I have a Storyline project with mixed backgound colors. Some slides have the default white background; others, a light blue background. When I preview a slide, a scene, or the entire project, the background of each slide displays the intended colors. Yet, when I publish the project, all pages have the light blue background. Can someone tell me what setting I may have inadvertently changed? I did not have this issue before I added some background color to some of the slides.
This sounds like a bizarre behavior, and I'd be curious if we could take a look at the .story file to see if the same issue is apparent on our end as well. Have you already checked into the slide masters, or elements that are on the base layer which could be interfering with the display?
Thank you, Ashley. I tried all suggestions and none worked. It still publishes all slides with the same color background that does not display when you're previewing the slide, scene or entire project.
I thought it may have had to do with the fact that I'm publishing in a network drive, so I copied all files to my local drive and re-tried publishing it--this time, locally. Got the same result with only the published version showing the light blue background.
I also tried importing the slides into another project. Still got the same result.
I then tried looking at the slide masters and none have the light blue background.
YOUR COMMENT: same issue is apparent on our end as well. Have you already checked into the slide masters, or elements that are on the base layer which could be interfering with the display?
MINE: Slide Masters: Didn't change any slide masters.
There are some slides that have a base layer with the light blue background; and others, that do not. When I publish the story, ALL slides display the light blue background, including the ones with base layers of white.
ALL previews, including previews of the entire project, display correctly. What is it that publishing changes? You indicated in your comment that you were able to reproduce it at your end?
Here's a shortened version of the file (only 8880 KB). (Hope it came through...Didn't get any errors when I uploaded it.) Note that in the Knowledge check the slide edge (background) looks like it has two colors (light blue over light yellow) instead of the one color (light yellow) that you see in the preview, which is how it should display.
Thanks for sharing the .story file with us here and a bit more information about your set up. I'm not sure where the information in the second post came from though, as I hadn't yet tried to reproduce on my end as I didn't have the file? Working off a network drive is known to cause issues, and importing it into a new file can solve some of the issues - but it's not a guarantee. If you're able to recreate the behavior on a new file that you've started from your local drive- please let us know.
I took a look at your project file, and specifically the Knowledge check section that you mentioned - and here is what I'm seeing. I see blue and yellow in both:
Also, I noticed a lot of extra slide masters in your course - that seemed to unused. I'd recommend removing them - as it could be contributing to overall file size issues or difficulties with the file itself.
Hi, Julie . . . No, I added the background in Storyline.
I tried selecting all slides and selecting Format Background > Reset Background. (Didn't work.)
I tried the Reset Slide option. (Didn't work)
I tried creating a new project and importing some of the slides. (Still didn't work. Instead of a mixed white and light blue background for the different pages, all backgrounds are now light grey.)
Thanks for the new images - and I may have misunderstood your first post, I thought you were seeing the change in preview in addition to publish - and I didn't see it while previewing.
In regards to moving the file to your C drive, and then importing it into a new project - I'd like to know if you can recreate the same behavior on a brand new project that you've started from your local drive. The reason I ask, is because working off a network drive can cause issues with .story files and just moving it back to the C drive or importing it doesn't always resolve the behavior. Your last comment about importing it and then just seeing the grey background is what is making me think it's this file - so I'd like to see if you can set up the same type of background in a new file and then if it still appears with different coloring upon publish.
Thanks, Ashley. Sorry you mis-read my original post. Do you have suggestions that would be different from the ones you gave because your premise of the issue is different?
Anyway . . . In the new file, it is no longer a light blue background (which is what appears upon publishing in my original file) BUT light grey.
I'm afraid I don't have project time remaining to recreate 153 slides.
My suggestions stay the same in terms of ensuring you're working locally, publishing locally and then testing the content within the intended publish environment. Also, you mentioned importing it into a new file didn't keep the background - which leads me to believe this may be file specific?
So what I'd like to know is if in a brand new file, created on your local drive, you're unable to set up the same background colors even just on a few test slides (not all 153 of them)?
