Customer Reviews

Essentials of Adobe Captivate 3

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This is the 2nd book by Kevin Siegel about Adobe Captivate that I have purchased. I'm a former teacher and have been a trainer and writer in the computer software industry for 25 years.

Regardless of the merits of any software package, there is always a learning curve for a new user. And some software companies provide better user aides and tutorials than others.

While Adobe does provide some videos and comprehensive help files, the sheer breadth and depth of the Captivate 3 product can make learning daunting, especially for a new user who doesn't have experience with the previous versions.

Kevin's learning guide takes an educationally sound approach to helping you learn the software, beginning with a simple tour, stepping you through the features and functions, offering plenty of practice opportunities, and culminating in advanced features. A CD with files to use during your learning journey is included.

While it takes time and effort to work through the manual, if you decide to follow it from beginning to end, you will be rewarded with a great overview of the software capabilities, and lots of practice experience with Captivate 3 along the way.

As far as I know, "Essentials of Adobe Captivate 3" is the only training manual out there on using this version of the product. The good news is that it's an excellent manual. I've been a trainer for many years, and struggled through my share of manuals that leave out steps, or assume the student can read the author's mind as to what he or she should do next. IconLogic Kevin Siegel's approach is clear, detailed, and truly step-by-step, while not insulting your intelligence. You should plan to devote a couple of days to going through this manual, but when you are done, you'll have a good, basic grasp of Captivate. No, you won't be an "expert," but you'll know enough to begin finding your own answers to the more complex aspects of Captivate.

There was a negative, misleading review posted that depicted the manual as focusing too much on e-learning concepts to the detriment of the technical side of Captivate. The fact is that there are TWO Captivate manuals put out by IconLogic. The one we are reviewing here is 90% Captivate step-by-step, with the remainder mingled seamlessly and, I think, indispensably, with the concepts behind a successful e-learning module. The OTHER manual, "Adobe Captivate 3: Script Writing and Production Guide" is, in keeping with its clearly stated purpose, devoted to the concepts and steps behind producing successful e-learning content, including an "overlook at your own peril" section on the necessary writing/grammar skills. One final note on "Essentials of Adobe Captivate 3"--it comes with a disk containing data files on all the lessons that actually matches the written steps in the manual.

I appreciated the personal touch Kevin added to his Captivate 3 training manual and associated tutorial. It really felt more like I was learning from a fun local sage than some boring college professor's lecture. Although a Trainer, I wouldn't say that I learn as fast as other people, and I felt that the structure of this Captivate manual allowed me a little flexibility in taking the "course" at my own pace so as not to miss out on anything important. I'm now creating Captivate projects left and right with confidence and a degree of professionalism, only weeks after finishing the manual. A must-have, if you plan to use Captivate 3.

I have a very short attention span and low frustration level when it comes to learning new software, but not this time! The exercises and friendly writing style made all the difference in the world. I actually spent the past two days working through all of the exercises without being bored or frustrated once. That is truly amazing!

I am glad that SOMEONE has come out with a tutorial for Captivate 3. Kudos for that. Unfortunately I found this book to be much less about the software and more about the thought process behind creating a good tutorial. I am using Captivate 3 (as opposed to Camtasia) BECAUSE I already know how to create a good tutorial I need something that will truly get to the heart of the "Essentials of Adobe Captivate 3". I did not find this set of books very helpful.

This book is great for getting you up and running in about 2 days if you have time to go straight through and a week if you don't. It is certainly better than what Adobe provides as help. Expect it to be a quick "how to" book and not one that will provide you with much explanation about what you are doing. The book leads you though one method and then asks you to do some alternatives as very guided exercises. If what you are actually trying to get accomplished is in the exercise section, you will never know the reason behind what it is that you've done. For example, I wanted to make some training as standalone and some as available on the web and there was almost nil explanation about how to do it or what to do after the files or folders were made. I expect that this book would be good to get going quickly but you really need something with more depth if you are using Captivate regularly. I would recommend that a working group buy one copy to get people up to speed but it would have limited use as a reference after that.

The Essentials of Adobe Captivate 3 is a great book for anyone that needs a little help getting on the right start with using Adobe Captivate. The book is made in a spiral bound format making it very simple and easy to use while sitting at your computer. The great part about the book is that the index is very well written making it simple to quickly reference a part of Captivate you need help with.

I worked through the Adobe Captivate manual and another independently-published book. I expected that I would have to take a two-day "hands on" course, which would cost over $1,000. But once I read "Essentials," I was able to work very effectively with Captivate. I have to congratulate Kevin Siegel. Rather than a pure "how to" book, I got a much better "feel" for Captivate. In fact, I think that this book is one of the finest books that I have ever read on any software

This is a workbook that takes you through all of the topics that you need to get up and running with Adobe Captivate 3.0. I read it (really, I worked through it) in one week, which is fast for me. If you work through it, you will, along the way, use the most frequently used commands. It builds upon the earlier chapters, so by the end, you would be very familiar with the core commands. I like the book, and I like Captivate 3.0.

The title says it all. This book helped make me a Captivate fan but also a Kevin A. Siegel fan.

The book quickly walks you through the essential skills that you will need to create effective e-learning.

I am new to e-learning and I am new to Captivate. This was the first book on the market for Captivate 3. I was looking for a replacement for Authorware. I discovered Captivate 3 had just been released and I need a book that would get me upto speed fast. I found out about it by reading the blog of an Adobe Captivate 3 production executive. I ordered it before is was available and wait anxiously for it's arrival.

Now I am sold on Kevin A. Siegels "Skills and Drills" series and methods.

Mind you, it's not the everything book, and it's not intended to be. It has a specific purpose and it accomplishes it perfectly.

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