I have some audio that starts when the user presses a 'start audio' button.
I have added a 'pause' button. If the user pauses the audio, and then presses the 'start audio' again, the audio continues from where it was at when it was paused.
I want to add a 'restart audio' button that will start the audio from the beginning but I can't work out how to do it. If I add a trigger to play audio when you press the 'restart audio' button, it just plays where the audio was last up to rather than starting it again from the beginning.
I've attached a sample of how I would set this up. There may be others out there that have different ideas but here's one for you to start with anyway! Here are the steps I took:
I added a Play/Pause button and a Restart button
I added a True/False variable called AudioOn
I added audio to both the base layer and to a layer called Restart audio.
I added a trigger to Toggle the AudioOn variable when someone presses the Play/Pause button, so if it is True it will switch it to False and if it is False it will switch it to true (I also added some states and triggers to change the appearance of the play/pause button just for effect!)
I added a trigger to play the audio when someone clicks the pause/play button if AudioOn is false (the default is set to false)
And I added another variable to pause the audio when someone clicks the pause/play button if AudioOn is true
That takes care of the play and pause functionality. For the restart one:
7. I added a trigger to the restart button to jump to the Restart audio layer when the user clicks this. Here the audio will play automatically as soon as the layer starts.
8. The play/pause button from the base layer will still function here
9. I added a second restart button to the restart audio layer that will restart the timeline on this layer, just in case the user clicks the restart button a second time.
I know it seems like a lot of steps but once you set it up once you should be able to copy/paste it to other slides with just a few adjustments.
I have copied the slide into one of my stories so I can copy the triggers. However, when I did this the icons are not showing in the round buttons. Do you have any idea why this might be the case? I have checked the arrange tab and sent the button to the back but this didn't resolve it.
Hmmmm I'm not sure why this might be. The icons are within the states for the buttons. Instead of copying the slide could you just copy the buttons to see if that works? The triggers should copy along with the buttons
I am mysified. if I copy the buttons in to a cnew story, they are fine.
If I copy them into my existing stories, the button is not visible. I can see it in the timeline and i can see the different states in the states tab and all the triggers are there. But you can't see the icon.
Sorry to be such a pain, but i would so love a solution to the pause issue and I really love your icons.
I don't know why that might be, can you share your story here? Otherwise Leslie will probably be able to provide you with a link to share privately if you prefer.
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.
No worries, Sue! I got your case submission and will take a look and reply to you privately via email.
It looks like your email signature came through when you replied via email. You can remove that if needed by clicking ‘Edit’ beneath your response. Here’s a quick Peek video if you need help.
You have been so helpful so hope you don't mind me asking one more thing. I want to resize your lovely buttons but when I do, it only resizes the circle not the icon in the middle. I can't seem grab the icon to resize that too. Again, do you have any ideas why that may be so?
No problem Sue and rest assured you're not a pain! The icons are actually added to the States for the buttons (I set the buttons up this way so that I could use triggers to change their appearance). So to edit the icons you will need to select the button/circle, go to States > Edit States and there you should find what you need.
I have implemented your restart audio solution to great effect and used your lovely buttons so thank you so much.
I just had one outstanding question if you wouldn't mind. I have attached a slide to demonstrate the issue.
If you press the restart button, the audio restarts (from the restart layer) but if the learner presses the pause button it restarts the original audio (on the base layer) so there are then two audios playing. Similarly, if you press restart while the first audio is playing, you get two.
In the real world, it is likely that someone would only press the restart button once the audio is paused. But I suppose it is not unreasonable for someone to press the pause button on the restarted audio and need it to pause/unpause the audio on the restart layer and not the base layer.
Unfortunately there's still no attachment, I'm wondering if it's because you are replying by email? Maybe try attaching it in the actual discussion on eLearning Heroes?
I haven't been able to replicate the issue of two audios playing at the same time but what I did find was that if you paused on base layer, then hit restart, then hit pause, it started playing the audio from the base layer rather than the restart layer. To fix this I followed these steps:
Added a pause/play button to the restart layer and hid the one from the base layer
Set the initial state to Normal
Changed the triggers for this button to refer to the audio on the restart layer
Add a trigger to the restart button to return to 0sec on this layer when user clicks restart again
Add a trigger to play the audio automatically when timeline reaches 0.25secs
I was wondering if the ability to restart audio through a trigger could be added. The workaround suggested is a great one but doesn't work for all scenarios.
The trigger "Play audio" will restart the audio after it completes or is stopped. So if your design allows, you could add a replay button with the following triggers:
27 Replies
Does the audio begin at the start of the slide? If so you could put a "jump to this slide" trigger on the restart button.
Hi Mary
The audio plays when the play Audio button is pressed.
So don’t think your solution will work?
Thanks though
Sue
Get Outlook for iOS
Hi Sue,
The idea that Mary shared may be just what you are looking for. I'd recommend using a layer to accomplish your goal:
I've attached a brief example.
HI Mary
Thanks so much for looking at this for me and I am so sorry it has taken me so long to reply.
I'm really sorry but I just can't get my head around this.
What I want to be able to do and I am sorry if I am being a bit slow about this.