It was not always displaying a blue background when I worked from my network drive. I don't know at what point in my edits this began to happen because I don't publish as often as I preview the slide, scene, or project. Previously, "preview" was WYSIWYG and it was the same as the published version. It's only lately that that was no longer the case and it only happens with the second background color (light blue). I've had the light yellow background for the quiz questions long before the light blue background for some of the slides. And, I have published with the light yellow background and it remained where I intended it to be--with the quiz questions.
I will be working locally henceforth to prevent any further corruption of my file. (fingers crossed...I hope)
Even if I were to find out that this is a phenomenon that occurs when working on a network drive and not on a local drive, the knowledge won't help me fix my project, and I don't have time to re-do the rest of the slides. It's quicker for me to use a workaround for some of them (as I have done) and leave the light blue background alone for some. Also, there's no telling if file size is the culprit. So, I could potentially encounter it again later, while using the locally created project. Then, I'll be in the same predicament.
I'm sorry that there wasn't more we could do to fix your file or determine what caused it - but please feel free to keep us posted if you run into this behavior again or need additional assistance.
Though the last post was created over a year ago, I faced the same issue today, and discovered, that whatever color shceme I choose (except the defult one) it modifies the slide background once published. Not when having a look at preview - only once it is published.
Hope it helps a bit and also that the issue will be enhanced.
Thanks for reaching out here and I'd be curious if you'd be able to share your file so that we could take a look and indicate where you're setting the background and what you're trying to set it to vs. what you're seeing? (Screenshots may help with that set up) Are you using Storyline 2 or 1? We were aware of an Issue in Storyline 2 where the page background was reverting to white - but that was fixed in a recent update as detailed here.
I just experienced something similar, but what is odd is that on my computer the course looks as it should, and on someone else's it changes the slide background to gray (should be white). The course was being viewed from the LMS after being published on each of our computers at the same time....
You both published a copy of it and uploaded to the LMS? Did you confirm that you're both using the latest update of Storyline? I know we were also discussing a similar issue here, so I think we'd want to take a look at your .story file and any screenshots you can provide to help us see the set up.
Hi Ashley, yes uploaded to LMS...it had happened a couple of weeks ago, then I discovered the slide background color setting in Storyline's player, and that seemed to fix the issue; however seemingly out of the blue yesterday when we were re-resting the variable font changing issue, I noticed on my colleague's screen the slides were was grey again! I'll have to ask her again if I can share the file. She was hesitant yesterday due to company privacy... I'll be back :)
If you are sharing files back and forth you'll also want to make sure you're adhering to the guidelines here in terms of working on project files locally. Similarly are you both using the same update of Storyline 2? The latest update is Update 9 and it's available here along with all the release notes of what was fixed. The background color and the notes section was something fixed/changed in an earlier update so if you're using a different version that could account for the file changing as you share it.
Hi there, Elizabeth. I worked on a file previously where the published background was not the same as the previewed background, and I discovered something in that file that might be useful to you. It had to do with the formatting the slide's background fill and transparency levels. I also wanted to share our knowledge base article about the slide background appearing darker, as a reference.
I found that having a slide background with a solid fill with around 50% transparency was causing a darker background after publish. If you have a Player color scheme which includes a slide background color, that color will bleed through the semi-transparent slide background. So think of your slide background as a layer above the Player background.
I haven't seen your file, so I'm not sure if this directly applies to you, but take a look at those settings, your slide background formatting (you can right click anywhere on that slide background and choose formatting) as well as your Player properties - colors.
I am also now after several testing rounds getting my multiple choice slide reverting to a white color and now the blue gradient image file I have used to format the background color......... After 20 publishes its now appearing!!! please help
Looks great in preview - working from a local story file and when published and viewed from the test server the issue is now there
I think I can share a link. But more of an update.
I have a published version on a test server, client provided the feedback that the screen was white. I went to my test link and saw it was white, I use chrome. Today I went to the link and there is no issue.
Multiple testers reported when they tested from their LMS and I saw it on my server and now its not there.
Is this an HTML 5 problem and or what is the best browser to use for storyline?
30 Replies
Hi Efleda,
This sounds like a bizarre behavior, and I'd be curious if we could take a look at the .story file to see if the same issue is apparent on our end as well. Have you already checked into the slide masters, or elements that are on the base layer which could be interfering with the display?
