Would make my life 100x easier: Keep pasted objects in same loc'n

Nope -- it doesn't.   one up-arrow and one left arrow is of course the instinct, but when you do that, it is usually 1-2 pixels off, and the user sees the character or shape take a jump rather than remaining identical.   So you then reach for the align feature, etc...

OK - my bad.

Never had to do this to the degree of accuracy you are doing.

In this case agree then that a 1:1/like-for-like placement would speed things up.

Does selecting them both then doing "Align Middle" + "Align Centre" do it?

Bruce

Hi Eric,

If you're just looking to change the expressions & poses for the characters, why not use states instead? That would be so much easier and then the character is in the same place and you only have one object on the timeline to deal with. If you're wanting the state change to happen timed to the audio when nothing else is trigger on the timeline, simply put a shape somewhere off the canvas and add a trigger to it to "change the state of" your character to whatever state you want on the start of the timeline for the shape. This off-screen shape can be timed to your audio.

Just something I wanted to share if your primary issue is with the characters. Obviously you can also duplicate objects by holding Ctrl+Shift and dragging it down or up, which will retain that horizontal or vertical alignment.

You may already know these 2 tricks, but wanted to share in case you didn't.

That's the best advice I've gotten in a while!  I knew that using states was a better way of changing emotions and so forth -- but I couldn't figure out how to get states to change based on the timeline.  So I guess you are saying that I would configure the character's state to remain one basic state, with the exception that if invisible shape "a" had started, then the character's state would be a second state, and if a second invisible shape was active in the timeline, then the character's state would be a third state?   ... this way the method could be used for multiple states?

exciting stuff -- let me know if I'm missing something (can't get to try this just now, will soon.)

I think an option to paste or paste in place would be a great addition.  Also when you duplicate a state it would be really nice if it duplicated everything in the state and not just what it feels like

I just tried the great tip above, "use an invisible shape in the timeline to help trigger state changes."   Kind of disappointing that I can't just say "change state of the character to "confused" while "invisible triangle" is ACTIVE in the timeline.

Instead I have to make two triggers.  "change him to confused when triangle starts in the timeline" and then "change him to normal when the triangle ends in the timeline."   ayayay.   But better than nothing:

Just to entertain a dream scenario:

What I would love: many more very flexible triggers. Imagine triggers like this:

Change state to "confused" when...

** a random number 1-100 equals 1

or

** the timeline clock time is an exact multiple of 10 seconds  (would be great for making a character blink)

or

** at every exact one-fifth of the timeline duration

or... as I was wishing above

** when the object "invisible triangle" is ACTIVE in timeline

or...

** when timeline is at cue point: 14   (I realize this would mean that cue points become more of an actual timeline element rather than convenient thing to help ENTRY of the timeline items.)

ALSO, the trigger calls could be more flexible, in an ideal world... things like

-- Toggle between states "confused" and "happy" when: user hovers over triangle

OK, enough fantasy I guess...

... I could think of other dreamy ones but better go work on my slide...

eric

Eric,

Please add a feature request for anything you'd like to see. I agree that having timing available for triggers would be great. I've worked in Lectora land before and that was one thing that I loved about their actions - you could time them without having to use objects off the canvas. 

You can submit a feature request HERE.

Eric, 

I have been working on the same type of character animations, a la Southpark.  I tried the above and it is all too time consuming and clunky.  My best practice so far, is to create a string of different poses and expressions, group it, then copy and paste this group in strings to create longer animations.  This way you are able to make a few rapid fire character changes/animations quickly.  For example, create the same character with 5+ different poses and expressions over a 2 second period, then group it.  Copy and paste and you can make multiple different groups.  You still need to realign each newly pasted group, however, that's much faster than creating multiple triggers, or characters, especially when you have a dialogue of 15+ seconds.

I hope this helps.  If anyone finds a better/faster way, please let us know here.

Thank you!

P.S. I already made a feature request as well.

Hi Trace! Thanks for your contribution to the community on this and for submitting a feature request. 

Story 2 same "problem" :(

Hi Cristian,

You're welcome to also share your thoughts on this as a feature within Storyline 2 here. 

This makes me sad as well. While having to use both Align Center and Align Middle each and every time is frustrating, I've at least learned that if you make sure the pasted object is down and to the right (which it is on the same slide but not always on different slides) of what I'll call the "anchor object" (the one that is already in the correct location) then use the Align commands, it almost always moves only the pasted object which is some consolation.

Hi Jay,

You will also want to share your thoughts in a feature request and that way our product team will be aware of needs/desires for our next update or version.  Thanks!

I would just be happy to copy & paste text and not have it snap to the center, but remain where I originally wanted to paste it. Any way of changing this in preferences, settings or something?

Hi Carolyn,

There is not a preference/setting to update within Storyline in regards to how elements will be copy/pasted into the slide. You are welcome to share your thoughts on any behavior you'd like to see change or elements you'd like added to Storyline in the form of a feature request. 

Thank you Ashley. This just pertains to blocks of text that I want to time with audio. For instance, I would like to paste line 1 at top and paste remainder of text blocks underneath it in order, align them afterwards. Now when you paste, it forces each text block to the center, you have to move it and then paste another- move that one, so on and so on. I will fill out the request. Much appreciated. Carolyn

Hi Carolyn,

Thanks for sending in the feature. Are these all in one text box and the first one is center aligned? If so, then any other text would follow that when pasting in. 

How does one unsubscribe from a thread?

I has assumed that clicking on "Subscribed" would do it - but nope :(

Hi Bruce, 

That should do it at the very top of a thread - but you'll also want to check that you're not subscribed to a forum section as a whole. Also, from your profile you can see all your subscriptions and then hovering over each one you'll see a small X button at the far right of the title and that would remove it as well. 

It would be a scenario like this; I have a power point slide that has many bullet points. I want to c&p each one into Storyline 2 so that I can then time it with the audio. The way it is now, I c&p a line of text in on a blank template and it snaps to the center. Now I have to move it up or po the side- wherever I want it, then continue to do that for maybe the next 11 lines. I can align and tweak afterwards, but it would be nice to c&p in the general area the first time and in order of where I want them without having to move each line every time I c&p. Does that make sense? Thank you, Carolyn

I've found that sending the top-most image to the back in a duplicated state reveals the rest of the items that appear to be missing.

I don't have an issue with images. This is for c&ping many separate text lines into a slide. Thank you for your advice though! : ) Carolyn

Hi Carolyn,

So you're not copy and pasting into a text box, just directly to the slide itself? I think this is going to be the standard behavior as if your cursor isn't in a part of at text box it doesn't know where to drop the copy to - so it just includes it directly in the center. As mentioned you're welcome to share your thoughts on changing that in the form of a feature request. 

Yes, exactly-  c&ping directly on slide- no predetermined text box. It's quicker for me and allows for individual sizing, fonts and design for each line.