There are times when the play and stop buttons on the timeline do not work. I can use the space bar to play the timeline while in development. The timeline will play but if I shift an object on the timeline and then use the space bar to play, it appears that it's playing from some cached version and does not reflect the most recent change. I've tried saving the project to perhaps force Storyline to update the cache, but no go.
Is there a set criteria for when the timeline play and stop button will work? What am I missing here?
Are you selecting objects that are set to show at a specific point in the timeline? Or have you created any cue points?
Also, do the play and stop buttons stop working entirely? If so, I would first make sure that you're working with local project files:
Work on your local drive (your C: drive). Working on a network drive or a USB drive can cause erratic behavior, including file corruption, loss of audio, and other unexpected behavior.
You should also make sure the directory path to your project files and your published output is less than 260 characters (for example C:\Articulate).
Avoid using special characters, accents or symbols in your file names (this includes spaces and underscores).
Additional information regarding "Naming Files, Paths, and Namespaces" in Windows operating systems can be found in the following Microsoft article.
If you can give a little more information, that'd be great!
I have several objects and do have some cue points. An example.... I have 5 objects all lined up to appear at the same time, let's say at 2 seconds.. I then take object 2 and shift it to appear at 5 seconds. The play/stop buttons don't work now. I use the space bar to play the timeline. And object 2 is still coming in at 2 seconds instead of 5 seconds. If I preview the slide, the updated change is there.
I'm working from a local project file with a very short path. I only have 2 folders and then the .story file. THe name has no special characters and I always use underscore for spaces.
In addition to the timeline play/stop issue, I'm also having inconsistent performance with align to cue point. On this particular slide, I want to align Object3 to cue point 3, but it doesn't move when I tell click that option. I also noticed that the align to cue point will have a left arrow.... this looks like it would align the object's END to the playhead... I could be mis-reading this feature though as it actually aligns the object's start to the playhead.
Oh.... wait.... an update on the align to Cue Point..... I was trying this with a Group of objects. When I select all the objects in the group, it does align correctly.
Oh.... wait.... an update on the align to Cue Point..... I was trying this with a Group of objects. When I select all the objects in the group, it does align correctly.
Also, any chance you can share a .STORY file for a project where the play/stop issues are showing?
I'd be happy to take a look.
Thanks!
Hi Christine... I can't upload the .story since the content is under NDA. I'm still experiencing issues though. I shortened the file name and so far I've been able to use the play/stop buttons. But, the align to playhead or cue point when the arrow is pointing to the left does not actually align the "out" point but rather aligns the "in" point... or it doesn't move the object at all. I'm also having issues where I cannot drag the end to adjust the total display time. What happens is that I get the dialog box that says drag to adjust the total display time but nothing actually moves when I drag. This is inconsistent as well. I'm playing around with it to see if it has to do with whether objects are set to display until the end.
Shoot, sorry to hear that you're still running into issues with this. Are you able to determine whether or not this is limited to one course?
If you can, please try creating a new, blank Storyline project. Are you able to reproduce the issue?
If not, maybe you could try importing the slides from the original course into the new file.
If you do see the same behavior, it may actually be an issue with the installation of Storyline. First, you may want to try running a quick repair on Storyline. If that doesn't solve the problem, you may want to try the steps outlined in this article.
If the issues persist, it may be best to go ahead and submit a support case with us. Any files you share with us will remain confidential. We'd also be happy to sign a NDA, if needed.
You'll be able to attach the .STORY file on the second page of the following form:
Please be sure to include a description of your issue. Please also include the URL for this thread in the form. Also, please share the case number with me. You're welcome to do so here, or in a private message. This way I can follow the progress of the case and update this thread.
Hopefully we'll be able to pinpoint the issue here and get this working for you soon.
I'd like to add a question regarding this subject.
I have worked on about 100 slides.
A teacher recorder his voice over on a second phase.
now my job is to synchronize both speech and elements of the slide.
As a result when i work on synchronization, i have to move objects along the timeline so that they start right when the teacher mentions it.
So far no problem.
HOwever, by default (and also because that's what i want), all objetcs are set to "display until end".
As a result, if i move objects along the timeline, lets say start at 30 sec instead of the beginning, it make the total display of the slide 30 seconds longer.
i need all my slides to stop right at the end of the audio.
In the end i have to drag the end of the timeline of each slide until it reaches the end of the audio... when i have more than 100 slides and the end of the timeline must be dragged for more than 60sec, it just takes me ages!!!!!!
Is there any easier way i can both :
make sure all my objects are diplayed thill the end and my timeline ends (with all my objects, no matter when they appear) stops at the end of the audio ??
but still after syncing all my objects to the audio, i have to drag along the end of the timeline so that it stops at the end of the audio and not after... it is very time consuming!
You can see an example on the first slide named "introduction".
An audio has beeen added, elements of the slide have been synced, and the audio is a lot shorter than the end... i would like to find a simple and quick way to shorten the end of the slide (rather than pulling it back), and make it stop right where the sound stops.
I have 2 other questions regarding the player, i think it would be easier to make a short video and explain my issue. I have done that once but can't remember how. Could you give me the link for that ?
At the moment the Timeline "Drag" is the only way.
This (usually) happened if (for example) the slide has been copied from one that had a long video in it originally. This has been debated in the Beta forums and certainly been requested as a Feature, because sometimes it happens for no reason at all.
There need to be a "set to length of longest object" mechanism, much like double-clicking an MS-Excel cell that has got too high or wide.
At the moment the Timeline "Drag" is the only way.
This (usually) happened if (for example) the slide has been copied from one that had a long video in it originally. This has been debated in the Beta forums and certainly been requested as a Feature, because sometimes it happens for no reason at all.
