So I have a 3 x 3 grid of squares (9 squares total). When a user clicks a square, regardless of which square is clicked, I want them to be shown Layer #1. When the user clicks a second square (any square on the grid), I want them to see Layer #2. And so on, all the way up to Layer 9.
Basically, as the users click on the squares, I want to show them 9 questions in a specific order, one-by-one, regardless of which square is clicked each time.
I'm at a loss on how to do this! It would be great if I could add a "visited" state to the squares that have been clicked (so that users have a visual cue to not click the same square twice.
I'm dying of curiosity to know why. If it doesn't matter where they click, why distract them with pretending they have a choice as to where to click? What you have described can be accomplished by giving them one button, and showing the next layer every time they click.
I was wondering the same thing. So many times people ask how to do things (which are almost always possible using multiple approaches using Storyline) but the “why are you taking approach X” is always interesting to me. If the order of questions is already pre-planned, then why not just present them in a linear fashion and avoid the interaction entirely? Anyway, I’ll watch to see what Leslie has to say.
Thank you Walt and Richard for your quick replies, I truly appreciate it! I've been tasked with creating a Hollywood Squares-esque game. Two people will be sitting together using the same laptop/storyline game, taking turns. There is a third person (a moderator) will be standing nearby. Goofy, I know.
Ideally: Player #1 will click one of the squares, a question pops up, and under the question will be two buttons: an "X" button and an "O" button. Player #1 says their answer out loud to the moderator. The moderator tells them if they are correct or not. If Player #1 was correct, they click their symbol (let's say that they are the X symbol), and the X symbol appears on top of the square. If they were wrong, they click the other player's symbol (the O symbol) and it appears on the square.
Then Player #2 takes their turn - if they get it right, they'll click the "O" button so that an O appears on the square. The goal is to get a tic-tac-toe, meaning three squares in a row. This would all be super straightforward to build in Storyline - BUT my client is picky, they want the questions to come up in a specific order, regardless of which square is picked.
I'm testing out the file you sent Richard, and it's WONDERFUL! I feel like I'm 1/2 way there thanks to you! I'm going to work on adding those "x" and "o"s I talked about, so that each square gets one of those symbols on it based on the user clicking a button (either an x button or an o button).
I can't begin to thank you - I'm jumping back into Storyline after a three-year hiatus, and my problem-solving skills are feeling rusty!
Well, that makes sense, especially if you are dealing with lower elementary students.
I would put the questions and the “X” and “O” buttons on a layer, with the questions as different states of a text box. Using a layer to show the questions, hold the triggers that occur over and over, and keep track of everything, makes for a lot less work, and makes it easier to keep track of what you are creating.
When they click a square:
1. If the clicked square is not in X state, or O state, set Variable 1, corresponding to the square, to keep track of which one to change.
2. If the clicked square is not in X state, or O state, show the layer.
When the layer timeline starts:
1. Change the state of the text box to match variable 2, as Richard suggested. That shows the next question.
When “X” or “O” is clicked:
1. Hide the layer
2. Add 1 to variable2
3. Change the state of the square (according to Variable1) to either “X” or “O”.
Thank you again for building upon this and the suggested triggers. So full disclosure, I've been at it for 9 hours (I know, judgment deserved on this) and I haven't been able to accomplish the triggers you've suggested. This is definitely due to my rusty Storyline skills, so if you aren't too sick of me, I'm coming back to you requesting a bit more help.
I've been focusing on just getting the top row to work as a starting point. - I have X and O states created for the top three triangles - I created 3 new states for the question text box that lives on layer 1 (the states are "Question 1", "Question 2" and "Question 3". After this, things got hairy.
On layer 1, you advised that I "Change the state of the text box to match variable 2, as Richard suggested. That shows the next question." I couldn't figure out what this trigger should look like (you'll see I have a trigger on layer 1, but it's not correct).
Issue number 2: Change the state of the square (according to Variable1) to either “X” or “O”. I couldn't figure out where in a trigger I would establish the "according to variable1" part of this. Again, you'll see another (very wrong) attempted trigger on layer 1.
