Hello, I am a newbie with Articulate and have a question about audio cues. Let's say that I want to show layer 2 based on audio cue 1, and then have another event trigger on the layer when audio cue 2 occurs. How does one do this from the Development standpoint? Layers have their own timelines, and the audio cues don't show up on them. Is this better handled with variables?
You can still use the timeline. If Cue 1 is at 10 seconds, and Cue 2 is at 25 seconds, you can create a trigger to do action 2 when the layer timeline reaches 15 sec. (10 in base, and 15 on layer).
That is, if the first layer hasn't finished and closed. If it has, the slide timeline is intact, and you can cue action 2 at 25 seconds.
Hello there - I'm new to Storyline, too. I might be missing something? If you'll allow me to think out loud here for a minute, I'm seeing several ways to do this:
Add new shapes/images/etc. on a slide to start at various cue points (I love the right-click feature of "align to cue" (I'd use this if I wasn't using layers)
If I wanted to trigger a layer I could plunk in an invisible shape, or place it off to the side of the canvas and build a trigger on it.
The reason why I'd like to have the option to trigger a layer based on the cue point is, when you have a lot of objects and images you're putting on the slide, it's just more organized if you can do it in layers.
For example: I have a slide where my designer created a complex, 2 minute dialogue in which she wants a lot images to appear and then disappear on the slide during this conversation. That's going to be a LOT to coordinate by cue point. Let's say there are 10-15 images/icons that have to appear on each cue point, and there's 15 cue points - would be easier for me to group them on a layer, and the layer to play at cue point a then disappear at cue point b.
I suppose I could do this with variables, too...
Create a variable that changes at cue point, and shows a layer when it changes (and visa versa)
I think all of your suggestions would work, at least to some degree. In order of most to least difficult, they are:
Add new shapes/images/etc. on a slide to start at various cue points
Create a variable that changes at cue point, and shows a layer when it changes (and visa versa)
If I wanted to trigger a layer I could plunk in an invisible shape, or place it off to the side of the canvas and build a trigger on it.
But, in my mind, they all involve extra work, at best, and at worst, a lot of confusion. If I'm hearing you correctly these objects appear, then disappear in bunches, so you at least don't have a cluttered slide. But you do still have a cluttered and confusing timeline for development purposes. Note that for some purposes, each of these options can be the best, or possibly only solution, but I don't think any of them are for what you describe.
On the other hand, I think your instincts for the cue points and layers (think of them acting in this instance as advanced cue points) are the best option. I will point out that you can select multiple objects on the timeline and move the start point, end point, or the entire object (changing both start and end while preserving the length) for all of them at once. This in the event you choose option 1 above.
You should also know that options 2 and 3 above involve extra work because you can create a trigger to show a layer when the timeline reaches either a set time, or a cue point.
But the best choice in my mind is to use layers as advanced cue points. Placing objects with similar timelines on a layer really cleans up the main timeline, and the number of triggers. One trigger shows the layer, which shows all the objects. The timing on all of them can be changed by changing either the time in the trigger, or moving the cue point. Set the layer to hide when its timeline ends, and they all disappear at the same time. Then it is relatively easy to slide the objects around on the layer timeline, if you want some variations in their appearance time.
Caveat: Don't think you can de-clutter the timeline and triggers by using groups. I say that anybody that uses groups in Storyline deserves what will happen to them. Groups have not been shown to play nicely with any other component of SL.
So yes, use layers - one trigger to show it, and everything appears at once.
Walt, thank you for picking this up! I've been going in circles. I'm really feeling everything you stated above...but I have a burning question about this point, in particular:
"But the best choice in my mind is to use layers as advanced cue points. Placing objects with similar timelines on a layer really cleans up the main timeline, and the number of triggers. One trigger shows the layer, which shows all the objects. The timing on all of them can be changed by changing either the time in the trigger, or moving the cue point. Set the layer to hide when its timeline ends, and they all disappear at the same time. Then it is relatively easy to slide the objects around on the layer timeline, if you want some variations in their appearance time...So yes, use layers - one trigger to show it, and everything appears at once."
My question is...are you saying there's a way to trigger a layer to show/disappear completely based on timeline cue points? If there is, then this would be the piece that I am missing. I'm (so very much) hoping that it exists and is something that was right under this newbie's nose this whole time! :)
The trigger to Hide a layer is right under the one to show it, but you can also set its properties to hide when its timeline ends, or hide it when the learner takes an action like clicking.
