First, kudos to you for not wanting to cram as much stuff on the screen as possible.
Whether you use three slides, or three layers probably doesn't matter - the learner will never know the difference.
The answer depends on whether the menu items take the learner to another slide, or just show a layer or some other method of adding additional material when clicked. If you are showing additional material on the slide or layers, you will use three different slides for the menu. If you are going to other slides for the material, you can use different slides or different layers for the menu.
If you are staying on the same slide, all you really need is Visited states: For menuItem1, create a trigger to show the additional material, then under it, another to change the state of MenuItem2 to Normal when the state of MenuItem1 is Visited. Then you need another to show the second layer when the last item on the first layer is Visited. CAVEAT:If you are depending on only one item changing to the Visited state, you will probably be able to do this, but if you have problems, you can use variables.
If you are going to different slides for the additional material, you will need to use variables. The variables are simple: One T/F for each menu item - ItemOneVisited, etc. Click the menu item object and jump to the slide with the material on it. When that slide(s) is finished, it needs a user action (like clicking a button) to return to the menu. When that button is clicked first, a trigger to set the variable to true, then under it, a trigger to jump to the appropriate menu slide. The menu slide needs to be set to return to initial state on revisit, so it will restart the timeline. It needs to have a mechanism to set the menu items to Hidden or Disabled, using the initial state. Then a trigger for each menu item to turn it to Normal when the timeline starts, if its start is normal.
Either way, part two of the menu may need a method of allowing navigation to part one, if you want that kind of access.
3 Replies
First, kudos to you for not wanting to cram as much stuff on the screen as possible.
Whether you use three slides, or three layers probably doesn't matter - the learner will never know the difference.
The answer depends on whether the menu items take the learner to another slide, or just show a layer or some other method of adding additional material when clicked. If you are showing additional material on the slide or layers, you will use three different slides for the menu. If you are going to other slides for the material, you can use different slides or different layers for the menu.
If you are staying on the same slide, all you really need is Visited states: For menuItem1, create a trigger to show the additional material, then under it, another to change the state of MenuItem2 to Normal when the state of MenuItem1 is Visited. Then you need another to show the second layer when the last item on the first layer is Visited. CAVEAT:If you are depending on only one item changing to the Visited state, you will probably be able to do this, but if you have problems, you can use variables.
If you are going to different slides for the additional material, you will need to use variables. The variables are simple: One T/F for each menu item - ItemOneVisited, etc. Click the menu item object and jump to the slide with the material on it. When that slide(s) is finished, it needs a user action (like clicking a button) to return to the menu. When that button is clicked first, a trigger to set the variable to true, then under it, a trigger to jump to the appropriate menu slide. The menu slide needs to be set to return to initial state on revisit, so it will restart the timeline. It needs to have a mechanism to set the menu items to Hidden or Disabled, using the initial state. Then a trigger for each menu item to turn it to Normal when the timeline starts, if its start is normal.
Either way, part two of the menu may need a method of allowing navigation to part one, if you want that kind of access.
There is a sample that uses variables this way at
https://community.articulate.com/discussions/articulate-storyline/free-sample-restricted-and-free-random-navigation-using-variables-and-triggers
The Restricted navigation menu goes to different slides sequentially.
Hello
Thank you for all the effort in explaining the different ways it can be used. It has helped me a lot.
You're welcome. PIAWYC (Pass It Along When You Can)