Utilizing branching while only using the same four videos.

Sounds like you should be able to accomplish this just by using image states?

https://community.articulate.com/series/4/articles/adding-and-editing-states-in-articulate-storyline-2

If you post a .story file with a mockup of what you're trying to do that might be helpful.

Would the states remember selections after making another choice? For instance:

I chose cloud 2 and then watch a video. the video returns me to a selection screen. I want cloud 2 to be shaded. I then pick cloud 4 and it launches another video. when it returns to the selection screen I need both clouds 2 and 4 to be shaded.

I know that I can achieve this while duplicating videos and having separate paths for each choice, but I am worried about the size of my project for having to repeat 4 videos multiple times.

I can work up a mock up if needed, but the stuff is propriety, so I would need to create a new project. Let me know if that would still be helpful.

Do you have the slide with the cloud objects set to 'resume saved state'

If you follow Wendy's advice on slide settings, then the built-in "Visited" state is designed to remember which buttons have already been clicked.

You can also accomplish this by using a variable driven approach that isn't dependent on slide settings. With this approach you'd have a T/F variable associated with each button, default value of False. Create a state for your button that is greyed out and call it "clicked" or something.

When the button is clicked trigger the variable for that button to be changed to "True", and to set the value of the button to state "clicked".

You'll also include slide triggers that will set the state of each image to clicked at the beginning of the timeline if the associated variables are equal to True.

I currently have it set to reveal the highlighted layer when a user hovers over the clouds. When user clicks the cloud, then it is taken to a video and brought back to the selection screen after answering a question. In order to not make the user forced down a linear path, I want them to have the freedom to chose whatever of the 4 clouds in whatever order.

all that to say, I have not tried it in a resume state because I did not have it set to be a revealed state when clicked. I will see what I can do with those. Thanks for the advise!

I have set the slide to resume saved state. When I preview just the slide, it works fine. However, when it jumps from the cloud selection screen to the video, and then into a quiz, and then into another transition scene, and then being sent back to the cloud selection screen, it does not remember the selection and resets back to its initial state. I am attaching a few screen shots to see if I am doing this wrong. I basically have a state where it covers the cloud when the mouse hovers over the hotspot (goes from hidden to normal until mouse leaves hotspot), and then I have another layer that is set to come from hidden to normal when the user clicks the hotspot. However when clicking the hotspot, it also triggers the video.

I may have just figured it out. It was my layer order. I needed the clicked state to be above the launch video trigger. However, I now have one more issue that you all may be able to help me with.

I want to have a new video play once the view returns to the cloud selection screen after they have clicked on all four cloud videos. Is there a way for a trigger to sense when all four clouds are set to normal and therefore, trigger a movie automatically? Or, can I have a button hidden that only reveals when all four clouds have been clicked so that the user can advance to a new section?

Yes, to both questions, although you may find it difficult to use the "normal" state in your first scenario. What I do a lot of times is duplicate the normal state to create a custom state, set each image to this custom state when it's been clicked/visited or whatever. Then you can create a trigger that states "play media if all four states are equal to normal/custom state", whichever you try to use.

Same thing with the hidden button: Change state of hidden button to normal IF all these images states are equal to normal/custom state.

If your media is on a layer, which would make sense, you would revise this trigger to be something like "show layer with media if all four image states are equal to normal/custom state" and have your media set to play at the beginning of the layer's timeline.

Wow, you all are amazing! This is just what I needed. Thank you so much for the advice!

Community teamwork for the win- great advice Brian and Wendy!

Don't hesitate to reach out here if you have more questions, Adam. :)