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Lectora Frequently Asked Questions
Compression-Audio/Video/Images
Open title in Lectora and receive unsaved data prompt
SumTotal Course Error (when being imported into LMS)
Q: I am attempting to register my Lectora software but am receiving the message, You have exceeded the number of registrations. How do I get my software registered?
A: You need to contact Trivantis Support via email, support@trivantis.com, or via phone, 513-852-6700, and give us your name and serial number and we will lookup the registration history for your serial number.
Q: I have registered my product several times over the past 30 days and now it will not let me in the product. How can I use the software?
A: It appears you don’t have the proper permissions to register the software on your computer. The registration process will pass information to Windows to be placed in the registry of the machine. You need to have someone login as an admin and register the software for you under your name. If you are now receiving a message that you have exceeded the number of registrations, then please contact Trivantis Support.
Q: I do not have an internet connection on my machine. How can I register my software?
A: You need to contact Trivantis Support at 513-852-6700 and register the product via phone.
Q: How will I know when service packs are released for my version of Lectora?
A: In the latest versions of Lectora, there is an auto update feature that will automatically check for updates. This option is located under File-Preferences-Auto Update. If this option is grayed out for you, then you do not have the proper permissions on your machine to do this or your firewall/proxy is not letting it through. In that case, you need to randomly check out our website at www.trivantis.com, click Support, Service packs to see if any new service packs have been released.
Q: When I open Lectora, my left hand pane shows colors of blue but on other machines, it is a silver or olive color. How can I change the color of the left hand pane?
A: This is automatically picked up based on the settings you have selected in the display properties of your machine. If you right click on your desktop, select properties, click the appearance tab, you will see a color scheme option. It is that color option that determines what color of background you see in the left hand pane.
Q: Is there a way to control the colors of the clicked and highlighted states of a button?
A: In the 2008 version of Lectora, you can control the color of each state as well as the highlight color of the text itself.
Q: What if I am using the same image/images for a particular button and I have it in several areas in my title but need to make a change to only one of the buttons without affecting the others, can I do this?
A: With Lectora 2008 you can accomplish this. Simply open the resource manager, select the button and in the resources used window, click the button you want to change and select the create unique resource button. This will make it a separate resource from the other buttons using the same image/images so any change to it will not affect the other buttons.
Q: Is there a way I can use different radio buttons or check boxes for my questions and/or forms?
A: With the 2008 version you can. You can use the built in options we offer or you can import your custom radio buttons and check boxes. This is only available in the 2008 version. This option is located in Lectora under File-Preferences-Form Elements.
Compression-Audio/Video/Images
Q: If I use the compression option in Lectora 2008 for audio or video files, in what format will they be compressed?
A: All audio and video will be compressed into a FLV file format. Keep in mind that if you are using small files like WMA or WMV which already use a lot of compression, if you attempt to use high compression when publishing out, the quality of your audio or video may not be very good.
Q: With images, should I be worried about compression and can I only select certain images to compress?
A: Unfortunately, it is an all or nothing option. However, we only compress the images if there is room to compress it. We recommend that you use the preview in browser option to see what the images will look like when published out. Keep in mind, this option will pick up the last settings you used when you published out the last time.
Open title in Lectora and receive unsaved data prompt
Q: I opened my Lectora title and received a prompt that I have unsaved data and would I like to recover it. Should I click Yes or No?
A: Before clicking anything, it is recommended that you check the size of your AWT file and the temp file in the same directory. If the AWT is larger than the temp file, it is recommended you click No. If the AWT file is much smaller than the temp file, then you can click Yes. It is highly recommended that you always have a backup copy of your title in another location so if you click Yes or No and something becomes corrupt or your hard drive crashes, you always have a backup to fall upon.
Q: How can I have certain pages or chapters not show up in my Table of Contents?
A: When you view the properties or each chapter or page, there is an option to Include in Table of Contents. If that option is selected, it will be included. If you deselect that option, it will not be included in the Table of Contents.
Q: When I export out using the translation tool, edit the text in Word and then import it back in, the text will sometimes not display correctly. Why is this?
A: This could be one of two things. First, you don’t want to edit any of the lines that states, do not edit this line. Changing any information or formatting of that line could cause issues when you import the file back into Lectora. The second item that could potentially cause issues would be if Word added formatting to the text. That extra formatting could cause the text to not import and display properly in Lectora. We recommend using an application like WordPad to edit the RTF file because it will not add all the extra formatting that Word will.
Q: I have a JPEG image and want the white area to be transparent. How do I do this?
