Authorware Frequently Asked Questions

In this area, answers are posted to selected Authorware questions that have been posted on the AWARE list (see our Links screen), that have been answered in the author's Authorware classes, or that clients have asked.

Questions when Working in Your Authorware File

Using the presentation window

1000 - Is there something in Authorware like UPDATESTAGE in Director?
1013 - How can I create a simple alert box?
1023 - How can I get a radio button to move with the scrolling graphic it is on top of?
1062 - Can I change the position of my object inside a display icon dynamically?
1075 - How do I get rid of Word formatting when pasting into Authorware?
1082 - What is the script to make sure the presentation window is centered, no mattter what the screen resolution is?
1093 - Why can't I select the text tool in my Display icon?
B1001 - How do I set up a secure password entry system?
B1002 - Is it possible to have text scroll by in a window like a ticker tape?
B1003 - How can I display the time and have it continually update in real time?
B1004 - How can I show a running minutes:seconds digital clock?
B1005 - How can I use Authorware variables and functions to create a pie chart?
B1006 - How do I make a box on the screen shrink and grow?
B1007 - How do I make my window height really small?
B1008 - How do I position an object on the screen by pixel position?
B1009 - How do I make sure everything stays centered no matter what my resolution?
B1010 - How do I show a properly formatted real-time clock?
B1011 - How do I create a text variable that will allow quotes to show up?
B1012 - How do I show an alpha symbol on a button?
B1013 - How do I change which external file will be shown through a variable?
B1014 - Why does the title bar show up when it shouldn't?
B1015 - How do I display good miniature screen shots?
B1016 - How do I make my own zooming effect?
B1017 - How do I change the title bar text?
B1018 - How do I resize the Flash animation once I've imported it?
B1019 - How do I make sure the presentation window has finished updating before moving on?
B1020 - How do I make sure my Authorware presentation will work on different size monitors?
B1021 - How do I use math symbols in my text?
B1022 - How do I show a countdown timer?

Creating interactions

1003 - Why are the internal Authorware variables returning the wrong values in an interaction?
1016 - How can I control if a button is active or not?
1043 - Can I use the Active If field so a button displays only if the contents of a specific Display Icon is shown?
1045 - How do I turn caps lock on for a text entry response field?
1052 - How can I create a simple popup glossary?
1074 - How do I set up a target area response with a video on the screen?
1077 - How do I set up two hot spots with the same feedback?
1081 - How do I mimic a button rollover with hot spots?
1088 - How do I make two buttons mutually exclusive?
1091 - How do I position the cursor in a preset text entry field?
1092 - How do I set up scrolling selectable lists?
B2001 - How do I change the speed of the "Put Back" Target Area option?
B2002 - How do I differentiate between a user single click and a double click?
B2003 - How do I make an Exit option available in ALL my frameworks?
B2004 - I would like to know the text on the line the user clicks. How?
B2005 - How do I stop text in a text entry field from being prehighlighted?
B2006 - How do I make a text's color change when the user moves the cursor over it?
B2007 - How do I make an object follow the cursor without the user first clicking it?
B2008 - How do I force a text entry's input to be all capital letters?
B2009 - How do I show the right answer inside the text entry field?
B2010 - How do I make a multiple choice question when the user must click two responses?
B2011 - How do I change the action key for a text entry response?
B2012 - How do I generate two random numbers and ask the user to add them?
B2013 - What do I need to keep in mind when a touch screen is used for student interaction?
B2014 - How do I change the color of the text in my buttons?
B2015 - How do I play a sound on a Target Area put back option?
B2016 - How do the different interaction timer options work?
B2017 - Is there a way I can make a Flash object as a hot object?
B2018 - How do I know which was the last character the user clicked?
B2019 - How do I make a dynamic button?
B2020 - How can I turn a button on and off whenever I wish?
B2021 - Why doesn't the CapsLock key work when I want to accept a shifted arrow key for student input?
B2022 - How do I turn off the Checked state for all the buttons in my file all at once?
B2023 - How can I check for more than one answer in a fill-in-the-blank?

Using audio

1040 - How can I play two sounds at the same time?
1068 - When is the vct32161.dll file needed?
1080 - Oops, button sounds are interfering with other sounds. What do I do?
B3001 - How do I stop a Sound icon when it is playing?
B3002 - How do I have background audio run continuously?
B3003 - How do I play external sounds in Authorware before version 4?
B3004 - Why do my subroutine sounds stop playing before they should?
B3005 - How do I play MIDI files in my application?
B3006 - How do I set up an event to happen at the end of a sound playing?

Using video

1007 - Why don’t my AVI files play?
1019 - How can I play a movie after a half second pause?
1072 - Can't I autostart a QT movie that has a controller bar?
1073 - Why does my video skip so badly when compressed?
B4001 - My Quicktime movie is covering up too much. What to do?
B4002 - I can't resize my ActiveMovie window! What do I do?
B4003 - Why is my video not showing but the video's audio track is playing?
B4004 - How can I get transparent backgrounds in FLC movies?
B4005 - Why can't I insert my QuickTime movie?
B4006 - How do I run a video that is in a Directory 7 .exe file?

