Authorware System

Basic Components

Jamil A. Malik (PhD)

Why Authorware?
You can use Authorware to
◦ create
◦ deliver and
◦ maintain interactive applications
such as
◦ psychological experiments
◦ computer-based training
◦ educational courseware
◦ on-line documentation & data collection
◦ digital publications
◦ Simulations
◦ kiosks
 E-prime (reaction time)
 Direct data storing
 Interaction with participants (feedback)
 Joyful
 WINDOW TYPES
There are two types of windows :
(1) Design Windows, which contain flowlines, and
(2) Presentation windows, where images can be imported,
objects can be drawn and text can be entered.
Using the toolbar, a collection of text and draw tools, you can
easily modify the Presentation window contents. Ancillary
windows, called palettes, may also be opened. For example,
along the left side of the screen will be the icon palette. Other
palettes can be optionally displayed.
 The Design Window
The design window is where the “programming” is done. The
flowline is within the Design window, but we’ll usually refer to
them both as the flowlines.

The paste hand

indicates the insertion
point for the next new
icons
 The Flowline

 The flowline in Authorware provides an area in which to

arrange icons to create a project, or piece.
 The physical length of the flowline is bounded by the size for
its design window – It never is displayed with scroll bars.
 To add to a flowline that is at its maximum length, group icons
into map icons. These combine one or more icons into an
aggregate called a map.
 The icons are executed sequentially beginning with the first
icon and ending with the last. Linearity can be altered if
Authorware encounters an interaction, decision, or framework
icon. Pieces that run without interactivity are called linear
pieces.
 The Tool Palette

 The Authorware Tool Palette provides all the building blocks

for creating projects. They control what the user sees and hears.
They determine how they interact with a project and how they are
managed while interacting with the application.

 Each icon represents a different type of content. For example,

a display icon is used to present text and graphics, while a movie
icon can show these Windows digital movie types : QuickTime
for Windows (MOV), Microsoft Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
files, Director movies (DIR, DXR), Autodesk FLC, FLI and CEL
animation files, BMP movies, and MPEG movies.
Display Nevigate Calculation Video
Motion Framework Map Start flag

Erase Decision Movie Stop flag

Wait Interaction Sound Colors

The Authorware Tool Palette

 Icon Purpose

Display Used to show graphics and text .

Moves graphics, text, or digital video along paths you define

Motion and at speeds you specify.
Deletes an icon ’s contents. A single erase icon can delete content
Erase from several previous icons.
Holds the program flow until a mouse is clicked, a key pressed
Wait or a specified unit of time elapses.
Specifies where to jump to in a hypertext/hypermedia
Navigate interaction. It is used with the framework icon.

Framework Controls project navigation, flow, and organization.

 Specifies branching based on program-defined specification or
Decision conditions.
Creates displays and controls event interactions that respond to
Interaction the user input. These may take the form of hot spots, hot objects,
or buttons.
Provides a mechanism for Authoware scripting. Calculation
Calculation icons can be standalone or integrated into other icon types.
A grouping of icons. Each map can be opened to show its own
Map flowline.
Displays and controls digital movies-Director, QuickTime,
Movie MPEG, Video for Windows, FLI, FLC, PICs files.

Sound Plays and controls digital audio-WAV, PCM, or AIFF file.

Video Controls Laser Disk players.

Instead of always running a piece from beginning to end, these

Start/Stop flags can be placed along a flowline to mark temporary start and
flags stop points.

Colors Icons can be color-coded.