Update success meter based on variable on same slide
Sep 19, 2019
Hey guys,
I'm currently creating a scenario based training where we have a success meter using Articulate 360. The user has to select the correct response and based on that the meter goes up or down. My issue is that I currently have a variable controlling the movement and it will only change when they leave the slide.
As it stands I have it as a question slide, and when they click submit, based on their response, a trigger is added to adjust the variable BEFORE they jump to the feedback. I want the feedback layers to have the updated meter so the user can know immediately that the response wasn't the best. My issue is it isn't working until they move on to the next slide.
Is this an issue where a variable doesn't truly update until a user leaves that slide? Any thought towards a work around?
EDIT: Solved!! It was my triggers on my master slide. They were indeed set to "When timeline starts". Just had to update to "When variable changes" and it worked like a charm. Thanks all!
6 Replies
Hi Nicole!
I tried out what I thought you are describing and posted a little example of the variable getting set before the layer is displayed. The variable, in my case, does appear to be getting set - I can see it on both the main and the layer screen. The only way I could get it to not set was to change the order of the triggers so the layer shows before the variable gets triggered. I wonder if the meter itself is not responding to the changing variable... would you post a small piece of it?
idea: maybe get tricky and change the variable on the "down-click" and switch to the layer on cursor departure from the button?
Hi Nicole,
There is no reason why this shouldn't work. If you are updating the variable and then jumping to the feedback layer, the meter on that layer should be showing the updated score.
If you are able to attach a copy of your file here, that would be a big help in solving your problem. In the meantime, I would recommend adding a text box to your feedback layer and inserting the reference to your variable inside that. This will then show the value of the variable when the feedback layer is visible and you can compare it to the meter. It will also show you if your variable is actually changing before the layer is displayed.
If you are not sure how to do the reference bit, all you need to do is to create a text box and, with the cursor still in the text box, select reference from the menu and insert the one you want:
You will find this a really useful technique when testing your courses. Once it is all working OK, all you need to do is to delete the text box and the variable will no longer be visible.
Hi Ned!
Good point! I totally agree: builders should even take the next step and build a variables table - very useful. Especially when you have to go back later and add/modify, and you forget what is happening to what, and in what sequence! I put my %variable_name% text boxes in a table, and then move it off to the side of the screen, when I am done with it, where the user won't see it. Then later, if I need it, I simply drag it back onto the screen. Saves a bunch of rebuild time. It also doubles as a quick explanation/update tool for those who come after me, needing to see what is happening where, with the variables on that screen.
And along those same lines... they should name their variables something of significance and not just var1, var2, var3 etc.
ok... I'm getting a little off subject from the issue at hand, but somebody might find our discussion useful for the next programming crisis, right? lol.
My attached demo above pretty thoroughly exercises incrementing/resetting a variable and viewing it, both on the main screen and on the layer... I wonder if something else is getting in the way.
What does that "Success Meter" look like?
There's motion involved. Are we solid with repeated motion features on the current release?
Another idea:
Pull the incrementing, layer switching mechanism out of the course and just test it on a couple of isolated slides... Is something else using the same variable.
One last idea:
If duplication was involved (copy/paste) sometimes I'll copy to the old/new (pick one randomly when in a hurry!) variable/variable1, and be displeased with not having what I want, get set.
dave
I am sure the variable is getting set, using references will confirm this. I would suspect your triggers are timeline start triggers which is why it updates when you jump.
To change the meter on the slide you also need when variable changes triggers.
Hi Dave,
Since a lot of us spend quite a bit of time placing references on slides during the development phase in order to track our variables, wouldn't it be a good idea if you could simply click on a button in the player when in preview mode and up would come a list of all your variables and their current value? Surely this could be automated? Perhaps I might put in a request to the team.
A debug mode has been requested a lot, I find I use the devloper console a lot now to get values of variables
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