Forum Discussion
Perpetual Notepad for Storyline
Hi, here’s a simple Storyline 360 notepad in JavaScript:
- It is designed to be 720×540 and centred for use on a lightbox slide.
- It provides persistent notes across the course via localStorage.
- Multiple notes are allowed: the learner can create / rename / delete / switch notes.
- It has an advanced editor: font, size, colour, highlight, bold/italic/underline, lists, align, clear formatting and custom Undo/Redo (to 10 levels).
- The learner can export the current notes or a selection of multiple notes into a Word document.
- It has a built in close button that (a) flips a Storyline variable CloseNotepad (which you need to create).
- Optional SL variable can be created to sync content across your course: NoteTitle, NoteBody, NoteId.
The code can be found in the Execute JavaScript trigger on the lightbox master slide. It also requires a trigger to reset the variable CloseNotepad back to false. Everything can be found in the attached file.
If you find this useful, please let me know. I'll also upload a version that can be used in Rise 360.
16 Replies
JoeDey This is such a great share, thank you, Joe! 🙌
I can see this being really useful for so many scenarios, like:
- Reflection activities in scenario-based learning
- Knowledge checks where learners jot down key takeaways
- Longer courses where learners want to track insights or questions over time
- Workshop or certification prep modules where personal notes boost retention
Love how customizable this setup is.
Thanks Katie-Jordan, I'm glad you will find it of use. You may wish to take a look at my other notepad uploads, there is one for Rise for use in a Rise code block and another for Rise just like this one, but is used in a Rise Storyline block.
Just a heads-up: we’ll be featuring this in an upcoming ELH Weekly newsletter. Be sure you’re subscribed if you want to get it in your inbox. 🎉
Hi,
This is awesome! Thank you. Is it accessible?
Thanks Robi, it's partly accessible. You're free to adapt the code as you wish. Hopefully you'll post your new version on here for all to enjoy.
This is amazing, thank you so much for sharing!
This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. I can see multiple uses for this throughout many eLearning courses we create at our company. I am going to play with it a bit more just to wee all it can do. I would be very interested in an option for Rise 360 as our course catalog/portfolio is a mix of Rise and Storyline courses.
Again, thanks for sharing!
Brenda
Hi Brenda, this will work in Rise 360 with an 'Interactive' block with the Storyline option. Glad you like it. Don't forget to come back and share your ideas for its use.
Morning Joe, I'm just picking up on the variable flip for the close button and wondered how that is configured
Hi Dan. If you want the Close button to reset CloseNotepad back to False after closing (for repeated opens):
First place the code into an Execute JavaScript trigger (when the Timeline Starts) on your lightbox slide.
Next place a trigger (when the timeline starts) on the lightbox slide to (adjust variable CloseNotepad) to False.
That should do the trick.
This is great JoeDey, I've just done something similar as a standalone using the new HTML coding option for the activties mentioned below by Katie-Jordan but a rolling/perpetual note system looks grand.
Could it be in RTL in some way? Does it support right-to-left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew?
Hi Sourena, it doesn't I'm afraid. But you have the code. Try popping it into ChatGPT and instruct it to have a go at that. If it works, you could put the new version on here for all to enjoy.
JoeDey This is awesome. Our team has been discussing something very similar. LOVE the share! Thank you!👏
My team loved it! Thank you. I am trying to add it to our template, but when I click Close, it opens the left side menu. Can you help? :)
JoeDey This is fab and useful. The learner being able to download makes it practical. Thanks for sharing.
