How to Build a Simple Slide-to-Reveal Interaction

Displaying content in chunks makes it easier to read and less overwhelming—especially when there’s lots of information. Many instructional designers do this using a tabs or click-and-reveal interaction, but have you ever thought about using a slider instead? In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to do just that—step by step. Here we go!

1. Insert Slide Content

Start by creating your slide and adding your content. To save time, I opened up Content Library 360 and chose one of the slide templates, but you can also create your own from scratch if you prefer. 

From there, add a semitransparent rectangle over each content section. When you’re done, this rectangle will help the learner see which of the sections is selected.

2. Set Initial State

Now, set the initial state of the first rectangle to hidden. That way, when the slide starts the first image will appear “lit up” as compared to the others—since they’re covered by the rectangles—indicating to the learner that it’s selected.

3. Insert Slider

Then, open the Insert tab, select the slider you want to add to your project, and format it however you’d like.

4. Set Slider Properties

From there, select the slider to open the Design tab and adjust the properties. Change the end value depending on the number of stopping points you need. In this case, since there are four total sections, I selected 3 as the end value. 

Then, before moving onto the next step, choose While Slider Is Dragged from the Update drop-down menu so the slider updates as the learner moves it.

5. Add Triggers

To make the rectangles we added earlier appear and disappear based on what’s currently selected, head over to the trigger panel and add two triggers to each shape.

Trigger 1

• Action: Change State of
• Object: Rectangle
• To State: Hidden
• When: Slider Moves
• Conditions: If the slider’s value is equal to (step number minus one since the start value is 0)

Trigger 2

• Action: Change State of
• Object: Rectangle
• To State: Normal
• When: Slider Moves
• Conditions: If the slider’s value is not equal to (step number minus one since the start value is 0)

Wrap-Up

And that’s all there is to it! In just a few minutes, you have an engaging way to split up your content for learners. Explore the finished project and download the template here.

Interested in learning more about working with sliders? Check out these helpful articles:

• Storyline 360: Working with Sliders
• 4 Pro Tips for Working with Sliders

And if you want to see some other creative ways to use sliders in your courses, hop on over to this article: 3 Ways to Use Sliders to Elevate Your Next Storyline 360 Course.

Want to try building your own slide-to-reveal, but don’t have Storyline 360? Start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360, and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.