Value issue...a software bug or a user misunderstanding?

Hi. 
I like your example. Its smooth and simple. 
However, a few improvement come into my mind. 

a) The hidden dot are quit hard to find. Perhaps thats the way it should be. 
b) The set of ion-configuration should be done with controller looses focus. 
For me that wasn't working each time. I was forced to strike enter. Not sure why but perhaps it would be better if you use a submit button? 
c) The brackets are very hard to click on. 

Concerning your "issue" with the - and the 1-  I wonder if you can combine it into one trigger. 

a1 = normal AND
a2-a8 = normal
AND e_config EQUAL 2-8 
AND Ion_charge = 1- 
OR ion_charge = - 

but im not sure that will work. So i would actually do like this. 
1) A new variable called AisOK that can be true or false. Trigged when all A = normal state
2) A New variable called ChargeOk that can be true or false. Trigged when Ion_charge = 1- OR -

then on the atom ant you put a trigger saying Show layer yes if
"AisOk = true AND ChargeOK= True AND e_configuration = 2-8

Additional i would use a secondlayer called "try again"
It will be trigged on the ants if
AisOk = False OR ChargeOK = False OR e_configuration Not equal to 2-8 

On that layer there is a text saying the user are wrong and a button that take the user back to Baselayer with all settings erase (THINK that will be done when you just jump to slide if the settings are "reset to initial states")

Just wanted to do a follow up. 
How is it going for you? 

Thank you so much for your suggestion and follow up.  My computer was down for the last week, thus I was unable to test out your suggestions.  I spent the last 20 minutes with your suggestion, however, I must be overlooking something as your "A new variable called AisOK that can be true or false. Trigged when all A = normal state" suggestion is triggering a yes regardless of what states the dots are.  I'm going to do a Storyline update to see if that addresses any of my issues and tackle this project after Thanksgiving.  Thanks again and I will keep you posted with regards to my progress.

Unfortantly i don't have Storyline available at the moment, otherwise i could i have made an exampel to show you.

But what i think i meant was that you create a variabel called AisOk and initial you set it to false. 
then on the ant you but a trigger that says Change variabel (or whatever it calls) to true under the condition that  Dot 1 is in normal state and dot 2 is in normal state and so on.

The crusial here is that putting the triggers in right order.

OK...after mucking with the slide, things got a bit complicated for me so I decided to start fresh.  I'm trying to focus on one task at a time and I'm using the Trigger Wizard.  I think my logic should work, yet it does not.  I basically want one layer to show if all the dots are selected, and a different layer to show if ANY of the dots are normal.  Once again "Atom Ant" is my "submit".  Thanks in advance for any assistance.

I renamed the picture1 to AtomAnt (doesn't matter but easier to find). 

I also erased the trigger that set the AisOK to false. That one isn't neccesarry. 
The initial value of that variable already is False and you only wanna change it if all dots are in selected state. 

As far as i can see it the slide works at should now. 

Hi again. 
I made some change in your Chem.story file. 
Now it works with all that functiolanity you wanted. 

Thank you so much for taking the time.  I will be sure to look it over carefully so that I understand how it works...and I hope to be able to pay it forward for someone else on this wonderful forum.

Happy i could be to your assistans. Just ask if there is anything you want me to explain. 

Glad that Jacob was able to assist you here Wayne :) Thanks for the update.