Lectora X3 -Text issue When Publishing to HTML and HyperLinks

[flashDeveloper]

I am trying to fix several text issues that I am encountering. I've fixed a lot of the spacing issues EXCEPT when it comes to links. For some reason, on only a few select pages, the text that has a LINK applied to it, pushes it all the way to the bottom or off the screen. Also, I have a little text box in the lower left hand corner, fixed position, and its also getting pushed for no reason. I've tried removing items to test to see if that is the issue, but its not. No wrapping is applied, even tried viewing it as an image, no dice.

Has anyone come across any solutions to these issues in Lectora X3 other than pasting unformatted or when hyperlinks are applied?

I've come from a background of working strictly in Flash (custom shell and using XML for everything)...starting to think that may be a better place to stay rather than this. I completed the course faster in Lectora, but the bugs that are involved are abundant and costing me valuable time. Very disappointed in my first go at building a course. I can see this may be useful for rapid development. That's about it until Trivantis fixes a lot of the bugs. I really think that the view you see in Preview Mode SHOULD be what you see in Publish. That's a BIG fix that needs to be done.

Oh, and even trying to apply "Text as Image" to a text field is not working. The text doesn't show at all in Publish. (using Gill Sans Light as a font)

[benpitman]

Been working with Lectora for 5 yrs. Never heard of such a problem. Only time stuff gets pushed around in a text box is when it has the Wrap around objects property checked. Do you have that checked? Is there anything on top of it (below it in the left pane)?

[flashDeveloper]

Been working with Lectora for 5 yrs. Never heard of such a problem. Only time stuff gets pushed around in a text box is when it has the Wrap around objects property checked. Do you have that checked? Is there anything on top of it (below it in the left pane)?

No, its not applied. There is a graphical button above it, but not on top of it by any means, I've even removed it and tested it out that way! Still pushes it off screen. Other than that, that's the only thing near it.

I've worked mostly in Flash, being able to have the power to do anything I want..so its different coming from that area to a tool that has limitations. I wish they had the option to Publish the course as a SWF object, like Captivate. Then you don't have to deal with Browser problems or worry that what you see in Preview isn't what you will get in Publishing. Seems to be just about the biggest issue on the forum that I have read about.

Oh, its in IE6, I should have given you that info. We haven't moved up to 7 or 8, so I am wondering if that is hindering things.

[eLdev]

I would definitely try loading it up in a newer version of IE and see if that fixes things. IE6 is way behind the times and was the bane of my existence as a web developer. Most of the time, I had to write a separate (and complicated) CSS file to get things to display right in 6 whereas the site would look just fine in every other browser.

[sconnell]

I would definitely try loading it up in a newer version of IE and see if that fixes things. IE6 is way behind the times and was the bane of my existence as a web developer. Most of the time, I had to write a separate (and complicated) CSS file to get things to display right in 6 whereas the site would look just fine in every other browser.

Yes, I concur. I am willing to bet the problem is with IE6.

Are you allowed to install another browser? I suggest Chrome because it is probably the least intrusive, both in terms of disk space and making no changes to the OS.

[benpitman]

Feel free to extract the offending page, put in a separate title, File menu > Export > Zip and post here using the Go Advanced button or send to me directly at the email addr below. Glad to take a look.

[flashDeveloper]

Yes, I concur. I am willing to bet the problem is with IE6.

Are you allowed to install another browser? I suggest Chrome because it is probably the least intrusive, both in terms of disk space and making no changes to the OS.

Yeah, I wish I could say yes to that. However, IE6 is our standard browser and upgrading to 8 won't happen for at least another year. I have to work with what we have.

Like I said, being a web developer/Flash developer, I think Trivantis needs to think this through and instead of publishing out to HTML, they should publish out to Flash for main online learning, what you see <b>IS</b> what you get...mLearning, of course, DHTML and XHTML is the way to go.

[sconnell]

Yeah, I wish I could say yes to that. However, IE6 is our standard browser and upgrading to 8 won't happen for at least another year. I have to work with what we have.

Like I said, being a web developer/Flash developer, I think Trivantis needs to think this through and instead of publishing out to HTML, they should publish out to Flash for main online learning, what you see <b>IS</b> what you get...mLearning, of course, DHTML and XHTML is the way to go.

