Opus supports a number of different publication types. These types determine what features are available and what format the final published file will take; for example a stand-alone executable or a Adobe Flash file.
Every time you create a new publication, or open an old publication, you can change it from one publication type to another. When you change the publication type, some creation tools, triggers, actions and other features will be turned on or off depending on whether they are available in the version you have selected.
Warning!
You can switch between different publication types at any time that you are developing a publication but it is best to decide at the beginning of your development, which type of publication you want to create. Some features may not be available when you switch the publication type – this may cause your publication to stop working.
Opus Pro – Selecting this will allow you to create publications that include all of the features in that version of Opus. It can be used to create the most powerful and flexible Opus publications, including screensavers and plugin powered web pages. This is the default option selected when you create a new publication in any version of Opus.
Note regarding SCORM Publications:
Both Opus Pro and Opus Flex publications can now be output as SCORM conformant publications without changing publication type. You will be able to select SCORM as an output option when you come to publish the publication.
Opus Flex – this option allows you to create publications within Opus that are exported in the Adobe Flash SWF file format. This option is particularly useful if you want to produce publications for use over the Internet but do not wish to use the Opus Plexus plug-in.
Note:
Selecting this option will disable any features within your version of Opus that are not supported by Adobe Flash or Flash features that Opus does not support.
When you publish your publication, you will only be able to create a Adobe Flash SWF file and not a standalone EXE file or Screensaver.
%Opus_Flex_Introduction Overview of Opus FlexOpus_Flex_Introduction
HTML5 – this option allows you to create web pages to the very latest HTML standard which allows much more multimedia and interactive features mor easily than traditional HTML. Publications of this type can be published as single pages, as a connected series of pages or as an element to go into a section of an existing page (for example in a <DIV>).
In all cases the output will only be displayed if the visitor’s browser is compatible with HTML5. However, as Mac, iPad and Android browsers support HTML5 this is a great way to provide material for those systems.
Note:
There are limitations with this option and some options will have limitations or may be restricted by security settings in the browser. We strongly recommend you test fully in as many popular browsers as possible.
Opus Video Creator – this option allows you to create a Video publication. When published this publication type produces a video. This is useful for producing demonstrations and for rendering complex animations.
Note:
There are limitations with this option: the Window and Layout tabs in the Publication Properties dialog are not available because you cannot run the publication in a window or have multiple windows open. A Screen tab replaces the two tabs. It is also not possible to use video or any objects that use on-top windows (i.e. Browsers, DocViews or QuickTime VR)
Additional Note:
On some systems creating a Video Creator publication will display a warning about the Voxware Compression Toolkit. See this page for more information.
Opus DVD Creator – this option allows you to create a DVD-Video publication. When published this publication type produces a video of your content pages and one or more menu pages with hotspots which allow you to launch those video pages. These publication type has highly limited functionality but allows you to publish material compatible with domestic DVD players and avoids the need for a PC altogether.
DirectX Exclusive – This allows you to create a DirectX publication. The published version of your publication is always full screen (i.e. the desktop is not visible) and is directly controlled by your video, graphic and sound cards on your machine. This is particularly useful if your publication is mainly video or graphically based, as control is given to the cards directly and will run more efficiently.
Note -This is a legacy option and not relevant to modern operating systems.
Note:
There are limitations with this option: only one publication of this type can by running at a time on a user’s machine; the Window and Layout tabs in the Publication Properties dialog are not available because you cannot run the publication in a window or have multiple windows open. A Screen tab replaces the two tabs. It is also not possible to use On Top video or any objects that use on-top windows (i.e. Browsers, DocViews or QuickTime VR).