I have 2 text boxes where users enter variables. When the slide begins, the user must click on the first box to give it focus. Is there a way that the first text box can already have focus, so the user can begin typing immediately?
Then, when the user hits TAB, the focus jumps to other objects on the screen. How can I make the focus and TAB work as users normally expect?
Within Storyline 2, you may find that a data-entry field doesn't have focus when you visit a slide in your published output. As a result, you have to click the data-entry field before you can begin typing in it.
This is a known issue. It'll be fixed in the next update for Articulate Storyline. Enable the Check for updates at startup feature to be notified when the new update is available.
In Storyline 1 as long as the text entry box is the top most element on the slide (or within the timeline the last item listed) that'll allow it to grab focus first and allow the user to just enter in text right away when visiting the slide.
Thanks, Ashley. That works fine for the first text box. However, the user has to hit TAB twice to advance to the second text box. I did go to Alt text and uncheck "Object visible to accessibility tools" for everything but the text boxes. Is there some way to make it so the user only hit TAB once to advance?
Tab order will move from the top left down as described here, so I suspect there is something else that is inbetween those two text boxes? There is not a way to change the tab order, so you may want to look at rearranging elements on your slide if you want the user to only be tabbing to that box next.
I built everything into the background graphic except the 2 text entry fields and the NEXT button. (See attached SL1 file.) It still requires the user to hit TAB twice. (If they are fixing SL2 to solve this problem, they may want to make sure you only have to hit TAB once.)
I tested your file in preview, and the first text entry box on slide 2.1 had the cursor in the text entry box on start, and then yes, you have to tab first to recognize the entire box, and then to move forward to the next box. I could then tab to toggle back and forth even (as the done button isn't set to be accessible).
I know tab order is something that other users have shared their thoughts on in regards to a new feature request so you're welcome to share your thoughts as well.
Within Storyline 2 and Storyline 360 you can determine a custom tab order, which was an update within Storyline 2 Update 5 (May 2015) so that was after the last response here. What update of Storyline are you currently using? You can see all the release notes and download any updates here.
On clicking a hot spot, we need a text entry box to appear (or change from transparent to white fill) and already have the focus, so the user can just start typing. From the user's perspective, they have already clicked (which makes the text entry box appear or change fill color) so they should not need to click a second time.
This is to simulate fields that already contain a default value, that when clicked accept a new value.
Thanks for your help. In the attached, the user should need to click only once in the field to enter the number (as the system actually works), rather than having to click a second time to give the focus to the text entry box.
I have also tried this with layers, with the layer that is triggered containing the text entry box. So any way that moves the focus to the text entry box, at the beginning of a timeline, when a new layer is triggered, etc. would work.
Hi John - That is a lot of clicks :) What if you just removed the first slide with the hotspot and changed the wording on the second slide where they input the number? Updated file attached.
But that is not the user experience when using the system, which is the default value is showing until the user clicks in the field. If the default value is not showing, the user does not know what is being changed.
And if the default value continues to show when clicked (the text entry box is transparent), both the default value and the new value are visible, which creates a real mess.
Sounds like you may have tried something similar with having a default value in the Text Entry field as well? Is that the other set-up that you did not like? Just trying to understand.
The community may have some suggestions as well of course.
That's a step closer, and something I had not tried. It is however different from the actual behavior of the system, which highlights the entry that will be replaced or clears the field. But it's close enough for our simulation if there is no other way to move focus to a text box without the user clicking it.
Glad we got you closer John - thanks for the update. You mentioned that the default value shows until the user clicks in the field above, so I thought that was the result you needed vs the 2-click you had before.
I'm using a regular content slide for my text entries. I find even setting up the tab order isn't a 100% accurate. If I click in box2, the tab (if it works at all) jumps back to box1 rather than continuing to box3.
Do you have a sample slide you can share with me? You should be able to use the Tab key to navigate from one text entry box to another. I'll help you set that up if you can share your file here!
25 Replies
Hi John,
The text entry issue should be default behavior so check your settings or share your file to troubleshoot it.
The tab issue is fixed here: http://en-uk.articulate.com/support/storyline/yellow-box-appears-when-pressing-the-tab-key
Here's a sample on SL1. Are you doing this on SL2?
I'm on SL2, but I still have SL1. I'll check it out.
Hi John,
Within Storyline 2, you may find that a data-entry field doesn't have focus when you visit a slide in your published output. As a result, you have to click the data-entry field before you can begin typing in it.
