Using Branching in Storyline to have one Project for many versions of a software

Oct 15, 2019

Hi all,

I couldn't find an existing discussion on this, if there is one.

I need to create Technical training for software.

The software has multiple options - Basic / Standard / Advanced.

If I create a project for Advanced, is there a way to use Branching (or something) so that I can reuse the same project, EASILY hide a few slides / Scenes and publish for the Basic and Standard versions?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

5 Replies
Ren Gomez

Hi Michelle,

Welcome to E-Learning Heroes! 🌟

Are you looking to have the user determine what level they're at and branch the course specifically for them? Or are you just looking for time-saving tips?

If you'd like to re-use the course and make a few edits, why not have the Advanced course perfect and ready to go, then do a File->Save As to create new courses for Standard and Basic?

Let me know if you had something else in mind!

Jerry Beaucaire

On the same lines as Ren's suggestion, create a slide at the beginning to offer 3 choices for Basic / Standard / Advanced.   Store their answer in a variable.

IDEAS:

USE STANDALONE SCENES

Complete your ADVANCED version first so it's done and in the box.

Now duplicate the ADVANCED SCENE to create the STANDARD SCENE, go through and remove what you need.

Next duplicate the STANDARD SCENE to create the BASIC SCENE, again strip out the needed material.

Now you have a single course with 3 scenes and a "selection slide" at the start to send you down the correct path.

 

USE LAYERS

Complete your ADVANCED version first so it's done and in the box.

Now add an STANDARD Layer on the first slide and present the same content as on the base layer, but trimmed down.   Use a trigger on the base layer to show this layer when the timeline starts if this is a standard user.

Next duplicate the Standard layer to create a BASIC layer, and strip the content down further.  Add another trigger on the base layer to show this layer when the timeline starts if this is a basic user.

This might be easier to manage changes over time since all 3 versions of every slide are there together on the same slide.

 

LAYERS THE OPPOSITE WAY

The base presents the BASIC info, everyone sees it.

Then the STANDARD user would see additional content on the STANDARD LAYER on the same slide.  Standard and Advanced users always see this layer.

Finally, ADVANCED users would see the last bit of additional content on the ADVANCED LAYER.

You'll have to decide if the features of your training will flow well in this manner.  If so, this could be the least amount of plumbing and maintenance as there wouldn't be duplication of content like in the first two ideas above.

Cheers.

 

Michelle House

Hi Ren,

The software has "Standard" Version - with certain capabilities.

The "Basic" version is stripped of a few capabilities.

The "Advanced" version has a few added capabilities.

Then our software users purchase the training for whichever product they bought, so the LMS has to have separate courses.

Hope that makes sense.

My bottom line is when the software is updated with enhancements, I want to make as few edits in as few places as possible.  I.e. - I don't want to have to create / copy / insert the same updated content into 3 .storys.

So being able to easily publish from the same story (Changing the name, of course) for the 3 courses would be very helpful.  Even if setting it up takes time, it will save time in the future.

Jerry had some thoughts on Layers that I was already considering, but just looking for inspiration and ideas.

Thanks!

Chester Morales

Hi Michelle,

Can you use the LMS to assign or show/hide "parts" (or courses) to your users?

For example, create separate sections/topics of the training and save them on different Storyline files:

Basic - Topic 1 & 2
Standard - Topics 1, 2, 3 & 4
Advanced - Topics 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

If a learner is a Basic user, you only assign topics 1 & 2. If Standard, you assign 1-4.

If you need to update the content of topic 1, you'll only do it once.

I think you can also use the same concept if you'll use layers or scenes. You can use variables to display which scenes are for Basic and so on.

Michelle House

Well, Chester,

I see the thought process there, but here is the fun thing.

The limitation isn't really on Topics.  Sometimes it is just a piece of functionality.

Example - right-click on a tool and for Standard 4 options are available, for Basic it is 1 option, for Advanced it is 6 options.

The variable option for layers may be one to look at.

Love the brainstorming.

Michelle

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