Step-by-step Try mode - Text Entry issue
May 08, 2012
I would expect for the screenrecording Try mode to provide a realistic end-user experience of a process. There are 2 concerns. In this example, I've recorded a 'Logging in' lesson.
The first issue is that when a user clicks the 'User Name' box in the first slide, they can't type their user name on the second slide. It's because when the second slide appears, the cursor isn't active in the text box. The user has to click in the text box a second time before typing.
The second issue is that, by default, the user needs to press Enter after entering text in order for the Try mode to verify what they've entered. This is problematic because if a user were to press enter after entering a username in the real world, they would get an 'incorrect username/password' error. (we've seen users do this in the past after having completed unrealistic simulations)
For the second issue, you can somewhat get around it adding hotspots onto each text entry frame, adjusting the triggers, and deleting the now-redundant following frames but you still subsequently encounter the first issue. Also this adds a significant amount of development time for each text entry you record.
Anyone else encounter or resolve this?
28 Replies
Hey Patrick,
On the first issue, it's a great point. I will take a look at what we can do to improve the way we focus the input box as we transition between slides.
On the second point, in the ideal world how would you expect that to work? One thing to consider is that we can only capture what you do. Think of the recorded application as a black box, it only gives us back what you coax out of it through your actions.
So for instance, If the user:
That is all we 'know' about... There is no way to prod that black box to get it to tell us what else triggers that submit or whats going to happen if the user had typed the password incorrectly. We try to do the best we can with the informatoin we have available to us, which is at best an incomplete picture.
On a plus note, one of the great things I love about Storyline is how easy it is to go back through your recording and edit your slides to add the kind of rich context you are looking for.
In your particular situation, I am thinking the quickest way to achieve what you are trying to do would be to delete the slide with the click on it since it is not useful here and update your incorrect feedback layer to show an image of the incorrect password screen/webpage or whatever you need.
Regards,
Steve
"in the ideal world how would you expect that to work?"
Hi Steve, thanks for your reply. To put it simply, I would want a simulation to walk a user through the process as though I was actually sitting next to them and guiding them through it myself.
For example, I would tell tell my learner:
- To begin, enter your User Name by clicking in the User Name box.
- In this example, use jsmith as your username.
- Next, enter your password by clicking in the password box.
- In this example, use beta123 as your password.
The key here is that I'm not asking them to tell me when they're finished. I'm sitting beside them and know as soon as they enter the last letter in 'jsmith' that I can give them the next step.
Most simulations I've used automatically advance when the correct entry is typed.
I avoid allowing the user to enter any User Name they want because it can be very confusing for some Learners. They enter their personal username, then as the video advances, they see the username box revert back to the username I used during the recording. Better to say 'In this example, type jsmith as your username' and avoid confusion.
How do you deal with an incorrectly entered value? I would suggest one of two ways. Either you wait until they try clicking outside of the box in order to tell them something like 'Please type the text as shown'. Or you could automatically include a small 'Continue' button in the text bubble for "Type 'jsmith' in the User Name box."
Patrick;
1. I had the same issue as you. It would be great for the cursor to appear in the next text field.
2. You can change the submit key for a text entry field by first clicking the Edit Text Entry Field button, and then pressing the key you would like to use in the Submit Keys field...
Thanks for the feedback Patrick, I will run it by the user experience team.
I just want to echo Patrick's comments. In my case I am trying to simulate a search text box that has suggested search terms that show up as you type. As soon as the person types "Lab Test" I want the search suggestion drop-down to show "Lab Test Directory" and then move on to the next step. In this instance it doesn't make sense for them to type an extra key to submit their response, because search suggestions are automatic.
Also, it would be nice to be able to accept any text as correct, especially when simulating something where the text in the text box doesn't matter. For example, when asking for a username.
We're having issues with text entry in Try mode as well. In Preview, even when I click in the field twice it's not possible to enter text - a message appears to the far right of the field saying "Type '100'" but it's just floating in empty space, there's nowhere to actually type a response. When I look at the individual slides in Story View, Storyline adds another slide with a blank text box that covers the entire slide. When I reduce the size of the text box I can see the slide underneath it. Not sure what it means, but that's what I'm seeing.
Since most of our courses teach learners how to use software this is a deal breaker for us. But I realize that this is a new program and that it takes time to work out the bugs. Overall Storyline is a great product and I look forward to trying out the next version.
Hi Judy, welcome to Heroes!