A: JPEG images do not support transparency. You need to convert that image to a GIF or PNG file and set the white color as the color you want to be transparent.
Q: When I publish my course and run it in my LMS, the course always remains incomplete. How can I get it to show as completed in the LMS?
A: When you publish out to SCORM or AICC, the course will not automatically pass a completed or passed status back to the LMS, as different LMS’ require different values. Therefore, there is no way for the course to know what the exact value your particular LMS is looking for. Also, some LMS’ have the ability to do a score/mastery score comparison to determine a status of passed/failed. Some LMS’ do not have this ability so an action to modify the AICC_Lesson_Status, you will use this variable for both SCORM and AICC, is needed to mark the course as complete. For SCORM, the most common values are completed and passed. For AICC, they are the letters c and p. We recommend you contact your LMS vendor if you are unsure of the value to enter. The action is placed on the page in the course where you want the course to be marked as completed. Most prefer to place the action at the page level with it setup as On show, Modify Variable, AICC_Lesson_Status, enter the value your LMS requires and select the modification type as Set variable contents.
SCORM/AICC Option To Open In Separate Window
Q: When I select the option that the course will be presented in a separate window, the course still opens in the main LMS frameset. Why is it not opening in a new window?
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Q: When I do not select the option that the course will be presented in a separate window, the course still opens in a separate window. Why will it not open in the LMS frameset?
A: That option is not one that instructs the LMS how the course is to be launched. The LMS totally controls how the course gets launch, whether it is in the same or separate window. The option in Lectora is merely there so that if you know your course will be in a separate window, you select that option and when the user clicks the exit button in the course, we attempt to close the window. If you do not select that option, then we will not make any attempt to close the window when the exit button is selected. We then just wait for the LMS to take over the frameset and direct it to the proper url in the LMS.
SCORM Content On Separate Server
Q: If I publish out to SCORM and place my content on a different server and use the Java Title Manager, does a signed applet get used to help in communication and variable storage?
A: No, when you publish out to SCORM, the content always reports locally, meaning it doesn’t ever have to go cross domain like you see in an AICC publish. It will just use the unsigned TitleMgr applet which will require the end user to have a Java plug in installed. SCORM content never reports directly back to the LMS as it uses a so-called ‘middle man’, to handle all the communication to the LMS. This ‘middle man’ is known as an API adapter. The API adapter is a LMS component that opens in a hidden frameset when the course gets launched. The content reports all updated variables to the local API adapter and it is up the LMS to have the API adapter configured correctly to report the updated information back to itself.
Q: What edition of SCORM 2004 does the 2007 and 2008 version of Lectora support?
A: 2007 and 2008 versions of Lectora publish out to SCORM 2004 3rd Edition.
SCORM Status Not Updating When Using An Action To Modify Status
Q: I have an action on the last page of my course set to modify the AICC_Lesson_Status to the proper value that my LMS is looking for but it always seems to remain incomplete. Why is it not setting the status to complete?
A: If you don’t have any conditions on the action itself and the user is visiting the page where the action is placed, then most likely it is an issue of the API adapter either not updating itself or the course exited too quickly for the API to gather the updated variable information. When you move from page to page, a function called LMSCommit() gets called and it is this function that passes the data to the LMS. If the user is visiting the page, the variable is being updated but then they may be exiting out of the title. When they exit out, the course will issue a LMSCommit(), followed by a LMSFinish() and if it is open in a separate window, the course window will close. This all happens very fast, so the API may not be quick enough to gather the updated data from the course. What you need to do is place an action on the page that states On Show, Go to, Web Address and for the url enter the value javascript:LMSCommit(); You will also want to set the delay on this action so that the action to modify the AICC_Lesson_Status happens first. What this action will do is it will pass the updated value to the API adapter at that time and again when the user exits out. That way the API has two opportunities to update the status value.
Q: I have a large test in my title and it seems that if a user exits out before completing the test and then returns to it later, some of the questions they previously answered are not retaining their answer. I have checked the option to retain the variable’s value between sessions, but it is not doing so. Why is this not working as it should?
A: Most likely the reason for this is that you are exceeding the amount of data your LMS can capture as suspend data. Most LMS’ only allow 4k which is the size of a cookie your browser uses. If you exceed that value, then your LMS is most likely just starting at the beginning of the suspend data file and overwriting the existing data from previous questions. There are several things you can do to get around this. First, would be to split up your large test into smaller ones and not retain any of the variable information. That way if they exit out, they won’t have to worry about restarting a large test, just answer the few questions in the smaller test again. If that is not an option for you, then you can try renaming the variables to something smaller, so instead of Question_0001, try Q1. Then make the actual answers to the questions just A., B., etc. instead of the actual long answer that may currently exist. This will help free up some space in the suspend data and hopefully allow all the data to be retained. Keep in mind that any variable you have in your title set to be retained between sessions, not just in the test, will be included in the suspend data file and will take up space within it.
