Best way to use variables to skip slides based on selected career path (single scene setup)

Here's a solution using navigation triggers based on a single variable. The file is attached below. Hope this helps!

Step 1: Create the path variable

Create a numeric variable (PathSelected for example). Set the default value to 0.

Step 2: Set the path when a button is clicked

For each path button:

• Button 1: Add a trigger to Set PathSelected to 1 when the user clicks Button 1.
• Button 2: Add a trigger to Set PathSelected to 2 when the user clicks Button 2.
• Repeat for all other path buttons (set to 3, 4, etc. as needed).

Important: Use Set value to (not Add) so the variable always reflects the last button the learner clicked.

Step 3: Add conditional navigation

On your main slide and all other slides that branch:

• Edit your Jump to next slide triggers.
• Add conditions based on the value of PathSelected so Storyline jumps to the correct “next” slide for that path.
  • Example:
  • If PathSelected = 1, 3, 5 → Jump to Slide 1
  • If PathSelected = 2, 4, 6 → Jump to Slide 2

Important:

• Watch trigger order: The trigger that sets PathSelected must appear before the Jump to slide trigger in the list. If the jump trigger runs first, the variable will not update in time and the learner may see the wrong slides.
• Remove extra triggers: Make sure there are no extra “Jump to next slide” triggers above your conditional ones. Storyline will execute the first valid jump trigger it finds and ignore the rest.
• Reset the variable on the first slide: On your first slide, add a trigger to Set PathSelected to 0 when the timeline starts. This prevents the variable from “sticking” if the learner clicks Previous all the way back and chooses a different path.