Is it just me or has someone else also seen this issue. When I copy an image from a storyline file and paste it in another story file, all I see is the placeholder for the image. The image does not appear. Is this a bug or is there something wrong in my installation of storyline.
Hi there Jen! Let's see if we can nail down why copy/paste isn't working correctly for you.
Are you on the latest update of Storyline 360? To check, click the Help tab, then click About Storyline. You should see 3.18.16449.0 in the bottom-right corner.
What version of Windows are you using?
Would you mind sharing a Peek of the steps you're following to copy characters and images between files?
I'm using Storyline 360 version 3.18.16449.0 on Windows 10 Pro version 1709 OS Build 16299.492.
I'm just copying the slide (or just an image/character) by clicking on it to select it and using ctrl+C (or the right click dialog) to copy. Then pasting that slide into another storyline file, or pasting the image/character onto an existing slide in another storyline file (by either ctrl+P or the right click dialog). I don't have time to do the peek right now so hopefully that's clear enough. If not, I may be able to do so in a few days.
It sounds like you and I are using the same setup. Here's a quick Peek to demonstrate how copy/paste works from my end. Once you have more time, we'd love to see a similar Peek of what happens when you try and copy/paste slides or objects in Storyline 360. Thanks!
This problem has occurred yet again with the latest version (v3.24.17733.0).
I have two projects that share many assets between them. Lots of the images have been cropped or recoloured within Storyline and when copied as individual elements or as complete screens, I get a place holder. However, I can see the images in the Slide Layers section.
If I then replace the image, it appears, but none of the editing functions remain, I get the raw mage again.
If I import the file, I get the mages, but in their unaltered state. I then have to try and exactly crop the image to match the one in the other course.
This is a major issue as a simple copy/paste between two files is a very basic function that should work.
I'm sorry you've hit this snag again, copy and pasting should work as Alyssa's Peek video showed. You mentioned a placeholder, is that a red X or other empty space on your slide where the image is supposed to be? If so, that's a likely sign of corruption from the image, location, or slide itself. Where are you .story files stored and access while you're opening to copy/paste from and within? I'd start by confirming you're following the best practices outlined here.
Also, since you're using the same assets across files, I wanted to share more details on using Media library. You could build an initial course with all those assets and then duplicate/copy the course to begin a new course using the same assets.
If you're still running into trouble with the copy/paste from one Storyline file to another, it would help if you can you take a Peek of the problem. You can include the "Share" link here in your reply or if needing to share privately, send along to our Support Team.
Yep, I have this problem quite often too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I quit and relaunch. Sometimes it works after reopening SL360, sometimes it doesn't.
SL360 is full of surprises. You never know what will happen the next time you open it.
Same problem here. If I copy an image that was cropped in Storyline and then paste it in another Storyline file, it won't appear — only an invisible bounding box. I always have to right click on the invisible bounding box and choose to replace the image. After doing that, I have to resize and re-crop the image again. I'm using Build 3.26.18364.0.
I'm sorry to hear that you're also facing the missing image issue!
This behavior has been difficult for us to recreate, but we won't give up. Are you finding that this happens from any Storyline project or a certain one?
Also, we are happy to troubleshoot in real-time while you copy and paste media in the latest update. Let us know if you could screen share with us:
We are experiencing this issue for 2 years already. We are using Storyline 360, and we update regularly. For some reason, images will sometimes not copy properly (empty image, or no backgrounds) and sometimes they will. Importing works though.
I can see how this would frustrating! It sounds like this is occurring in all kinds of projects and with multiple images. Are you copying the images from Storyline 360 projects or copying images from a website? I'd be happy to look more into this!
I appreciate your help in troubleshooting this issue!
Thank you for your response. I'm copying images or whole slides from other Storyline 360 projects. When I copy a whole slide to another Storyline 360 project, the text will copy just fine but images (JPG or PNG) will be empty sometimes. Sometimes it works but we have no clue when it works and when it doesn't work.
That is very helpful! It sounds like the images, jpg or png, are blank, specifically when copying and pasting images. The current workaround you are using is to insert the images.
