I am trying to find a way to embed a pdf viewer and somehow configure it to view multiple documents. The current method of viewing pdf docs is just too counter intuitive and confusing to the learner if used to add multiple pdf docs to a project. I have found a very few other mentions, like the one here, but all provide little or no details about how to make it work.
I am way behind schedule because of the time spent trying to find a way to make this work.
HI Mac,
This thread is a bit older, so I'm not certain that folks are subscribed. Have you looked at adding it as a web object as other folks mentioned?
Ashley,
Thanks for your help.
The best I can tell, I would need to place all of the (a very large number in this case) PDF docs on a web server. But, as far as I know, I do not have access to a web server.
Also, I would like to keep the learner in one slide to go through the PDFs. Going outside the story whether in the same browser or another page, has proven problematic for our learners.
I have found what sounds like a great solution here: Part 1 http://elearningbrothers.com/how-to-embed-a-pdf-viewer-in-articluate-storyline/ Part 2 http://elearningbrothers.com/how-to-embed-a-pdf-viewer-with-multiple-pdfs-in-articulate-storyline-part-2/ But, I have found those instructions difficult to follow. I can get Part 1 to work but not Part 2. Either there are some details missing or there are some assumptions being made. I have attempted to contact the site hosts and the poster but have not heard anything from either yet. If anyone can offer insight (more details) on how this is supposed to work, that would be great.
I also found, on the Heros forums, a rather old, very brief discussion of how this might be accomplished. But, there were no instructions and an example is referred to, but the link to the example doesn't work anymore.
If the web object is the only way to go, I would appreciate a bit more detail on what might serve as a "web server". I know how to set up a trigger to go to a url but I have no idea how to get our pdf docs posted there (where ever "there" is). We are using a local community college LMS to host the published Storyline lessons.
Please let me know if any additional information may be needed to facilitate this project.
Thanks again,
William (Mac) McLemore
Nissan North America-Canton, MS
Technologist/Training Development
Global Maintenance Reinforcement
I can't speak to the ELearning Brothers content - so you'll want to keep reaching out to them for additional insight.
In regards to a server, there are a few options that are easy to set up such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon S3 as you can see mentioned in this article (referencing setting them up as a place to host Storyline content).
Do you have a link to the old thread? If it was something posted by staff we may be able to track down where the link was referring to and redirect if necessary.
When you say "a lot" of PDF files....how many are "a lot"? there is a way to view files in a scrolling window pane...not sure if this would work for you or not. I've used it in some of my projects as my learners are not good with a lot of "high tech" solutions. It is a time consuming process for me to build, but once it's in place, all the learner needs to do is scroll to read the PDF docs. No servers involved. If you would like to know more I'm willing to share. :)
Looking back at it, the link to the example sighted is actually blocked by employer. This happens alot. It is actually in the very first reply to the question that started this thread.
The reply was posted by Hero Michael Hinze 12 months ago. Scroll to the top to see it.
It inferres that "I re-used a pdf's URL from a previous example that was already on my server". I'm guessing (hoping) he only had to upload ONE DOCUMENT to his web server.
However, I'm afraid my employer will frown on the idea of uploading so many documents to a virtual server like DropBox. I'm also afraid that access to such services may be blocked for some learners using Storyline lessions on our campus.
I'm going to experiment with it anyway. If nothing else, I can tell my supers that I found a way to do it but it's blocked and not a viable route.
Ah, thanks Mac for clarifying. Michael is a regular contributor here in the forums, so hopefully he'll be able to pop in here and let you know specifically what he did.
Is this a course that is being wrapped up in a zip file and uploaded to an LMS? If so, have you thought about just placing copies of the PDFs inside the package and use a relative link in your web object?
For instance, if you create a folder inside your published folder named something like "PDFs", your web object URL would be something like "/PDFs/myPDF.pdf", as opposed to normal specific link to a server like "www.myserver.com/PDFs/myPDF.pdf".
