Monitoring the usage and actual state of variables
Feb 26, 2018
Hi. Since last December I'm learning to use storyline 360 and yes, progress is visible.
In my last two e-contents I started using number-variables mostly for one reason: Learner are able to start clicking on objects anyway they like and still the course shall only progress when all objects on a slide are clicked.
Example:
Slide has 4 objects. Clicking any object adds "1" to a variable. When this variable equals "4" the next activiy is allowed to happen.
Actually I'm creating a slide with 4 layers and jumping to at least 8 lightboxes. All this is controlled by one variable which results in a lot of different value-states of it. I tried to check the right flow of this variable using the report function "usage of variable...." by clicking the corresponding blue number of usages for this variable. You see on the attached pic "180226 VarReport.png" that this gets pretty confusing if not unreadable.
What's more: There is no info about what is happening at any reached value or the actual value-state of the variable itself.
Since variables are a powerful and rather easy to use tool to control and direct the activity flow, allow me to suggest the following:
Have a look at my table "180225 Flow Var_StepUnits". I think it shows the idea behind it. This table shows you cause & effect between learners activity and the variable's value-state. It would be really helpful to integrate such a table. Either to replace the actual "usage of variable...." report or in additon to it.
And if it is possible to show/activate a little counter for any chosen variable showing its actual value-state I would be really happy.
What do you think?
3 Replies
To track the value of variables during development, I usually add a layer to the master slide, add a bunch of text boxes with variable references and then toggle that layer with a keypress trigger. That way, I can see at any point what the current value of a variable is.
These are the variable references Michael mentions.
Add a text box. Any place in it where %VariableName% appears will be replaced with the value of the variable.
Go to Insert > reference for a list of variable names, or just type them, but be aware that typing allows you to enter mistakes, while the drop down list doesn't.
Hi to you both, Michael and Walt.
Yes, I'm impressed!!
I tried it and it's pretty much what I need.
Of course it would be interesting to have this built-in as a standard 'observing' feature.
I'd call it perfect if it could come along showing also the activities who cause the selected value to change. This way one has the direct control whether all the created trigger are correct and do as intended.
Nevertheless, a very warm thank you to you both the "kings of workarounds"
Enjoy your life
Goetz
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