Focus Order Question

I'll add my name to those above who would like to see the focus order always start with the base. 

It also seems that each layer should have its own focus order. In other words, until the user activates whatever trigger shows a layer, they shouldn't be able to access anything on that layer.  

• For example, what happens with interactions that have different paths through different layers? There wouldn't be just one perfect focus order. So, no matter how that one order was set, it would be very confusing for someone to follow what's happening. 

I suppose for some instances when layers are shown automatically, it might make sense to have layer objects part of the overall focus order. Thus, ideally, we should first be able to indicate whether we want one focus order per slide or one focus order per layer. 

I've submitted a feature request to change the default focus order to show base layer objects at the top and also to enable multiple objects to be selected and moved in the list. Would be great if others could do the same to bump this up the dev list. 

Hi Leslie.

I have a similar question. I have a slide with layers. In the Focus order list, the base layer objects are at the bottom of the list. If it's read from top to bottom (as you might expect), why are the base layer objects at the bottom, as these should be read out first. I know I can move them by creating a custom focus order, but that creates a lot of unnecessary work for any slides with layers. Or am I missing something here?

Hi Lauren

Yes - Georvy has been helping with this, but there is an issue with Storyline that I think others should be aware of...

Base layer objects will appear at the bottom of the Focus Order list, on a slide with layers, unless  the Custom Focus order option is selected before a slide is built. I would expect most developers to fine-tune the Focus Order after a slide has been built. They are unlikely to remember to choose the Custom Focus order option beforehand. So in order to move the base layer objects to the top of the Focus order list (to be read first by screen readers), they would need to drag each item individually to the top in the list (very time consuming on slides with multiple layers), or rebuild the slide.

It would save us a lot of time if base layer objects were at the top of the Focus Order list by default, followed by Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3 etc (from bottom to top in the Slide Layers panel). At the moment, the Focus Order is generated the other way round, i.e. Layer 3, Layer 2, Layer 1, Base layer. This is counterproductive and could also have the effect of making Storyline content generally less accessible since I imagine that in many cases, the Focus Order won't be adjusted.

@Dayn I typed this in my last reply and deleted it, I thought it would be more logical to appear below as it would as you say ensure the focus order is more logical, and then thought for a lot of users by appearing at the top it may remind them to move the objects into the correct space.

The focus Order should be more flexible and allow you to drag and drop more than one item but also allow you to select and then click an object and choose insert below or above.

I think there is still a lot that can be done intuitively by Articulate here to reduce our workload on Accessibility. Slide masters are a real pain, I can place the items in order on the master but still have to do it on each slide.

I am sure this will improve as Accessibility is something Articulate are always working on, look at where we are now to the same time last year.

Thank you everyone for sharing!  Good to know, I am not the only one who has spent hours creating custom focus orders.  Here's hoping we soon see the ability to select multiple objects and move them together...

Is there more information somewhere on layers and focus order? It used to be that the way I ordered things in the tab order, items would come into focus only if I was on that layer. Now it seems like no matter what layer I'm on, if I keep tabbing, I'll see every interactive object on every layer highlighted. Are layers just not compatible with keyboard accessibility anymore, or am I missing something?

Also, I LOVE that Articulate has heard users and is working so hard to make Storyline so much more accessible, and many of the instructions are really helpful. However, I'm finding that it's really easy to get lost in a seemingly endless rabbit hole of pages talking about 508 features. Even one that seems to be a central hub of information does not link to the April 2021 updates. So while I'm thankful for all of the information, it would be really helpful to have one place to go with all the info outlined/linked to.

And finally, Rise has a really helpful page with keyboard navigation instructions for users. It would be great if there was a similar page for Storyline where all of the instructions could be laid out (how to navigate, how to go through button sets, etc.). 

Also came to research this issue. You would think Articulate would be intuitive enough to to know that the base layer items should appear before layer items, in the default focus order. It seems to go in the EXACT OPPOSITE order you would want a screen reader to view them. Also, to have to move one item at a time on a slide with well over 50 items is maddening. Hours and hours have been lost for what seems like a simple 'feature.' 

Thanks for your replies

@Phil. Yes - that would be ideal. But for example, I have a slide with 6 layers, each with numerous objects. I have a preference for the order in which layers are read out by screen readers, that would make sense to learners. So I can easily change the layer order for the slide to change the Focus order (the layers get listed in order from top to bottom) and this is much quicker than changing the Focus order for each layer object.

However the base layer objects would almost always need to be read first, but they are at the bottom of the Focus order. This just seems wrong. @Katie - I know I can create a Custom Focus Order and move them to the top, but when you have a slide with lots of layers, each with lots of objects, this creates a very long Focus Order list and it takes ages to drag the base layer objects one-at-a-time to the top. Surely, they should be at the top by default?

This would be less of an issue, if we could multiple select objects and move them in the Focus Order list. I could then block select all the Base Layer objects and drag them to the top.

@Katie - I will upload a sample slide via the link.

I agree with the comments here. As I go back to review the focus order of each slide in a course that I just created, I am finding that the default order is the reverse of what I would expect it to be (i.e., the objects on secondary layers are placed above objects on the base layer). So, it will take a lot of time to customize each one by manually moving the items up and down in the focus order list. I will submit an additional feature request as mentioned above to help boost this to developers. 

Thank you.