Forum Discussion
What action could trigger layer visibility based upon the position settings of multiple sliders?
Working on a complex project about document formatting. Eventually this slide will have show specific images of different design combinations, based upon the preferences of the user. The user’s pref...
I had a similar situation, though with only two sliders (one for adjusting brightness, the other for contrast).
Here's what to do to allow for dynamically changing the layers:
- Create a T/F variable.
- Add triggers that toggle the T/F variable whenever a slider moves (that is, when the slider variable is adjusted).
- The image below shows what these triggers look like. In this example, "sliderToggle" is the T/F variable. It toggles when the "brightness" or "contrast" variable changes.
- Add triggers to show the appropriate layer when the T/F variable changes, with the conditions that check the value of the slider variables.
- The image below shows an example of these types of triggers:
Obviously, a trigger is needed for each possible combination. That's where a good naming convention is helpful. (Based on your file, you already know that. 😃)
Hello Judy,
I couldn't believe that only a few hours after I posted my inquiry last night I woke up to see your clever - and successful - solution. This was my first ever question to the Community and I'm in awe of the resourceful and generosity I received. I felt somewhat obligated to hustle and finish up my prototype. Excited to see it work, certainly, but also as a form of acknowledgement to the care others showed to my query.
Here is the working prototype:
https://360.articulate.com/review/content/cea784a3-08e9-4169-972c-1840498a823b/review
And below I'll attach the Storyline file and an Excel spreadsheet of the slider value settings I wrote in order to keep all of them ordered as I worked. Totally worth the time it took to organize the Excel and plan it in advance.
And how satisfying it is to see the images switch so easily with the combination of sliders, the end of a very long process! Well, not quite done yet, I have 2 additional resume examples with as many layers…. But now that this is set-up I will only have to swap out the jpeg images on each layer as all the trigger mechanics will remain the same. I’ll be sure to check my variable names when I copy this slide since it’ll be variables copied and used within the same project.
I'll also write out my steps below, in case these details are ever helpful for anyone else attempting a similar project. Step #2 has a question that I am curious about - trying to talk myself through all the reasons the T/F variable is useful. Not sure I have that understanding yet.
Again thank you for your expertise, cheers!
Elizabeth
1. Create a T/F variable: name it sliderTOGGLE. Default Value: False
2. Add triggers that toggle the T/F variable whenever a slider moves (that is, when the slider variable is adjusted). I am somewhat unsure of the reason for this toggle variable - but I *think* I understand it as a ‘call’ out to check the settings of the slider values when any of the four sliders are adjusted? Its an efficiency in this way?
3. I had four sliders, and each slider was set up as follows, which creates a trigger that toggles (activates) the T/F sliderTOGGLE variable whenever the user alters the serif slider:
Action: Adjust Variable
Variable: Toggle sliderTOGGLE [this variable is the T/F]
When: When the variable changes
Variable: serifTOGGLE [this is the first of my four sliders]
4. Then I set up all my many layers, and made sure that my documents were positioned identically at the right side (using the x and y coordinates was fastest for positioning). Naming convention here very important (B2, C3, B5, C5, etc.)
5. Finally, add a trigger to the sliderTOGGLE T/F variable:Action: Show Layer
Layer: B2
When: When the variable changes
Variable: slider TOGGLE (the T/F variable)
If:
serifSLIDER = value 0
colorSLIDER = value 1
boldSLIDER = value 0
iconSLIDER = 0
6. The Excel chart shows all the combinations of 0, 1 and 2 value positions so I could keep it all straight. Just paste the trigger, select the layer, select the proper combination of the 4 values from the Excel chart. This part went very quickly.
Nice work on your slide! And kudos for providing instructions and your .story file. That's a great way to "pifwyc" (pay it forward when you can, as hero Walt Hamilton likes to say).
Yes, the toggling T/F variable is for efficiency.
- Without it, you'd need multiple sets of the show-layer conditional triggers, because they'd all need to run whenever any slider variables changes.
- With it, you just need one set of those triggers, running when the T/F toggles. (Plus, of course, the one trigger associated with each slider that toggles the T/F variable.)
In case you're interested, here's my post about troubleshooting, which includes info about "right timing" (that is, making sure the "when" happens): TIP: The Eightfold Path of Troubleshooting - Articulate Storyline Discussions - E-Learning Heroes
