Importing SCORM Courses into Pinnacle Series

Applies To:

Pinnacle admins
Content admins

Common Causes/Issues:

As a content creator, you can use this guide to import SCORM packages, handle multi-module structures, choose the correct launch file, and ensure reliable playback.

Solution Overview:

Pinnacle Series supports SCORM content created in external tools like Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, and others.

What You’ll Need

A SCORM-compliant .zip export from your authoring tool (Storyline, Rise, Captivate, etc.).
Access to Pinnacle Series Admin Portal (Peak) or Management Utility (MU).
The correct launch/start HTML file from your SCORM package (see table below).

Unsupported: Multi-Folder SCORM Packages

If your exported SCORM course contains multiple folders (e.g., “Module 1”, “Module 2”), Pinnacle Series cannot import a single .zip file with nested SCORM packages. Each module must be uploaded as its own course.

Recommended Approach

Zip and upload each module/folder separately as its own SCORM course.
Do not zip the parent folder — only zip the files inside the folder.

Correct: Zip the contents of the folder, e.g. story.html, html5/, story_content/.

Incorrect: Zipping the parent folder itself, e.g. FolderName/, and uploading that single outer folder .zip.

Importing SCORM Courses in Peak (Admin Portal)

Use this method if you’re managing content through the browser-based Admin Portal.

Go to Content > Courses or open an existing Learning Path.
Click Add Courses > Create from SCORM Content.
Upload your .zip SCORM package.
Click Continue. (There may be no visual feedback — wait a few seconds.)
At Select Starting HTML Page(s), choose the correct launch file (see table below), then finish.

Tip: If the file list appears empty after upload, click Back, then Continue again to refresh.

Choosing the Right Launch File

Use the table below to select the correct starting HTML page.

Authoring Tool	Typical Start File	Notes
Articulate Storyline	`story.html`	Do not choose `index_lms.html` — may cause API errors.
Articulate Rise	`index.html`	Usually safe; verify it launches the course correctly.
Adobe Captivate	`index.html` (sometimes `index_scorm.html`)	Depends on export settings.
Other Tools	Look for `launch.html`, `start.html`, etc.	Choose the file that actually launches the course.

Avoid files named index_lms.html unless explicitly instructed by your tool’s documentation.

Combining Modules into a Full Course

Import each module as a separate SCORM course.
Create a Learning Path and add the modules in order.
Learners progress through the modules sequentially for a complete experience.

Display & Navigation Tips

Many SCORM courses rely on on-screen navigation that can be hidden if the browser isn’t full screen. Instruct learners to switch to full screen so “Next” and other buttons are visible.

Windows: Press F11 to enter/exit full screen.
Mac: Press Control + Command + F to enter/exit full screen.

Quick Reference: SCORM Import Tips

Item	Best Practice
Multi-module export	Upload each module separately as a standalone SCORM course.
Zip structure	Zip contents inside the folder, not the folder itself.
Admin Portal upload	Use Create from SCORM Content when adding a course.
MU upload	Use New Course from SCORM Content from the right-click menu.
Start file	Choose the appropriate launch file (e.g., `story.html`, `index.html`).
File list missing?	Click Back, then Continue again to refresh.
Full course experience	Use a Learning Path to combine multiple SCORM modules.
Navigation display issue	Learners should view in full screen to access navigation buttons.

Troubleshooting at a Glance

Course won’t launch: Re-select the correct start file (avoid index_lms.html for Storyline).
No start file options after upload: Click Back then Continue to refresh the file list.
Navigation buttons missing: Switch the browser to full screen and retry.

Still Need Help?

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