Variables collect and store data in Storyline 360. Variable references let you display that information anywhere in your course.

For example, let's say you ask learners for their names at the beginning of a course. (View Adding Data-Entry Fields.) You can then use variable references to personalize content with their names throughout the rest of the course. Just add a variable reference to any text box, caption, shape, or button.

Here's how to use variable references in Storyline 360:

  1. Variable references can be added to any text-based object, including text boxes, captions, shapes, tables, and buttons. Add a new object to hold the variable reference or select an existing object.
  2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click Reference.
  3. The References window will appear, listing the variables in your project. Select the Project tab in the upper left corner if you want to refer to a variable that you created. Select the Built-In tab to refer to a variable that's built into Storyline 360. You can use the search field to find what you're looking for. Then choose the variable you want to reference and click OK.

On the slide stage, variable references display their default value in a yellow box. The yellow box itself won’t show when you preview or publish. It's only visible on the slide stage so you can tell which items are variables. Learn more.

Tip: Quickly replace a variable reference with another variable from the context menu. Right-click a dynamic variable placeholder, scroll to Reference, and select a Project, Built-In, or Slide Numbers variable.