Hello, I find it extremely hard to create straight lines/arrows is there an easier way to do this? i.e. holding shift like other programs does not work. Thanks!

Crystal, I can understand your team wanting to know how and why people use SL, and used correctly, that knowledge can help guide future development. On the other hand, JC is correct, why he uses the tool should not have a lot of bearing on whether it works correctly or not. It's not really a question that he is trying to use a hammer to dig a hole, and can be shown a better way; it is that he's using a shovel, but it only digs holes that are 6' wide, and won't dig an 8" hole. Don't ask why he wants an 8" hole; that line of inquiry is the path to the dark side. You run the risk of falling into Microsoft's arrogant thought that "If we can train the user to use the tools the way we know is best for them, then we won't have to fix them." Mind you, I'm not saying you did that, just passing along a friendly warning to be careful not to.

Mike, Not sure what is happening but holding down the shift key to draw a straight line works like a charm for me in Storyline. Paul

I know what you mean. I've found it finicky using the pie shape where I want to have one of the inside lines be perfectly horizontal or vertical. I don't have a solution and have just trying zooming in really close or making the object really large to allow more control and then shrinking it down. This happens even if you have the snap to grid turned off. Just seems finicky.

I use the Freeform tool when none of the other tools will do what I need: for example an irregular shape with straight lines and right angles. But the reason why I'm using this tool is totally irrelevant. The problem is the tool has no built-in functionality to help with drawing straight lines. All I am really asking is to force the tool to draw straight lines (vertical and horizontal) and 90 and 45 degree angles when the shift key is held down. Same kind of functionality you get with the rectangle tool that lets you create a perfect square when you hold down the shift key. That's it! I have made a feature request. Thank you.

I guess what I meant to say is after you draw a line, when moving it I am used to it snapping to a grid or only moving 45 degrees at a time, was just wondering if that was an option? Many times the line is just off by a little and you can notice a slight angle on it. Thanks

Straight Lines | Articulate

WaltHamilton
Super Hero
4 years ago
This is no joke. If holding down Shift while drawing doesn't create a straight line, can you post a screen recording of what does happen when you try it, and a description of what you want to happen?
MaggieSmith
Community Member
4 years ago
Yes, same thing here. I came to this forum thinking I would find a fix to this issue, but nothing. I try to insert an arrow, for example, and as much as I zoom in, the line is always at an angle and I can't get it to display straight.
MariaCS
Staff
4 years ago
Hi, Maggie, and welcome to E-Learning Heroes! ✨

Thank you for reaching out!

If you hold the Shift key before you insert the shape, it should keep your arrow straight:

If you are experiencing something different, are you able to share a screen recording of what you see?
JohnMorley-afac
Community Member
4 years ago
Maria,

The issue is with existing lines. Once created, a line is often too long or too short, and it is then agony trying to change the length because the line too easily slants up or down. Being able to hold down a control key to constrain a line to be straight is basic functionality in about any other software I have used. As is obvious from many other comments in this string, the lack of this basic functionality in Storyline is both puzzling and frustrating.
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
4 years ago
John,

The key that constrains (controls) existing lines being editing is the shift key.
JohnMorley-afac
Community Member
4 years ago
Thank you Walt,

It has gotten better over the last revisions. However, still does strange things. Watch the Peek upload to see what happens when holding down shift while trying to lengthen a line and getting off center just a bit.

https://360.articulate.com/review/content/d446797a-ac9d-4ca1-81ba-ee43a8720fad/review
WaltHamilton
Super Hero
4 years ago
It's always done that, strange as it is. I think if you get farther off center, it usually comes back, which seem even stranger to me.
BeccaLevan
Community Member
4 years ago
Hello Everyone,

I appreciate the additional insights shared when editing a line, and thank you, Rafael, for your refreshing reply. This is a generous community, and we’re grateful for every person!

John - Thanks for doing that helpful screen recording! I can confirm there’s some erratic behavior when holding the shift key while extending or shortening the length of the line, and it has been reported to my team.

For now, we recommend moving the cursor in the other direction (up or down) to restore the line’s extension in the proper direction. Here's an example.
simonsimon-361a
Community Member
4 years ago
RH Click, grid and gridlines, then untick snap objects to grid