Keyboard Shortcut not working on Layers

Nov 24, 2020

I have created a trigger for keyboard shortcut to enable learners to move through the slides using the right arrow. This works just fine when moving between slides but doesn't work at all for moving between layers. The trigger is set up to show the  next layer when the user presses arrow key after clicking on this layer. Any ideas? Thanks!

15 Replies
Lauren Connelly

Hi Mary!

It sounds like you're trying to find a way to use the User Presses Key trigger without requiring the user to click on the slide first. 

One workaround is to add a button to the slide and add a trigger to Change the State of the button to Selected when the timeline starts on the slide. Then format the button to be completely transparent. 

Let me know if this works for you!

Mary T. Collins

Thanks Lauren. It's not as such that I'm trying to let them progress without clicking on the slide first, they will have clicked on the slide (base layer) but the key trigger won't allow them to move between layers, just slides. I need this key trigger for accessibility and it works fine for moving between the slides just not the layers. 

Jennifer Messeder

Hi. I'm having a similar issue in SL360, though pressing Enter to close a layer is working for me in preview mode. It's not working for a colleague who's testing my eLearning using the JAWS screen reader.

The sample slide and the other suggestions require the user to click on something, and we can't use mouse clicks for those who use screen readers. So, when I preview the sample slide, pressing L does nothing without first clicking.

Lauren Connelly

Hello Jennifer!

I'm happy to help! The standard keyboard shortcuts for screen readers are TAB, Enter key, Space bar, and arrow keys. I wouldn't recommend requiring the user to use these keys when adding the trigger "User presses key" because they each have their own purpose, which will take priority over a trigger that includes an action when the user presses the Enter key.

The Enter key and Space bar are used to select anything. If the user needs to close a layer, I'd recommend adding a "Close" button to the Layer for a learner to select. Lastly, make sure to add a trigger to Hide Layer when the User Clicks (Name of the button).

Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions!

Jennifer Messeder

Hmm. I started off with a Close button with a trigger to hide the layer when the user clicks that button. My colleague with JAWS said it didn't work and asked me to remove the Close button and have all learners press Enter to close the layer. But that didn't work for her either.

I'll put my Close buttons back. I'm glad I saved a prior version of this thing.

Jennifer Messeder

Well, in preview mode, pressing Enter when the Close button is in focus does not close the layer. I also tried the space bar and all of the arrow keys. Tab moves the focus around the layer. The only way to close (hide) the layer is to mouse click on the Close button, and we're not allowed to require mouse work for those using screen readers.

I published a scene to Review 360 to see what happens there. Same issue. The only way to close/hide a layer is to click on the Close button.

Lauren Connelly

Hi Jennifer!

If you have a trigger to hide a layer when the user presses Enter after clicking on the button, it would require the user to select the button twice to initiate the action. If you just want the user to select a button to hide the layer, add a trigger to hide the layer when the user clicks the button. By default, the layer will hide when the user selects the button, whether they are selecting it with a mouse or the keyboard.

Do you mind sharing your file so I can test it on my end as well? You can attach the .story file to this public discussion or upload it privately in a support case.

Jennifer Messeder

I'll upload a sample scene taken from the larger file using the private method. I have several slides with four or five layers of content, followed by a quick check question. The feedback layers on the questions work fine without mouse clicks, but I just can't get the content layers to close without mouse clicks.

Lauren Connelly

Hello Jennifer!

Thanks for attaching your file! I've tried changing the shapes to buttons to see if that did the trick. Unfortunately, the Enter key and Space Bar still aren't working on that slide. I've started a case on your behalf with our Support Engineers. They'll take a look at your course and follow up with you via email.