SCORM/AICC Window Size and Attributes
Q: When my course launches the window size is not what I want it to be set at and some of the browser attributes like the toolbar, file menu, etc. are being displayed. How can I set the size of the window and get rid of the other attributes?
A: The LMS controls the size of window and what attributes gets displayed. There is nothing in the course that can be added to get rid of the attributes once the LMS launches the window. You need to talk to your LMS vendor to see if you can change the setting for how the course gets launched. As for the size, we recommend that you talk to your LMS vendor for this as well. Some LMS’ have a setting for each course where you can set the size of the window to be launched. In that case, just go into that setting and select the proper size. Some LMS’ have just a global setting that affects how all courses get launched. If you have courses that are all different sizes, then that would not be an option for you. What you would do in this case is find some JavaScript code to add to your course in an External HTML object that will resize the window to the appropriate size.
SumTotal Course Error (when being imported into LMS)
Q: When I attempt to import my SumTotal published course into our SumTotal LMS, I am getting an error and the course will not import. What would cause this to occur?
A: Make sure that you do not have a space in the course name as SumTotal will not import courses that contain a space in the name.
Q: When I publish out to SCORM 1.2 and load my course into SumTotal, I am not getting all the data passed back to the LMS. Why do values like status and time not get updated?
A: The reason for this is that SumTotal uses a wrapper around the content. When you simply publish to SCORM, you select or deselect an option that the course will be presented in a separate window. If you select this option, when the user clicks the course exit button, we attempt to close the window and this may cause all the data to not be passed because SumTotal requires you click their Exit button in their wrapper. If you deselected that option and the user just clicks the SumTotal exit button in their wrapper, again, the content will not be updated as the course never issued a LMSFinish() statement. You have two options to ensure all the data gets transferred back to the SumTotal LMS. The first and easier of the two would be to go www.trivantis.com, click Support, LMS Extensions, download and install the SumTotal publish to pack. What this does is get rid of the SumTotal wrapper and issue the proper functions they require when the user hits the exit button. When you use this publish to option, do not select the option that the course will be presented in a separate window. If you chose to not go that route, then you need to publish out SCORM 1.2, deselect the option that the course will be presented in a separate window and the user will have to click the exit button in the course and then click the exit button in the SumTotal wrapper to ensure all the data gets transferred correctly.
Q: When I test my content in the LMS, I get to the last page of the course and receive an error that states LMSSetValue():Incorrect Data Type. What does this mean?
A: This is usually an indication that you have an action on that page to set the AICC_Lesson_Status variable to a certain value. Most likely, the value you entered is not a value your LMS recognizes. You need to contact your LMS vendor to determine the proper value to enter in the action.
Q: When I click the Done button to submit and grade my test, I get an error or several errors regarding LMSSetValue(). Why am I getting these errors?
A: This is most likely do to the course attempting to send back test and question interaction data to the LMS. Not all LMS’ support test and question interactions so you need to check with your LMS vendor. To disable this feature, publish out to SCORM again and when the options screen comes up, deselect the option that reads, the course will report test and question interactions to the Learning Management System (LMS).
Q: When I am creating a SCORM course, why do I need to use AICC_ variables in Lectora? Aren’t they two different publishing options
A: AICC and SCORM are different from one another. However, to keep it simple, Lectora uses just variables named AICC_ that you use for both SCORM and AICC. That way if you have a single title that you want to publish to both SCORM and AICC, you don’t have to go and change the variables each time. You may have to change the values of the variables, but not the variables themselves. When you publish out, Lectora automatically names the variables with the appropriate name for the platform that you published out to.
Q: When I attempt to publish out to AICC or SCORM, I get a message indicating that I must have a scored test in the title or modify the variable AICC_Lesson_Status. In order to publish out to SCORM or AICC, do you have to have a scored test?
A: No, that is a warning that indicates with the current setup of your course, there is no way the course could ever be marked as completed for the users. If you do not have a test, then all you need to do is add an action to modify the AICC_Lesson_Status variable to the appropriate value your LMS is looking for. If you have a scored test, not receiving the message above and your LMS has the ability to do a score/mastery score comparison, then all you need to have is a scored test in the title. If you have a scored test in the title but your LMS is not capable of doing a score/mastery score comparison, then you need to add an action to modify the AICC_Lesson_Status.
