Web Publish Issue

Hi Amit- Thanks for taking the time to reach out here. You'll want to make sure that your testing your published output in the environment for which it was intended. For instance, since you published for web you would need to upload it to a web environment, such as tempshare, to properly test it. 

Since you're testing in an LMS environment, you'll want to use the option to Publish for LMS. I published the template you attached for LMS and uploaded it to SCORM Cloud to test it in an LMS environment. It seems to be functioning as desired. You can view it here. Please let me know if you're seeing the same issues viewing it there. Thanks! 

Hi Amit!

Did you publish the course for LMS? Looks like the file you've shared here was published for the web.

I didn't even think of that until I was popping in to share my published output to see if you had difficulty with this.

Thanks Ali,

I've been able to use the "Web" publish option previously in Canvas for other Storyline files and they work just fine when linked to story.html file in the published folder. I've another Storyline package that works just fine in Canvas when published as "Web".

Yes - It works fine when uploaded as a SCORM package. However, I did not want to use the SCORM option in Canvas since it automatically converts it into an assignment and creates a grade book column. I did not want the activity graded.

Thanks for your reply-

Amit

Thanks Leslie,

Yes, Allison has created an awesome template!!

It works fine when previewed here:

https://community.articulate.com/download/storyline-2-page-turn-interaction-template

As I mentioned in my reply to Ali, I've been able to use the web publish option previously without any glitches. But I do run into a few of those which just won't go past the launch  screen.

Thanks again for your reply.

Amit

Hi Amit!

Thanks for the details - did you have any difficulty with my published output in Tempshare or does it seem the issue is limited to your LMS?

Hi Leslie, 

I don't think it's a Canvas LMS issue. As I mentioned, I've been able to use publish as Web option in Canvas with success. What I have noticed is that for some Storyline files, the Web version works seamlessly but for others, it does not go past the launch / first screen. It certainly does not work with page-turn-interaction template.  I'm not certain what might be causing this. 

One great advantage of publishing as a Web is that Storyline files works fine when the course is copied in Canvas. Publishing as SCORM breaks the links and the SCORM packet needs to be re-uploaded.

Here's another one:

1. The Business Template (attached) works fine when published as a Web and linked to story_html5.html (attached) in Canvas LMS.
2. It does not go past the first screen and keeps twirling around, when linked to story.html (attached) in Canvas LMS. 

Hi Amit!

We advise to share the story.html file. Here’s how Storyline determines which version of your content to display when learners view it.

Be sure that you are viewing in a supported environment as specified here. 

The html version works well for me when viewing, even when it switches to html5. Check it out here.

Thanks again for the follow-up Leslie,

Yes - I always always link to story.html except when it just won't go past the first screen. html5 works great on desktop as well as mobile. 

In Canvas LMS, what I've found is that in some cases, story.html does not go past the first screen when published as Web, I'm trying to figure out - Why? Is there a fix?

Yes - It works in Tempshare but why not in Canvas for all files? Why does it work for only few files?

It seems that the issue has been reported but there is no fix. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/thread/8487 

https://community.canvaslms.com/thread/11041 

I'll try to do some more research and post an update if I find a solution. l think there's something in the code / Storyline output files that might be causing the issue. 

Thanks again for your reply-

Amit

Hi Amit,

Thanks for linking to those forum threads within the Canvas LMS community - from what I'm reading on those two pages and the very limited knowledge  I have on Canvas, it seems that to be able to use the courses as expected it needs to be published as an LMS/SCORM package and uploaded as such. Based on that set up it'll launch the course based on the LMS set up and requirements and then advance the user through normally.

If you're publishing as Web, Storyline has created the package to be specific to a web server and the LMS may have different items and elements it's looking for based on a standard SCORM package. 

So the *why* it's not working here seems to be connected to your publish for Web method, when you're uploading to a more traditional LMS. I suspect the difference in files is based on what you've included in each of them - perhaps the ones that don't work have more interactive elements, quizzes, etc. that are playing differently when not included as a SCORM output. 

I'd look at publishing for LMS and confirm with your Canvas team if you need to use a particular SCORM output (1.2 vs 2004 or even Tin can API). 

Hopefully others in the Canvas community forum or here within Articulate's E-Learning Heroes will be able to offer you additional assistance! Please keep us posted on what you find out.

Thanks Ashley, 

The other Storyline files that work in Canvas when published as Web, do not have any quizzes or any complex interaction(s). Even the two templates -  page-turn-interaction and Business Template do not have any quizzes but do not work when published as Web. 

Having assessments or scoring interactions is one reason why it would need to be published as SCORM for the scores to pass on to the gradebook. Canvas automatically converts a SCORM upload to an assignment and also creates a gradebook column. I did use SCORM v 2004 for a few modules and it works just fine - the scores transfer to gradebook. 