Interesting solution, however one of my frustrations with Storyline is that if, for example, you change a state of an object based on a que point, if seeking is enabled on the timeline and the user scrubs back in time, the state of the object that was changed does not revert to how it was before.
6 Replies
You can still use the timeline. If Cue 1 is at 10 seconds, and Cue 2 is at 25 seconds, you can create a trigger to do action 2 when the layer timeline reaches 15 sec. (10 in base, and 15 on layer).
That is, if the first layer hasn't finished and closed. If it has, the slide timeline is intact, and you can cue action 2 at 25 seconds.
Hello there - I'm new to Storyline, too. I might be missing something? If you'll allow me to think out loud here for a minute, I'm seeing several ways to do this:
The reason why I'd like to have the option to trigger a layer based on the cue point is, when you have a lot of objects and images you're putting on the slide, it's just more organized if you can do it in layers.
For example: I have a slide where my designer created a complex, 2 minute dialogue in which she wants a lot images to appear and then disappear on the slide during this conversation. That's going to be a LOT to coordinate by cue point. Let's say there are 10-15 images/icons that have to appear on each cue point, and there's 15 cue points - would be easier for me to group them on a layer, and the layer to play at cue point a then disappear at cue point b.
I suppose I could do this with variables, too...
I suppose I still would like an easy trigger :)
I think all of your suggestions would work, at least to some degree. In order of most to least difficult, they are:
Add new shapes/images/etc. on a slide to start at various cue points
Create a variable that changes at cue point, and shows a layer when it changes (and visa versa)
If I wanted to trigger a layer I could plunk in an invisible shape, or place it off to the side of the canvas and build a trigger on it.
But, in my mind, they all involve extra work, at best, and at worst, a lot of confusion. If I'm hearing you correctly these objects appear, then disappear in bunches, so you at least don't have a cluttered slide. But you do still have a cluttered and confusing timeline for development purposes. Note that for some purposes, each of these options can be the best, or possibly only solution, but I don't think any of them are for what you describe.
On the other hand, I think your instincts for the cue points and layers (think of them acting in this instance as advanced cue points) are the best option. I will point out that you can select multiple objects on the timeline and move the start point, end point, or the entire object (changing both start and end while preserving the length) for all of them at once. This in the event you choose option 1 above.
You should also know that options 2 and 3 above involve extra work because you can create a trigger to show a layer when the timeline reaches either a set time, or a cue point.
But the best choice in my mind is to use layers as advanced cue points. Placing objects with similar timelines on a layer really cleans up the main timeline, and the number of triggers. One trigger shows the layer, which shows all the objects. The timing on all of them can be changed by changing either the time in the trigger, or moving the cue point. Set the layer to hide when its timeline ends, and they all disappear at the same time. Then it is relatively easy to slide the objects around on the layer timeline, if you want some variations in their appearance time.
Caveat: Don't think you can de-clutter the timeline and triggers by using groups. I say that anybody that uses groups in Storyline deserves what will happen to them. Groups have not been shown to play nicely with any other component of SL.
So yes, use layers - one trigger to show it, and everything appears at once.
Walt, thank you for picking this up! I've been going in circles. I'm really feeling everything you stated above...but I have a burning question about this point, in particular:
"But the best choice in my mind is to use layers as advanced cue points. Placing objects with similar timelines on a layer really cleans up the main timeline, and the number of triggers. One trigger shows the layer, which shows all the objects. The timing on all of them can be changed by changing either the time in the trigger, or moving the cue point. Set the layer to hide when its timeline ends, and they all disappear at the same time. Then it is relatively easy to slide the objects around on the layer timeline, if you want some variations in their appearance time...So yes, use layers - one trigger to show it, and everything appears at once."
My question is...are you saying there's a way to trigger a layer to show/disappear completely based on timeline cue points? If there is, then this would be the piece that I am missing. I'm (so very much) hoping that it exists and is something that was right under this newbie's nose this whole time! :)
With hope...LT
Yes
The trigger to Hide a layer is right under the one to show it, but you can also set its properties to hide when its timeline ends, or hide it when the learner takes an action like clicking.
Interesting solution, however one of my frustrations with Storyline is that if, for example, you change a state of an object based on a que point, if seeking is enabled on the timeline and the user scrubs back in time, the state of the object that was changed does not revert to how it was before.