I often use text variables for learners to type something into a text box and then pipe them back into the course as a %ref%-- the question is, if the user chooses NOT to type something in, is there a way to eliminate the %refname%?
What I do to avoid blank spaces (e.g. "...thank you, %Name%!" = "...thank you, !") when a learner doesn't enter a text box is to add a trigger to set the variable to a generic title if the variable is blank.
When the timeline starts on this slide Set Name to value Travel Advisor if Name = value(blank)
So in the example above, if the text box isn't filled out, they'd see "...thank you, Travel Advisor!".
On the second page, where you want to show the learner's input, you should show it in a plain text box. You have used a text Entry box:
You may have discovered a new useful feature. When you put something in a text Entry box, that is used as the prompt. If you use a reference for that prompt, it shows the contents of the variable. I'm serious, by using a reference, you can have a dynamic prompt that varies according to previous actions. That's a new and valuable idea for me, at least. On the other hand, if the reference is empty, it does show the literal reference as a prompt, which a plain text box doesn't.
Great! Thanks so much and happy to have discovered a new use. I guess breaking stuff and finding new uses is a side-effect of me never reading directions….
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%refname% in a text box will not show if there is nothing in the variable refname.
What I do to avoid blank spaces (e.g. "...thank you, %Name%!" = "...thank you, !") when a learner doesn't enter a text box is to add a trigger to set the variable to a generic title if the variable is blank.
When the timeline starts on this slide
Set Name to value Travel Advisor
if Name = value(blank)
So in the example above, if the text box isn't filled out, they'd see "...thank you, Travel Advisor!".
Thanks, both of you. Walt, it DOES show in some of mine, and I don't know why. For example, go to youth-adult partnerships here. and skip in a few slides: https://360.articulate.com/review/content/5d208ff9-b16e-45be-abb9-936deadad1a3/review
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I went through the whole youth-adult partnerships section, but I guess I don't know what I'm looking for. What is out of place?
If you don't fill out a text entry, then it shows the code for me %variable% (not blank)
[cid:image001.jpg@01D6342A.5A82A330]
I see it now. Something's fishy, If you could attach that scene, maybe we could track it down.
Here you are. Thanks.
Anne,
On the second page, where you want to show the learner's input, you should show it in a plain text box. You have used a text Entry box:
You may have discovered a new useful feature. When you put something in a text Entry box, that is used as the prompt. If you use a reference for that prompt, it shows the contents of the variable. I'm serious, by using a reference, you can have a dynamic prompt that varies according to previous actions. That's a new and valuable idea for me, at least. On the other hand, if the reference is empty, it does show the literal reference as a prompt, which a plain text box doesn't.
Great! Thanks so much and happy to have discovered a new use. I guess breaking stuff and finding new uses is a side-effect of me never reading directions….
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