Adding a Timer to Storyline Courses
Jan 15, 2014
Hello everyone,
A client I am working with has asked that the ability for learners to see how much of the course they have completed and have remaniing be added to a course produced using Storyline. Studio had such an option but the only timer I have found in Storyline is related to quizzes and result slides. Is there a way to add a timer displaying duration info for the entire course? I would need for the learner to be able to continue the course even if they exceeded the time alotted.
Thanks!
Shawnda
27 Replies
Here is one example of a timer: http://community.articulate.com/forums/t/31919.aspx. And here is one example of a countdown timer that I had built a while ago: http://dev.keypointlearn.com/xcl71_SL/TimedLightbox/story.html
HI Shawnda.
Just to offer the other side of the coin...if a course is built in Storyline, offering full functionality, then there may be optional scenes, hidden areas, layers etc. in which case a timer becomes relatively obsolete, and the measure becomes learning.
I do appreciate that some organisations do still require timers, but there are good reasons why this is not a standard feature in an authoring tool that allows freeform learning to occur.
Often it is an interesting conversation to have with clients to take them away from the linear approach, but I do appreciate that's not the way everyone works yet.
Hi Shawnda,
It looks like you're getting some great advice here. There are some additional examples of how to add a timer and another community example here.
Thank you to all that have replied to my post. Bruce, I agree that a branching, interactive, scenario based course cannot be accurately timed and makes adding a timer obsolete. Unfortunately, the organization I am working with would still like to have one present despite the fact the time shown won't really mean much.
Michael and Ashley - I will take a look at the examples you've provided and see if one will work for my course. Thank you both so much for sharing!
Glad we could help you out Shawnda, and if you need anything else please let us know.
Hi Michael,
I'm not sure he's subscribed to this thread as it's a bit older - but you may way to look at using the new message feature of the forums to reach out to him. Click on his name and you'll be brought to his profile where you can send a message.
Hi Another Michael :-P
Did you get any info from "the michael" regarding the "timed Lightbox". Do let k=me know if you have info. I badly need it to be implemented on a project now.
Hi, I don`t know if this helps at all, but attahced is the .story file for the quick example I did a while ago. There are lots of differnt ways to create timers in Storyline, the approach I used may or may not work for you.
Hi Clement! This thread is a bit dated, and you may want to reach out directly via 'Contact Me' option on their profile.
Or Michael may jump in before I hit send :) Super hero that he is! Thanks Michael :)
Thanks a ton michael. Appreciate your timely help.
Best regards
Hi Michael,
Is there anyway to pause and resume the countdown timer? I tried using "pause timeline of base layer" the clock pauses when I press pause but doesn't resume. Could you help me out , Please?
Sorry, I’m on vacation for the next couple of weeks. Please post your question in the forum and I’m sure someone will help.
Michael Hinze
Keypoint Learning Inc.
Hi Clement,
I took a look at the file Michael previously shared with you, and I'm not sure how he's set up the timer exactly - so I'd have to defer to someone else in the community.
I am super late to the party and I found this discussion while trying to figure out how to create my own timer. I used Michael's example and instead built a count-up timer. Enjoy.
Thanks Robbie for sharing here - always great to have more examples.
Thanks Robbie Collett.
Hi all,
If i visit on slide layer then the timer is stopped is there anyone has solution.....?
Uncheck "pause timeline of base layer" in slide-layer properties.
hi Daniel thanks for ur reply but its not working
would you mind sharing your .story file to look at?
Hi Vinay,
Are you referring to the slide timeline or the timer in the top right hand of the player? If you're able to share a bit more information about what's occurring or a copy of your .story file we can hopefully point you in the right direction. If you need to update the file, please use the "Add Attachment" button to upload it here.
My guess is that the slide layer either says “Hide other slide layers” or “Pause timeline on base layer” or both. Try unchecking one of those in the layer settings.
THANK YOU! I had enabled this and didn't remember where. I had it set to start with the first slide and needed to change it. Whew!
How do I put this timer into a course? I really just want to have it for the content/design review process while previewing the course I can refer back to the exact time in the timeline to make edits.
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