Forum Discussion
Line style width increases when object is copied
Hello,
I had formatted a caption in Storyline a certain way, and wished to continue using the same format and size on subsequent slides. It dawned on me that it wasn't the same though: each time I copied it, the width of the line border around it was increasing. If I copied the copy, and then copied that, the changes in width became quite dramatic: the original width of 5 px became 11, then 24, 54, 120, 268, 595, 1322 (at which point the border took up the majority of my screen), etc.
I know how to fix this issue- if I manually go back to the original caption and adjust the width of the line (even if I just type a new '5' over the current 5 px), then any copy made will stay at the 5 px width. I was just curious if this was a bug or an intentional design, and whether or not anyone else had ever encountered it. I'm not sure how it happened to me, as when I create a new caption and copy it the issue isn't reproduced. It has happened to me a few other times though, so this isn't an isolated occurrence.
Here's a quick screenshot, showing boxes with widths of 11, 24, 54 and 120, copied and pasted sequentially from a caption with an original width of 5.
Hi Joshua,
I've tried various methods to reproduce this, but I'm not having any luck. How are you creating the caption? Are you using a shape, text entry, etc.?
I've tried this with defining a specific size with a text entry, without a defined size and applying the line width to both. I also tried using a shape and adjusting the line width. I've used the keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste the objects, as well as the shortcuts to duplicate them. I'm just not seeing the same thing.
Are you able to share a .STORY file with an object that's behaving like this, so I can take a look?
Hi Christine,
It does seem to happen randomly- any time I've sought to replicate the issue I haven't had any luck, which is most perplexing! Try using the story I've attached, access the layer and copy the object within it, and please let me know if it happens to you as well.
Thanks!
-Josh
Hi Josh!
Thanks for the file
This was totally weird until I checked the weight for the Shape Outline. When viewing from my end, there was no defined weight for the outline. After changing the weight on the object to a defined weight (I chose "5"), I no longer saw this issue when copying the item. It looks like it happens when the weight isn't defined to begin with.
Obviously not a complicated modification, but I'm attaching the file if you'd like to test this on your end, too.
Thanks!
Thanks Christine!
I too found that specifying a like weighting before copying solved the problem, I was mostly just curious to see what would cause it to increase with each generation, and if anyone else had experienced it before. Your explanation of the weighting on the original shape definitely makes sense though, cheers!
-Josh
Yeah, this is happening to me as well. I had defined weights already and have been using the same text boxes (copies and pasted) to build out 8 different courses without issue (Save as the project, gut it and rebuild with the same infrastructure), and then it started to do this. I tried reinstalling Articulate360, it didn't change anything.
Hello James!
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! I just tried this same on my end, copying and pasting text boxes, and I do not see any change in the line style. I am using Storyline 360 (Build 3.53.25436.0). Are you using this version as well? I'm happy to take a look at your file as well. You can either attach it to this discussion or upload it privately in a support case.
This is happening to me as well, and I also had defined weights. If I go back into the formatting, and re-define the line weight, then it lets me copy it without anything changing. I have several objects that are grouped, and it adds weight to some (but not all) of the components within the grouped object. I have to fix this in so many places that I might as well start from scratch. If I just Duplicate the slide, it copies correctly. But if I duplicate the layer, it increases the weights the same as when I copy and paste the object. (I am on 3.50.24832.0)
Hello Denise!
Sorry, you're running into this issue as well! Are you finding this specifically happens with grouped objects? Our Support Engineers are best suited for finding the fix to this behavior, and you can reach out to them in a support case. It would be helpful to attach your .story file so they have a file to test.
I am also experiencing this when I use the Format painter. I had a defined line weight but it increased it
Hi Maren! ☺️
I'm happy to help you out! Can you please share a screen recording of what you’re experiencing, since we haven’t been able to reproduce this issue on our end?
Thanks so much!
I am having the same issue as described in the original post.
I had created a project using a rectangle shape that had no fill, but had an outline weight of 4px.
I needed to create several projects with the same look and wanted to keep the exact same shape in each. So I just did a "save as" of the first original project and renamed it each time. I opened one of these "new" projects and tried to...
1) copy the shape using the right click menu
2) duplicate the shape using ctrl+d
3) duplicate the shape by clicking on the shape, holding the ctrl button, and dragging.
In each case, the outline of the object kept duplicating. So, the original shape had an outline of 4px. The first copy made it 8px. When I copied the first copy, it made it 16px. And so on.
The "solution" is to completely start from scratch in creating the shape for each project.
So, I'm wondering if doing a "Save As" of the original project has something to do with this odd occurrence.
Hello Bernadette,
Sorry to hear that you ran into this issue. I'm not seeing the same thing on my end when I followed the steps that you shared, so there's a chance that a specific set of actions need to be performed in order to properly observe this behavior.
To troubleshoot the issue, try doing a repair of Storyline 360 to see if this helps address the behavior. If the issue persists, would it be alright if we asked you to make a recording of how you are arriving at the issue so we can attempt to replicate it? Here's how:
I am having this issue a lot. I use files saved and resaved under a different file name and often copy components from other slides. Maybe those are the actions causing the issues?
Here is what it looks like.Hello Ashley!
Thanks for reporting this in a case as well! You're in good hands working one-on-one with our support engineers. Please expect one of them to reach out to you shortly via email.
We'll continue the conversation in your support case, but I'm happy to assist further as needed!
