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Storyline 3: Working with Triggers

Triggers perform actions at specified times. They're key to building interactivity in Articulate Storyline courses, and we've made them super easy to use.

Adding Triggers

A trigger has three main elements:

  1. What happens (action)?
  2. Where does it happen (slide, layer, object, character, etc.)?
  3. When does it happen (event)?

To add a trigger to a slide or layer (rather than a specific object), click the slide or layer workspace to deselect all objects, then do either of the following.

  • Click the Create a new trigger icon (looks like a blank piece of paper) in the Triggers panel.
  • Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click Trigger.

To add a trigger to a specific object, select the object then do either of the following.

  • Click the Create a new trigger icon (looks like a blank piece of paper) in the Triggers panel.
  • Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click Trigger.

The Trigger Wizard will open and guide you through the process of selecting an action, object, and timing. For example, let's say you want to show a layer when the learner clicks a button. The trigger settings would look something like this:

Understanding Trigger Locations

There are four locations where triggers can be applied (or four categories of triggers). They're generally defined by the When parameter in the Trigger Wizard.

Slide Triggers

Slide triggers always appear at the top of the Triggers panel.

They often rely on the slide's timeline—i.e., when the timeline starts, ends, or reaches a certain point.

They can also be triggered when the learner presses a key, when a state changes, or when a variable changes.

Layer Triggers

Layer triggers are just like slide triggers but only apply to layers.

They always appear at the top of the Triggers panel.

Object Triggers

Object triggers appear in the middle of the Triggers panel.

They're object-dependent, meaning they're triggered when something happens to a specific object—e.g., when the learner clicks a button or hovers over a hotspot.

Player Triggers

Player triggers always appear at the bottom of the Triggers panel.

They apply to the built-in navigation buttons: Prev, Next, and Submit.

 

Adding Conditions to Triggers

If you want to trigger an action only when certain criteria are met, you can add one or more conditions to it.

  1. Click Show Conditions in the lower left corner of the Trigger Wizard.

  2. Use the buttons in the lower right corner to add, edit, and delete conditions.

Conditions can be based on variables, shapes (i.e., slide objects), or the window in which the slide is displayed.

Editing Triggers

To edit an existing trigger, do any of the following:

  • Double-click the trigger in the Triggers panel to open it for editing. Make your changes and click OK.
  • Select the trigger and click the Edit icon (looks like a pencil). Make your changes and click OK.

  • Some trigger parameters can be edited on the fly in the Triggers panel. They're blue and underlined. Just click the blue underlined text and choose an option from the drop-down that appears. (Common items that can be edited in this manner include layers, variable values, variable operators, and states.)

Copying and Pasting Triggers

When you're working with numerous triggers, it's often faster to copy and paste them from one object to another, then make any necessary adjustments to the new triggers.

  1. In the Triggers panel, select the trigger you want to copy.
  2. Copy the trigger by pressing Ctrl+C on your keyboard or by clicking the Copy icon (looks like two pieces of paper).
  3. Select one or more objects on the slide where you want to paste the trigger, then press Ctrl+V on your keyboard or click the Paste icon (looks like a clipboard).
  4. If you need to tweak a new trigger you just pasted, double-click it to open it for editing, or click any blue underlined text to make a different selection.

Copying Triggers by Duplicating Objects

Another way to copy and paste triggers is to duplicate an object that already has the triggers you want. Just select the object and press Ctrl+D on your keyboard.

This is helpful when you need several variations of an object you’ve already customized to fit your course. For example, let's say you need several buttons that look the same and perform similar actions.

Rearranging Triggers

You can add triggers to slides, layers, and slide masters. You can also add multiple triggers to a single object. The order of all these triggers is important and determines when they execute.

  • Slide master triggers execute before slide and layer triggers.
  • When there are multiple triggers on the same object that are triggered by the same action (e.g., when the learner clicks), triggers execute in the order they appear in the Triggers panel.

To reorder triggers, use the Up and Down arrows in the Triggers panel.

Deleting Triggers

To delete a trigger, select it in the Triggers panel and do any of the following:

  • Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
  • Click the Delete icon (looks like a trash can).
  • Right-click the trigger and select Delete.
Published 8 years ago
Version 1.0
storyline 360
Tutorial
User Guide