Are you able to look at my storyline file and help me get the first row of rectangles functioning? I feel awful asking for your time this way, but after 9 hours of failing, I'm trying to muster up the courage to ask for help. Totally understand if you aren't able to!
I guess what I'm hoping for is a sample file for the first row of rectangles, Walt. Which I hate to ask for because it 100% feels like you doing my work for me and I truly apologize for that reality.
I reached out to Articulate live chat to ask them for help translating your instructions into Leslie-level comprehension level and they said they weren't able to help in that capacity... so this is my "help me obi wan kenobi" plea.
Check the New slide in the attached file. Don't worry about asking for help. There's an old saying that "Knowledge not shared is knowledge stolen." You are working, and just need a little direction. What I don't like is students that don't need a finished product, but do need to experience the process, yet ask for help without having any of their own investment. Or for that matter, those who haven't tried (or have "broken their head for a whole half an hour"). For those people, it is difficult to do their work. For those who are trying, it is easy to help.
I put the questions on one layer thinking that would save creating or modifying a bunch of triggers, but now that I think of it, you probably could put each question on a different layer. Just create one and duplicate it.
The biggest part was to determine and declare the winner. If you don't need it, just delete the layer and the triggers that show it.
I'm being lazy, so I didn't put in a way to make changes if the "X" or "O" is wrongly clicked.
Walt, I think my blood pressure just returned to normal for the first time in 3 days. THANK YOU! I am diving into your brilliant file/solution this weekend because I am eager to dissect the triggers.
I am a designer by trade, with (as I'm sure you've noticed) just enough Articulate experience to get myself into trouble. I was circling the drain in my attempts and now I feel like my understanding of the tool is going to dive much deeper thanks to your help. More gratitude coming from me later but again - please enjoy your weekend knowing that you truly saved my sanity!
One more note to Walt: I'm a week out since you helped me, and I've been able to carry my game development forward with lots of success. Thank you again for sharing your expertise and for how generous you were with your time. It really made a huge difference to me!
14 Replies
Leslie,
One way to approach this is to use a counter variable. See attached.
I'm dying of curiosity to know why. If it doesn't matter where they click, why distract them with pretending they have a choice as to where to click? What you have described can be accomplished by giving them one button, and showing the next layer every time they click.
Walt,
I was wondering the same thing. So many times people ask how to do things (which are almost always possible using multiple approaches using Storyline) but the “why are you taking approach X” is always interesting to me. If the order of questions is already pre-planned, then why not just present them in a linear fashion and avoid the interaction entirely? Anyway, I’ll watch to see what Leslie has to say.
Richard
Thank you Walt and Richard for your quick replies, I truly appreciate it! I've been tasked with creating a Hollywood Squares-esque game. Two people will be sitting together using the same laptop/storyline game, taking turns. There is a third person (a moderator) will be standing nearby. Goofy, I know.
Ideally: Player #1 will click one of the squares, a question pops up, and under the question will be two buttons: an "X" button and an "O" button. Player #1 says their answer out loud to the moderator. The moderator tells them if they are correct or not. If Player #1 was correct, they click their symbol (let's say that they are the X symbol), and the X symbol appears on top of the square. If they were wrong, they click the other player's symbol (the O symbol) and it appears on the square.
Then Player #2 takes their turn - if they get it right, they'll click the "O" button so that an O appears on the square. The goal is to get a tic-tac-toe, meaning three squares in a row. This would all be super straightforward to build in Storyline - BUT my client is picky, they want the questions to come up in a specific order, regardless of which square is picked.
Any guidance you have would be a godsend!
Cheers,
Leslie
I'm testing out the file you sent Richard, and it's WONDERFUL! I feel like I'm 1/2 way there thanks to you! I'm going to work on adding those "x" and "o"s I talked about, so that each square gets one of those symbols on it based on the user clicking a button (either an x button or an o button).
I can't begin to thank you - I'm jumping back into Storyline after a three-year hiatus, and my problem-solving skills are feeling rusty!