And thanks for sharing this with us. Would you be willing to submit a case to our support team, including your .story file, so we can take a closer look at what's going on? Thanks so much!
Hi Peter,
Sure, I'll send in the storyboard. Thanks!
Hi Peter,
When is this issue being fixed? I am using a trial download of storyline and this is a deal killer for us.
In a similar vein to Patricks question - when editing the text entry 'Acceptable Answers' is there any way to set up a range of answers if portions of a login ID are variable whilst others are constant?
e.g. T461293@fakeco.co.nz
Where the numerical portion of the ID could be any number within a range but the 'T......@fakeco.co.nz' remains constant.
i.e. Acceptable answers are 'T100000-900000@fakeco.co.nz'
Cheers
Danich
Hi Thomas and Daniel, welcome to Heroes!
@Thomas,
Mind going into a little more detail about the issue you're experiencing? Are you referring to Patrick's observations or Judy's? If you're experiencing unexpected behavior, you're always welcome to open a support ticket and send us your file so we can take a closer look at what's going on.
@Daniel,
I'm not sure you'll be able to set up a "range of answers" per se, but you are able to enter multiple acceptable answers, if that helps. Beyond that, I'd recommend submitting a feature request to see a range of acceptable answers be possible.
It is Patrick’s issue that I was referring to. I am trying to use the simulation tool to capture the process of filling out an on-line form and when I try to capture the process of filling out a text field like name or email I cannot get the simulator to except the correct text after it has been typed into the field. Even if I hit the enter key which I do not want to do it does not work.
Thanks for clarifying, Thomas. If the answer submissions aren't working like they should (as outlined here), I would definitely recommend submitting a case and sending us your .story project so we can take a look. Thanks! We'll look forward to hearing from you.
Case #00297596
Thanks, Thomas. We've received it, and someone will be contacting you as soon as possible.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the info, Yes I was aware of the 'enter multiple answers option' the only problem is that I have well over 50 staff who will use the simulation and it will also be used in an ongoing basis as new staff come on board. Which of course makes it an arduous task to load the initial set and continually changing set of acceptable answers.
I have submitted a feature request as recommended.
Thanks again for the help.
Hi Daniel,
For simulations, it can be best to lay the cards on the table and explain that they're running a simulation and that they're following a specific scenario that may be different to what they'll be doing when they're on the job.
On your login ID slide, I would say "Enter your login ID. In this example, you'll use login ID T461293@fakeco.co.nz"
Hi Patrick,
Thank you, yes I'd pretty much resolved myself to that solution.
Thanks again for the suggestion - appreciate it.
In a try-it simulation, we need the user to enter "Tony" into a text box, then press the Enter key to advance (see attached). When running the scene, the Enter key must be pressed twice to make this work.
How can this be made to work with pressing the Enter key only once?
Hi John
there is nothing attached. If you replied via email, attachments don't display in the forum you need to come in and use the grey 'add attachment' button at the bottom of the post for it to attach.
Are you using SL1, SL2 or SL360?
Hi John,
The enter key should behave as described here in Storyline 2 and 1, in that if there is space for the user to go to the next line, that's what the enter key will do. Otherwise it'll submit the text entry and control the focus. You can also add additional triggers that would dictate what the enter key would do once pressed.
If you need some additional help, please feel free to share a copy of your .story file.
Hi
I have been creating try me's in other software for sometime and am a bit confused as to how they work in storyline 360. Its fine when the user clicks, but my text entries seem to generate a 'quiz' page with a submit button, which does not reflect how they would use the system. Could anyone help me as to how i move the slide forward without using the submit button please?
Hi Cherry! A try-mode text entry page is a lot like a quiz, in that Storyline reads the text as correct or incorrect. However, your learners shouldn't have to click the Submit button.
I make a quick sample file where the learner is asked to type a web address. When they hit the Enter key, they move on to the next slide. You can see that the Enter key submits the text entry in this screenshot:
Do you have a key listed in the "Submit Keys" field in Form View?
Hi Alyssa
Thanks so much for this, sorry for the delay in responding. I tried the enter key but its not what the user would use in real life to continue, and when i try the tab key, I don't really understand how the tab step process works. Ideally, if you look at how a user would log in (as an example) you would want the user to click into the name field, tab to the password field then tab down to the log in button (would this need 3 screens). Is there a simple way I could achieve this on one slide. I got some really great help from support, but it seemed a really complicated process and didnt really provide a simple solution.
This discussion is closed. You can start a new discussion or contact Articulate Support.