Can you also confirm you're working with local project files as described here - and try importing it into a new .story file to see if it resolves the behavior.
Thank you, Ashley. I tried all suggestions and none worked. It still publishes all slides with the same color background that does not display when you're previewing the slide, scene or entire project.
I thought it may have had to do with the fact that I'm publishing in a network drive, so I copied all files to my local drive and re-tried publishing it--this time, locally. Got the same result with only the published version showing the light blue background.
I also tried importing the slides into another project. Still got the same result.
I then tried looking at the slide masters and none have the light blue background.
Any other ideas of what to troubleshoot?
YOUR COMMENT: same issue is apparent on our end as well. Have you already checked into the slide masters, or elements that are on the base layer which could be interfering with the display?
MINE: Slide Masters: Didn't change any slide masters.
There are some slides that have a base layer with the light blue background; and others, that do not. When I publish the story, ALL slides display the light blue background, including the ones with base layers of white.
ALL previews, including previews of the entire project, display correctly. What is it that publishing changes? You indicated in your comment that you were able to reproduce it at your end?
Here's a shortened version of the file (only 8880 KB). (Hope it came through...Didn't get any errors when I uploaded it.) Note that in the Knowledge check the slide edge (background) looks like it has two colors (light blue over light yellow) instead of the one color (light yellow) that you see in the preview, which is how it should display.
Hi Efleda,
Thanks for sharing the .story file with us here and a bit more information about your set up. I'm not sure where the information in the second post came from though, as I hadn't yet tried to reproduce on my end as I didn't have the file? Working off a network drive is known to cause issues, and importing it into a new file can solve some of the issues - but it's not a guarantee. If you're able to recreate the behavior on a new file that you've started from your local drive- please let us know.
I took a look at your project file, and specifically the Knowledge check section that you mentioned - and here is what I'm seeing. I see blue and yellow in both:
Hi, Ashley . . .
- I moved all files to my local drive (C
--issue not resolved
- I imported slides to a new project--issue still not resolved
The extra blank scenes were remaining from the original which I shortened to share with you. I have deleted all of them, but the issue persists.
I've attached preview and published versions, along with screen captures.
Preview the .story file. That's how the slides should look.
The published version (story.html) is how they end up.
Did you import the background from PowerPoint?
Hi, Julie . . . No, I added the background in Storyline.
Hi Efleda,
Thanks for the new images - and I may have misunderstood your first post, I thought you were seeing the change in preview in addition to publish - and I didn't see it while previewing.
In regards to moving the file to your C drive, and then importing it into a new project - I'd like to know if you can recreate the same behavior on a brand new project that you've started from your local drive. The reason I ask, is because working off a network drive can cause issues with .story files and just moving it back to the C drive or importing it doesn't always resolve the behavior. Your last comment about importing it and then just seeing the grey background is what is making me think it's this file - so I'd like to see if you can set up the same type of background in a new file and then if it still appears with different coloring upon publish.
Thanks, Ashley. Sorry you mis-read my original post. Do you have suggestions that would be different from the ones you gave because your premise of the issue is different?
Anyway . . . In the new file, it is no longer a light blue background (which is what appears upon publishing in my original file) BUT light grey.
I'm afraid I don't have project time remaining to recreate 153 slides.
Thanks for trying to help.
G'day!
Hi Efleda,
My suggestions stay the same in terms of ensuring you're working locally, publishing locally and then testing the content within the intended publish environment. Also, you mentioned importing it into a new file didn't keep the background - which leads me to believe this may be file specific?
So what I'd like to know is if in a brand new file, created on your local drive, you're unable to set up the same background colors even just on a few test slides (not all 153 of them)?
It was not always displaying a blue background when I worked from my network drive. I don't know at what point in my edits this began to happen because I don't publish as often as I preview the slide, scene, or project. Previously, "preview" was WYSIWYG and it was the same as the published version. It's only lately that that was no longer the case and it only happens with the second background color (light blue). I've had the light yellow background for the quiz questions long before the light blue background for some of the slides. And, I have published with the light yellow background and it remained where I intended it to be--with the quiz questions.
