State Trigger is inconsistent
May 19, 2017
I doubt I'm the first with this problem, but searching for such a non-specific is hit-or-miss.
I've used State triggers several times before. Maybe an update messed them up?
Rectangle 1, Rectangle 2, Rectangle 3
Change state of Rectangle 1 to Hidden when user clicks.
Change state of Rectangle 2 to Hidden when user clicks.
Change state of Rectangle 3 to Hidden when user clicks.
Jump to next slide when the state of Rectangle 1 and Rectangle 2 and Rectangle 3 are Hidden.
This should work. In fact, sometimes it does. Creating it several times and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have a project where I did the same interaction and it works on 2 slides, and not on the other 3. Home computer and work computer. Please help.
I've tried numerous variations including attaching conditional states to each object that activate on click. States stopped working and it's making me crazy.
SL360 attachment.
12 Replies
Hi Timothy
sorry I can't help it works for me - I added in a following slide - here is Peek video
It was nice of you to try. I wonder if it would work if you were to
create it from scratch, duplicate the slide, or try another variation.
That's when it stops working. The first slide that use the states
generally works, it's the ones created subsequently do not
Still works ok. I created a brand new file. First slide 3 rectangles with triggers. Duplicated 3 times. Each slide works as expected for me...sorry I can't be more help. I've attached it - see if it works for you.
You are VERY kind to do so much work to help out Wendy.
I'm using my home computer now and your file and my other file are working. I'm thinking it is because one or these computers is using a more up-to-date version of SL360. I keep them updated everytime I see the alert. But it is the only reason I can think of why this basic interaction won't work.
Is there anyway you might look at another State trigger example I've attached to see why this one doesn't work? This particular example might be because I've set it up incorrectly.
Hi Timothy
you're not doing anything wrong. SL just doesn't play nice with the 'normal' 'is not normal' state of objects.
I get around this by having some objects offstage that change state to 'visited' when the user drops an item on any of the three targets. There is one offstage object for each drag item. Then I use the visited state of the ovals to change the OK button state.
Hope that helps and shout out if you need to
Timothy,
You identified the problem with your first post: Initiating a trigger based on "when state is" works sometimes, and doesn't others. I think it has to do with timing; the trigger needs to be checking at the moment the last state changes.
Basically, you have programmed it as if it means "When state becomes...", but in reality it works as "on condition state is..." If you put the checking on the states where it belongs (in the conditions) it functions perfectly. Not your fault; the programmers should never have put "state is" in a position where it can be used in the "when" part of a trigger. Think about it: "When" calls for the trigger to fire when some action occurs. What sort of an action is "is"? How do you define when "is" happens? This needs to be written as "state becomes" to be useful.
In the meantime, i don't have 360, and can't follow what you and Wendy are doing, but here is how to make the triggers from your first post work:
I can guarantee that variables don't depend on lucky timing. They will always work.
Walt, thank you for this explanation. Once Wendy got it working, and then I came home and it was working, I was about to go crazy. I'm going to use variables instead but figured if I could get a state to work, I wouldn't need to go that route.
Wendy, You are awesome as well for going through so much trouble to help me troubleshoot this. This is an awesome community because of folks like you guys.
I like your offstage idea but now I'm worried that using a visited state object to change the state of another object isn't going to be reliable. Are there certain triggers that will reliably fire based on state triggers? Such as Wendy's offstage visited triggering another change of state? Does that always work?
I've talked this one over with my wife who also works with Storyline. We're trying to figure out what states can reliably be used for.
Unreliable - normal/not normal, jump to slide based on state
It sounds like Wendy is reliably changing the state of an object based on the state of other objects as long as not using the normal state as a basis.
Hi Timothy
there is always more than one way to do things in Storyline and I agree with Walt variables are more reliable in a lot of cases, but personally I've never had an issue with the 'when state' trigger change as long as it doesn't involve the 'normal' state of an object.
All the best whichever way you go.
I've found that "is not = normal" almost never works in a condition because all the built-in states are a lot like us - they all report themselves as "normal".
What are you saying Walt
:)
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