I'm capturing some text in text entry boxes and storing the text in variables. When I write those variables to a text box later using %variablename%, it's reformatting the text box to use much smaller font.
Is this a known problem, or is there a way to fix it? Thanks!
Thanks Chris. I didn't see the thread yet, but I just may have not come across it yet (we read based on time, oldest to newest) do you have a link you could share here?
Thanks Chris - looks to be on the Building Better Courses side of things, and typically we only answer those in Product support - but I'll pop over there!
I am having a similar issue with my text references. In the text entry box, I have two lines to accommodate the text. I the text box containing the reference, I have also made it two lines. When I preview and enter text, it shrinks all of the text to fit into the space of one line. :(
Hey everyone. Digging up this thread again. I seem to be having an issue with the text that includes the variable reference to be bolding when published and viewed on a Mac. My story file and in Preview mode is fine, but when it's published and viewed on a Mac it's bolded. When viewing the published file on WIndows it seems fine. Note that I just used Ariel font. I'm attaching screenshots from Mac and Windows here to show the comparison. The top line is one using the variable. Thanks!
Sure am. I'm on Update 9 and I have tested it out in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. All had the same results. I am viewing it through our LMS thoguh, which is where the final product will be hosted. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your file and the link to the SCORM Cloud course. I took a look at your course, one that Leslie published and sent to me, and also I took a look at publishing your course as well. I tested it in Mac (Chrome and Firefox) and Windows 8.1 (Chrome and Firefox) and saw the same set up where it seemed they were all a light bold, and that also looked the same in both your images. So I'm not sure I'm clear on it - or if I just have bad eyesight. The latter is entirely possible :)
Do you see this just in this file or any files with variable references?
Hi Ashley! Thanks for jumping in. Interesting. Me and my colleagues clearly see the top line being bolder than the bottom (refer to the initial screenshots I posted). This was my first usage of that variable reference, so I don't have any others off-hand to share, but I can create another one to see if there's a difference. Just for experiment purposes, I added the variable to the bottom text box and that became bolder as well, so it does have something to do with the variable reference being used. As soon as I get a moment I'll create a fresh file using the variable and test. Thanks!
I saw it was bold compared to the bottom - but no difference between the Mac/Windows sides regardless of browser. So that's the part I mostly tested.
Using a variable reference can make the text appear different, and was something I know a number of users used to utilize to make the text appear more "crisp" on the slide, so it could be the remnants of that which you're seeing as well?
Windows2.png - When viewed on Chrome in Windows, the text using the variable (top) looks very crisp and jaggy (pretty ugly in my opinion)
Mac2.png - When viewed in Firefox on Mac, the text using the variable (top) looks bolder, but is smoothed out a lot nicer than it's WIndows counterpart.
I found this interesting too. When testing out in Safari on Mac, it came up with boxes with ?'s in them when typing in the text entry field. The result slide though showed what I really typed out though.
What font are you using? Maybe that's why I didn't see it the same as you - as font's aren't embedded in the variable references as it's relying on the users' system fonts and web safe fonts.
53 Replies
Thanks Chris. I didn't see the thread yet, but I just may have not come across it yet (we read based on time, oldest to newest) do you have a link you could share here?
@Ashley - I just replied via Outlook through a link, not sure it will appear (if so sorry for double reply!). Here's my post link
https://community.articulate.com/discussions/building-better-courses/variables-cause-text-strings-to-appear-bolded#
Thanks Chris - looks to be on the Building Better Courses side of things, and typically we only answer those in Product support - but I'll pop over there!
Hello,
I am having a similar issue with my text references. In the text entry box, I have two lines to accommodate the text. I the text box containing the reference, I have also made it two lines. When I preview and enter text, it shrinks all of the text to fit into the space of one line. :(
Hi Carrie,
Could you share this one slide(s) so that we could take a look at what you've set up in regards to the variable and the variable reference?
Is there an email I can send it to? I have signed a confidentiality agreement and don't want to post it on a public site.
Thank you!
Carrie Ann
Sure Carrie - you can send it along to us here.
