Developer/Designer Notes in Storyline

Aug 06, 2014

I particularily like the Word output files to share with SMEs, etc to gain a feel of what the course will look like as well as any layers that may be contained within the course.

I currently add notes that will aid the approving audience such as explaining the navigation of the screen, noting dangling items requiring approval/clarification, etc and I find that it works well.

However, prior to my final publish, I have to remove all of these notes but feel it would be of value to keep them if possible. Thus, I'm curious if anyone is aware of a place where I can "sneak" in such items without the need to remove them prior to a final publish?

4 Replies
Steve Flowers

Another option, perhaps too much work, is to setup a shape on the stage or a layer that shows only when a variable is true. For example:

  • Create a variable and call it inDevelopment with a default value of true.
  • Create a layer and add your notes.
  • Create a trigger on your base layer to show the notes layer if inDevelopment == true

When you get ready to want to turn those off, change your variable to false and the notes will disappear. It's extra setup if you don't have a patterned slide that you copy and paste.

Another thing I'll do with developer notes is add them off of the side of the stage. This doesn't help when you want to show them to the client but it's a nice space that doesn't normally get in the way.

Paul Lush

Natalia Mueller said:

Hi Paul,

I just turn off notes in the player. Then they're still in the source file but the published output doesn't display them. This won't work if you want to use the Notes section for something within the course though.


Thanks Natalia;

I usually need to leave the notes visible to the user, however. Given accessibity requirements, most clients want the narrated notes available.

Paul Lush

Steve Flowers said:

Another option, perhaps too much work, is to setup a shape on the stage or a layer that shows only when a variable is true. For example:

  • Create a variable and call it inDevelopment with a default value of true.
  • Create a layer and add your notes.
  • Create a trigger on your base layer to show the notes layer if inDevelopment == true

When you get ready to want to turn those off, change your variable to false and the notes will disappear. It's extra setup if you don't have a patterned slide that you copy and paste.

Another thing I'll do with developer notes is add them off of the side of the stage. This doesn't help when you want to show them to the client but it's a nice space that doesn't normally get in the way.


Thanks Steve - really like the variable idea and will certainly experiment with it.

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