📋 Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
Everything you reach for mid-build, on one page: which tool to use, the three simulation modes, where each publish format fits, an accessibility pass, the common components, what the badges mean, and the workflow loop. Keep it open in a tab while you author.
📚 What's On This Sheet
Seven scannable sections that condense the whole course into decisions and lists. Everything cost- or
version-related is badged, and we never quote prices — for current plans and limits, check
adobe.com/products/captivate. Each section links back to the lesson that teaches it in full.
In This Lesson
1. All-New vs Classic — Decision Guide
Default to the all-new Adobe Captivate All-New for anything new. Reach for Captivate Classic Classic when a project needs a Classic-only feature today, or when you inherit an existing file. One subscription unlocks both, so it's never either/or forever.
| Your situation | Use this tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting any brand-new course | All-New | Modern, faster to build, and the direction Adobe is investing in. |
| Course must look right on phone, tablet & desktop | All-New | Responsive by default — components reflow automatically. |
You inherit a .cptx project |
Classic | That format opens in Classic. (Classic-project import into the all-new tool is arriving — check your version.) |
| You need fluid boxes, deep variables, or advanced/conditional actions today | Classic | These power features live in Classic for now. |
| You need VR / 360°, PowerPoint import, or large random question pools | Classic | Classic-only capabilities at the time of writing. |
| Your team's standard or an existing library requires it | Classic | Fit the shared workflow — consistency beats novelty. |
| Authoring on a Mac | Either Win + Mac | Both run natively on Windows and macOS — no virtual machine needed. |
💡 Trend to remember: Adobe keeps moving Classic's power into the all-new tool release by release, so re-check what the current version can do before assuming you need Classic. Full detail in Lesson 3.
2. The Three Simulation Modes
Record a task once, then Captivate can generate all three modes from that single recording — a progression from watching, to guided practice, to a graded test. Built in Lesson 11.
| Mode | The learner… | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| View (Demonstration) | Watches the software being used, guided by highlights and captions. | A first look — show me how. |
| Try (Training) | Does the task themselves, with hints and prompts if they get stuck. | Practice — let me try, with a safety net. |
| Test (Assessment) | Performs the task unaided and is scored. | Proof — show that they can do it. |
3. Publish-Formats Map
How you publish depends on where learners will take the course and what you need to track. Learners never need a Captivate subscription — only authors do. Full walkthrough in Lesson 15. All-New
| Format | What it is | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| HTML5 | Plain web output that plays in a modern browser on any device. | Hosting on a website or sharing a link — no LMS or tracking needed. |
| SCORM 1.2 | The simplest, most widely supported LMS package. | Most LMSes, when you need reliable completion and score tracking. |
| SCORM 2004 | A newer SCORM with finer sequencing and richer completion status. | When your LMS supports it and you need more precise status or navigation rules. |
| xAPI (Tin Can) | A flexible standard that records learning experiences to a Learning Record Store. | Tracking richer or off-LMS activity, or modern analytics. |
| AICC / cmi5 | An older LMS standard (AICC) and a modern xAPI profile for launching & reporting (cmi5). | Legacy systems (AICC) or newer xAPI-based LMS launch rules (cmi5) — check what your LMS wants. |
💡 Not sure which? If it's going to an LMS, ask the LMS admin which standard it prefers (often SCORM 1.2). If it's going to the open web, publish HTML5. Test the package before you hand it off.
4. Accessibility Checklist
Run this pass on every course — it's the law in many contexts (WCAG, Section 508), it's the right thing to do, and it makes courses better for everyone. Taught in full in Lesson 14.
✅ Before You Publish, Confirm…
- Alt text — every meaningful image and component has a short, accurate description; decorative-only items are marked as such.
- Color contrast — text stands out clearly from its background; color is never the only way you signal meaning.
- Keyboard & tab order — the whole course works without a mouse, and focus moves through elements in a logical order.
- Captions & transcripts — audio and video have synced captions, and key audio has a transcript.
- Headings & structure — content uses a clear, logical heading order that a screen reader can navigate.
- Accessible interactions & quizzes — buttons, hotspots, and questions are reachable, labeled, and operable by keyboard and screen reader.
- Test it — tab through the course and try a screen reader before you call it done.
5. Component / Block Quick List
In the all-new Captivate you build slides from components (blocks). Add them from the toolbar (Components), then style each one in the Visual Properties panel. The common ones: All-New
| Component | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Text | Headings, body copy, labels — styled from theme text styles. |
| Image | Photos, illustrations, screenshots, diagrams (remember alt text). |
| Shape | Boxes, dividers, backgrounds, callouts, simple buttons. |
| Button | Navigation and actions; give it Normal / Hover / Visited states. |
| Audio | Narration, background audio, or per-object sound. |
| Video | Standard video, or interactive video with overlays and questions. |
| Character | Illustrated or photographic people to add relatability. |
| Interaction / Widget | Accordions, tabs, click-to-reveal, drag-and-drop and similar. |
| Quiz | Question items — multiple choice, true/false, matching, hotspot, and more. |
💡 Reminder: Components stack and reflow, which is what makes the course responsive. Learn the model in Lesson 5.
6. The Honesty Map (Badge Legend)
Throughout the course, these badges flag which version a feature belongs to, what it costs, and where it runs — so nothing surprises you. We deliberately never quote prices or hard limits, because Adobe changes them often and they differ by region. For anything current, go to the source: adobe.com/products/captivate.
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Trial / Paid | Needs an active trial or subscription to author. Captivate has no permanent free tier, but a full 30-day free trial includes both Captivates. Learners who take a published course never need a subscription. |
| All-New | A feature of the modern, responsive, block-based all-new Adobe Captivate. |
| Classic | A feature that lives in Captivate Classic today — such as fluid boxes, advanced/conditional actions, VR/360, PowerPoint import, or random question pools. |
| Add-on / Metered | Billed separately or consumed by usage — for example generative-AI credits. Check Adobe's current page for what's included. |
| Win + Mac | Runs natively on both Windows and macOS — a genuine advantage over Windows-only rivals. |
7. Project Workflow
Real projects loop rather than run in a straight line: you plan, build, get feedback, revise, publish, and then maintain the course as things change. Keep dated version copies as you go. Detailed in Lesson 21.
audience, objectives, storyboard"] --> B["🛠️ Build
slides, components, media"] B --> C["👀 Review
share, collect feedback"] C --> D["✏️ Revise
act on the feedback"] D --> E["🚀 Publish
HTML5 / SCORM / xAPI"] E --> F["🔧 Maintain
update, localize, re-version"] F -->|next update| A style A fill:#bbf7d0,color:#1e293b style B fill:#bfdbfe,color:#1e293b style C fill:#fde68a,color:#1e293b style D fill:#fed7aa,color:#1e293b style E fill:#c7d2fe,color:#1e293b style F fill:#f1f5f9,color:#1e293b
The production loop: plan, build, review, revise, publish, and maintain — then round again for the next update.
🌟 Keep This Handy
Bookmark this sheet and the Glossary — together they're the fastest way to unstick yourself mid-build without leaving your project.