I spent a large portion of today tweaking the first of the tutorials. I wanted to input the new widget that generates the completion certificate. I also cleaned up some other things I had notes on for them and got the newest versions uploaded to the test server. The member of the web team I've been dealing with in getting them uploaded to the live server has been quite responsive and they were live in no time at all.
Unfortunately, later in the day I was plagued with more technology problems. Will they ever stop???? In this case, the new computer for my computer decided to malfunction, in a variety of ways. First, a (seemingly) random number of keys would throw the computer into sleep mode. Then various keys stopped responding. And then certain keys decided to just input themselves where ever. It was a nightmare.
Luckily, the one thing this household is not short on is random computer parts. I went out and scavenged a keyboard from the garage. I managed to download the appropriate installation software and drivers (for Vista 64 bit, even) and got it installed. I had a moment of panic when nothing happened when I depressed the keys but then I realized that since it was a wireless keyboard and it hasn't been used in over a year, it most likely needed new batteries. Two new batteries and I'm able to work again.
As I've said before, I am most ready for these technology issues to STOP!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Module 3: Basics of Database Searching
Well, despite numerous technical difficulties, after *many* hours spent over the past two weeks, I have recreated Module 3 and posted it online. I sent the request for it to go live this afternoon so it should be up by Monday.
On the plus side, the completion certificate widget works well, although there seems to be an issue printing it with the automatically generated print button. For some reason, using that button prints out a blank sheet. However, I added a notation on the page before the certificate, saying that if there were difficulties in printing it, to use the browser print button. Hopefully, that will alleviate any difficulties.
Also on the plus side, I managed to work in most of the comments and suggestions my husband had made when he previewed the last version (the one my computers ate) as I worked on this one. Consequently, there were only a couple of glitches and issues he had when he did the run through on the new version this morning. Of course, we'll see what the other librarians have to say after they've had a chance to view it.
On the plus side, the completion certificate widget works well, although there seems to be an issue printing it with the automatically generated print button. For some reason, using that button prints out a blank sheet. However, I added a notation on the page before the certificate, saying that if there were difficulties in printing it, to use the browser print button. Hopefully, that will alleviate any difficulties.
Also on the plus side, I managed to work in most of the comments and suggestions my husband had made when he previewed the last version (the one my computers ate) as I worked on this one. Consequently, there were only a couple of glitches and issues he had when he did the run through on the new version this morning. Of course, we'll see what the other librarians have to say after they've had a chance to view it.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Limited success
After several frustrating hours today (see yesterday's post about my microphone not working with Captivate 4 on my new computer), I recorded audio today on my laptop. And then was frustrated when the file wouldn't open on this computer. Several hours worth of Internet searching of help and support forums for both Windows Vista and Adobe Captivate, I discovered that the problem was that Captivate doesn't play nice with the 64 bit version of Windows. Which was (and is) extremely disheartening, seeing as how that's what my new computer is running.
However, I found a fix that at least gets me around *some* of the issues I've been having. Captivate will now at least acknowledge the project that I recorded the audio for today and actually play the sound files. It still won't let me edit them with Captivate but at least they're there and I can play them to set the timing for captions and graphics.
I really hope that the worst of these problems is over. All in all, it's been a very frustrating several weeks, with all the technology problems that have plagued this project.
However, I found a fix that at least gets me around *some* of the issues I've been having. Captivate will now at least acknowledge the project that I recorded the audio for today and actually play the sound files. It still won't let me edit them with Captivate but at least they're there and I can play them to set the timing for captions and graphics.
I really hope that the worst of these problems is over. All in all, it's been a very frustrating several weeks, with all the technology problems that have plagued this project.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Technology
Technology continues to conspire against me. I have a brand new computer, a brand new microphone, and an activated copy of Captivate 4. My computer acknowledges and responds to my new microphone. Captivate allows me to choose my microphone as the input source for audio but then refuses to respond to it. It won't bring up the window to calibrate the input nor does anything happen when I click on the record button in the Audio Record window. It's very frustrating.
There are days when I'm sure this project is never going to get done because I just keep hitting block wall after block wall. It's very difficult to maintain momentum and enthusiasm when you're being frustrated at every turn.
There are days when I'm sure this project is never going to get done because I just keep hitting block wall after block wall. It's very difficult to maintain momentum and enthusiasm when you're being frustrated at every turn.
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