Need a way to persist a layer.

Jan 09, 2024

Hi all.

I use Storyline to craft realistic simulations for my companies training. One of the elements we use is a Help layer. This is a transparent layer the learner can activate when they click a help icon. They then close the layer by clicking the close icon. Very simple.

I have a request to give learners the option to make the help layer persist from slide to slide. Something like a "toggle".

I've sorted out the way to do it using skills I already have.

When the learner clicks a hotspot on the help layer set a variable to true/false.

When a slide timeline starts, check the variable and show the layer if true.

If the learner closes a help layer set the variable to False.

The issue is that this requires a new logic on every base layer and help layer. It's going to be tedious to retrofit the simulations I already have with this new functionality.

Does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives?

Cheers, Jerry.

3 Replies

Judy Nollet
Hero

4 months ago01/09/24 at 2:12 pm (UTC)

Is the help content the same throughout the course? If so, you could use a layer on the Slide Master. This is demonstrated in the attached file.

The “?” (help) button is on the Slide Master. It opens a layer on the Slide Master. Thus, it is available throughout the course.
The buttons to open and close the layer also control a T/F variable. The variable changes to True when the layer is opened, and it changes to False when the layer is closed.
A trigger on the Slide Master shows the layer when the timeline opens, with the condition that the variable = True. This allows the layer to remain open as the user steps through the course.

In the demo, I put the help button and layer on the Slide Master. This means it would be the same throughout the course. If you need a few different versions, you could put a button and layer on a different Master Layout for each version.

Another option would be to have multiple Help layers on the Slide Master and/or objects with different states on the layer(s). Then use more variables and conditional triggers to determine what to show on a given slide.

Obviously, the more variations there are, the more complicated the programming and testing become. So, sometimes, it can be easier to do a task slide-by-slide instead of on a master.

If every slide has its own Help layer, you could use the same T/F variable on every slide. Basically, the programming would be the same as described above, except the conditionally trigger to show the layer would be on each slide (instead of on the Slide Master).

demo_Master_Help_Layer.story

4 months ago01/09/24 at 4:19 pm (UTC)

Hi there, thanks for replying.

The help layer for each slide is unique and contains prescriptive instructions for that specific slide, so unfortunately I cannot use the slide master approach. My initial efforts included a variable based approach with 1 variable for the entire deck and a button on the help layer to set the variable. If the variable is True, the Help Layer is visible when a slide starts (using timeline start logic) if the variable is false, then the layer is hidden unless the learner clicks the close icon for the help layer.

It sounds like this is the approach I am going to need to use.

Thanks again, J

4 months ago01/09/24 at 5:02 pm (UTC)

Yes, for slide-specific info, you need layers on each slide.

When you know that multiple slides will function the same way, it'll save you some time if you create one "set up" slide with the appropriate layer(s) and triggers. Then duplicate that slide as needed to create the actual content slides.

The more standardized items (e.g., formatted text boxes) you can add to the set up, the easier it will be to update a duplicated slide with the content. You could even create a special Feedback Master Layout with placeholders, and apply that to the layer. (https://community.articulate.com/series/articulate-storyline-360/articles/articulate-storyline-360-user-guide-how-to-use-feedback-masters )

Best wishes!