If this isn't a consistent behavior, it can be challenging to troubleshoot. If you have a specific project with an image where this occurs, would you mind sharing either the course or a screen recording with us? You can either attach it to this discussion or upload it in a support case.
The only way to prevent this behaviour is to import slides from another project using the import tool. Copy and paste hasn’t worked as far back as SL 2 and we’ve all complained about it since then. They aren’t going to fix it. However I can confirm the import method works 100 percent of the time.
This is happening here as well and it's quite frustrating.
The import workaround is not much of a workaround if I only want to copy a certain image from one slide or project to another. This has to be fixed..seems to basic of a bug to linger for several years.
I'm on the latest version and it won't copy and paste images form one Storyline file to another. I've tried using 2 Storylines open at the same time. I've tried copying the entire slide but a white placeholder comes in. I can import images normally but because it was cropped in the original file it means I have more work to match it. I can't believe this bug has been around for 9 years!
Yes this is really a frustrating bug. the slide import workaround is a good one but still, you have to import an complete slide.
What I have been doing since, which ultimately increased productivity for us, is create a Storyline Project that is a template of all the layouts we have in a certain course or class of courses and then I either import slides from it to our actual course project, OR, I import and entire scene and have a "Template" scene within each Storyline project file. When I publish, I publish the relevant scene without the "Template" scene.
This method proved a real convenience and time-saver when working on large-scale courses and of course it is eliminates most of the copying/pasting from different projects.
88 Replies
Hi there Jen! Let's see if we can nail down why copy/paste isn't working correctly for you.
Are you on the latest update of Storyline 360? To check, click the Help tab, then click About Storyline. You should see 3.18.16449.0 in the bottom-right corner.
I'm using Storyline 360 version 3.18.16449.0 on Windows 10 Pro version 1709 OS Build 16299.492.
I'm just copying the slide (or just an image/character) by clicking on it to select it and using ctrl+C (or the right click dialog) to copy. Then pasting that slide into another storyline file, or pasting the image/character onto an existing slide in another storyline file (by either ctrl+P or the right click dialog). I don't have time to do the peek right now so hopefully that's clear enough. If not, I may be able to do so in a few days.
Hi Jen,
It sounds like you and I are using the same setup. Here's a quick Peek to demonstrate how copy/paste works from my end. Once you have more time, we'd love to see a similar Peek of what happens when you try and copy/paste slides or objects in Storyline 360. Thanks!
This problem has occurred yet again with the latest version (v3.24.17733.0).
I have two projects that share many assets between them. Lots of the images have been cropped or recoloured within Storyline and when copied as individual elements or as complete screens, I get a place holder. However, I can see the images in the Slide Layers section.
If I then replace the image, it appears, but none of the editing functions remain, I get the raw mage again.
If I import the file, I get the mages, but in their unaltered state. I then have to try and exactly crop the image to match the one in the other course.
This is a major issue as a simple copy/paste between two files is a very basic function that should work.
Hi Rob,
I'm sorry you've hit this snag again, copy and pasting should work as Alyssa's Peek video showed. You mentioned a placeholder, is that a red X or other empty space on your slide where the image is supposed to be? If so, that's a likely sign of corruption from the image, location, or slide itself. Where are you .story files stored and access while you're opening to copy/paste from and within? I'd start by confirming you're following the best practices outlined here.
Also, since you're using the same assets across files, I wanted to share more details on using Media library. You could build an initial course with all those assets and then duplicate/copy the course to begin a new course using the same assets.
If you're still running into trouble with the copy/paste from one Storyline file to another, it would help if you can you take a Peek of the problem. You can include the "Share" link here in your reply or if needing to share privately, send along to our Support Team.
Yep, I have this problem quite often too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I quit and relaunch. Sometimes it works after reopening SL360, sometimes it doesn't.
SL360 is full of surprises. You never know what will happen the next time you open it.