I want the learner to be able to:
- play audio by pressing a button
- pause the audio and then continue listening from where they left off 9say if they got interrrupted while they were listening)
- replay the audio from the beginning if they wanted to listen to it again
Does your solution work for this and if so if you could show me how I would be really grateful.
Thanks
Sue
Hi Sue,
I've attached a sample of how I would set this up. There may be others out there that have different ideas but here's one for you to start with anyway! Here are the steps I took:
That takes care of the play and pause functionality. For the restart one:
7. I added a trigger to the restart button to jump to the Restart audio layer when the user clicks this. Here the audio will play automatically as soon as the layer starts.
8. The play/pause button from the base layer will still function here
9. I added a second restart button to the restart audio layer that will restart the timeline on this layer, just in case the user clicks the restart button a second time.
I know it seems like a lot of steps but once you set it up once you should be able to copy/paste it to other slides with just a few adjustments.
Hope this helps!
HI Mary and Lesley
Thank you both for your help with this.
I have copied the slide into one of my stories so I can copy the triggers. However, when I did this the icons are not showing in the round buttons. Do you have any idea why this might be the case? I have checked the arrange tab and sent the button to the back but this didn't resolve it.
Any ideas cvery welcome!
Thanks again
Sue
Hmmmm I'm not sure why this might be. The icons are within the states for the buttons. Instead of copying the slide could you just copy the buttons to see if that works? The triggers should copy along with the buttons
Ooh thanks - I will try that now
Sue
I am mysified. if I copy the buttons in to a cnew story, they are fine.
If I copy them into my existing stories, the button is not visible. I can see it in the timeline and i can see the different states in the states tab and all the triggers are there. But you can't see the icon.
Sorry to be such a pain, but i would so love a solution to the pause issue and I really love your icons.
Thanks
Sue
I don't know why that might be, can you share your story here? Otherwise Leslie will probably be able to provide you with a link to share privately if you prefer.
Hi Sue,
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.
(Thanks, Mary!)
Hi Leslie
Sorry I keep getting you and mary mixed up.
I have sent the file - case number #02676131
Thanks
Sue
Sue Wallis
07718 993099
sue@thinkouts.com
www.thinkouts.com
[cid:4fbf45c2-5f7d-4e7e-bc5e-0777fbdc72b9]
No worries, Sue! I got your case submission and will take a look and reply to you privately via email.
It looks like your email signature came through when you replied via email. You can remove that if needed by clicking ‘Edit’ beneath your response. Here’s a quick Peek video if you need help.
Mary
You have been so helpful so hope you don't mind me asking one more thing. I want to resize your lovely buttons but when I do, it only resizes the circle not the icon in the middle. I can't seem grab the icon to resize that too. Again, do you have any ideas why that may be so?
Thanks and sorry to be such a pain!
Sue
No problem Sue and rest assured you're not a pain! The icons are actually added to the States for the buttons (I set the buttons up this way so that I could use triggers to change their appearance). So to edit the icons you will need to select the button/circle, go to States > Edit States and there you should find what you need.
HI Mary
I hope you had a lovely Easter break.
I have implemented your restart audio solution to great effect and used your lovely buttons so thank you so much.
I just had one outstanding question if you wouldn't mind. I have attached a slide to demonstrate the issue.
If you press the restart button, the audio restarts (from the restart layer) but if the learner presses the pause button it restarts the original audio (on the base layer) so there are then two audios playing. Similarly, if you press restart while the first audio is playing, you get two.
In the real world, it is likely that someone would only press the restart button once the audio is paused. But I suppose it is not unreasonable for someone to press the pause button on the restarted audio and need it to pause/unpause the audio on the restart layer and not the base layer.
Did you manage to follow that?
Thanks as ever for your really invaluable help.
All the best
Sue
Sue Wallis
07718 993099
sue@thinkouts.com
www.thinkouts.com
[cid:387363bf-7d60-4381-92f1-2a7dc037decd]
Hi Sue, sorry I was on a long weekend! I don't see an attachment, can you re-attach?
Thanks
HI Mary
I hope you had a good break and sorry if I didn't attach.
Thanks for your help
Sue
Sue Wallis
07718 993099
sue@thinkouts.com
www.thinkouts.com
[cid:ac7412e3-bbb8-47d5-9714-a2352a588379]
Hi Sue,
Unfortunately there's still no attachment, I'm wondering if it's because you are replying by email? Maybe try attaching it in the actual discussion on eLearning Heroes?
Thanks Mary - I have attached now.
Thanks
Sue
Hi Sue,
I haven't been able to replicate the issue of two audios playing at the same time but what I did find was that if you paused on base layer, then hit restart, then hit pause, it started playing the audio from the base layer rather than the restart layer. To fix this I followed these steps:
I hope this covers all bases!
HI Mary
You are an absolute star - thank you so much. I am really grateful for helping me further with this. I will implment your solution straight away.
Thanks again
Sue
No problem Sue, I hope it's all in working order now!
I was wondering if the ability to restart audio through a trigger could be added. The workaround suggested is a great one but doesn't work for all scenarios.
Hi, Kenneth.
The trigger "Play audio" will restart the audio after it completes or is stopped. So if your design allows, you could add a replay button with the following triggers:
Here's an example:
Let me know if that helps!