Changing State of Next Button

Apr 15, 2021

Sheila B
By Sheila B

I have a course where the client wants to require that the learner complete the interaction on the slide before moving on. I am accomplishing this by creating a trigger to change the state of the Next button to Hidden when the timeline starts on the slide. Then there is a trigger to change the state of the Next button to Normal when, for example, all three clickable items on the slide have a Visited status.

This works great when you proceed linearly through the course. But if you go back and forth between slides, it gets messed up. E.g., I'll have finished the interaction on Slide 2 and have a Next button. I click it and go to Slide 3. I then click Previous on slide 3 and go back to Slide 2. The Next button is now gone and I can't make it come back - so I'm stuck. This also happens if I go back from Slide 2 after I've completed the interaction; once I come back to Slide 2, I cant get he Next button back.

Help!?

13 Replies
Tom Kuhlmann
3 years ago04/15/21 at 9:47 pm (UTC)

If there's a trigger that is set to change the state of the next button to hidden when the slide starts, then when you revisit the slide, the next button will be hidden when the slide starts. You need to add a condition, for example change it to hidden when slide starts on the condition that variable = False.

I'd create a T/F variable (SlideVisited) and set it to False. Then add a trigger to adjust the variable when the state of ABC are visited. 

Then modifiy the trigger to change the state of the next button to hidden when slide starts on the condition that SlideVisited = False. The first time, it's hidden. Once they've completed the slide and revisit the variable should be True.

David Anderson
3 years ago04/15/21 at 9:58 pm (UTC)

Hi Sheila - Instead of using a trigger to change the next button when the timeline starts, I'd change the next button's initial state in the states panel. 

Next, I'd set the layer properties to "resume saved state" when the learner revisits the slide. That will remember the next button's current state.

 

I attached the source file so you can see how it works.

Sheila B
3 years ago04/16/21 at 2:38 pm (UTC)

Thank you both, David and Tom! I will play around with both ideas and see what works.

Editing to add: David, I just realized you're talking about an object on the screen that is being used as a Next button. But what I'm actually working with is the Next button in the player. And there are no states for that (I think?). So I'm off to try Tom's suggestion, but thank you anyway!

Sheila B
3 years ago04/16/21 at 3:17 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Dwayne. I stated things poorly in my comment - I know I can change the state of the Next button--that's how I originally set up the functionality. But David's solution was to change the initial state in the States panel, and I don't see how that can be done for a player button. His file makes clear that he was talking about an on-screen object, not the player button.

Jill Clateman
3 years ago04/16/21 at 3:30 pm (UTC)

HI Sheila - I am having the exact same issue so am so happy to see this post. David/Tom, I am pretty  new to Storyline and liked your idea in one of the videos of using the built in triggers to change the state of player "next Button" to disabled until all layers etc.... are visited. (I was trying to avoid variables because I don't know them yet).  I will look at what you sent here but just want to clarify if there a way to do this w/o adding custom buttons (as shown above) or using variables? 

Sheila B
3 years ago04/16/21 at 3:45 pm (UTC)

Thanks Tom, this worked. But only on some of the slides. On others, the Next button is just present all the time now. If I preview just the one slide, it looks right (no Next button until I complete the interaction). But when I preview or publish the whole scene, the Next button is visible when the slide begins. Any ideas on what might be happening??

Leslie McKerchie
3 years ago04/19/21 at 3:00 pm (UTC)

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for sharing an update on your project and that you're still having difficulty with some of the slides and the Next button.

I want to take a look at your project file to investigate what's happening with your permission. You can share it publicly here or send it to me privately by uploading it here. I'll delete it when I'm done troubleshooting.

Hi Jill,

To answer your original question, there is no way to do this without custom buttons or variables. 

I'd be happy to help you. Which method would you like to pursue?

I want to take a look at your project file to investigate what's happening with your permission. You can share it publicly here or send it to me privately by uploading it here. I'll delete it when I'm done troubleshooting.

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