Forum Discussion
Text Entry Field, "Enter" Key
Hopefully this question isn't too amateur!
I am building a "try it" software simulation. I want the user to enter some text and then click on a hot spot on the screen. I don't want them to be able to advance to the next slide by hitting the "Enter" key. I want to make sure they click the hot spot after entering the correct text. Is there some way of preventing the "Enter" key from advancing the user?
Thanks in advance for the help.
- PeterAndersonFormer Staff
Hi Keith
Here's how Storyline handles the Enter key in data entry fields:
* If the data entry field is tall enough to accommodate more than one line of text, the Enter key will add a line break (return), so the user can start a new paragraph.
* If the data entry field is only tall enough for a single line of text, the Enter key will assign the user's response to the text field's variable. In other words, it will submit the user's response.
This article has more information, but you may want to try making your data entry field taller so an Enter key won't automatically submit the answer.
- MartaBurda-StysCommunity Member
Hi Peter,
I've come across this discussion as I'm having problem with text-entry boxes in my software simulation. I do want "enter" to submit the entry, but the box is too tall (it accomodates more than one line of text) and it doesn't work - how do I change the box not to be too tall (it has to be only tall enough for a single line of text)? I guess Storyline inserted a text-entry slide that was too big compared to what is in the software, I manually changed the size of the field but this setting I don't know how to change. I can add triggermanually (as instructed in this article https://articulate.com/support/article/how-the-enter-key-behaves-in-data-entry-fields) but still - how do I get rid of this problem in the box itself (please find attached screenshot to know what I mean).
kind regards,
Marta
- VinceScomaCommunity Member
Hi Marta,
Happy to help! It sounds like you may need to add a submit key interaction by pressing a specific key. Do you have the Enter key listed in the "Submit Keys" field in Form View:
If you need our help to take a look at your file, we're always more than happy to help! You can share files to this thread or you’re always welcome to share them privately here. We'll let you know our findings and will delete it after having a closer look!
Hi Christiana,
I was able to take a look at the case where Marta worked with our support team and it looks like we were unable to recreate the issue and the text entry fields were corrupt.
It sounds like you may be experiencing an issue more consistently. With your permission, I'd like you to share your project file with our support engineers to investigate what's happening. You can share it privately by uploading it here. It will be deleted when troubleshooting is complete.
- KeithKemsleyCommunity Member
Hi Peter,
In this unique case, I can't add a second line to the text entry field. I was hoping Storyline had a way of turning "Enter" off as a submission key (like Captivate does). Hopefully the next version will allow this.
Thanks again for your help.
- AlanBallCommunity Member
different question on the same thought...
I just peer reviewed a bunch of Storyline files for a colleague on a software sim and having to hit enter at the end of a text entry in this case is superfluous and is interrupting the flow of the simulation. There are multiple items on the screen of the system we're simulating and I don't want to train my learners in bad practices. they don't need to press ENTER at the end of each field. Am I missing something that we need to change so they don't need to hit enter after each text entry? if there isn't a way currently, there really NEEDS to be a way in some future update.
- PeterAndersonFormer Staff
Hi Alan,
You're not missing anything - it sounds like you're experiencing the expected behavior. If you'd like to see something done differently, please feel free to fill out a feature request form and let our dev team know about it. Thanks for the input!
- AndrewWeaverCommunity Member
Well, fast forward to February 2014 and a few updates later. The Enter key issue still remains. Any word on the workaround?
Hi Andrew,
The Enter key behavior is still as Pete described and documented here, although this is designed/expected behavior. If you'd like to see different behavior, you'll want to request it as a feature request.
- RamonaMeyerCommunity Member
Another 3+ years... Is this still the expected behavior? Or after 5 years has this change finally been implemented? From what I can tell, it doesn't appear to have changed. I just wanted to verify, as I'm having this exact issue.
Hi Ramona -- thanks for checking in. This discussion took a couple of angles, so I wanted to clarify what you were after.
Do you need to disable the Enter key from submitting a text entry? If so, is making the text entry field a little taller (to create a line break with the Enter key, rather than submitting the inputted text) an option for you?
Thanks for the additional context; it helps us document your perspectives for our team when considering feature requests.
- JeanetteCere817Community Member
The workaround does not address my issue either. When I add a data entry input, I need to be able to select a key (any key) or a click to complete the data entry. This is how a lot of software works and if our job is to create software simulations, only being able to use Enter to enter data is a major roadblock to creating authentic simulations.
I submitted a feature request and I hope we will see this feature soon.
Hi Jeanette!
I want to be sure I understand what you're looking to do. It sounds like you need to submit a data entry interaction by pressing a specific key. Do you have that key listed in the "Submit Keys" field in Form View?
- JeanetteCere817Community Member
Hi Alyssa,
I need three things:
1. Submit a data entry field with a hot spot on a graded slide.
2. Submit a data entry field with a hot spot on a regular slide (not graded).
3. Submit a data entry field with any key on a regular slide (not graded).
I see that you can submit data entry fields with keys other than Enter on a graded slide, but I also need to be able to do it on a slide that is not a graded. slide. When I'm on a non-graded slide, there is no form tab and no way to select a key.
thanks,
Jeanette