Captivate 3 is a software package which is used to create demonstrations or interactive training videos for computer learning. It captures the screenshots and makes a video every screenshot generated by a mouse click or automatic screen change.

At the time of this writing the Adobe Captivate 3 software is only available for Windows. MAC users can view Captivate projects by using a web browser and Flash but the only way to install the application on a MAC is if you have Windows running on it through Apple Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop.

What’s in the box? The package contains 1 DVD and a Getting Started Guide (for installation only). The demos and all help reference materials are included within the install so no additional discs are required.

Installation is easy and you can be up and running quickly. You do need to make sure you have access to the My Documents folder during installation. For most people that is not an issue but if you are on a domain using folder redirection and a laptop without Offline files you will not be able to complete the install.

The “Welcome Screen” has references to last files opened, demonstrations and help files. When you choose to record a new project several options are available. Software simulation captures screen snapshots, Scenario Simulation creates scenario based training which reminds me of PowerPoint and the Other option allows you to create a blank project, import a project or import a PowerPoint presentation. I use the Software Simulation selection exclusively.

One “Hot Tip” I can recommend when selecting the recording type is to select both the demo and training options. If you decide to make one or the other you will not have to go back and capture the screenshots again.

Demonstration projects automatically place text boxes and helpful text ino tht slides as it records your movement. Although the text boxes may not be positioned properly, contain the desired text or time-lined correctly having them automatically inserted helps tremendously and with minimal editing you have an awesome end product. Training projects do the same thing only there are more text boxes because you will have a “success” text box or a “failure” text box for your interactive video. Yeah – that’s pretty cool.

To edit your project there is a timeline graph above the work area which breaks up the time of all screen captures. Slide length, mouse movement, text box display. highlighted area and audio can all be adjusted to transition smoothly without worrying about rerecording the section. Yes, I said audio. You can record with a mic for extra information or import music for background audio.

There are several formats you can save the project to. By default it is making a Flash file so it will easily save a .SWF file. You can select a standalone file, which is an executable and does not require any special software or reader on the computer playing the video. Save the file to a Word document … but it will take some manipulating to have it layout nice on the page with the screenshots and text. There are a few other options like email, FTP and Adobe Connect but I would not recommend using them directly from a project.

This program is very robust and I have just covered the surface on what you can do with it. The best thing about Adobe Captivate 3 is that it’s very intuitive and user friendly. Although it can do granular changes and video editing it is easy to learn and use … which I find very important since you are making demonstrations or training video and the software basically “leads by example”. 

Whether you are making demos or training videos for your company intranet, human resource department or just taking your documentation to the next level, this application will help you do it easily and professionally … without all the hard work.