This is a known issue. It'll be fixed in the next update for Articulate Storyline. Enable the Check for updates at startup feature to be notified when the new update is available.
So I can just rebuild it Storyline 1 and it will work? Great! There's nothing I need in SL2 anyway. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi John,
In Storyline 1 as long as the text entry box is the top most element on the slide (or within the timeline the last item listed) that'll allow it to grab focus first and allow the user to just enter in text right away when visiting the slide.
Thanks, Ashley. That works fine for the first text box. However, the user has to hit TAB twice to advance to the second text box. I did go to Alt text and uncheck "Object visible to accessibility tools" for everything but the text boxes. Is there some way to make it so the user only hit TAB once to advance?
Hi John,
Tab order will move from the top left down as described here, so I suspect there is something else that is inbetween those two text boxes? There is not a way to change the tab order, so you may want to look at rearranging elements on your slide if you want the user to only be tabbing to that box next.
Ashley,
I built everything into the background graphic except the 2 text entry fields and the NEXT button. (See attached SL1 file.) It still requires the user to hit TAB twice. (If they are fixing SL2 to solve this problem, they may want to make sure you only have to hit TAB once.)
Am I missing something?
Gratefully,
John
Hi John,
I tested your file in preview, and the first text entry box on slide 2.1 had the cursor in the text entry box on start, and then yes, you have to tab first to recognize the entire box, and then to move forward to the next box. I could then tab to toggle back and forth even (as the done button isn't set to be accessible).
I know tab order is something that other users have shared their thoughts on in regards to a new feature request so you're welcome to share your thoughts as well.
Has this issue been fixed?
Hi Nataliia,
Within Storyline 2 and Storyline 360 you can determine a custom tab order, which was an update within Storyline 2 Update 5 (May 2015) so that was after the last response here. What update of Storyline are you currently using? You can see all the release notes and download any updates here.
On clicking a hot spot, we need a text entry box to appear (or change from transparent to white fill) and already have the focus, so the user can just start typing. From the user's perspective, they have already clicked (which makes the text entry box appear or change fill color) so they should not need to click a second time.
This is to simulate fields that already contain a default value, that when clicked accept a new value.
Hello John - Do you have a sample .story slide you'd like us to take a look at to better understand?
Leslie,
Thanks for your help. In the attached, the user should need to click only once in the field to enter the number (as the system actually works), rather than having to click a second time to give the focus to the text entry box.
I have also tried this with layers, with the layer that is triggered containing the text entry box. So any way that moves the focus to the text entry box, at the beginning of a timeline, when a new layer is triggered, etc. would work.
A solution to this will be appreciated.
Hi John - That is a lot of clicks :) What if you just removed the first slide with the hotspot and changed the wording on the second slide where they input the number? Updated file attached.
Thanks Leslie,
But that is not the user experience when using the system, which is the default value is showing until the user clicks in the field. If the default value is not showing, the user does not know what is being changed.
And if the default value continues to show when clicked (the text entry box is transparent), both the default value and the new value are visible, which creates a real mess.
Ah, that makes more sense John - I did not fully understand the need/setup, obviously. I'll take another look.
Sounds like you may have tried something similar with having a default value in the Text Entry field as well? Is that the other set-up that you did not like? Just trying to understand.
The community may have some suggestions as well of course.
Thanks Leslie,
That's a step closer, and something I had not tried. It is however different from the actual behavior of the system, which highlights the entry that will be replaced or clears the field. But it's close enough for our simulation if there is no other way to move focus to a text box without the user clicking it.
Much appreciated.
Glad we got you closer John - thanks for the update. You mentioned that the default value shows until the user clicks in the field above, so I thought that was the result you needed vs the 2-click you had before.
My issue is when I enter something into textentrybox1 and press Enter, I want the focus to jump to textentrybox2. Is this possible? And if so, how?
Hi there, John. Are you using a quiz slide for your text entries? Or is it set up as a regular content slide?
Hi Crystal,
I'm using a regular content slide for my text entries. I find even setting up the tab order isn't a 100% accurate. If I click in box2, the tab (if it works at all) jumps back to box1 rather than continuing to box3.
Hi John,
Do you have a sample slide you can share with me? You should be able to use the Tab key to navigate from one text entry box to another. I'll help you set that up if you can share your file here!
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