Here is a quick video of how to add the files into a scroll panel. The time consuming part (for me) is breaking the PDF's into individual pages, saving each page as a .png file, and then re-assembling in order in the scrolling window. It's effective, but not the most fun thing to do. It's highly possible there's a better way to do this, but it's what I've found works for my students. Let me know if you have any other questions.
The thing about "absolute" URLs is that you have to know the full path to location of the file being referenced on a server, or on a local drive etc.
In constrast, a "relative" URL is relative to the location of the file that is calling it, so it is portable.
Example:
You create a simple web page "index.html" on your C drive in a folder named "myWebPage". Your webpage contains a link to a PDF file named "myPDF.pdf" that is one folder deeper than your HTML file, in a folder named "PDFs".
If you format that link as an absolute URL, your code would be <a href="C:\myWebPage\PDFs\myPDF.pdf">my pdf</a>.
If your format as a relative URL it would be <a href="\PDFs\myPDF.pdf">my pdf</a>.
Now let's say you want to move your whole web page folder to a new location on your C drive. That would include moving the location of your PDF file.
Absolute link would be broken. The relative link would work fine since the location is relative to the HTML file, not it's absolute location.
I hope I explained that OK but you can Google plenty of better explanations and/or examples if needed.
16 Replies
You could add a web object to the slide layer which displays the pdf, as in this example (never mind the poor formatting on the web object).
Ok, did you upload the pdf to a server and then insert it into Storyline as a Web object?
I re-used a pdf's URL from a previous example that was already on my server
Can anyone add a little more detail to this?
I am trying to find a way to embed a pdf viewer and somehow configure it to view multiple documents. The current method of viewing pdf docs is just too counter intuitive and confusing to the learner if used to add multiple pdf docs to a project. I have found a very few other mentions, like the one here, but all provide little or no details about how to make it work.
I am way behind schedule because of the time spent trying to find a way to make this work.
Thanks in advance for any help offered.
HI Mac,
This thread is a bit older, so I'm not certain that folks are subscribed. Have you looked at adding it as a web object as other folks mentioned?
Ashley Terwilliger replied:
HI Mac,
This thread is a bit older, so I'm not certain that folks are subscribed. Have you looked at adding it as a web object as other folks mentioned?
Ashley,
Thanks for your help.
The best I can tell, I would need to place all of the (a very large number in this case) PDF docs on a web server. But, as far as I know, I do not have access to a web server.
Also, I would like to keep the learner in one slide to go through the PDFs. Going outside the story whether in the same browser or another page, has proven problematic for our learners.
I have found what sounds like a great solution here: Part 1 http://elearningbrothers.com/how-to-embed-a-pdf-viewer-in-articluate-storyline/ Part 2 http://elearningbrothers.com/how-to-embed-a-pdf-viewer-with-multiple-pdfs-in-articulate-storyline-part-2/
But, I have found those instructions difficult to follow. I can get Part 1 to work but not Part 2. Either there are some details missing or there are some assumptions being made. I have attempted to contact the site hosts and the poster but have not heard anything from either yet. If anyone can offer insight (more details) on how this is supposed to work, that would be great.
I also found, on the Heros forums, a rather old, very brief discussion of how this might be accomplished. But, there were no instructions and an example is referred to, but the link to the example doesn't work anymore.
If the web object is the only way to go, I would appreciate a bit more detail on what might serve as a "web server". I know how to set up a trigger to go to a url but I have no idea how to get our pdf docs posted there (where ever "there" is). We are using a local community college LMS to host the published Storyline lessons.
Please let me know if any additional information may be needed to facilitate this project.
Thanks again,
William (Mac) McLemore
Nissan North America-Canton, MS
Technologist/Training Development
Global Maintenance Reinforcement
Hi Mac,
I can't speak to the ELearning Brothers content - so you'll want to keep reaching out to them for additional insight.
