After inserting an Engage Interaction into a presentation, I can't open it for editing by clicking on the "Edit in Engage" button on the placeholder slide. It tells me that it can't find the interaction; and that I should locate it myself. After finding the interaction file- the same error appears, telling me Engage can't locate the file I'm trying to edit. Even though I JUST found it.
It is much slower to go back to the application, make the edit and re-insert the interaction.
Are you working from a network drive perhaps? You'll want to follow these guidelines while working on your project, as working from a network drive or USB can cause erratic behavior. If you are working on your local drive, are you able to package your Presenter and Engage files to share with us here or by sending it to our Support team?
Articulate does not recommend hosting content on a local area network drive. This can cause unexpected issues according to Adobe and should be avoided: Problems using Adobe Flash authoring across local area networks. We are basically talking about limitations of Flash here. In spite of these limitations, I know that some users do work off a shared network drive. If you try this, you would want all of your files to be kept on the network drive, ie. your PowerPoint file, your Engage files and Quizmaker files and publish direct to the shared network. Mixing drives causes extra problems.
In this second thread from Brian, he shares that although he's seen users who have worked off their network drive, the reason's we suggest otherwise are:
In regards to developing content on a network drive, we recommend against it because there's too many variables that could corrupt the files. For example, if you're in the middle of a project and someone moves the files off the network, then this could corrupt the PPTA file. There are also some network drives that run maintenance (defragging, checking for viruses...) and there's no guarantee that your open files would be safe.
Finally, the first time that you open a project and use an Articulate function, the files from the PPTA file are being copied to your temporary folder on your local hard drive. When you're done with the project & close the file, we copy those files from your temporary folder and repackage the PPTA file. There are a few things that are happening here that you should be aware of:
1. Your project file will take longer to write than if your files were on your local hard drive 2. There's no guarantee that your network drive will be available when the files are repackaged 3. Directories to a network drive are typically a lot longer than directories on your local hard drive. Anytime you get over 256 characters for the directory and the target path, you can experience issues with how your files are linked together.
I also can't open an engage slide to edit it. I am using Studio 13 and power point 2007 with sp3 installed. When I click on the edit in engage button, it takes the tool bar ribbon to 'format picture'. I can open the engage slide separately ok to view it, but can't edit it.
Does the same thing happen if you open the interaction using just Engage, and not the Presenter ribbon in PowerPoint?
Have you tried creating a new, blank presentation with a new Engage interaction? If so, does the same thing happen, or does this only happen with a specific project?
Also, have you followed Ashley's earlier advice and ensured you're working with local project files?
I'm having a problem opening any Engage interaction from within PowerPoint 2010. I get a message that wants me to click to get the new Engage '13. So, I have to open Engage and make my edits and then republish to my presentation--Or open Engage, create a new interaction and then save and publish. It's really a hassle.
7 Replies
Hi Bill and welcome to Heroes!
Are you working from a network drive perhaps? You'll want to follow these guidelines while working on your project, as working from a network drive or USB can cause erratic behavior. If you are working on your local drive, are you able to package your Presenter and Engage files to share with us here or by sending it to our Support team?
I am working from a network drive… and our computers are set up to only write to a network, not the local hard drive.
Hi Bill,
It sounds like that is what may be causing the problem then, and why you're unable to find the file.
I wanted to point you to some archived threads about not working on a network drive and why that may be causing the issues you're experiencing.
In this first thread, Dave shares:
Articulate does not recommend hosting content on a local area network drive. This can cause unexpected issues according to Adobe and should be avoided: Problems using Adobe Flash authoring across local area networks. We are basically talking about limitations of Flash here.
In spite of these limitations, I know that some users do work off a shared network drive. If you try this, you would want all of your files to be kept on the network drive, ie. your PowerPoint file, your Engage files and Quizmaker files and publish direct to the shared network. Mixing drives causes extra problems.
In this second thread from Brian, he shares that although he's seen users who have worked off their network drive, the reason's we suggest otherwise are:
In regards to developing content on a network drive, we recommend against it because there's too many variables that could corrupt the files. For example, if you're in the middle of a project and someone moves the files off the network, then this could corrupt the PPTA file. There are also some network drives that run maintenance (defragging, checking for viruses...) and there's no guarantee that your open files would be safe.
Finally, the first time that you open a project and use an Articulate function, the files from the PPTA file are being copied to your temporary folder on your local hard drive. When you're done with the project & close the file, we copy those files from your temporary folder and repackage the PPTA file. There are a few things that are happening here that you should be aware of:
1. Your project file will take longer to write than if your files were on your local hard drive
2. There's no guarantee that your network drive will be available when the files are repackaged
3. Directories to a network drive are typically a lot longer than directories on your local hard drive. Anytime you get over 256 characters for the directory and the target path, you can experience issues with how your files are linked together.
I also can't open an engage slide to edit it. I am using Studio 13 and power point 2007 with sp3 installed. When I click on the edit in engage button, it takes the tool bar ribbon to 'format picture'. I can open the engage slide separately ok to view it, but can't edit it.
Hi Carolyn,
Does the same thing happen if you open the interaction using just Engage, and not the Presenter ribbon in PowerPoint?
Have you tried creating a new, blank presentation with a new Engage interaction? If so, does the same thing happen, or does this only happen with a specific project?
Also, have you followed Ashley's earlier advice and ensured you're working with local project files?
Thanks!
I'm having a problem opening any Engage interaction from within PowerPoint 2010. I get a message that wants me to click to get the new Engage '13. So, I have to open Engage and make my edits and then republish to my presentation--Or open Engage, create a new interaction and then save and publish. It's really a hassle.
Hi Gayla,
I'm not seeing that with my installation of Studio '09. Have you had Studio '13 installed on the machine, maybe for the free trial?
What happens if you click "Cancel" on that prompt? Does it just return you to the "Quizzes and Interactions" window?
Also, what happens if you click the "Edit in Engage" option (should be under the list in that window) - do you get the same pop-up?
Thanks!
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