Publish out to Flash.... BITE you tongue! :-P

That is something I do not want to see. There are many caveats to Flash, and besides, if Adobe continues their trend of making Flash bulkier and buggier, Flash will gradually going to go the way of the dinosaurs. Additionally, depending on how big your courses are, Flash needs to load entirely into memory and this can be slow.

It is not Trivantis' fault that some organizations are so far behind with their browser.

I headed an IT company of a mid-sized company and actually disabled IE (back in 2005) because of security concerns. Instead I made Firefox our default browser because I found that this open source browser responded immediately to known threats. It often shocks me at how some organizations are so slow to address important security issues, such as the browser. Besides, how does one function with IE today? Many websites will appear broken!?! I am also a bit puzzled that your browser is old, but your Adobe flash is updated? If it isn't, you will likely have issues with an outdated version of Flash.

With a lot of tweaking, you can likely overcome the issues you are dealing with. In fact, one possibility (a little extra work) is to render your text as graphics. Because HTML can no longer be included in the text box (Trivantis please allow this in a future update!), you can add an invisible click button over the area of the hyperlink (simulating a text hyperlink).

[flashDeveloper]

I've built a custom Flash shell, using everything externally and componentizing things...easy to use, easy to edit, no worries. Flash interactions are built separate and pulled in using XML. Neat code, organized course structure and none of the uneccessary repeating of code or embedded repeated stylesheets. No problems there at all, and it loads fast because everything IS componentized. PLUS if you know Flash really well, you can include a javaScript statement that removes any temporary files from the user's computer once the browser is closed. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Its all in how your Flash app is structured.

Problem is, I need to program SCORM compliancy using AS3 into my shell and not sure how to do it. That's the last thing I have left.

Benefit of Flash - WYSIWYG

Now I know for mLearning, Lectora will be very viable and useful, I hope they are looking into XHTML and CSS3. That's the new wave of web development. AND jQuery is an EXCELLENT tool to use for web development. I've steered away from Flash for web development. But, for eLearing, I still support Flash/Captivate 100%.

[sconnell]

I've built a custom Flash shell, using everything externally and componentizing things...easy to use, easy to edit, no worries. Flash interactions are built separate and pulled in using XML. Neat code, organized course structure and none of the uneccessary repeating of code or embedded repeated stylesheets. No problems there at all, and it loads fast because everything IS componentized. PLUS if you know Flash really well, you can include a javaScript statement that removes any temporary files from the user's computer once the browser is closed. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Its all in how your Flash app is structured.

Problem is, I need to program SCORM compliancy using AS3 into my shell and not sure how to do it. That's the last thing I have left.

Benefit of Flash - WYSIWYG

Now I know for mLearning, Lectora will be very viable and useful, I hope they are looking into XHTML and CSS3. That's the new wave of web development. AND jQuery is an EXCELLENT tool to use for web development. I've steered away from Flash for web development. But, for eLearing, I still support Flash/Captivate 100%.

Since AS3, I have had a lot of respect for Flash. I have made a living building Flash based projects. However, I have never believed in building something entirely in Flash (e.g. websites 100% in Flash are annoying IMHO).

Anyhow, my concern is that Adobe Flash is becoming more like bloatware with every new version... and the number of security updates lately is almost unmanageable. I actually (partially) understand Steve Jobs refusal to allow it on the iPhone (I said partially - although it is also due to a childish grudge!).

>Benefit of Flash - WYSIWYG

True... but that is also possible without Flash. The problem is the many flavors of browsers and none of them appear to 100% respect standards...but on the other hand, the standards are "boring" so no wonder they all do things a little different.

> I need to program SCORM compliancy using AS3 into my shell

Here are some references for you (hopefully, some might help):

pipwerks
pipwerks-scorm - Project Hosting on Google Code (probably same version of wrapper)
Integrating Adobe&#39;s SCORM Code with Pipwerks AS3 Class - eLearning Technology and Development | Google Groups (discussion about the wrapper)

Adobe Forums: SCORM 1.2 and AS3 (some good discussions here)

A SCORM-ready template: Part 1 - Features (good information on AS3 and SCORM)