Need Help - Using Variables to Select Slides from a "Bank" Using Multiple Criteria Checks

So this might not be technically possible to do in Storyline, unless someone with better knowledge of JS wants to jump in. What you're basically looking to do is create a custom index of slides, on the fly, based on user selection. From what I know of SL and the way the built in triggers work, it's simply not possible (to my knowledge).

My suggestion was going to be to use Javascript to do the job for you, however after a quick Google search I don't think this is possible from within SL as the navigation mechanics aren't accessible.

We have developed something similar though to act as a language picker for one of our clients to combat the problem of selecting different SCORM files from a single page. Basically we built a HTML page with a dropdown on it which when submitted loads up a specific SCORM file relating to the language the learner selected. This HTML file along with the individual language SCORM files (about 12 of them) are all then wrapped inside another SCORM file so that it can be loaded onto an LMS. Technically its not the same as what you are doing but the principle of how it works could be applied to your situation. However, you will need a web developer who is familiar with SCORM that can build it for you.

The only way I can think of on how to achieve this in SL itself is to put all your content on layers, or at least have triggers on layers to assist with navigation. You can then use variables to dynamically display buttons. This could be achieved I suppose all on the base layer and using lightbox windows to display other slides/scenes. The problem you have though is the placement of the buttons. It's not possible to dynamically move buttons on the screen based on variables/user selection, so what you would end up with it gaps in your layout. For example you have 6 buttons in a row and you only want to show buttons 1 and 6. You'd have a massive gap in the middle.

There is a way around this and have multiple buttons in each position but you would potentially end up with 144 buttons and triggers (probably more than 144) to go with them. You'd probably end up a floppy mess by the time you got to the end of it, and then if something breaks....well I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. If you can find a way around the design issue then this method could potentially work.

You'd have 12 variables, 1 for each area. They could be True/False variables, or if you want they could be numeric, but T/F will probably do the job. When the user selects a job area it switches the associated variable to True. This would then activate the button for that corresponding area which you could then use to display layers or slides via a lightbox (or even jump to the slides itself).

There is probably a lot more to think about on this one as to how you deal with overlaps, etc but hopefully this might give you a starting point. Give me a shout if you want to chat over anything.