. As mentioned, I've a 360+ page Power Point show to transfer and I really need Opus to work as advertised...even PP has a straightforward way to deal with reveal sequences.

I need to be able to paste whole bullet lists in place at one stroke and work.

BTW, I note you are an ID. My MS is in Instructional Systems and the bulk of my work at the moment is curriculum and instruction for a big drilling outfit. Spent the past year putting the conventional classroom curriculum and assessment tools in place. Now I am preping to begin to produce self-paced interactive from it. I've been quite good with Opus in the past, but I seem to forget almost everything in a year or so. I started with it WAY back on Illuminatus 3 or so and really love it each time I get back into the "swing."

Dave

Yes,
I have an MS in Instructional Technology and have been developing technology-based learning solutions for many years.

You say that you are starting to put stuff online from the classroom. Do you have a budget, or can you spend some money?

The reason I ask is for something like this, I can see getting a PowerPoint converter, converting to Flash, and then putting the Flash file into Opus. You could go for a Cadillac such as powerConverter (http://www.presentationpro.com/products/PowerCONVERTER.asp)

or something cheaper as long as they do reveals and bullets.

It would save you a lot of time and pay for itself quickly. Plus as it creates Flash output, you may not even have to mess with Opus if not needed.

Money isn't much of an issue (as you've probably noted at the pump ).

I'll probably spend 2-3 million over the next couple of years on the project.

I am not a big fan of Flash, though it has it's uses. However, like (ugh) Windows, it is a fact of life.

The safety seminar program I'm currently working on the bullet point thing has about 18 videos in WMV format at 720X480, and that is about as low as I can tolerate or expect the guys to put up with.

I am sort of hoping one of the DW moderators will chime in on this problem in the morning. It really surprises me that something so basic would be so obtuse in Opus. It does so many things well.

I really appreciate your help.

Regards,
Dave

I don't have 4.5 here but I have made your example work in 5.5. You have some paragraph settings on the text that seems to upset the bullet text script. If you select the bulleted text object, (make sure you are not editing the text by pressing escape) and then bring up the Text -> Paragraph properties dialog. Remove the leading and trailing paragraph space and change the line spacing to 1.5 times, which will restore the spacing.

To answer the original question; if you want to use just the Show In Turn action; put each bullet into a separate text object (you can just keep copying the same one and changing the content). Edit the Show in Turn list to set the order in which the objects are shown. The script version just makes it a bit quicker by breaking up a larger text object for you.

Thanks. I'll take a look tomorrow (quiting time here). As to the separate objects, as I mentioned above that would be rather tedious for 360 pages. Really must find a way to deal with it as text blocks.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
Dave

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Hi Mallette, the best solution in the world for presentations using Powerpoint into Flash and also producing quizzes for elearing is a product called "Articulate Presenter Professional". The other product by the same company is Quizz Maker and both are a winner. I use them a lot these days because it makes things easier and it is fully web ready.
Do a search and definitely try them on! If money is not problem you can even purchase the whole Studio option.
Regards
Koala

Thanks for the tip, German. I will take a look.

However, I like to avoid third party apps when I can and continue to believe Opus can handle this relatively simple and basic presentation task. Certainly the "help" file is incorrect and of little help here as it bears no resemblance to Duncan's suggestions of yesterday.

Duncan (or any moderator):
Attached is zip of example using instructions. At first, I could see a bit of the last line on the far right, then not even that.

Please take a look and diagnose.

Dave