Continued issues with text running off slide

Jan 19, 2018

Lu Post
By Lu Post

I know this issue has been brought up before but it continues to persist and seems to be getting worse. We are using Storyline 360 on local computers. When we use a text placeholder from the Master slide, after the course is published, the text box loses it's "Wrap Text" property, even though the Master slide placeholder is set to wrap text. We've quit using the placeholders and simply add text boxes, but each time we have to make an update to an older course, it requires a lot of work to go and fix these text boxes. We see this behavior even in brand new courses. 

For anyone having the issue, the fix is to right-click the text box, select Format Shape > Text Box tab and re-check the Wrap text box.

Pinned Reply
Steven Benassi
1 year ago02/15/23 at 8:57 pm (UTC)

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share some great news! We are no longer seeing the bug that caused text boxes to break after applying a built-in theme in projects imported from PowerPoint to Storyline.

Please make sure that you are using the current version of Storyline 360 (3.72.29699.0).

To confirm or update your version of Storyline 360:

  • Launch the Articulate 360 desktop app on your Windows machine.
  • Click the drop-down arrow next to Storyline 360 and select Other Versions.
  • Here you will see the current version being used, or have the option to update.

Please let us know if you're still encountering the issue and we'd be happy to continue troubleshooting with you in a support case.

43 Replies
Craig D
over 3 years ago07/23/20 at 10:48 am (UTC)

I've had similar issue twice now in the past week with text boxes resizing on their own causing the text to run off of the screen.  

It takes hours to then flip through screens to reset text box size.  It is more than frustrating.

I have yet to determine why or what causes this.  I literally completed a scene last evening.  This morning when I reopen to start - WHAMMO .  3 Scenes everyone of them will need edited now. 

While doing this, you can see in the slide box on the left has a preview and everything looks fine, but when you go to that slide the text box will resize to all variety of sizes.  I've had some re-size to 2400+ pixels?   

The only way to fix semi-quickly is right-clicking each text box choose the size and position menu then punching in a number. What gives?  Why does it randomly do this?  Is there a means to fix all at once by changing a default?  Does anyone else have this issue? 

Nicole Talley
3 years ago01/23/21 at 5:33 am (UTC)

I am having the same issue with the text running off the slide after I import the PowerPoint file.  I know you can check the wrap text box, but I am dealing with courses that are over 100 pages!  Unfortunately, I didn't know this was an issue until I had updated an entire course, saved it and when I opened it, all the formatting was gone!  So I attempted to prevent this issue with the next course I imported, so I made sure the text wrap box was checked before making any updates, and then I saved it , but it didn't matter because when I opened the course, all the formatting was gone and box was unchecked!!  I spent a whole day formatting text boxes!

It appears that this issue has been posted for many years so I am shock to see that it hasn't been resolved.  We purchased Storyline 360 thinking it would be easier to upgrade our courses, but now we are having second thoughts due the amount of time it takes re-format for each slide after it  is imported (not only do we have to check the text wrap box, we then have to change the size and position for each slide).  Will this issue ever be resolved , or is there something we can do prior to importing the ppt. files so that we don't spend a large majority of our time reformatting the text in the course after importing it into Storyline 360?

Craig D
3 years ago01/23/21 at 4:31 pm (UTC)

Yes, it is frustrating when it occurs. In my case, I ended up discovering that I caused this to occur on my own. I’ll explain and maybe you can verify that you haven’t done the same thing.

When I imported a PowerPoint file, I discovered that I didn’t like the distorted appearance in Articulate of a background image that we had on all of our slides. The background was for the wide screen 16:9 setting in PowerPoint. When it was imported, it distorted our logo by compressing the width to whatever the parameter setting is in Articulate. I deleted that project because I wasn’t going to use it with that look. So, this is where I ended up creating my own yet-to-be-discovered issue and self-inflicted problem.

I applied a new slide Master in PowerPoint to my slides. Then I imported to Articulate. That is where I noticed what you are noticing. It was quite painful to edit the large slide-deck. As I was going through the motions to avoid the distortion and hopefully avoid the large editing job again is when I noticed that applying the new slide master in PowerPoint caused the issue. I noticed that all of text in my PowerPoint files had taken on the properties of the slide master.

Basically, I discovered that the problem pre-existed in PowerPoint and the Articulate import did exactly what is was supposed to do. It brought my PowerPoint mess over and created an Articulate mess. I cannot say that this will solve the issue for you, but that is where my issue came from. If you made any changes in PowerPoint before importing you may want to check that the PowerPoint file is fine before importing it.

Sorry for the long story. Hope that helps someone. I like both tools. Each has its best application.

Craig D

Cassidy Reif
3 years ago02/10/21 at 11:03 pm (UTC)

Hi All,

I have been experiencing the same issue. This issue primarily occurs when I save and reopen a file. However, in the past, I have experienced that the issue can occur when publishing the file. Meaning the issue is not there while I'm working in the file and once I publish to SCORM and preview the training in my LMS, it's there. I was under the impression it was an issue on my part, but it continues to happen. I have made corrections on several files to fix this issue and it is quite the annoyance. I am sharing this in hope that this can be fixed and I will be notified. Thank you.

