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The Retirement of Authorware
By Richard Nantel | October 23, 2007
There was a time when almost all computer-based training (CBT) was developed using one of only a handful of software applications. Authorware was one of the most popular authoring tools available. Over the last 20 years, thousands and thousands of hours of CBT and online courseware have been developed using the tool.
Although Authorware 7 continues to be for sale on Adobe’s Web site, the company has announced that it will no longer continue developing the software. Version 7 is to be the last.
For course authors who have been using the tool for years, this must come as a blow. They’ll need to learn to use other tools. Since Authorware’s flow chart interface is uncommon, this will require authors to learn a new way to work.
I had dinner with an old friend last week who works for a Fortune 50 firm. His organization needs to maintain and update legacy libraries of Authorware courseware. This company will eventually either need to convert the content or re-author the courses using Flash or some other tool. Whichever they choose, it will take time and money.
Years ago, I developed a number of database-driven Web sites using a Macromedia product called Drumbeat. The product was swiftly retired and replaced with Dreamweaver. Weeks later, a new version of Windows was launched, and my old Drumbeat application no longer worked on the new OS. How was I to update the applications I had built?
I worked hard at trying to salvage months of work. In the end, I just bit the bullet and recreated all the Web apps in Dreamweaver. Since the choice of an authoring tool had been mine, not my customers’, I did all this work for free.
Here’s an idea for how companies such as Adobe could make new friends: turn Authorware into an open source project. Make the code freely available, and developers will likely start doing innovative things with the software. This may well breathe new life into the product.
Topics: Authoring Tools, Authorware, Learning technology, Open Source |
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I think that’s a great idea.
My company has spent a large amount of effort and time over the past year “converting” a client’s library of courses from Authorware into Flash. It hasn’t been pretty.
October 26th, 2007 at 3:33 am
[...] to my attention twice this week. I felt a twinge of sadness when I read Richard Nantel’s blog “The retirement of Authorwareâ€. Authorware was one of the most popular authoring tools available. Over the last 20 years, [...]
October 29th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
I like the idea of making Authorware open source. Doesn’t seem like it could hurt Adobe at all.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Making Authorware 7 open source would make ADOBE
a graduate students dream come true!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Is there any information about converting Authorware courses to html, .asp, or some other format?