Import questions as CSV

Overview

Adobe Captivate allows you to import questions from a CSV file into your projects. This feature offers several benefits, including efficiency, convenience, and error reduction. You can create, edit, and manage questions using spreadsheets, and then import them into Adobe Captivate, saving time and effort.

The CSV file must follow a specific format, including columns for question type, points, question stem, answer options, and slide type. Different question types, such as multiple choice, true/false, matching, sequence, and short answer, can be imported. If there are any errors or issues with the CSV file, Captivate provides you with guidance on the further steps. 

Captivate offers a sample CSV file containing all the necessary fields to facilitate your tasks.
You can download the sample CSV file here:

What type of questions can be imported

These are the types of questions that can be imported from a CSV file in Adobe Captivate:

• True/False
• Multiple choice
• Matching
• Sequence
• Short answer

How do I create the CSV

Use the sample CSV provided by Captivate to add the question data. Follow these steps:

Additional rules

• For short answer (SA) questions, all the answer options given are considered correct. You do not have to append an asterisk to any answer option.
  
• For sequence (SEQ) type questions the order mentioned by the author is taken as the correct sequence. Captivate jumbles the sequence when a user is attempting the course. 
• For matching (MAT) questions, separate each answer choice and its match with a pipe (|). For example, Captivate | Adobe.

Import the CSV

Once you are ready with your questions CSV file, you can import it, either from the file menu or from the slide navigator.

Select File menu > Import> Import CSV or from the slide navigator, select New slide > Import CSV.

If the CSV does not contain any errors, the import is successful. You will observe that the project is populated with all the question slides according to the format specified in the CSV file.

Errors during import

If you encounter errors during CSV import, download the log file to identify and fix the issues. Rectify errors in the CSV and re-import the file. Issues may include syntax errors, unwanted characters, or empty values. Captivate prompts authors about slides that could not be imported successfully.

Debug errors using the log file

The error log file serves as a valuable resource for identifying and addressing erroneous entries. It furnishes details such as the precise location and nature of the errors encountered. The location of an error is specified by denoting the row and column of the cell affected.

By referencing these cell locations within the corresponding CSV file, you can easily pinpoint the problematic cells. Once identified, you have the opportunity to rectify the issues directly within the CSV file. After making the necessary corrections, you can proceed to re-import the file, ensuring a smoother and error-free process.

How to troubleshoot issues in importing CSV

To troubleshoot issues in importing CSV in Adobe Captivate, you can follow these best practices: 

• Check the CSV format: Ensure that the CSV file is formatted correctly according to the syntax provided in the documentation. Make sure that the columns and values are in the correct order and format. 
• Verify required fields: Check if all the required fields in the CSV file are filled correctly. These include the question type, points, question stem, and answer options.
  
• Check for errors in the CSV file: Look for any syntax errors, unwanted characters, or empty values in the CSV file. These can cause issues during the import process. You can refer to the error log file generated by Captivate to identify the cells with errors.
  
• Validate points values: Make sure that the points assigned to each question are positive whole numbers. Remove any negative or decimal values.
  
• Ensure the correct number of options and correct answers: For multiple-choice questions, ensure that there are at least two answer options and at least one correct answer. For true/false questions, there should be exactly one correct answer. For short answer questions, all answer options are considered correct.
  
• Check delimiter for match-type questions: If you are importing matching questions, ensure that the delimiter " |" is used to separate each answer choice and its match.
  
• Test with a sample CSV file: If you are still experiencing issues, try importing the sample CSV file provided by Adobe Captivate to see if it imports successfully. This can help determine if the issue is with the CSV file or with the software.