Alison Trehearn
almost 3 years ago06/03/21 at 9:08 am (UTC)

From reading all of the above comments I can see that my issue isn't unique.  Reading Craig's comments above, I checked my powerpoint size and it was 16:9. However I didn't change the slide master size before importing into Storyline.  However I have saved it several times over last few days and today when I go back it, then text is still running off the slides again even after I have corrected and saved it.  This is extremely frustrating!

Leslie McKerchie
almost 3 years ago06/04/21 at 3:29 pm (UTC)

Hello Alison,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing that you're experiencing a similar issue to what Craig shared above. It looks like he was able to track down the culprit.

We do have an open issue with our team specific to this scenario:

  1. Import PowerPoint presentation to Storyline 360.
  2. Apply any built-in theme using the Design tab.
  3. Save and close the project file.
  4. Reopen the project file.
  5. Text box no longer displaying as expected.

Does this match your experience as well?

I'd like you to share your project file with our support engineers to investigate what's happening with your permission. You can share it privately by uploading it here. It will be deleted when troubleshooting is complete.

Craig D
almost 3 years ago06/04/21 at 4:02 pm (UTC)

Allison:  I seem to recall that the 16:9 widescreen setting in PowerPoint was part of the problem. 

Sorry, if I wasn't clear.  The 16:9 widescreen setting in PowerPoint is too wide for Storyline so these wide text boxes would carry over creating a less than desired result.  So once, resetting to the old 4:3 setting there is usually a little resizing to be done in PowerPoint before importing.  Then, import.  Obviously, I wouldn't spend too much time on that before running a test import.   You will definitely want to have a backup of your original widescreen PowerPoint just in case.  

Crossing my fingers for you.   Good luck.  

Becca Levan
almost 3 years ago07/02/21 at 4:09 pm (UTC)

Hello Lisa,

Thanks for reaching out, and I'm happy to help!

We just released Storyline 360 Update 53 (Build 3.53.25436.0), where we made the built-in widescreen slide size larger, so you have more room to work! Have you updated Storyline 360 yet to take advantage of this enhancement?

If you don't see improvement from there, I'd recommend connecting with one of our support engineers to help troubleshoot as the next step!

Becca Levan
over 2 years ago10/22/21 at 7:35 pm (UTC)

I'm sorry you're facing these issues, Tricia! Happy to investigate with you:

We'd be happy to dig deeper if you could share your file. Feel free to share it publicly in this discussion, or if you need to keep it private, use this upload link. We'll reach out shortly after!

P.S. welcome to the community! 😊

Tricia Ransom
over 2 years ago10/22/21 at 9:34 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the welcome. This is my first post with this email - you'll find me on here going back at least 8 or 9 years. You guys are the best. 

So now the text wrapping seems to be ok, but oddly enough some of my triggers have disappeared and all of my animations. I've exported everything to word, and thank to the new media library also exported all of my graphics, and will start again totally from scratch. I'll also try it this time with a 4:3 aspect ratio instead of a 16:9

Shane Jones
almost 2 years ago07/11/22 at 1:49 pm (UTC)

After years of this issue being reported by multiple users, this doesn't seem to be resolved. It occurred on Friday 7/8/2022 when importing from PowerPoint. After correcting 50 slides, I reviewed the work and sent the link out to my team. This morning 7/11/2022 when I went back in to add some knowledge check slides the title on the slide was reformated, and about half the slides with test boxes ran off the slide. It's just frustrating to be paying so much for a program that is supposed to be helpful only to be sabotaged.  

Please fix the issues. 

Lauren Connelly
almost 2 years ago07/13/22 at 8:06 pm (UTC)

Hello Shane!

I am so sorry for the trouble and understand how frustrating this is. I've opened a case on your behalf with our Support Engineers so that we can work with you directly. Do you mind sharing your project file with our team?

Also, we have logged two workarounds that I'll share below in case they can be of help to you:

  • After you apply the layout, select all the text boxes and perform a cut and paste on the same slide. The text box will retain the correct behavior. 
  • Check the layout used by the slide in the PowerPoint file by going to the master slide and seeing if it has text placeholders. Delete them and save the file before importing it to Storyline. After importing, you can apply any built-in layout or theme in Storyline without breaking the text box.
jason davenport
1 year ago02/04/23 at 2:35 pm (UTC)

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the correct thread or if there is another appropriate one.

I'm having an issue with text overrun and this is on a slide created and Not from PPT import.
It is also running off the edge of the text box, not the slide body.

It is beyond frustrating for what should be one of the most simple slide types.
Changed from short 256 characters / to Essay 5000  and 2500 in addition to test if character limit impact
(I have an Essay slide earlier in Q templates (set at 2500 characters)  and all works fine on that one-)

Editor - The text box on the slide is set to a position via the editor to sit just in from both sides and sit below the Question body text etc with the text box displaying "Type your text here"
In line with the edge of the box/slide outer in the editor.

Preview the text box appears smaller in Width and Height and the text runs off the edge/overruns the text box but not the slide.
( see image) 

Seemingly the text is within the parameters of the text box but the "text box" is not displaying in line with that set position.

- Format Shape / Text Box is set to Fixed Size  + Add Scroll bar, but no about of options or changes seems to fix.

- AS360 is the latest version / up to date with text autofit improvements etc.  

Any assistance would be appreciated as this is now the only aspect holding up a project. 

Sign In to Reply