Mastering Storyline Triggers and Variables: Do You Need a Cheat Sheet?

Basic Triggers

Trigger Type	Action	Common Use Case
Jump to slide	Navigate to a specific slide	After clicking a button or completing a task
Show Layer	Display a layer	Show hints, feedback, or additional content
Hide Layer	Hide a layer	Hide feedback or content after user interaction
Change State of Object	Modify object (e.g., button, image) state (Normal, Visited, Hidden)	Change button color after interaction
Show/Hide Object	Show or hide an object on the slide	Make elements visible/invisible during interactions
Adjust Variable	Modify a variable’s value (e.g., increase a score)	Track quiz progress or interaction states
Execute JavaScript	Run custom JavaScript	For advanced custom behavior outside of Storyline’s native triggers
Play Media	Play a media file (audio/video)	Play an animation or sound when a button is clicked
Pause Media	Pause a media file	Pause background music or video playback

Common Variable Types

Variable Type	Usage	Example
True/False	Track binary states (True = Yes, False = No)	VarIsCompleted = True
Text	Store and manipulate strings of text	VarName = "John"
Number	Store numerical values (e.g., score, count)	VarScore = 10
Object State	Track the state of an object (e.g., Normal, Visited, Hidden)	VarButtonState = "Normal"

Trigger & Variable Equations

Adjusting Variables

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Increase Variable	Adjust Variable + Add	Adjust variable VarScore by +1 (e.g., increase score by 1 point)
Decrease Variable	Adjust Variable + Subtract	Adjust variable VarScore by -1 (e.g., decrease score by 1 point)
Set Variable to a Value	Adjust Variable + Set	Adjust variable VarScore to 10 (e.g., set score to 10)

Using Conditions with Triggers

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Check Variable	Add condition to trigger	If variable VarScore is equal to 10
Change Object Based on Variable	Use conditions to modify behavior	If VarIsCompleted = True, Change state of Button to Visited

Manipulating Text Variables

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Set Text Variable	Set Variable	Set variable VarName to "John"
Append Text	Add text to an existing variable	Set variable VarMessage to VarMessage + "Well done!"
Display Text Variable in a Text Box	Use the value of a text variable in a text field	Insert variable VarName into a text box: "Hello, " + VarName

Quiz Variables & Logic

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Check Question Answer	Trigger based on quiz results	If Question1 is equal to Correct, adjust variable VarScore by +10
Track Question Responses	Adjust Variable based on quiz answer	If Question1 is equal to Incorrect, set variable VarAttempts to VarAttempts + 1
Trigger Action After Correct/Incorrect	Use question results to trigger actions	If Question1 is Correct, Show Layer “CorrectFeedback”

State Manipulation Using Variables

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Change State Based on Variable	Change object state (Normal, Visited, Hidden) based on variable values	If VarScore >= 10, Change state of Button1 to Visited
Show/Hide Object Based on Condition	Show or hide object based on variable value	If VarScore > 10, Show Object Image1
Disable Object Based on Condition	Disable interaction if conditions are met	If VarIsCompleted = True, Disable Button1

Navigation Control Using Variables

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Jump to Slide Based on Variable	Jump to a slide based on variable state	If VarScore >= 10, Jump to Slide 5
Restrict Navigation Based on Condition	Prevent navigation if variable doesn’t meet a certain condition	If VarScore < 10, Show Layer "TryAgain"

Interactive Quiz Examples

1. Track Correct Answer with Variable:

   • Trigger: Adjust Variable

     • Action: Adjust variable VarCorrectAnswers by +1

     • Condition: If Question1 is Correct

2. Track User Progress and Show Completion Slide:

   • Trigger: Show Layer

     • Action: Show Layer "Completion"

     • Condition: If VarScore >= 50 (Assuming 50 points is the threshold for completion)

Advanced Equations

Action	Trigger Setup	Example
Conditional Action Based on Multiple Variables	Trigger based on combined conditions	If VarScore >= 10 AND VarIsCompleted = True, Show Layer "CongratulatoryMessage"
Compare Two Variables	Conditional check between two variables	If VarScore > VarMaxScore, Adjust variable VarScore to VarMaxScore

Common Use Cases:

• Track Progress: Use variables to track how much of the course the learner has completed.

• Interactive Buttons: Change button state and enable/disable interactions based on learner input.

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