I will be working locally henceforth to prevent any further corruption of my file. (fingers crossed...I hope)
Even if I were to find out that this is a phenomenon that occurs when working on a network drive and not on a local drive, the knowledge won't help me fix my project, and I don't have time to re-do the rest of the slides. It's quicker for me to use a workaround for some of them (as I have done) and leave the light blue background alone for some. Also, there's no telling if file size is the culprit. So, I could potentially encounter it again later, while using the locally created project. Then, I'll be in the same predicament.
Again, thanks for your suggestions.
I'm sorry that there wasn't more we could do to fix your file or determine what caused it - but please feel free to keep us posted if you run into this behavior again or need additional assistance.
Hi All,
Though the last post was created over a year ago, I faced the same issue today, and discovered, that whatever color shceme I choose (except the defult one) it modifies the slide background once published. Not when having a look at preview - only once it is published.
Hope it helps a bit and also that the issue will be enhanced.
Have a nice day!
Hi Marton,
Thanks for reaching out here and I'd be curious if you'd be able to share your file so that we could take a look and indicate where you're setting the background and what you're trying to set it to vs. what you're seeing? (Screenshots may help with that set up) Are you using Storyline 2 or 1? We were aware of an Issue in Storyline 2 where the page background was reverting to white - but that was fixed in a recent update as detailed here.
I just experienced something similar, but what is odd is that on my computer the course looks as it should, and on someone else's it changes the slide background to gray (should be white). The course was being viewed from the LMS after being published on each of our computers at the same time....
Hi Elizabeth,
You both published a copy of it and uploaded to the LMS? Did you confirm that you're both using the latest update of Storyline? I know we were also discussing a similar issue here, so I think we'd want to take a look at your .story file and any screenshots you can provide to help us see the set up.
Hi Ashley, yes uploaded to LMS...it had happened a couple of weeks ago, then I discovered the slide background color setting in Storyline's player, and that seemed to fix the issue; however seemingly out of the blue yesterday when we were re-resting the variable font changing issue, I noticed on my colleague's screen the slides were was grey again! I'll have to ask her again if I can share the file. She was hesitant yesterday due to company privacy... I'll be back :)
Hi Elizabeth,
If you are sharing files back and forth you'll also want to make sure you're adhering to the guidelines here in terms of working on project files locally. Similarly are you both using the same update of Storyline 2? The latest update is Update 9 and it's available here along with all the release notes of what was fixed. The background color and the notes section was something fixed/changed in an earlier update so if you're using a different version that could account for the file changing as you share it.
Hi Ashley,
she doesn't have Storyline installed. She was viewing the course from the LMS. I'm pretty sure we have update 9. I'll double check.
Thanks!
Hi there, Elizabeth. I worked on a file previously where the published background was not the same as the previewed background, and I discovered something in that file that might be useful to you. It had to do with the formatting the slide's background fill and transparency levels. I also wanted to share our knowledge base article about the slide background appearing darker, as a reference.
I found that having a slide background with a solid fill with around 50% transparency was causing a darker background after publish. If you have a Player color scheme which includes a slide background color, that color will bleed through the semi-transparent slide background. So think of your slide background as a layer above the Player background.
I haven't seen your file, so I'm not sure if this directly applies to you, but take a look at those settings, your slide background formatting (you can right click anywhere on that slide background and choose formatting) as well as your Player properties - colors.
I am also now after several testing rounds getting my multiple choice slide reverting to a white color and now the blue gradient image file I have used to format the background color......... After 20 publishes its now appearing!!! please help
Looks great in preview - working from a local story file and when published and viewed from the test server the issue is now there
Storyline 2 latest patch
Hi Gary - Would you be able to share the .story file so that we could take a look?
I think I can share a link. But more of an update.
I have a published version on a test server, client provided the feedback that the screen was white. I went to my test link and saw it was white, I use chrome. Today I went to the link and there is no issue.
Multiple testers reported when they tested from their LMS and I saw it on my server and now its not there.
Is this an HTML 5 problem and or what is the best browser to use for storyline?
Hi Gary - Thanks for the updated report. You can check out all of our supported viewing environments in this documentation if you'd like.
When you are ready to share your .story file, feel free, but if you need to share privately you are welcome to do so here.