You could use a True/False variable that starts out as "False" and is set to "True" on slide 5. Then back at slide 1, change the state of the image to a custom state, according to the variable value. See attached a quick example. Hope that gets your started.
Hi Michael - thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I've tried your suggestion and followed your slides but I'm not getting it to work. I've noticed on the Trigger Wizard when I try to set the 'change state of'' the image - I don't have the Custom-Complete option, under 'To state'. The options starts with 'Built in' and then I selected the 'normal' state. Not sure if this is why it's not working. Any suggestions?
Hi Michael - thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I've tried your suggestion and followed your slides but I'm not getting it to work. I've noticed on the Trigger Wizard when I try to set the 'change state of'' the image - I don't have the Custom-Complete option, under 'To state'. The options starts with 'Built in' and then I selected the 'normal' state. Not sure if this is why it's not working. Any suggestions?
-Thanks
Hi Belinda, the custom state I used needs to be created 'manually'. Here is some info on creating and editing states.
I am now trying to do this. I don't see where the variable is present in the slides. I have several items that I want to appear visited based on completing action on another slide. I created a T/F variable, but I don't know what to do with it....
If you have a slide that toggles or changes a True/False variable, then at any point (including another slide), you can use the value of that variable as a condition.
For example:
When the timeline starts, change the state of Photo to Normal if the variable is True.
When the timeline starts, change the state of Photo to hidden if the variable is False.
Once you create the variable, it is behind the scenes, available to the entire project.
In your case, on the slide you want them to visit, you need to put a trigger to set the variable. For example, Set variable Slide6Visited to true when action [thatjumps to slide where you want state changed] occurs. Best practice is to choose the action that shows completion of the slide (learner clicks I'm done here, or Timeline ends on slide 6) as the action.
Then on slide where you want to change the state, put a trigger to Change state of object to [new state] when timeline of this slide starts if variable Slide6Visited = true Don't name the new state Visited, because it is a built-in state and all the built-in states have their own hard-wired superpowers, and don't take kindly to competition. (Your trigger may cause conflicts.)
Here is something that may help you grasp variables and their use.
I got home last night, and the cat insisted he had not been fed all day, and was STARVING. I hadn't been there all day, so I didn't know, and my wife was off to her quilting party, so I couldn't ask her. Fortunately, she left a note on the counter that said "I fed the cat", so I knew not to feed him again.
The note she left me is the variable. I couldn't see her feed the cat, but I could see the note and know what went on while I was gone. Storyline is just like I was. One slide has no way of knowing what happens on another slide, but it can read a message left for it in a variable, and know what the learner did on another slide, provided you, the developer used those actions on that other slide to change the contents of a variable.
The cat got pretty insistent, so I gave him a snack, crossed out her message, and wrote, "He's also had a bedtime snack", and went to my meeting.
The note is the variable. Everybody can see it, and it never changes unless you, the author, create a trigger to change it.
My wife is getting older (I'm not, just she), and takes a bunch of medicines. She puts them in one of those little plastic gadgets with seven boxes. Every night, (if she remembers :) ) she looks in the box for that day. If it is empty, she knows she has taken her pills that day.
The pill box is the variable. She can't always remember everything, but if the box has pills in it, she knows to take them.
Variables are designed to be seen everywhere, but not heard (much like small children of a previous generation). SL cannot multi-task, so only one slide at a time can be active. SL has no memory, so when a slide becomes active, it can't know what went on while it was hibernating. That's why variables were invented. Each slide can look at the note (variable) and by seeing what is on there now, it can know what went on somewhere else, or some other time. I couldn't hear my wife write the note, but I can read it and know what went on at home while I was not there.
You have been extremely patient and helpful! One last question-do I need to create the variable for each screen or can I use the same one? I have 6 different states that I want to change. I am using the T/F variable and changing it to T if the timeline ends on the visited screen; then having a trigger on the home page to set the state of one of the objects to visited. Should I have 6 different T/F Variables?
Melanie Elick M.Ed
Curriculum Designer
She/Her/Hers
Enterprise Business Operations Learning & Development
If you have six objects to change, you can use a text variable, and use the contents of it to decide which object to change. Or you can have one T/F variable for each object and change the corresponding object if it is True. I'm pretty sure there is a lot less work and confusion using a separate, dedicated T/F variable for each object.
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You could use a True/False variable that starts out as "False" and is set to "True" on slide 5. Then back at slide 1, change the state of the image to a custom state, according to the variable value. See attached a quick example. Hope that gets your started.
Hi Michael - thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I've tried your suggestion and followed your slides but I'm not getting it to work. I've noticed on the Trigger Wizard when I try to set the 'change state of'' the image - I don't have the Custom-Complete option, under 'To state'. The options starts with 'Built in' and then I selected the 'normal' state. Not sure if this is why it's not working. Any suggestions?
-Thanks
It's working like a charm. Thank you so much Michael!!
Thanks Michael! It worked for me too.
I am now trying to do this. I don't see where the variable is present in the slides. I have several items that I want to appear visited based on completing action on another slide. I created a T/F variable, but I don't know what to do with it....
Hi, Melanie.
If you have a slide that toggles or changes a True/False variable, then at any point (including another slide), you can use the value of that variable as a condition.
For example:
Let me know if you have additional questions!
Someone sent me a reply-but I cannot reply to it. Where do I put the variable ?
Once you create the variable, it is behind the scenes, available to the entire project.
In your case, on the slide you want them to visit, you need to put a trigger to set the variable.
For example, Set variable Slide6Visited to true when action [thatjumps to slide where you want state changed] occurs. Best practice is to choose the action that shows completion of the slide (learner clicks I'm done here, or Timeline ends on slide 6) as the action.
Then on slide where you want to change the state, put a trigger to Change state of object to [new state] when timeline of this slide starts if variable Slide6Visited = true Don't name the new state Visited, because it is a built-in state and all the built-in states have their own hard-wired superpowers, and don't take kindly to competition. (Your trigger may cause conflicts.)
Here is something that may help you grasp variables and their use.
You have been extremely patient and helpful! One last question-do I need to create the variable for each screen or can I use the same one? I have 6 different states that I want to change. I am using the T/F variable and changing it to T if the timeline ends on the visited screen; then having a trigger on the home page to set the state of one of the objects to visited. Should I have 6 different T/F Variables?
Melanie Elick M.Ed
Curriculum Designer
She/Her/Hers
Enterprise Business Operations Learning & Development
[Title: Centene Corporation logo]
Mobile – 216-973-1285
Melanie.Elick@centene.com | centene.com
If you have six objects to change, you can use a text variable, and use the contents of it to decide which object to change. Or you can have one T/F variable for each object and change the corresponding object if it is True. I'm pretty sure there is a lot less work and confusion using a separate, dedicated T/F variable for each object.
Your signature came through on your previous post. If you don't want it showing, you can edit that post and erase it.