September 27, 2019
Cannot View Interactive PDF after Trial Expires
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(6)
September 27, 2019
Cannot View Interactive PDF after Trial Expires
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(6)

I downloaded a trial version of Captivate a few months ago for a project at work. After I finished creating the training videos, I saved them each in .cptx and .pdf formats. I assumed that once the trial period ended I wouldn’t be able to open the .cptx files, which is true, BUT I can’t open the .pdf versions to see the finished product either. It says “This project has expired.”

Is there any way to view the files? Also, does that mean that anyone else who wanted to view the PDFs would need a Captivate license to see them?

6 Comments
2019-10-04 13:34:32
2019-10-04 13:34:32

I would be one to disagree on this.

I remember back when I ran into this. I was already a Captivate user – I did not need the trial as a way for me to find out if I liked it. I needed it to try and build a business case. I was trying to convince a new company that I was working for that this would be a good investment for them. So I downloaded the trial on my work computer and spent 30 days working in between other responsibilities to put together something of substance that would highlight the capabilities of the software and how the end products would benefit us as a company.

I needed a polished product that I could share with stakeholders at meetings – and one that they, in turn, could share in some of their higher level meetings. These types of meetings and decisions do not realistically fall within a pretty 30 day window. I can easily create something in 30 days – but I might need that thing to continue to function after it is published. This is the only product I have encountered so far that completely cripples the final deliverable which does not even require the software to view. I totally understand not being able to use the software after the trial. but completely cripple it…? Come on. Stakeholders understand watermarks and other items when viewing things made with a trial version but when there is absolutely nothing to share? Ouch.

Fortunately, in my case, as I said, I was already a Captivate user so I had access to another computer where I could open the project file and publish with a licensed copy.

For others – this could be very embarrassing indeed. I know I was very angry about it at the time and I actually had a solution to get around it.

It still makes me bristle.

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2019-09-30 17:52:01
2019-09-30 17:52:01

I guess I didn’t see the warning. If I get a licensed version of Captivate, can I import the files I modified when I was using the trial version? Is my work still saved in the .cptx files?

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dukes21355746
's comment
2019-09-30 18:20:06
2019-09-30 18:20:06
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dukes21355746
's comment

Yes, once the application is licensed, you can publish again and the output will be fine.

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Lieve Weymeis
's comment
2019-10-01 17:18:46
2019-10-01 17:18:46
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Lieve Weymeis
's comment

Thank you!

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dukes21355746
's comment
2019-10-01 22:48:49
2019-10-01 22:48:49
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dukes21355746
's comment

You’re welcome and success with Captivate!

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2019-09-28 08:40:49
2019-09-28 08:40:49

You have gotten a warning. Any published project, whatever the output format, will expire also after 30 days. Apparently you didn’t see or ignored that warning. Seems bit logical to me, but you may disagree.

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