With Flash disappearing in 2020, I have been reading about publishing courses in HTML instead of SCORM 2004 or SCORM 2.0. Without the HTML export, though, there are still Flash objects. Will my courses still run smoothly without Flash if I choose the web/HTML export option?
You can feel good about publishing for HTML5-only in both your Web and LMS outputs. We support viewing Storyline 360 HTML5 output in all major browsers, so your learners will have a great experience on almost every device.
If you're seeing any issues, please let me know, and we'll work toward a solution!
I have a question about this same issue. We are having MANY problems with our courses functioning. We tell people to update their browsers to allow flash and to whitelist our LMS website. Sometimes that helps.
We are publishing AICC, but could switch to a SCORM file. Our LMS is clunky - SuccessFactors. We can't publish to HTML5 only because a lot of our users are using an old version of ie and it won't run HTML5. Or at least that's what we've been told.
Do you know of a solution that will ensure our courses will function in old versions of ie and on Chrome?
For the original post, it's still OK to publish to SCORM. The HTML5 output is independent of the packaging type (Web, SCORM). The publish setting you're looking for to go with something other than Flash is the publish formats. You can publish HTML5 only (should contain no Flash objects), HTML5/Flash (will default to HTML5 and fall back to Flash), Flash / HTML5 (Defaults Flash and falls back to HTML5) or Flash only.
If you select HTML5/Flash, the course should still run on the older versions as a fallback. In older versions of IE, the course should detect on launch that the HTML5 version isn't supported and go ahead and play the Flash version automatically.
Steve, just to clarify...right now I am literally opening up every storyline file I have to see what I last published as we used to do flash/HTML 5 and then went to HTML 5/Flash. Our LMS works best in Chrome, so when Flash goes away, if I publish all of my files today to HTML5/flash it should be fine because it will do HTML 5 first...or do I eventualy have to select HTML5 only. Literally sitting here with a huge spreadsheet going through them all.
The files should work in future browsers. The only alibi that you may run into is if your organization, at some point, prohibits the presence of Flash files on the server. I wouldn't expect this to be an issue but you never know.
Publishing to HTML5/Flash will make your files act like they were published as HTML5 only if Flash isn't present. This configuration tends to be best when users could access content using really old browsers (IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9, etc..)
Thanks for the quick response. we definitely have some old browser issues..I just don't want to switch to HTML5 only when i know old browsers are out there...so hoping this publishing version will be okay in the future. We do get issues not of blocked for flash and then we have to allow the website, we are in healthcare and a little behind when it comes to technology...
Interesting...I wouldn't have thought that would be beneficial, as we would want the system to look for HTML5 first....and when Flash goes I would worry it would search and error before going to HTML5, but I could totally be missing the point LOL!
Just to add on is there an easy way to tell (sorry if this is obvious question) if a Flash object is present in your elearning. Also, can you explain above the difference if I change the setting to Flash first than HTML 5, see my concern in my previous post.
This article covers the differences between the publishing options. It depends on the browser your using and how much it supports HTML5. I would test a course in both options and see how they run.
As far as telling if a course has any flash elements, one way is to search your published output files for any .FLA, .SWF, or any file extensions listed here. Hope this helps!
Can you tell me what will happen to my customers who have downloaded their courses to an iPad? I understand that Flash won't be supported after 2020, but I'm not sure what that means for customers who use the Articulate Mobile App to view their downloaded courses.
1. Will courses already downloaded stop working?
2. Will the AMP be removed from the App store after January 1, 2020?
13 Replies
Hi there, Elizabeth! It's great you're thinking ahead, and we're right there with you. Here's what we're doing to get ready for the end of Flash support.
You can feel good about publishing for HTML5-only in both your Web and LMS outputs. We support viewing Storyline 360 HTML5 output in all major browsers, so your learners will have a great experience on almost every device.
If you're seeing any issues, please let me know, and we'll work toward a solution!
I have a question about this same issue. We are having MANY problems with our courses functioning. We tell people to update their browsers to allow flash and to whitelist our LMS website. Sometimes that helps.
We are publishing AICC, but could switch to a SCORM file. Our LMS is clunky - SuccessFactors. We can't publish to HTML5 only because a lot of our users are using an old version of ie and it won't run HTML5. Or at least that's what we've been told.
Do you know of a solution that will ensure our courses will function in old versions of ie and on Chrome?
I would greatly appreciate any help with this.
Hi, Elizabeth -
For the original post, it's still OK to publish to SCORM. The HTML5 output is independent of the packaging type (Web, SCORM). The publish setting you're looking for to go with something other than Flash is the publish formats. You can publish HTML5 only (should contain no Flash objects), HTML5/Flash (will default to HTML5 and fall back to Flash), Flash / HTML5 (Defaults Flash and falls back to HTML5) or Flash only.
If you select HTML5/Flash, the course should still run on the older versions as a fallback. In older versions of IE, the course should detect on launch that the HTML5 version isn't supported and go ahead and play the Flash version automatically.
Steve, just to clarify...right now I am literally opening up every storyline file I have to see what I last published as we used to do flash/HTML 5 and then went to HTML 5/Flash. Our LMS works best in Chrome, so when Flash goes away, if I publish all of my files today to HTML5/flash it should be fine because it will do HTML 5 first...or do I eventualy have to select HTML5 only. Literally sitting here with a huge spreadsheet going through them all.
Hi Teresa -
The files should work in future browsers. The only alibi that you may run into is if your organization, at some point, prohibits the presence of Flash files on the server. I wouldn't expect this to be an issue but you never know.
Publishing to HTML5/Flash will make your files act like they were published as HTML5 only if Flash isn't present. This configuration tends to be best when users could access content using really old browsers (IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9, etc..)
Thanks for the quick response. we definitely have some old browser issues..I just don't want to switch to HTML5 only when i know old browsers are out there...so hoping this publishing version will be okay in the future. We do get issues not of blocked for flash and then we have to allow the website, we are in healthcare and a little behind when it comes to technology...
You may want to run a test with some of your users on older platforms. Flash/HTML5 might work better in some cases.
Interesting...I wouldn't have thought that would be beneficial, as we would want the system to look for HTML5 first....and when Flash goes I would worry it would search and error before going to HTML5, but I could totally be missing the point LOL!
Just to add on is there an easy way to tell (sorry if this is obvious question) if a Flash object is present in your elearning. Also, can you explain above the difference if I change the setting to Flash first than HTML 5, see my concern in my previous post.
Cheers
Teresa
Hi Teresa,
This article covers the differences between the publishing options. It depends on the browser your using and how much it supports HTML5. I would test a course in both options and see how they run.
As far as telling if a course has any flash elements, one way is to search your published output files for any .FLA, .SWF, or any file extensions listed here. Hope this helps!
Thanks Ren, I appreciate the response, and will take a look at the article.
Much appreciated
Teresa
Greetings Crystal:
Can you tell me what will happen to my customers who have downloaded their courses to an iPad? I understand that Flash won't be supported after 2020, but I'm not sure what that means for customers who use the Articulate Mobile App to view their downloaded courses.
1. Will courses already downloaded stop working?
2. Will the AMP be removed from the App store after January 1, 2020?
Thank you,
Rod Machado
Hi Rod,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your concerns.
I see that Katie was able to address your questions here and wanted to link it for anyone following along.
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