Should I be Using Macromedia Authorware for My eLearning Project?

Authoware is a fantastic program for developing eLearning, as long as you understand its limitations. Here it is in a nutshell: Authorware for CD-ROM and LAN/WAN = GOOD. Authorware for Internet = BAD!

Authorware! What a big mess for developing for the web. We could write many paragraphs about the difficulty with browser compatibility, plug in size and streaming issues, but in addition to our opinion, you would do well to hear from Macromedia themselves.

In a document titled Choosing Your Solution, available for download from the Macromedia web site, it describes Authorware as a product to be used for CD, LAN/WAN and Intranet uses. Not Internet. Here is the paragraph quote on the top of page 6 of this document:

"Authorware is the least common choice for deploying courses primarily over the Internet, because the Authorware Web Player is not preinstalled on personal computers or in browsers. Since the Authorware Web Player is 4.4 MB, downloading it can be time consuming for users with low-speed connections. Authorware learning applications are typically deployed to organization intranets, where bandwidth is not an issue and where browsers are sometimes preconfigured."

4.4MB download just for the plug in! Low bandwidth = 1 MB = 10 min. Just for the plug in, at 28.8, it will take 40 minutes to download! YIKES!

Authorware pieces also run huge. Streaming media, high quality audio and
good looking graphics are BIG. Authorware does very little to compress these files, so your 10MB movie will compress into Authorware at about 9.2MB. Add 5-10 of these movies, and you are looking at 90MB just in media.

It has been our experience that Authorware really beats up Flash movies. It splits the Audio track, making sequencing Flash audio in Authorware difficult. If you are using streaming audio in Flash, Authorware really degrades the quality. It is best to import silent Flash movies into Authorware and then add audio as a sound bite.

Macromedia has another article on the site called Macromedia Authoring Solutions for eLearning. This breaks down each of their tools into a strength and weakness comparison.

Authorware is a great program if your solution is to be delivered on a CD-ROM or across a very fast LAN/WAN connection. The interaction tools are fantastic and it accepts standard graphic, audio and video formats. Learning this tool can be a challenge as the way it works is very different than HTML, Flash or Director, but once you understand the tool, it can allow for very rapid development and delivery. However, it is just not very web-friendly.

If you want to distribute your training via the web, it must be HTML based. Interactivity? JavaScript, ASP, PHP or ColdFusion. Animation? Use Flash. Simulations? Use Flash. 3D? Use Swift3D, Amorphium Pro or 3dStudio Max exported to Flash. On the web, you want small files and lean code. Authorware gives you very little compression of your files and bloated code. No one is going to download an Authorware plug in at 4.4MB and then a 90MB learning module to their home office at 28.8 or even 56K. Just won't happen.