Same problem here. If I copy an image that was cropped in Storyline and then paste it in another Storyline file, it won't appear — only an invisible bounding box. I always have to right click on the invisible bounding box and choose to replace the image. After doing that, I have to resize and re-crop the image again. I'm using Build 3.26.18364.0.
Hey Devs BC,
Thanks for letting us know what's going on. I'm not seeing the same behavior you're seeing, so I'd like to be sure I'm testing this correctly.
Could you take a look at this screen recording and let me know if you're following the same steps?
Same problem here. Even with uncropped pictures. Not every time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
7 years later: I've just experienced this.
Yeh we've all been having this issue for 7 years. We've just accepted that Articulate don't care at this point.
Hi, I have the same issue with the latest version of Articulate Storyline 360. Fascinating.
Hi Stefan,
I'm sorry to hear that you're also facing the missing image issue!
This behavior has been difficult for us to recreate, but we won't give up. Are you finding that this happens from any Storyline project or a certain one?
Also, we are happy to troubleshoot in real-time while you copy and paste media in the latest update. Let us know if you could screen share with us:
Hi, I have the same problem with Storyline 3 (updates haven't changed anything!)
Good morning, Christ!
I'd love to help you troubleshoot!
First, here's a quick video demo of the copy/paste experience in Storyline 3 Update 11.
A few questions to help us find a fix:
Hi,
We are experiencing this issue for 2 years already. We are using Storyline 360, and we update regularly. For some reason, images will sometimes not copy properly (empty image, or no backgrounds) and sometimes they will. Importing works though.
It happens with all kinds of projects.
Hello M T!
I can see how this would frustrating! It sounds like this is occurring in all kinds of projects and with multiple images. Are you copying the images from Storyline 360 projects or copying images from a website? I'd be happy to look more into this!
I appreciate your help in troubleshooting this issue!
Hi Lauren,
Thank you for your response. I'm copying images or whole slides from other Storyline 360 projects. When I copy a whole slide to another Storyline 360 project, the text will copy just fine but images (JPG or PNG) will be empty sometimes. Sometimes it works but we have no clue when it works and when it doesn't work.
Hello M T!
That is very helpful! It sounds like the images, jpg or png, are blank, specifically when copying and pasting images. The current workaround you are using is to insert the images.
If this isn't a consistent behavior, it can be challenging to troubleshoot. If you have a specific project with an image where this occurs, would you mind sharing either the course or a screen recording with us? You can either attach it to this discussion or upload it in a support case.
I wish I had a concrete fix to share!
The only way to prevent this behaviour is to import slides from another project using the import tool. Copy and paste hasn’t worked as far back as SL 2 and we’ve all complained about it since then. They aren’t going to fix it. However I can confirm the import method works 100 percent of the time.
Sent from my iPad
This is happening here as well and it's quite frustrating.
The import workaround is not much of a workaround if I only want to copy a certain image from one slide or project to another. This has to be fixed..seems to basic of a bug to linger for several years.
FIXED (Workaround) - Pasting Images from other Artic Files
A workaround for this fault, is to import the slide with the images you need (like photos).
The artic files/images can be local or on a server, or even pasted from another program.
Import.
I'm on the latest version and it won't copy and paste images form one Storyline file to another. I've tried using 2 Storylines open at the same time. I've tried copying the entire slide but a white placeholder comes in. I can import images normally but because it was cropped in the original file it means I have more work to match it. I can't believe this bug has been around for 9 years!
Yes this is really a frustrating bug.
the slide import workaround is a good one but still, you have to import an complete slide.
What I have been doing since, which ultimately increased productivity for us, is create a Storyline Project that is a template of all the layouts we have in a certain course or class of courses and then I either import slides from it to our actual course project, OR, I import and entire scene and have a "Template" scene within each Storyline project file. When I publish, I publish the relevant scene without the "Template" scene.
This method proved a real convenience and time-saver when working on large-scale courses and of course it is eliminates most of the copying/pasting from different projects.
You have to go to import in the menu and import the entire slide that contains the assets you want.
They aren’t going to fix it this is abundantly clear at this point :(