There need to be a "set to length of longest object" mechanism, much like double-clicking an MS-Excel cell that has got too high or wide.
Great idea, Bruce! I LOVE that double-click feature in Excel, as have all my students over the years - Bonus Tip: Did you know that also works in Windows Explorer? And for those of you on the MAC side, maybe it works in the Finder.
17 Replies
Hi Sandie,
Are you selecting objects that are set to show at a specific point in the timeline? Or have you created any cue points?
Also, do the play and stop buttons stop working entirely? If so, I would first make sure that you're working with local project files:
Additional information regarding "Naming Files, Paths, and Namespaces" in Windows operating systems can be found in the following Microsoft article.
If you can give a little more information, that'd be great!
Thanks,
Christine
Thanks Christine.
I have several objects and do have some cue points. An example.... I have 5 objects all lined up to appear at the same time, let's say at 2 seconds.. I then take object 2 and shift it to appear at 5 seconds. The play/stop buttons don't work now. I use the space bar to play the timeline. And object 2 is still coming in at 2 seconds instead of 5 seconds. If I preview the slide, the updated change is there.
I'm working from a local project file with a very short path. I only have 2 folders and then the .story file. THe name has no special characters and I always use underscore for spaces.
In addition to the timeline play/stop issue, I'm also having inconsistent performance with align to cue point. On this particular slide, I want to align Object3 to cue point 3, but it doesn't move when I tell click that option. I also noticed that the align to cue point will have a left arrow.... this looks like it would align the object's END to the playhead... I could be mis-reading this feature though as it actually aligns the object's start to the playhead.
Oh.... wait.... an update on the align to Cue Point..... I was trying this with a Group of objects. When I select all the objects in the group, it does align correctly.
Ahah! Awesome find there, Sandie! :)
Actually didn't even occur to me. Nice job.
Christine
Also, any chance you can share a .STORY file for a project where the play/stop issues are showing?
I'd be happy to take a look.
Thanks!
I also shortened the file name and am testing that. So far so good. Will report back.
Hi there Sandie,
Shoot, sorry to hear that you're still running into issues with this. Are you able to determine whether or not this is limited to one course?
If you can, please try creating a new, blank Storyline project. Are you able to reproduce the issue?
If not, maybe you could try importing the slides from the original course into the new file.
If you do see the same behavior, it may actually be an issue with the installation of Storyline. First, you may want to try running a quick repair on Storyline. If that doesn't solve the problem, you may want to try the steps outlined in this article.
If the issues persist, it may be best to go ahead and submit a support case with us. Any files you share with us will remain confidential. We'd also be happy to sign a NDA, if needed.
You'll be able to attach the .STORY file on the second page of the following form:
Articulate Support - Submit a Support Case
Please be sure to include a description of your issue. Please also include the URL for this thread in the form. Also, please share the case number with me. You're welcome to do so here, or in a private message. This way I can follow the progress of the case and update this thread.
Hopefully we'll be able to pinpoint the issue here and get this working for you soon.
Thanks again!
Christine
Hi
I'd like to add a question regarding this subject.
I have worked on about 100 slides.
A teacher recorder his voice over on a second phase.
now my job is to synchronize both speech and elements of the slide.
As a result when i work on synchronization, i have to move objects along the timeline so that they start right when the teacher mentions it.
So far no problem.
HOwever, by default (and also because that's what i want), all objetcs are set to "display until end".
As a result, if i move objects along the timeline, lets say start at 30 sec instead of the beginning, it make the total display of the slide 30 seconds longer.
i need all my slides to stop right at the end of the audio.
In the end i have to drag the end of the timeline of each slide until it reaches the end of the audio... when i have more than 100 slides and the end of the timeline must be dragged for more than 60sec, it just takes me ages!!!!!!
Is there any easier way i can both :
make sure all my objects are diplayed thill the end and my timeline ends (with all my objects, no matter when they appear) stops at the end of the audio ??
Thanks for your help,
i'm desperate to find a quicker solution !!!
Hi Daria! Are you syncing according to these directions?
Yes, absolutely!
but still after syncing all my objects to the audio, i have to drag along the end of the timeline so that it stops at the end of the audio and not after... it is very time consuming!
Hi Daria! Would you be able to share your .story file here so that we can have a look. If you cannot share it in the forums, please share it here.
hi again,
i have sent my file via the link you gave me.
You can see an example on the first slide named "introduction".
An audio has beeen added, elements of the slide have been synced, and the audio is a lot shorter than the end... i would like to find a simple and quick way to shorten the end of the slide (rather than pulling it back), and make it stop right where the sound stops.
I have 2 other questions regarding the player, i think it would be easier to make a short video and explain my issue. I have done that once but can't remember how. Could you give me the link for that ?
Thanks again!
Estelle
Hi Estelle,
At the moment the Timeline "Drag" is the only way.
This (usually) happened if (for example) the slide has been copied from one that had a long video in it originally. This has been debated in the Beta forums and certainly been requested as a Feature, because sometimes it happens for no reason at all.
There need to be a "set to length of longest object" mechanism, much like double-clicking an MS-Excel cell that has got too high or wide.
Congratulations on 6,000 posts Bruce
Great idea, Bruce! I LOVE that double-click feature in Excel, as have all my students over the years - Bonus Tip: Did you know that also works in Windows Explorer? And for those of you on the MAC side, maybe it works in the Finder.
And, echoing Phil, congrats on all those posts!
Hi Estelle,
If you'd like to join Bruce (and others) in requesting that as a feature you're welcome to do so here.
This discussion is closed. You can start a new discussion or contact Articulate Support.