Here's another way to explain how the process works. Using Storyline to create a SCORM package is similar to using MS Word to create a PDF.
- Both MS Word (part of MS Office) and Storyline 360 (part of Articulate 360) require you to have a license to use that software.
- An MS Word .docx file and a Storyline .story file are source files. They contain the necessary elements for the project, which are entered and edited within those files.
- In MS Word, you can save the source file as a PDF. That creates a separate file that can be viewed using any PDF reader. However, that PDF isn't editable in the same way that the source file is. That's like Storyline publishing a SCORM package. A published course can be viewed in any browser. But to edit and republish the course, you need the source file.
- In MS Word and Storyline, you need to save the source file if you want to maintain the content. You can also use "Save As" to create a copy (which is always a good idea when you're going to work on a new version).
As Patrick said, it should be part of the process to ensure that all source files are properly stored where the company has access to them. There's no way for Articulate staff to retrieve a .story file for you.