Forum Discussion
Replicate Text
I am curious if there is a way in Storyline (via Triggers, Variables, JavaScripting, etc) to have text replicate on different slides.
For example, I set the course title on the Title slide, and the course title re-appears on Completion slide. Another example, I include course objectives at the beginning but want to reiterate before a user attests the content.
This way if course title or objectives change(s), I am not having to locate placement and edit every time.
Ideally would like to avoid simply adding a bunch of text into the default value of a Variable. Curious if better options exist.
I think the variable is your best option IMO. You can use a template too, but the layout would have to be consistent of course.
There isn't currently a way to create a "master component" and then use instances of that component on other slides, whilst being able to update the "master" and see the changes reflected throughout.
You could use an image of text, but you shouldn't due to accessibility considerations. I'm only mentioning in case somebody else recommends it, so I can pre-emptively recommend against it :)
I think updating text via variables can work well for shorter snippets (e.g., a slide title). I don't think it works as well for longer text, especially if it needs special formatting.
If I have just a couple of slides that use the same text, I simply edit the text in the first location, and then copy and paste it needs to be duplicated. If there are multiple instances that require this, you could insert a note off the slide to remind you which slides all need the same text.
If there are "enough" slide that need the same text in the same position, you could create a Master layout that has the repeated text plus placeholders for slide-specific text.
Judy's answer is probably the best, as most developers (and thus maintenance) would expect this type of implementation. The off-slide note referencing back to the source is a great power tip!
One element - don't forget about the Format Painter, as it pairs nicely with copy/paste across slidesSBP_Inc's comment made me think about other notes worth mentioning:
- As I alluded to in my previous comment, it's easier to edit text on a slide (rather than editing text in a variable).
- More important: If you need to export the course for translation, the value of a text variable won't be exported. I just tested this. Instead, the exported text will have the variable reference (e.g., "%varName%").
Allthough im not sure whether its easy to make lightbox slides or webobjects transparant or only a part of your layout, using either of these ensures you have a master-like setup.
