How Do I Fix Unpredictable Variables?

Jul 29, 2020

Gavin Heryng
By Gavin Heryng

Hi everyone,

Long time listener, first-time caller. I'm hoping for your help with an issue I'm having.

I am creating an interactive story as a training/assessment tool. In each scene, the user is presented with a choice that will briefly branch the story down either a green, amber or red path, before converging back to a single slide where feedback is provided.

Feedback for each decision exists on layers on this feedback slide. The layer shown is triggered by a true/false variable in the green, amber or red paths. For example, when the user chooses the Green Path, the Green Path variable (default FALSE) changes to TRUE. On the feedback slide, there is a trigger to display the Green Path feedback layer IF the Green path variable is TRUE.

The issue occurs when the user "replays" the scene and chooses a different path. Intermittently, the story seems to skip a slide and go straight to the feedback, but it provides the wrong feedback.

I have no doubt that this is caused by an error I have made in creating the variables and/or triggers, but for the life of me I can't figure it out.

You can view an example here.

I have also attached the storyline file if it helps.

I hope all that makes sense! I'd appreciate your thoughts on how to fix this issue.

Gavin

5 Replies
OWEN HOLT
over 3 years ago07/29/20 at 1:31 pm (UTC)

First, I LOVE the look and feel of this. Did you do your own graphics? 

Second, I just quickly skimmed the file but I suspect it isn't a problem with your variables... it is a problem with not re-setting them. My suggestion would be to add 3 triggers on your Play Again button that fire BEFORE the jump to slide action:

  1. Set GreenPath1 to value False When the user clicks Button 1
  2. Set AmberPath to value False When the user clicks Button 1
  3. Set RedPath1 to value False When the user clicks Button 1

Lastly, you might also want to change ALL slides to "When revisiting: Reset to initial state" instead of the "Automatically decide" default in the slide properties.

Gavin Heryng
over 3 years ago07/29/20 at 5:47 pm (UTC)
OWEN HOLT

First, I LOVE the look and feel of this. Did you do your own graphics? 

Second, I just quickly skimmed the file but I suspect it isn't a problem with your variables... it is a problem with not re-setting them. My suggestion would be to add 3 triggers on your Play Again button that fire BEFORE the jump to slide action:

  1. Set GreenPath1 to value False When the user clicks Button 1
  2. Set AmberPath to value False When the user clicks Button 1
  3. Set RedPath1 to value False When the user clicks Button 1

Lastly, you might also want to change ALL slides to "When revisiting: Reset to initial state" instead of the "Automatically decide" default in the slide properties.

Hi Owen, thanks for taking the time to help out!

I've tried it, but it didn't work. You also gave me the idea to add the same trigger on the buttons for the decisive moment, but no dice!

I honestly can't figure it out!

Gavin Heryng
over 3 years ago07/29/20 at 5:49 pm (UTC)
Phil Mayor

Looks great, for anything like this you need to reset the variable values.

Often I will reset all variables on the buttons before seeing them. 

Hi Phil, thanks for commenting!

That's what I'm trying to do but doesn't seem to be working.

I've gone so far as to add a trigger to the button that leads to the red path, for example, that changes the RedPath variable to true and the GreenPath variable to false, just to be safe.

Still getting the same issue, even with all slides and layers reverting to their original state.

Allison LaMotte
over 3 years ago08/03/20 at 9:32 am (UTC)

Hi Gavin,

Have you tried displaying the variable references on each screen as you test the course? That should help you to see if the variables are being reset or not and help you get to the bottom of the issue.

You'll find more info on this technique and a few others for troubleshooting complex interactions in Storyline in this article: 3 Tips for Troubleshooting Advanced Storyline 360 Interactions

I hope that helps!

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