However, I do not prefer to use the SCORM option if there are no assessments or for every module. Also, the SCORM package needs to be re-uploaded every time the course is copied. 

As mentioned in one of the comments in the Canvas thread I shared:

"I went back and reviewed the YouTube video I linked to in the original post and discovered that that was demonstrating how to add Storyline content as SCORM to include in an Assignment. This function does still work; however, this is not what I am attempting to accomplish as I do not want the learner to have to leave the flow of the Module, but simply be able to interact with a Storyline slide as part of the Module then continue through the remainder of the content."

To highlight the issue with other comments in the forum:

"We are having the same issue. One storyline course will work fine and another will not load. Both have all the same publish & player settings but different content.

 Whats even more confusing is, if I import the first slide from the working course and place it as the first slide into the non-working course and upload the zip, the first slide loads and works just fine but when I try to go to the other content it freezes up again. There seems to be no ryhme or reason as to the functionality of storyline 2 courses in canvas."

For a moment, I thought I had my Eureka moment reading this:

"Okay so I finally fixed it, at least for me. I started with a new .story file and added one element at a time from the non-working file and uploaded it to canvas until it broke.

I have found that the second I add a .jpeg file the storyfile in canvas freezes up. So I changed all my images to .png files and it works great. Hope this helps!"

However, I've tried this option and still no luck! 

Maybe Canvas and Storyline folks need to take a close look at what's the Big Story? :-) 

Thanks again for your reply-

Amit

Hi Amit, 

Again, I can't speak to Canvas specifically - but I wouldn't expect our web published output to play normally in an LMS - unless it was published as such. If you published something for web and tried to upload to SCORM Cloud for example (which is an industry standard for LMS testing) you'd get an error message as it'd be looking for particular LMS files. 

At this point if you're looking to use the web output in an LMS - that's the element we'll have to defer to the community and/or Canvas's team for additional insight. If Canvas is able to point to something specific causing issues with the file playing, we're also happy to take a look at that, you'll want to connect with our Support Engineers here.

Yes - To upload a SCORM package in Canvas, SCORM tab needs to be enabled in the navigation to be able to read the specific file contents for SCORM . Whereas if published as Web, the folder can be uploaded to Files. 

https://guides.instructure.com/m/4152/l/340211-how-do-i-import-scorm-files-as-an-assignment 

Canvas gives an error message if a folder published as Web is uploaded as a SCORM or vice-versa. 

I think what we are seeing in the forums is that since Canvas and Storyline support teams might not be familiar with the functionality of both these environments, they are therefore unable to "comment" / take a close look and provide a solution. 

Thanks again for your post-

Amit

Good Afternoon Amit, and welcome to Heroes!

To try and isolate the root cause of the problem you are experiencing, I've uploaded your published course to 4 different web hosts:

1. Articulate Tempshare
2. SCORM Cloud
3. Dropbox
4. DreamHost

Amit, can you please visit the four links above and test for reproducibility of the problem you are having with Canvas?  If the course works fine for all four of the above web hosts and only fails within Canvas, I would recommend submitting a ticket to Canvas Support and explaining that your course fails to play only within their LMS.  They should be able to tell you what's going wrong.

Good luck with your project!

Thanks for the follow-up Justin,

Yes - the template works fine in all four links that you have shared.

I guess I'll need to contact Canvas. The other alternative would be to create a new project with a different design since the issue is only limited to some Storyline projects or to not use it at all.

Also, since the issue is only limited to some  Storyline projects and there are other institutions  experiencing a similar issue as reported in Canvas forums, it would be great if the support team at Storyline could create a free Canvas course and explore the issue further.

https://www.canvaslms.com/try-canvas

I think the community is really feeling helpless and a little frustrated since it's difficult to identify the root cause of the problem because these are two different products and companies.

Thank you again for your reply.

Amit

Amit:

At last count, there are approximately 60 commercially-available Learning Management Systems on the market.  In addition, many of our customers have elected to build their own homegrown Learning Management Systems.  Regrettably, it would be unsustainable for our team to offer the level of LMS troubleshooting you've suggested.

Please do let us know what Canvas comes up with on this.  If they need our help, they are welcome to post their findings in this thread as well.

Thanks!

I completely understand Justin,

Thanks for your help!

Amit

Just a quick update to let you all know that I was able to resolve the issue. 

The solution defies logic but I had to take out the Brown Marble image used a texture in the Master Slide to make it work! 

I ran into a similar issue with another template and had to delete 2 images that I had added to the first two slides to make it work. 

Thanks-

Amit

Hi Amit!

Thank you for popping back in to share your solution. Much appreciated.