Keeping layers visible?
Apr 02, 2013
By
Shelby Hays
Hi there! I'm new to Storyline and being launched into it headfirst for some serious projects. I feel like I'm picking things up pretty quickly, but I'm facing an issue I don't know how to conquer.
There's a table on one slide and users need to click cells in the table. When they click certain cells, a check mark should appear. I've gotten the check marks all set up, one per layer. My problem is I need them to stay put once they are selected. If I click another cell, the new check mark appears, and the previously selected one disappears. How can I make it so the layers stay put after they are clicked?
Many thanks in advance!
Shelby
24 Replies
Hi Shelby, and welcome to the Heroes community!
What you're experiencing is slide layers hiding one another. To have them all stay visible, go to the layer properties for each layer (the little gear icon) and uncheck Hide other Slide layers. Do this for each layer, and they'll all stay put!
Mike
If I'm not mistaken, the effect you're going for might be better achieved with states rather than layers. There are easy-to-use settings for a Visited state that sounds like exactly what you're trying to build with layers. Here's a quick tutorial on how to use states:
http://community.articulate.com/tutorials/products/adding-and-editing-states.aspx
Hope that helps!
You guys are immensely helpful. Thank you so much!
Sarah, this is exactly the sort of thing I needed.
Hi there, Shelby. Welcome to E-Learning Heroes!
If the check marks are being displayed on layers, it's possible they're being hidden when the next layer is opened.
To change this option, click on the cogwheel icon in the layers panel, this will open the "Slide Layer Properties". Try disabling the option to "Hide other slide layers":
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Wow, everyone jumped on this
Good luck with your project, Shelby!
Thanks very much to everyone. Mike and Christine, I used your solution on the layers I had already painstakingly built. Sarah, I used your advice going forward for the rest of my content. You're awesome.
Hi! I have a follow-up question to this one. Same slide, different issue. My client would like it so the user cannot advance to the next slide until every correct cell in the table has been clicked. I am trying to figure out a way to make the Next button disabled until such time as the activity has been completed. Any ideas? I thought of maybe associating a state change with the clicking of the last cell in the table, but there's no guarantee that they won't click that cell at any point, not just at the end.
Shelby,
This is where evaluating states comes in handy!
Basically, you set up a trigger that says jump to next slide if the state of X and the state of Y and the state of Z are all (your criteria here). To give the learner a visual hint, I'd set up another layer that is fired if they hit the next button, but the states do not match your criteria.
I've attached an example...
Mike
I was having the same issue and this is exactly what I needed...thank you!!
Glad to see that this post was able to assist you as well Terry.
X-Posted at https://community.articulate.com/discussions/articulate-storyline/newbie-can-t-get-layers-to-show#reply-461116
(Storyline 3)
Please don't make me revert to Captivate, which I thought was more complex, but...
I don't have SL3, so can't look at your story, but be sure that the triggers to show the layers when timeline starts are attached to the timeline of the slide, and not something else.
Also, the description makes it seem as if the characters are set to show when the timeline starts, but you must use a trigger to show the layers. If the layers don't show, the objects on them can't be seen.
Thank you, Walt. I think I've done all that. See attachment of my editor settings.
Hi there Lisa! I can see that you’re still having trouble with the slide layers since you reached out here and in this other discussion. I’d love to help. Can you take a look at the questions I asked in the other discussion? We can keep the conversation going over there!
Lisa,
Thanks for the picture, it clears things up for me.
The Layer 1 - Female layer isn't shown because the trigger to show it is attached to the layer, and it has no ability to show itself:
(Note that this trigger to show the layer is on the layer and not the slide.) The trigger to show the layer will only fire when the timeline on the layer starts, and the timeline on the layer will only start when the layer is shown, and ... etc.
Go to the base layer, and attach the trigger to show the layer to the timeline of the slide, so when the slide timeline starts, it will show the layer:
Oh my gosh--thank you!!!! Makes total sense.
I have a large number of videos to package SCORM compliant. I did ask this question online but have received no response yet. Our LMS is Cornerstone and I am using Storyline 360. I have 3 criteria that this course should have after publishing. It needs to pass CSOD Pilot. It must save progress so the user can go back and start where they left off. The Exit button must close the course. I have submitted a ticket to support but that response did not help. Now I am attempting a work around of sorts but I still need help. Please look at this file and help me. I need the button layer on the first slide to be visible and clickable when the user wants to ext and save the progress. I am attaching my file.
Hey LaVon,
Thanks for letting us know that you've reached out to support. I see that Robert was able to share some information with you and a forum thread.
Looks like Phil has been helping you out on your forum thread here as well, so I'm glad that the community is able to help you out with your design needs.
Support was not able to help me. They referred me to another online post. This file is perhaps my last attempt at a workaround. I cannot think of anything else to try. I need to be able to resume the video where It left off not to restart from the beginning each time. Maybe there is no answer.
Thank you for the follow-up.
Ah, thank you for clarifying.
You can resume a course, yes. When that slide is a video, there is no way to 'guarantee' that they will resume the video where they left off and different browsers handle this differently as well.
Looks like Robert was sharing a possible solution that another user was able to utilize here.
There is not a setting within our software for this, so seeking the community for ideas and solutions is what is needed for your design.
How can I just have the last slide layer showing when I return to the base layer?
I have a base layer, and 4 additional slide layers. After I go through the 4 slide layers, I'd like to return to the base layer to active the 'next slide' function, but retain the information from the last slide layer on the screen. Is this possible?
Hi Tony and welcome to E-Learning Heroes. 😊
Thanks for reaching out and sharing what you would like to create. Without seeing your file, my first thought is to be sure that:
With your permission, I'd like to take a look at your project file to investigate what's happening. You can share it publicly here, or send it to me privately by uploading it here. I'll delete it when I'm done troubleshooting.
If you have not tried it, simply add a slide trigger to "show layer" when the "timeline" reaches "this slide" and apply it to the layer you want to show up.