Hi Ashley,
I submitted a case on Monday but have not heard back. Any news?
Carrie Ann
Hi Carrie!
I'm not seeing a case under your name. Could you share the case number with us so that we can check on that?
This worked for me: a combination of what I read here and other posts.
1) Add a text box, choose yourt text size and type then right click the box and choose the option to set default text box
2) Now delete the text box
3) Next add a new text box and insert your reference variable (it should be formatted to your new default size and type)
4) Run your project
This worked for me.. something about deleting the text box and adding in a new one AFTER I set the default size worked :) Hope it works for you too!
James
Thanks for popping in to share James :)
Hey everyone. Digging up this thread again. I seem to be having an issue with the text that includes the variable reference to be bolding when published and viewed on a Mac. My story file and in Preview mode is fine, but when it's published and viewed on a Mac it's bolded. When viewing the published file on WIndows it seems fine. Note that I just used Ariel font. I'm attaching screenshots from Mac and Windows here to show the comparison. The top line is one using the variable. Thanks!
Hi Lee!
Are you utilizing the latest version of Storyline 2, which is now Update 9 and viewing in a supported environment as specified here?
Hi Leslie!
Sure am. I'm on Update 9 and I have tested it out in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. All had the same results. I am viewing it through our LMS thoguh, which is where the final product will be hosted. Thanks!
It looks like the story_html5 version looks okay in Safari and Firefox (not Chrome). But I'd rather not directly link to that version.
Hmm. Would you be able to test in SCORM Cloud? This would allow us to see if the issue lies within the course or within your LMS.
If you are able to replicate the issue in SCORM Cloud, please share your .story file so that we can take a look.
I seem to be seeing the same behavior. Here is the SCORM Cloud link: https://cloud.scorm.com/sc/InvitationConfirmEmail?publicInvitationId=b26c174d-dd05-4232-876d-1030c2b1887e. I'm also attaching my .story file here as well. Thank you!
Hi Lee,
Thanks for sharing your file and the link to the SCORM Cloud course. I took a look at your course, one that Leslie published and sent to me, and also I took a look at publishing your course as well. I tested it in Mac (Chrome and Firefox) and Windows 8.1 (Chrome and Firefox) and saw the same set up where it seemed they were all a light bold, and that also looked the same in both your images. So I'm not sure I'm clear on it - or if I just have bad eyesight. The latter is entirely possible :)
Do you see this just in this file or any files with variable references?
Hi Ashley! Thanks for jumping in. Interesting. Me and my colleagues clearly see the top line being bolder than the bottom (refer to the initial screenshots I posted). This was my first usage of that variable reference, so I don't have any others off-hand to share, but I can create another one to see if there's a difference. Just for experiment purposes, I added the variable to the bottom text box and that became bolder as well, so it does have something to do with the variable reference being used. As soon as I get a moment I'll create a fresh file using the variable and test. Thanks!
Hi Lee,
I saw it was bold compared to the bottom - but no difference between the Mac/Windows sides regardless of browser. So that's the part I mostly tested.
Using a variable reference can make the text appear different, and was something I know a number of users used to utilize to make the text appear more "crisp" on the slide, so it could be the remnants of that which you're seeing as well?
Hi Ashley!
I did another quick test and here are my results:
Windows2.png - When viewed on Chrome in Windows, the text using the variable (top) looks very crisp and jaggy (pretty ugly in my opinion)
Mac2.png - When viewed in Firefox on Mac, the text using the variable (top) looks bolder, but is smoothed out a lot nicer than it's WIndows counterpart.
So, 6 of one, half-dozen of the other I suppose?
I found this interesting too. When testing out in Safari on Mac, it came up with boxes with ?'s in them when typing in the text entry field. The result slide though showed what I really typed out though.
What font are you using? Maybe that's why I didn't see it the same as you - as font's aren't embedded in the variable references as it's relying on the users' system fonts and web safe fonts.
Ashley,
I went with just regular Arial.
Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone
I found a work around, I posted it here: https://community.articulate.com/discussions/articulate-storyline/storyline-2-text-resizing-issue
Hope this helps! :)
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