Jumping and interacting with other files

1026 - How can I run Authorware and another app at the same time, and have a user interact with both?
1032 - How can I jump to a Word doc from inside a piece?
1038 - How can I have a link to an external mail client inside my application?
1079 - Can I jump between an a6p packaged file to a5p packaged files?
1090 - How do I call an external PowerPoint file?
B5001 - How do I jump to a specific icon in a different file?
B5002 - How do I allow the user to type a page name and then jump to it?
B5003 - How do I have the user type a page number instead, then jump to it?
B5004 - How do I make an Authorware file wait during a JumpOutReturn?
B5005 - Why isn't my records location working when I jump to another file?
B5006 - How can I set up a jump menu from a text file?
B5007 - How can I get text from the clipboard loaded into a variable?
B5008 - How can I have Authorware read the Windows registry?
B5009 - Why does it not work when I try to concatenate the FileLocation variable?
B5010 - How do I pass variables with JumpFileReturn?
B5011 - How do I print a text file correctly with JumpPrintReturn?
B5012 - How do I make sure write.exe is closed before I call it with JumpOutReturn?
B5013 - How do I search through several files for a target string?
B5014 - Should I jump to Notepad or Wordpad?
B5015 - Why are my file path names not working! [The dangers of backslashes!]
B5016 - How do I get the external FTP functions to work?
B5017 - How do I manipulate external files so that they're not easily seen by users?
B5018 - How do I search my hard drive for a specific folder?
B5019 - How do I delete the last line of an external text file?

Using specific functions

1002 - How do I use the array function?
1012 - How can I track if an icon is being dragged?
1014 - Tell me about the goto?
1034 - Why wont HotTextClicked trigger?
1042 - Can I use EvalAssign in an Icon Title?
1046 - How can I have quiz results emailed to my students or myself?
1047 - Why doesn’t my Test() not work off a CD?
1048 - What exactally does GetIconContents do?
1051 - Is there a way to set the seed number for the random number generator?
1053 - How do I read data from a text file?
1063 - Can 10 lists can be sorted using SortByValue?
1065 - How can I prevent users from closing my program?
1071 - Why isn't SetIconProperty working in packaged mode?
1096 - Accessibility Kit: How do I tell when a piece of text has stopped being spoken?
B6001 - Why is Eval not working for me?
B6002 - How do I change button text in real time?
B6003 - Why is there overlap between the CMI functions and variables?
B6004 - How do I use the CallSprite function?
B6005 - What are the three ways to reference icons with DisplayIcon?
B6006 - Why isn't SetPostPoint working in packaged mode? What can I do?

Using linear lists and property lists

1001 - How can I use lists to track simple test questions and responses?
1024 - Why do list assignments work the way they do?
1060 - How can I track a users performance on a test?
1061 - How can I restore a list from an external file?
1089 - How do I convert a comma-delimited string to a linear list?
1095 - How do I turn a list of field names into a property list?
B7001 - How can I keep track of a user's entries in a form? [includes a short discussion of lists and property lists]
B7002 - How can I dynamically track the location of a button [includes more on property lists!]
B7003 - How do I convert a property list to a linear list?
B7004 - How do I convert a Tab/Return delimited string to a 2D list?
B7005 - How are the Rect functions used?
B7006 - How do I add a property to a property list from a variable?
B7007 - How do I set up a multidimensional array?
B7008 - What is the purpose of property lists? [Part 1]
B7009 - What is the purpose of property lists? [Part 2]
B7010 - How do I get the Max function to return the real value?
B7011 - Why do funny things happen when I append a string to a list?
B7012 - How can I set up different languages [using lists and property lists]?

Scripting (when not covered in other sections)

1015 - How can I find location that windows is installed?
1021 - How can I find a folder on the users computer, using only an Authorware script?
1022 - How can I delete the last line of an external file?
1027 - What’s the deal with backslashes in Authorware?
1031 - How can I count all occurrences of a letter in an external file?
1033 - How can I send double quotes via a query string?
1039 - How can I figure out what section of my course the user is in after they jump from one section to another?
1067 - How can I create a Case/Select/Switch statement inside a calc icon in Authorware?
1069 - Why would I ever use SystemSeconds?
1070 - I don't understand repeat loops. Help!
1078 - How do expression shortcuts work? They look cool, but I don't get it.
1086 - What does "\"" mean?
1087 - What can I do if my file stops working after my computer crashes?
B8001 - How do I find out on which line number a string of text is found?
B8002 - How do I tell the name of the CD-ROM on a Macintosh?
B8003 - How do I tell the letter of the CD-ROM in Windows?
B8004 - How do I have some code execute every time the user changes Framework pages?
B8005 - How can I ensure that the date the end user has entered is valid?
B8006 - I'm confused when comparing strings and numbers. Can you help?
B8007 - How can I give the user a button to navigate to the highest page seen?
B8008 - How can I capture the Framework icon's name when jumping to one of its pages?
B8009 - How do I pause inside a Repeat loop?
B8010 - How do I make the ImportMedia function work?
B8011 - Why is Authorware not finding the external Help file I'm trying to access?

