Displaying Layers incrementally
Jan 30, 2013
Hi All,
I'm a relatively new Storyline user so I'm very slowly figuring the software out by trial and error as well as the best way to execute my ideas (warning: sometimes I have grand ideas).
The current eLearning session I'm creating is for a software project called CRANIUM. CRANIUM is an acronym for the workflow within the software. I have a graphic (attached) that displays the workflow stages and my thought is that each stage would be revealed as the user clicks "Next". However, after creating all the different layers, I'm finding that the first layer shows up and when I click "Next" it reveals the last layer I created a trigger for instead of the next layer in the sequence.(Ex: Instead of revealing layer 2 after layer 1, it will go layer 1 then layer 4 and then nothing.) After looking at the trigger layout, this system behavior makes sense when considering the ordering of the triggers.
Here is my question: Is there a best practice to accomplish my goal which is to reveal layers in a specific, chronological order when the learner clicks? I'm open to any ideas, it might be better to create a button instead of using the "Next" button, who knows, I'm open to adjusting my initial game plan. Any suggestions on how to create this would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Megan
20 Replies
Megan,
You should be able to create a round trip through the layers using a trigger on each layer to take you to the next. I've attached an example using a basic button on each layer. The same thing could be accomplished with the Next button, but if you've got other slides in your project that you want the learner to eventually get to, you'd have to build in some logic to tell Storyline when to advance to a different slide versus the 1st layer.
Hope this helps!
Mike
So, it would be a better route to add button(s)? And then maybe have the Next button appear after the last layer has been revealed? Where would and how could I add logic to tell Storyline how to advance to the next slide?
Well...
You can't hide and unhide the player's built-in next button. This is why the best route in this type of situation is to use your own on screen buttons to control the action. So you could have a custom "Next" button with an initial state of "hidden" that is only switched to "normal" or visible, once the learner has completed a certain set of tasks. So in your case, you want the learner to view all the layers, and when done, the next button appears.
So this would be option #1: Using custom buttons to control the flow. See attached.
Thank you so much for all of your help! I think you've given me some great ideas to work with.
Thanks again!
SO...I hate to be a pain but I'm still struggling. I've added a button to use to trigger the next layer as opposed to using the "Next" button, now it's displaying the layers in the correct order but not leaving previous layers visible. Where is that option? To show next layer but leave previous layer visible? If you'd like to see the project, email me directly and I will attach the .story file to an email. Again, I'm sorry to bother!! But I really appreciate the help!
Hello Megan,
I have a quick clarification,
so you want to show all the previous layers.. meaning if you have 5 layers you want them all showing at the same time by the time you're on the last layer?
Donna
Yes. If you look at the image I attached to my original post I'm trying to display a process workflow and I want the learner to read each stage, and the click to view the next stage. At the very end they should see all 6 stages that make up the workflow which also happens to stand for the acronym of the software I'm teaching. The software is called CRANIUM and each letter (sometimes two letters) stand for a stage in the workflow. Does that make sense?
Thanks for the additional help!
I see.. in this case, layers is probably not the best route to go.
It will probably be best if you work with states instead. Set the initial state to hidden then change to normal when your trigger button is clicked.
Donna
I hadn't considered that! I'll give that a shot and see where I end up!
Thank you!!
Hey Megan,
See attached.. you can obviously modify this but I think this should capture the effect you wanted.
Donna
You can add more triggers to hide the arrows again once they are clicked so you are only showing one arrow each time, etc.
Hope this helps,
Donna
GENIUS!!! That is exactly what I wanted!
THANK YOU!
Glad to help
Hi Megan...
My bad...I didn't realize that you wanted all the layers to build like that. Okay...CHECK THIS!
Roll with Donna's states idea and use an inverse trigger order! Oh Yeah! Totally works for your original idea of wanting to use the next button. I've revised and attached Donna's file.
Mike
Donna,
I should have mentioned...brilliant idea with the states. I was stuck on solving the layers and never took the step back to think of another approach. Thanks for sharing that. I love it!
This is cool..
Inverse trigger order is blowing my mind.. lol.. does it have to be inverse? or will it work the same way if we stick to the sequence?
Wow. Now that you both have skyrocketed my idea into reality, I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon trying to recreate your awesome work. I'm going to seriously impress my boss!!
Donna,
Inverse is a definite in this case. For if you go in regular order, the triggers will cascade on the first click and all objects will appear.
Mike
Oooo.. good to know! Everyday I learn something new!
Thanks Mike!
This discussion has been fantastic. Thanks!!
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