AICC content on separate server
Q: I am publishing to AICC and the content will be placed on a different server than the LMS. What options do I have?
A: If you are placing the content on a separate server from the LMS, then there are two routes you can go. The first, when you publish, deselect the option to Use JavaScript Title Manager. It will then revert back to using the Java Title Manager in the published content. Keep in mind that it will use a signed Java applet and most users will be prompted when they attempt to launch the course and they will have to accept the signed applet in order to move forward and view the course. The second option would be to use the JavaScript Title Manager. To do this, you have to use a cross domain redirector script. This script will be placed on the same server as the content and will act as a ‘middle man’ to take the content from the course and pass it to the LMS. A sample script is in the Help portion of Lectora. Depending on your server setup and LMS, this script may need to be modified by your IT Dept. in order to function correctly.
HTML/AICC/SCORM document launch in separate window
Q: When I publish out to HTML, AICC or SCORM and use the launch document action, it always opens in the same window. For AICC and SCORM, it then ends my session. How do I get it to launch the document in a separate window?
A: Instead of using the Launch Program/Document action, which is really used for CD or single file executable publishes, you need to use a Go to, Web Address action. You first would attach the document to the Additional Files tab located in the Title Properties. Then your action would be setup as Go to, Web Address, for the url enter the document name and it’s extension and check the option to open in a new window. This cannot be tested in Run or Preview modes as you need to publish out to HTML, AICC or SCORM to test.
Debug mode for HTML/AICC/SCORM
Q: How do you enable debug for the published content?
A: For versions prior to Lectora 2008, you need to publish out, edit the trivantis.js file by changing the line var trivDebug = 0; to var trivDebug = 1; and then copy the file trivantisdebug.html from the support files folder located in the install directory into the published content folder. If you are using the 2008 version, you simply select the option located off the option tab that states, debug published content. If you are using an earlier version of Lectora and publishing out using the Java Title Manager, you need to go about the debug option differently. You need to add the following line, <param name='debug' value='yes'> above the <param name='content' value='contentframe'> in the a001titlemgr.html file, it will enable debugging in the Java console.
Q: How do I modify a variable to be equal to the value of another variable?
A: You would use an action setup as Modify Variable, select the variable you want to modify and for the value enter VAR(your variable name). For instance, if I want to modify the variable RunningPageCount to be equal to the variable PageInChapter, the action would be Modify Variable, RunningPageCount, the value set to VAR(PageInChapter) and the modification type set to Set variable contents.
Q: I am publishing to CD or single file executable and attempting to use the email test results option but nothing is being sent. Why is nothing being sent?
A: When using this option, you must have a MAPI compliant email client configured on your machine. The application will attempt to pass an email to the Outbox of the default email client. If this is not supported by your email client, then you need to use the submit to CGI option and write a script that will gather the data, place it in an email format and send it out on the server side.
Q: I am publishing to HTML/AICC/SCORM and attempting to use the email test results option but am receiving an error message that the email is not being sent. Why is this not working?
A: If you are publishing to html and want to submit the test results or a form submission, you need to have your server configured to do so. Here is what you need to have on the server end:
Q: When using the submit to CGI option, what URL do I place in the course?
A: If you are publishing the course to HTML, AICC or SCORM, then the script must be placed on the same server as the content, so you would enter the relative path from the course to the script. If you are publishing to CD or single file executable, then you would enter the full URL to the script.
Q: When you publish out HTML and are using the retain variables between sessions option, where do the variables get stored?
A: The variables will be stored in a cookie under the user’s profile that is currently logged in to the machine. If you are only using a single profile on the machine, then other users will pick up the values from the previous user.
Q: When I attempt to publish out, I get a message on every page of the course that states, there is a change contents action on this page with an invalid destination. However, there is no action on the page, so why am I getting this error?
A: Most likely this is from an action at the title level of the course. The most common cause of this is if you have the running page count option enabled for the course and you have either deleted the page count text block or disinherited the page count text block from the chapter or page and did not disinherit the actions that go along with it. This will cause the error you are seeing. You need to either delete the actions or disinherit the actions on the page or pages you do not want the page count displayed.
Q: Can you only use is passed and not passed conditions for tests? If so, does it pick up the minimum score from the test itself or the mastery score for the course?
A: This option can only be used with tests and the minimum score is picked up from the test itself, not the mastery score.