General Authorware Questions

Common questions

1004 - How can I determine the local time relative to where a piece is running?
1005 - How can I calculate the correct time for an area that is different from the local time?
1006 - What installer should I use?
1008 - What is the minimum window size for a packaged Authorware project?
1009 - Why does my reference to a specific IconTitle not work?
1010 - Why does my piece dock in the top left corner when I have it set to full screen?
1011 - How does cover.u32 work?
1020 - Why did my file suddenly stop working?
1025 - How can I insure that graphics and sounds that were developed to be in sync are in sync on a target machine?
1028 - What can I do if my file stops working after my computer crashes?
1029 - What can I do if I get an error saying the file is read only?
1030 - How can I reformat the date from 2000-12-18 to 12/18/00?
1035 - How do the active if field of buttons work?
1036 - What can I do if I get an Error of Computer memory is full?
1037 - Is there a way to make a splash screen while an application loads?
1041 - How can I change the date format?
1044 - Why do my attempts to make the background of an image not transfer to Authorware?
1049 - Why do I get an error that says "The filename format is incorrect, … long filenames are not supported ..."?
1050 - What should I do to ensure a pieces' multi-language support?
1054 - What is the best program?
1066 - How can I embed a variable in a string?
1094 - How do I turn off the automatic KO box?
C1001 - I have a corrupt icon I can't delete! What do I do instead?
C1002 - How do I prevent some pages from being searched upon by users?
C1003 - Why is my screen not updating when I'm using a Repeat loop?
C1004 - How do I change a button font or color?
C1005 - How do I set up a cross-platform floating dialog box?
C1006 - How do I search on embedded Display variables?
C1007 - How do I know how many icons I have in my file?
C1008 - Authorware says all of our fonts are different, but they're not! What to do?
C1009 - Why does my computer self-destruct when I use Repeat...While?
C1010 - How do I make sure each icon title is unique and why should I care?
C1011 - I'm using a Decision icon. How do I reset it in my file?
C1012 - Why aren't there more Authorware web-enabled sites on the Web? Where can I find help?
C1013 - Is there an Xtra for File I/O in Authorware as in Director?
C1014 - My Framework Calculation ornament is not working. Why?
C1015 - Why doesn't my file decrease in size if I use small GIFs instead of big BMPs?
C1016 - Why does my system hang when I save and compact or package?
C1017 - Why does Authorware sometimes say an icon doesn't exist when I refer to it with the @ symbol?
C1018 - What is the significance of the default filenames checkbox when packaging?
C1019 - Why doesn't my Authorware application fill my laptop screen?
C1020 - Why can't I save my Authorware file?

Publishing files

1057 - Why does my animated GIF not play when the piece is packaged?
1058 - How can I make sure that I can deliver over a LAN that restricts package size?
1064 - Why is AW6 publishing unused U32s?
1076 - Is my published file so much bigger than my source because of button sounds?
1084 - How do I set my web site to be trusted so users don't have to see the Security Dialog box?
C2001 - Why are my Xtras not working in packaged mode?
C2002 - How do I get rid of the closing Made with Macromedia screen?
C2003 - How do I find large media elements in my file to prepare for web delivery?
C2004 - How do I cover the screen and use auto run? (2 questions)
C2005 - Why does my external media get loaded so slowly in my packaged files?
C2006 - Why does my packaged file start so slowly?
C2007 - Why does my packaged file start so slowly? [another]
C2008 - Why does my packaged file RUN so slowly?
C2009 - Why is my custom Continue button not working in packaged mode?
C2010 - My GIF images don't show up in packaged mode. What do I do?
C2011 - Why is my button not working in packaged mode?
C2012 - How do I make my site trusted for web-packaged files without asking the end user?
C2013 - How can I change external media files to a local folder from inside a web-packaged file?

Using libraries

1056 - How can I share libraries with other developers?
1085 - How can I use libraries to deliver a course in two languages?
C3001 - Why doesn't my library decrease in size after I delete part of it?
C3002 - How do I disassociate a library from an Authorware file?
C3003 - When packaging library icons, what is included?
C3004 - What happens when I update my library links?
C3005 - Why are my library links disappearing?

Thinking ahead and thinking back

1017 - Is there an easy way to get rid of a large number of variables at once?
1018 - Will a piece import graphics from a library that it doesn’t use?
1059 - Can I set Icons to have certain properties by default?
C4001 - Any precautions when setting up an application for different languages?
C4002 - How can I get the source back from a packaged file in 3.0 or later?
C4003 - How do I avoid palette problems?
C4004 - How do I reduce screen shots so that they still look good?

Other Questions

General multimedia and CBT questions