[ARCHIVED] Caption Problem with New Rich Content Editor

[andrew_sheppard]

When we try to upload a video file directly to a Canvas content page and add captions to it, the window disappears. We've tried from a few different computers (PC, Mac) and browsers. The problem relates to .srt files and .vtt files. Here's an example:

https://youtu.be/scDU7DwTH2E

For the time being, we are uploading videos to YouTube, applying captions, and them embedding those videos within Canvas pages as our workaround. 

[tianna2]

I've been having the same problem (when uploading videos directly to Canvas on a page and adding an .srt file), but not consistently. Two weeks ago, no problem. Last week, I had problems when adding about half of my videos. I walked away and tried later, and there was no problem. Today, it is happening consistently (using Chrome and Firefox).

Here's what happens:

I go to "upload media," select the video file, and I select "add captions." I can select English from the dropdown menu, but when I add the .srt file, the whole upload window disappears. OR, I can start by uploading the .srt, but when I select English from the dropdown menu, the upload window disappears. And, if I only add the .srt but do not select English, the video uploads, but without captions.

AARGH!

[andrew_sheppard]

Hi, Tianna. Our caption issue remains unresolved. A colleague of mine at another institution in California is reporting the same behavior. So, this problem does not seem to be specific to one particular instance of Canvas. It's concerning that the new Rich Content Editor could be released with such a major problem. 

[mtuten]

It looks to me like they may have changed the caption font to be san serif at least.

[andrew_sheppard]

Update: we are now able to add caption files while uploading a video file directly into Canvas. However, the captions are placed at the top of the video, obscuring content. The captions should be placed towards the bottom. Multimedia developers often include "negative space" - that is, a space devoid of important content for captions to appear. We still cannot add captions to a video that's already uplodaded into Canvas. One would need to remove the video, then upload it again, and add the caption file during the upload process.

[andrew_sheppard]

Within Chrome, captions are still appearing as serif.

And the placement remains problematic.

[scottdennis]

Hi Andrew,

I have spoken with a few people internally and we agree that this does not look right and should be reported via support ticket as a bug.  Do you already have a case assigned?

If we are seeing this correctly you uploaded the caption file and the upload modal closed without inserting the video into the RCE. We’d be curious to know if the video uploaded appears in course files or if it basically disappears completely for you? If it appears in course files you could probably attach captions after uploading the video as a separate step but that still isn't the way it is designed to function.

[mtuten]

I may have spoken too soon. Looks like Safari still has serif font captions.

[andrew_sheppard]

Update: As of January 19th, I'm no longer able to upload captions during the upload process itself or after the fact. We have an open case. Instructure should work closely with an accessibility expert. This problem is easily replicable, and affecting multiple institutions. 

[andrew_sheppard]

Update: we can no longer re-create the problems we first reported regarding captions. We have closed our ticket. I think there may still be an intermittent issue at work here, but cannot immediately replicate the issue. The caption font has recently changed to sans-serif. It still seems that Instructure is lacking in general awareness as it relates to WCAG.