Storyline Resources - document file won't open once published

Hi Cath,

Thanks for confirming the piece regarding your file path, have you also checked that the files are all located on your local drive? Additionally, when you're testing the links where are you testing the published output? You'll want to load within the intended environment to properly test and ensure you don't encounter any local security restrictions. 

Additionally, if Storyline is behaving oddly, have you confirmed that it's this one file or all your Storyline files? If it's just the one file, it's possible the file may have experienced some corruption and you could try importing it into a new project.  If it's happening across all your files, I'd suggest starting with a simple repair of Storyline. 

If you're still experiencing difficulty after the repair and confirming the other elements, can you share your .story file with us here? If you'd prefer to share privately you can also send it along here. 

Hello,

I'm running into something similar to the issue described in this thread.

I needed to make a correction to a Storyline file and re-published the CD output to our internal web server. Under "Resources," I attached a PDF resource file that will not open no matter how many times I re-attach the file from my local drive and re-publish the CD output.

The resource file used to open before I made the correction and re-published the CD output. I'm not sure what has changed after the correction.

After reading Ashley's last post, I considered importing the slides into a new project but I really don't have time to redo all the player and slide settings. I've submitted the source file to Articulate Support, but I'm hoping some E-Learning Heroes might already know some tricks to fix this issue.

Btw, the PDF file opens when I test the LMS output on SCORM Cloud. So far, the only issue is the CD output on our internal web server.

Thanks,
Grace

Hi Grace!

Thanks for mentioning that you've reached out to our support team (00784863). It looks like Victor is assisting you.

Was this issue every resolved? I have the same problem. If I upload my course to a server and run through a browser, my PDF files in 'tools and resources' will open fine. If I run the .exe version, then the files don't open...

Hello Rob - I would stand behind the same recommendations that Ashley shared above if you are running into the same issues here.

As far as the case that Grace filed with our team - we were able to replicate when utilizing her custom player, but not with the built-in player. We did not hear back from the user to confirm that she was able to alleviate the issue as well.

Feel free to reach out to our team as well if needed after your troubleshooting.

I'm having this same issue as well at the moment. It's unfortunate that this issue dates back several years in various posts for individuals and no one has been able to post a solution for this problem.

Hey Brandy,

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing a similar issue as well.

This thread is a bit dated and it looks like the issues may have been file specific. If you'd like for us to take a look at your .story file, then feel free to share.

Some common reasons I've seen that can cause an issue that you may want to look into:

• Not saving/uploading from your local C: Drive
• File name too long

Hope that helps and just let us know if you want us to take a look at your file to see if we spy what may be happening. If you cannot share here in the forums, you can share here privately.

Hello, I was just about to post about this very same issue. 

I followed the steps from this post about linking a resource in the course player. When I publish it to my local system and attempt to open it, I get this error:

I checked the file path it is trying to use, and it looks like the correct one, except it is adding %20 to account for spaces. The file is a PDF file and I have the ability to open those on my system normally, so that doesn't appear to be the issue. A screenshot of the trigger I used is shown below.

Hi Mercedes,

Thanks for reaching out, and great call to open a case! It looks like my teammate, Anna, has reached out with some troubleshooting steps. 

Keep at it with her, and let her know your results or if you have any further questions!

Hello! 

I've run into this issue and discovered that files that include punctuation in the file name will not open from the Resources tab.

At first only the accent marks used in our French and Spanish resources were causing this problem, but more recently ANY type of punctuation started rendering the file unusable. 

Just an idea for those who may still be challenged with this one! :)

A similar issue...originally published with the attachment (PDF), it opened fine. Found there were comments in the PDF that were not removed, so re-opened the PDF, removed the comments, and saved using the same file name and path (desktop folder) as the original. I replaced the file path in the player\/resources, saved, and republished it. Now when I access the attachment, a new (Untiled) tab opens with just a blank (white) screen. When I hover over the tab it reads "Loading...local or shared file. I've tried reattaching it with a shorter file name with no spaces or any other characters (the original was a little long with spaces). I've shut down Articulate, restarted my computer and tried again with still no success...I'don't know what else to do!!!!

Hi, Rodney.

Thank you for reaching out, and I'm sorry to hear you're having issues after re-publishing the project!

Let me ask you a few questions to help narrow down the problem:

• Are you publishing it for the web and opening it on your local computer? Or are you publishing to a different format (Review 360, LMS, etc.)?
• Have you attempted to save the attachment with a different name (instead of overwriting the previous one)?

If you can share your project and PDF through a support case, we're happy to take a deeper look to help you troubleshoot. 

Hi Maria,
Thanks for responding...
So, I know this may be more information than you need/want...

I published an eLearning module using Storyline with an attachment of a PDF
job aid that was given to me by my SME/content developer. After posting the
module on the website it was brought to my attention the attached PDF had
some comments added by a reviewer but were not removed. I opened the pdf
and removed the comments and saved the pdf (using the save function,
overwriting the original). I removed the pdf in the storyline
player/resources, saved and republished, and rezipped the training for the
web. When finished I clicked the review project button from the publishing
box. The eLearning came up in a separate box. I clicked the
attachment/resource button on the player and clicked to access the
attachment. This is where the eLearning box disappeared and the tab opened
in the *internet browser *showing untitled "loading local file." which is
wrong, it should open in PDF. I tried all the mentioned fixes in the thread
including removing spaces, shortening the title, resaving, etc... I even
shut down and restarted my laptop...it still didn't work. So just to test
it, I reposted the new file to the webserver receiving a new link. when I
followed the link to open the training the pdf attachment opened correctly.
So, I guess, crisis averted but it's odd the attachment tried to open using
the browser instead of pdf. Anyway, it is working now so again, thanks for
asking to assist.

Hi, Rodney.

I am so glad you were able to fix the issue! Thank you for coming back to share your steps and what was originally happening. 

Let us know if you have any additional questions or if you run into this issue again. 

Wouldn't have thought about punctuation, trying that now, thanks!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Robin-you are on the nose. I struggled with this for a full day trying everything from re-naming, recreating, re-embedding, shortening file path. There are also other PDFs in the same project that open fine. Then it dawned on me the one thing different about this title is that it has '' in it. I removed the punctuation and it worked! When I saw your post I HAD to thank you!!!

This issue just happened to me and I discovered reducing the file name length resolved the issue. 

Thank you all so much!  I was having a problem opening a PDF and kept reloading it and recreating the PDF and it never dawned on me to take out an 's until I read this forum!

So glad to hear that coming across this thread helped you, Anne! 🎉

Hope you're having a wonderful start to 2024! 

Hello, 

I am experiencing this problem. I am working with a client who had another instructional designer create the storyline and attach PDFs. I now have the PDFs and relinked everything, and it is STILL not working!!!! It goes to a 404 not found page. Students will not be able to access the PDFs, even though I have tried linking and relinking from different sources on my computer, but mainly my desktop, not a cloud. Is Articulate working on this problem where there are multiple hands on a project and a project may be passed off to someone else? I can see how this negatively affects organizations and situations like mine. I have heard from coworkers that this problem has been around for years and it is not resolved.

Hi Colt Students, 

Thanks so much for reaching out! 

I see that you've opened a support case and you are working with my colleague Cleober. You're in great hands! 

We'll continue the conversation over in your case. 

Have a nice start to your day!