Quick Tips for Authorware
Here are some fast and friendly tips for Authorware users, courtesy of Macromedia Technical Support.
Skillful use of transitions can dramatize information, give greater impact, and enhance the overall aesthetics. Transitions can also help the rhythm and pacing of the piece and orient a user. For example, you can use a subtle transition when moving from page to page and a more dramatic transition when moving from section to section.
When you place a sprite Xtra in the Xtras folder and then start Authorware, the Xtra file adds a command to the Insert menu. For example, the QuickDraw 3D Xtra adds the command ThreeD to the Insert Menu.
To import or play back PICT image files on a Windows computer, you must have Quicktime 4.0 for Windows installed.
Windows DLLs (dynamic link libraries) provide a way of linking to external functions that you call from within calculation icons.
You can use the Direct to Screen check box to put an internal digital movie that uses Opaque mode in front of all other objects regardless of the layer setting for any other object. External linked digital movies always play direct to screen and are always in Opaque mode.
Authorware 5 Attain has embedded support for the Flash standard, so you can include vector animation in your courses.
You can attach a calculation icon to any other icon. Just select the icon and press CTRL +.
When using the Animated GIF Asset, you must copy awiml32.DLL and msvcrt.DLL from the
Authorware 5 folder to the folder that your packaged Authorware file is in.
Linked movies in the QuickTime Asset and Flash Asset icons will not show in the External Media Browser.
Unless you specify a layer in the movie icon, it will always take the icon you are animating into layer 1.
When animating multiple icons with separate move icons, set each move icon to a different layer to increase performance.
The Authorware Web Player can be distributed free of charge by simply completing an online Distribution Agreement, located in the Authorware Support Center.
Authorware libraries and the external media browser allow authors to separate application content from logic and still keep track of their files.
Authorware provides the ability to perform full text search and retrieval on any text within an application.
You can use the Hyperlink feature to link text, graphics, sound, digital video, or other locations in the application.
Authors can now change multiple properties across multiple icons in a single step by using the Batch property editing.
When using the Quiz Knowledge Object, make sure the WinAPI.u32 is included in your project folder.
Some Knowledge Objects will use other Xtras. Make sure these are included in your Xtras folder when distributing.
With Number Lock off, you can use the keypad as the control panel. Check you documentation for the controls.
The AWARE list is a great place to post development questions. You can find it at
www.e-media.nl/aware When packaging with the Mac, use the Xtras folder included with the packager.
To specify multiple search paths, separate the names with semicolons. For example, the following path searches the root level of a hard drive named Main and then searches the A5W directory of a mounted file server named "Group": Main\; Group\A5W
Packaging a piece converts it to the format you distribute. You don't need Authorware to run a packaged piece, but you do need a run-time application to play it. The run-time application can be distributed separately from the piece, or it can be part of the packaged piece.
You can package any linked media internally except digital movies. All graphics that Authorware embeds during packaging retain their original file formats.
To display the content of more then one icon: First, double-click the first icon to open it. Then, Shift-double-click subsequent icons.
The framework icon provides an easy way to set up navigation in an Authorware piece. A set of navigation controls is built into the framework icon so that users can move among the icons you've attached to it.
The new minimal Authorware Web Player reduces the player footprint by 80% (to less than 800KB), and will play all Authorware 5.0/5.1 applications.
When you package make sure to include any Xtras that you used in a folder called "Xtras". This folder needs to be a subdirectory of your packaged AW file.
Knowledge Stream is intelligent streaming that predictively and adaptively pre-loads the segments of a Web Package file.
Use the Trace function in conjunction with the Control Panel to troubleshoot problems with the project's navigation structure.
If the Director movie you want to play in Authorware only contains animation, you can export from Director as BMP or PICS, and store it INTERNAL to Authorware's movie icon.
Authorware 5 takes full advantage of graphics with an alpha channel. An alpha channel is an effect that creates a variable transparency in an image that allows you to blend it with whatever images are behind it.