Well, that makes sense, especially if you are dealing with lower elementary students.
I would put the questions and the “X” and “O” buttons on a layer, with the questions as different states of a text box. Using a layer to show the questions, hold the triggers that occur over and over, and keep track of everything, makes for a lot less work, and makes it easier to keep track of what you are creating.
When they click a square:
1. If the clicked square is not in X state, or O state, set Variable 1, corresponding to the square, to keep track of which one to change.
2. If the clicked square is not in X state, or O state, show the layer.
When the layer timeline starts:
1. Change the state of the text box to match variable 2, as Richard suggested. That shows the next question.
When “X” or “O” is clicked:
1. Hide the layer
2. Add 1 to variable2
3. Change the state of the square (according to Variable1) to either “X” or “O”.
Hey Walt!
Thank you again for building upon this and the suggested triggers. So full disclosure, I've been at it for 9 hours (I know, judgment deserved on this) and I haven't been able to accomplish the triggers you've suggested. This is definitely due to my rusty Storyline skills, so if you aren't too sick of me, I'm coming back to you requesting a bit more help.
I've been focusing on just getting the top row to work as a starting point.
- I have X and O states created for the top three triangles
- I created 3 new states for the question text box that lives on layer 1 (the states are "Question 1", "Question 2" and "Question 3". After this, things got hairy.
On layer 1, you advised that I "Change the state of the text box to match variable 2, as Richard suggested. That shows the next question." I couldn't figure out what this trigger should look like (you'll see I have a trigger on layer 1, but it's not correct).
Issue number 2: Change the state of the square (according to Variable1) to either “X” or “O”. I couldn't figure out where in a trigger I would establish the "according to variable1" part of this. Again, you'll see another (very wrong) attempted trigger on layer 1.
Are you able to look at my storyline file and help me get the first row of rectangles functioning? I feel awful asking for your time this way, but after 9 hours of failing, I'm trying to muster up the courage to ask for help. Totally understand if you aren't able to!
I guess what I'm hoping for is a sample file for the first row of rectangles, Walt. Which I hate to ask for because it 100% feels like you doing my work for me and I truly apologize for that reality.
I reached out to Articulate live chat to ask them for help translating your instructions into Leslie-level comprehension level and they said they weren't able to help in that capacity... so this is my "help me obi wan kenobi" plea.
I have some time tonight. I’ll take a look at it.
Thank you so much, Walt.
I will be working on it tonight too. I'll let you know promptly if I figure it out so that I'm not taking up your time unnecessarily. Cheers!
Check the New slide in the attached file. Don't worry about asking for help. There's an old saying that "Knowledge not shared is knowledge stolen." You are working, and just need a little direction. What I don't like is students that don't need a finished product, but do need to experience the process, yet ask for help without having any of their own investment. Or for that matter, those who haven't tried (or have "broken their head for a whole half an hour"). For those people, it is difficult to do their work. For those who are trying, it is easy to help.
I put the questions on one layer thinking that would save creating or modifying a bunch of triggers, but now that I think of it, you probably could put each question on a different layer. Just create one and duplicate it.
The biggest part was to determine and declare the winner. If you don't need it, just delete the layer and the triggers that show it.
I'm being lazy, so I didn't put in a way to make changes if the "X" or "O" is wrongly clicked.
Walt, I think my blood pressure just returned to normal for the first time in 3 days. THANK YOU! I am diving into your brilliant file/solution this weekend because I am eager to dissect the triggers.
I am a designer by trade, with (as I'm sure you've noticed) just enough Articulate experience to get myself into trouble. I was circling the drain in my attempts and now I feel like my understanding of the tool is going to dive much deeper thanks to your help. More gratitude coming from me later but again - please enjoy your weekend knowing that you truly saved my sanity!
One more note to Walt: I'm a week out since you helped me, and I've been able to carry my game development forward with lots of success. Thank you again for sharing your expertise and for how generous you were with your time. It really made a huge difference to me!
You’re welcome. PIAWYC (Pass It Along When You Can).