In regards to a server, there are a few options that are easy to set up such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon S3 as you can see mentioned in this article (referencing setting them up as a place to host Storyline content).
Do you have a link to the old thread? If it was something posted by staff we may be able to track down where the link was referring to and redirect if necessary.
Hi Mac,
When you say "a lot" of PDF files....how many are "a lot"? there is a way to view files in a scrolling window pane...not sure if this would work for you or not. I've used it in some of my projects as my learners are not good with a lot of "high tech" solutions. It is a time consuming process for me to build, but once it's in place, all the learner needs to do is scroll to read the PDF docs. No servers involved. If you would like to know more I'm willing to share. :)
Thank you Angela Carr,
If I can get this to work, I have about 30 Storyline projects that could have 10 pdf docs each. If it works, I'm sure we will have more going forward.
I would like to see what you have developed.
I am very much behind schedule and desirate to make this happen.
Thanks
Ashley,
Looking back at it, the link to the example sighted is actually blocked by employer. This happens alot. It is actually in the very first reply to the question that started this thread.
The reply was posted by Hero Michael Hinze 12 months ago. Scroll to the top to see it.
It inferres that "I re-used a pdf's URL from a previous example that was already on my server". I'm guessing (hoping) he only had to upload ONE DOCUMENT to his web server.
However, I'm afraid my employer will frown on the idea of uploading so many documents to a virtual server like DropBox. I'm also afraid that access to such services may be blocked for some learners using Storyline lessions on our campus.
I'm going to experiment with it anyway. If nothing else, I can tell my supers that I found a way to do it but it's blocked and not a viable route.
Thanks for your help.
Ah, thanks Mac for clarifying. Michael is a regular contributor here in the forums, so hopefully he'll be able to pop in here and let you know specifically what he did.
Is this a course that is being wrapped up in a zip file and uploaded to an LMS? If so, have you thought about just placing copies of the PDFs inside the package and use a relative link in your web object?
For instance, if you create a folder inside your published folder named something like "PDFs", your web object URL would be something like "/PDFs/myPDF.pdf", as opposed to normal specific link to a server like "www.myserver.com/PDFs/myPDF.pdf".
In this way, the LMS itself acts as the server.
Here is a quick video of how to add the files into a scroll panel. The time consuming part (for me) is breaking the PDF's into individual pages, saving each page as a .png file, and then re-assembling in order in the scrolling window. It's effective, but not the most fun thing to do. It's highly possible there's a better way to do this, but it's what I've found works for my students. Let me know if you have any other questions.
This sounds interesting.
Can you please supply a bit more detail.
If I have to create a trigger to jump to a url, wouldn't I need to know what the url is? If so, how would I know what it is before it's published?
Am I missing something here?
Thanks
William (Mac) McLemore
Nissan North America-Canton, MS
Technologist/Training Development
Global Maintenance Reinforcement
Just in case you can't open the files...here is a link from the hero site.
https://community.articulate.com/series/5/articles/adding-scrolling-panels#
The thing about "absolute" URLs is that you have to know the full path to location of the file being referenced on a server, or on a local drive etc.
In constrast, a "relative" URL is relative to the location of the file that is calling it, so it is portable.
Example:
You create a simple web page "index.html" on your C drive in a folder named "myWebPage". Your webpage contains a link to a PDF file named "myPDF.pdf" that is one folder deeper than your HTML file, in a folder named "PDFs".
If you format that link as an absolute URL, your code would be <a href="C:\myWebPage\PDFs\myPDF.pdf">my pdf</a>.
If your format as a relative URL it would be <a href="\PDFs\myPDF.pdf">my pdf</a>.
Now let's say you want to move your whole web page folder to a new location on your C drive. That would include moving the location of your PDF file.
Absolute link would be broken. The relative link would work fine since the location is relative to the HTML file, not it's absolute location.
I hope I explained that OK but you can Google plenty of better explanations and/or examples if needed.
This discussion is closed. You can start a new discussion or contact Articulate Support.