Branching Question

Hey David,

Instead of using character states as a means to evaluate, use either a count variable or a True/False variable per character.

Option 1:

- Create a numeric variable with a default value of 0. e.g. PathCount

- Every time a user clicks a character to go down a path, Add+ 1 to that variable.

- When the user returns to Slide 1 where they'd click the Next button to go the last slide add a trigger and evaluate the count - If PathCount is equal to 4 Jump To Slide #

Option 2:

- Create a True/False variable for each character and set their initial value to False. e.g. Char1, Char2, etc.

- When a user clicks a character to advance, switch the variable from False to True.

- Again, when the user returns to Slide 1 add a variable to the Next button - If Char1 AND Char2 AND Char3 AND Char4 are equal to True Jump To Slide #

Hope that helps.

Thanks Kevin!  They don't call you Chief Nuggethead for nothin' do they?   

I used Option 1 above and after making sure the +1 trigger was at the top of each character it worked like a charm.  I love the power and flexibility that variables provide, but for someone who was not a big fan of algebra, they are making my noggin spin.  Actually, it's usually the simplest interactions that give me the biggest fits.  Trying to make it harder than it needs to be.  I'm sure no one else has ever had that problem before.  Ha!

Thanks,

David

What Nugget said. Was reading your post and creating the answer in my head only to find he'd already answered it!

Bruce

Thanks anyway Bruce!  I've already received some great tips from you by reading your other postings in the forums.

David

This is great stuff, and I would really like to do things like gray out if the path has been visited  can this be done in Presenter or is this only a Storyline capability?

Thanks 

Hi TJ,

I'm not sure about creating that effect in Presenter.  You could probably come up with a more contrived way by guiding the learner through each item.

For example, you would have your main slide with, say 3 items on it.  The learner clicks Item 1 and goes through Item 1 path.  At the end of that path is a duplicate of your main slide, with Item 1 greyed out.  They would then click Item 2 and go through that path, get to the end and view a slide with Items 1 and 2 greyed out.  Same for Item 3.  This may be way off and there may be an easier way in Presenter.  It's definitely not ideal and isn't truly exploratory, but it tries to emulate that effect.

@Bruce or @Kevin might have some better options?

Storyline makes it seamless with variables and states.  I'm still learning the ins and outs, but am loving every step of the way. 

David

No David, I don't. You described just about the only way to achieve a similar result in Presenter. 

"Smoke and Mirrors" effect (as described above) is the only way in Presenter. That's why Storyline (IMHO) rocks.

It is just soooo simple to achieve wonderful effects with such simplicity, and is virtually unlimited if you want it to be.

Bruce

Thanks for the great responses. I have already developed the process as described above and yes it works but was hoping (other than Storyline) there was an easier way. 

Thanks again to all

This is possible in Presenter without using Smoke and mirrors.

You can track variables using flash files. A ong time ago we built a flash file that tracked upto 12 branches, ticked off each one as you returned to the hub.  Once all 12 were viewed it showed a button to take you to the next section.

This is similar to the way I would do it in Storyline just more complicated because you use flash files to achieve it.

yes I have done it using flash also.  It is much more time consuming and I don't personally have Flash so I can develop it but for larger projects it is a possibility. I was hoping we had a fix for it other than flash builds. Again thanks for the info.

Here is another question I have posted in another area that I have not had a response on yet. Maybe someone here can help.

This is my first time posting a question. I have a slid I am developing in PPT 2007 and I have animations in it and I want them to play and then I want to add a Camtasia video I have to play right after the other animations.

Can I do this on the same slide and if so how?

If not Can I make the next slide come in and start the play automatically?

Thanks

We built it as reusable flash files that are controlled from an xml, very much build once use many times