This example illustrates how to disable next button when the timeline starts and enable next button when a variable change occurs after all of the slide buttons/objects have a state change to visited. Note: All buttons must have a visited state. The next button will be enabled if the slide is revisited. Step 1:Create a True/False variable for the slide objects visited (SlideNumb_Action_VariableType).Example Variable: Variable Name, Type = True/false, Default Value = False S1_AllObjectsVisited_TF Step 2:Create a trigger that changes the next button to disabled when the timeline starts if the variable is not equal to true.Example Trigger: Step 3: Adjust the variable when the identified slide elements change to a visited state.Example Trigger: Step 4:Change the state of the next button to normal when variable changes.Example Trigger:

Just wanted to chime in here for any future users who are desperately trying to make this work like I was only a few moments ago. In storyline360 you might not need to use variables at all.I don't fully understand them yet and I was getting a weird thing when if I left the slide and went back to it sometimes the next button was greyed out and sometimes it wasn't, it was very frustrating. My slide had three panels I wanted learners to click and read the information that came up in the layer that opened before moving on. All I did was:1. Set a trigger to change state of next button to disabled when timeline starts on this slide 2. Create a visited state for my panels and set a trigger for that (change state of rectangle to visited when user clicks on it) 3. Set a trigger to change state of next button to normal once all rectangles (the panels) had changed their state to visited. This works like a charm but it does have a few limitations. You must make sure you slide is set to reset to initial state when revisiting (or else the next button will always disable because of the first trigger) which means your learners will have to interact with your objects every single time which can be frustrating too. And, this works for things where you can trigger something due to a change in state, with more complex interactions you might have to find one more workaround on top of this. Anyway, just thought I would put this out there in case anyone needed it!

Hi Benedict, Here is another way you can do the same like Wendy did. The only difference is, you will see the visited/completed state after visiting the branching/inner slides. Attached is the Story file for your reference.

Place this trigger on the layers, as one of the actions when the Return to Menu object is clicked. If the layers can be visited at random, you need to place it on each layer, otherwise, just the last one. Without the file, I have no ideas about the audio file. If you could sanitize it, you could attach that slide here.

Thanks James for sharing those steps here! Sounds similar to another example we've documented here for Storyline 2.

Hello. I've used triggers like in the example you posted, Ashley, to set the Next button to not appear until the timeline reaches the end. This seemed to work fine, but I recently found out that if you hit the Enter button, it advances the slide without having to click the Next button. Also, when viewing on a tablet, the user can just swipe ahead before the Next button appears. Is there a way to disable this functionality so the slide can only be advanced by clicking Next when the button appears? I have searched the forums everywhere and can find out how to do this? thanks.

Disable Next Button on a Slide until all Buttons are Visited

TomSeguin
Community Member
5 years ago
I've tried following these instructions but the Next button is available after about 5 seconds regardless of variable value.
- WendyFarmer
  Super Hero
  5 years ago
  Are you leaving the slide with the buttons to go to other slides and then returning?
  
  If so,
  
  Triggers should be:
  
  change state of next button to disabled when timeline starts on the slide with buttons.
  
  change state of next button to normal when timeline starts on the slide with button on condition xyz is visited.
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
5 years ago
Use the Add Attachment button to attach your .story file, and let someone take a look at it.
BenedictChia
Community Member
5 years ago
Wow! Thanks for responding to my question Wendy.

My PC with SL3 software is in the office, I will check back on this when back office monday. But am so impressed by speed of your response, just have to say thank you again :)
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
5 years ago
You said:

In storyline360 you might not need to use variables at all.
I don't fully understand them yet and I was getting a weird thing when if I left the slide and went back to it sometimes the next button was greyed out and sometimes it wasn't, it was very frustrating.

I suspect the sometimes yes, and sometimes no was caused by the slide being set to "automatically choose" state on revisit. If it chooses to reset, then the timeline starts, the first trigger functions, and Next is disabled. If it chooses saved state, then the Next button is already enabled from the previous visit and stays enabled.

I believe this is a mis-print:

You must make sure you slide is set to reset to initial state when revisiting or else the next button will always disable because of the first trigger,

I believe you meant the slide needs to be set to saved state on revisit. If it is set to initial state, the timeline WILL restart, and the first trigger will fire.

This method works well if nothing the learner clicks takes them to a different slide. If they get part way through the process, and go to a different slide, then using the change to visited state of all the buttons is not always reliable. In that case, you may need to use variables.
- SarahGomesMunro
  Community Member
  5 years ago
  Hi Walt!
  
  I double checked this and made sure to have it on 'reset to initial state'.
  I am still learning storyline360 so I'm sure there is probably a very simple solution to why it isn't behaving the way I want it to. I tried lots of other things like a trigger setting the variable to false when timeline starts but it didn't fix the bug.
  
  Ideally I would have the next button locked going forwards but unlocked when revisiting but I haven't found a way to do this yet.
SarahGomesMunro
Community Member
5 years ago
Okay chiming in again and eating my own words: the reason it wasn't working is because I missed the bit about the conditions in the triggers! Can confirm that the above method is now working as it should and when I have 'resume saved state' then the learner doesn't have to go through the panels again.

The above method does still work but it can be a little crude and limited as I have already pointed out so may not suit all needs.
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
5 years ago
There is a sample of a variety of ways to control user navigation through a menu on paths that include different slides, with different levels of locking the Next button. Find it here: https://community.articulate.com/discussions/articulate-storyline/free-sample-restricted-and-free-random-navigation-using-variables-and-triggers
ClaireRiley-e7b
Community Member
4 years ago
Hi, I'm developing an eLearning where there is a menu slide with three options that the user can click to access information on multiple layers. We want users to explore each of the three options before they are allowed to move on to the next slide. I have it set up so that the Next button is disabled when the timeline starts on the slide. I also have set up three variables (one for each option) and set the variable to false. When the user clicks on each option, it takes the user to the various layers. After the user has visited the layer, I change the state of the option to visited (which shows a checkmark) and set the variable flag to true. I have a trigger that states if all variables are set to true, then change Next button to Normal. All this works correctly. The two issues that I am experiencing are:

After the user returns to the main menu page with all three options checked. The Next button does not change until the timeline ends. Makes sense since I have it set to when timeline ends on the slide, then change Next button to Normal. The problem is that no audio plays and I don't want to wait for the timeline to play to the end. If I change the trigger so that it changes Next to Normal when timeline starts or at a specific point in the timeline it no longer works. How can I get the Next button to change to Normal immediately when the criteria is met? Also, why does the audio no longer play upon returning from the layers.

Second issue. On the Menu screen, I am not able to click the replay button to have the audio and slide restart. On other slides I have been able to click the replay button and it will replay the audio and slide. It also works on all the layers associated with this slide. How can I get the Menu screen to replay?

I am not able to share the eLearning file, but I did include screenshots of the Triggers and slide properties. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, I can't seem to figure out what I am missing. Thanks, Claire
ClaireRiley-e7b
Community Member
4 years ago
Walt thanks for the speedy reply - your fix worked! Thanks so much!
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
4 years ago
You're welcome. PIAWYC (Pass it along when you can).
KylieHorwill
Community Member
4 years ago
I managed to set this up on one of my slides which contained buttons, however when I've tried replicating this on other slides containing buttons, the Next button doesn't disable. As far as I can tell I'm setting it up in the exact same way but the Next button is visible when it shouldn't be. Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong?