Prevent fast forward: video

May 16, 2014

Is there a solution to prevent a user from fast forwarding through a video? I have a course with about 8 short 2-3 minute videos that I need the user to view the entire video, without being able to skip through it..

24 Replies
steph rezendes

Hi Terri,

I have found a solution to this issue. I created a transparent rectangle and placed it over the player bar (and made sure it was the first layer on the timeline). When the user clicks the player bar, they're really clicking the rectangle, which prevents them from fast forwarding. I didn't move the rectangle over the play/pause, so they can still pause the video.

I also added a trigger to the Next button so that they can't advance until the media completes. I have a popup box come up which says "you must watch the entire video to complete" and the media pauses. When they close out of the popup box, the media restarts.

Hope this helps!

Yvette Healey

Brian: your tip works GREAT for PC and Mac browser users, but what about iPAD users? I've heard of using a layer with a custom player button to start the media on the base layer, but cover up controls. However, the integrated iPAD video player shows ON TOP of all layers, right? So none of this works on an iPAD? Any suggestions for that? I am testing on an iPAD 2 with Mac OS 10.0.2. Thanks!

Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard

Hi Yvette,

This thread is a bit older, so I'm not sure that folks are still subscribed here. We have heard of some odd video behavior within iOS 10 but it seems to be specific to different LMS systems where content is hosted. If you're having difficulty with it, we're happy to take a look at it or you could also test it out by uploading to a site such as SCORM Cloud which is an industry standard for LMS testing. Also the only video behavior I've seen where the video will always come to the top is within the iPhone and it'll always launch in it's own player. 

Yvette Healey

Hello, Ashley!

Thank you SO much for replying to this thread! I actually submitted a support case, but I'm not quite sure I understand exactly how the support rep addressed the iPAD video problem?

I'm not sure if you have access to the support ticket cases, but the reference number is #00904936

The support tech provided a sample solution at this link: http://articulate.fyi/2dyGaJn

I understand the layer programming, and his prior suggestion to place a mostly transparent (but blocking) rectangle over the integrated Articulate video control player works beautifully for PC and Mac users. But, to your point, it appears that iPAD users (and perhaps phone users) have an iPAD/iPhone video player interface that sits ON TOP of any Articulate programming and thus can be manipulated by the user (dragging forward).

Can I confirm that is correct?

Yvette

Yvette M. Healey, MS
Instructional Design Specialist
Orthofix Learning
Office/Mobile: 704-661-6821
[logo-Orthofix]

Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard

Hi Yvette,

Thanks for sharing that link and the case number ( I can look those up). What you'll see if you take a look at that link in an iPad is a different looking play button and seekbar on the video than if you were viewing on a PC/desktop screen but you're still unable to click on the seekbar element as the transparent element such as an object or hotspot is covering it so they can't seek ahead. This I tested on my iPad mini using iOS10. If you were to view the same thing in an iPhone, it would open the video player separately - but that's a function of Apple and not something you can control from within your Storyline course. So this link that was shared as a part of your support case behaves as I'd expect and as you described for desktop and iPad deployment. 

I also wanted to let you know that when you respond via email your signature is included here so you're welcome to edit the post to remove that information. 

Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard

Hi Lisa,

This discussion is a bit older - but as you can see from my earlier reply it may depend n how you've inserted the video and what devices users are using to watch it. For example, some Apple iOS versions launch the video in a new tab or video specific screen and default to the Apple controls. 

Leslie McKerchie

Hello Val and welcome to E-Learning Heroes :)

Thanks for reaching out and sharing what you would like to accomplish. 

Have you tried any of the suggestions already shared within this conversation? It looks like either removing the controls or using a hotspot or a shape over the video seemed to work well for others.

Frank Yario

I'm looking for a solution to an embedded vimeo video. The learner must watch the video before they can advance to the next slide. In addition the learner must be prevented from fast forwarding the video and have the option to pause and play the vimeo video.

I have attached my storyline file for reference.

 

Darren McNeill

Any properly supported fix for this? If it can be done for Rise then surely it can be implemented for the more powerful Storyline 360. I have a module with 17 videos, and it is required in the module that users cannot move forward but must watch the videos. However, when uploading to Review, the reviewers do not want to have to go through the full program to review things and so I have change the video to being smaller and show the video Controller while they review the courses. This is time consuming and avoidable.

Patti Myers

I was reading through this thread to see if there was a solution to keep learner from fast-forwarding video. Ha! I did see there is a solution for Rise.  Would be good for Storyline in future.

I came up with the following solution:

  • In Video Controls: Show None
  • In Player Controls: Check to add Seekbar and in drop down: Choose Allow drag after completion (could also make seekbar read-only)
  • I am also adding a trigger to disable Next button at start of timeline and a trigger to have Next button Normal when media (video) completes on slide.
  • The problem would be if you want the seekbar to be available on other slides.  I guess you could adjust individual slide properties for these.

Hope that helps. :)

Patti

Jürgen Schoenemeyer

>only community workarounds
that is actually the strength of storyline

if storyline would add some small features

  • storage for custom files (like "resources) but not visible to the learner
  • links the this files into story.html
  • and not deleted them on every publish

and

  • optional disable javascript warning for "preview slide" for current session
  • additional trigger "on storyline ready", "on start course"


storyline would be much easier to extend and authors without programming skills could use these extensions

(I must have just been dreaming)