Questions regarding Template Creation

cclark1204
cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
in Lectora Desktop
A colleague and I have been tasked with creating a template within Lectora.  We have the structure identified, I am just unsure of how specific actions should work:
  1. The background is currently all white, and we would like to add light grey to the middle part, leaving white at the top and bottom.  What would be the best way to achieve this?
  2. We have a progress bar in the template, and would like for it to be green as each slide progresses.  How can we do this, and are there setting so it syncs with the playing of each slide, as well as when pausing the slides?
  3. What is the best way to Play / Pause each slide?  Would the Play, Pause actions work in this case, or is that only for media?
  4. How can we refresh each slide for the user to return to the beginning of a current slide?  Are there actions we can insert?
Thank you for any assistance that can be provided.

Cory

Comments

  • cainam
    cainam Community Member Posts: 363 ♦ Idol ♦
    Attached is a quick example with some explanation on the pages.  Cool thing about Lectora is that there are a lot of different ways to accomplish what you need - here's just one way of doing it.  More explanation in the module, but a quick overview:
    1. background of module set to gray (so that the whole page even outside the module dimensions will blend in).  White square added for the white in the middle.  (if you want it consistent all the way across, you could use a background strip that has white on top and bottom with gray, and have that repeat in the background using a small bit of CSS (html extension) - will only show up when you preview in browser though, not while you are editing.  I can share that if you like as well).
    2. progress bar is already programmed for you - pretty much just drop it into your module.
    3. play/pause is really not needed in most situations (but I guess it depends on what you are using it for).  Works with media, not for the 'page' itself.
    4. generally speaking the page will refresh when you revisit.  Using variables you can make actions sticky (example in attachment).  If you are creating pages with a lot of content/actions on each page, and you want to reset the current page, you can do that will actions (You could essentially have a button that has as many actions as you need to resent everything back).  there also is an action to 'reset all variables' that applies to the whole module.
    - Adam Cain
  • cclark1204
    cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
    Adam,

    Thank you so much for the information, and template example.  They have already helped in development of the template.

     

    Cory
  • carlfink
    carlfink Community Member Posts: 1,102 ✭ Legend ✭
    Expanding on Adam's correct statements:

    Aside from media (audio/video) there is not much to pause on a page besides animations/transitions. I don't believe it's possible to pause the stock transitions, but you'd rarely need to. If you are using timers to make things happen, mention that and we'll come up with solution (if possible).

    To refresh a page without leaving, you can just navigate to a blank page and have that page immediately (onShow) GoTo Last Visited Page. Put the blank page after the last navigable page of your course so it doesn't come up in sequence. I made mine consist of a "loading" graphic, so the user sees a load screen for a fraction of a second, then the original page reloads.
  • klaatu
    klaatu Community Member Posts: 988
    When you say refresh a slide, what exactly are you trying to accomplish (reset animations, a question, a variable?) The easiest way to refresh a page is to add a button with a run JavaScript action with the following:

    parent.document.location.reload();
  • cclark1204
    cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
    Carl,

    Thank you for your suggestions.

    We use a vendor to create some of our modules, and are looking to have a template with the same look at feel.  On each page, they have a Play / Pause button that pauses everything (text, media), so we are hoping to have the same functionality.  Do you have any suggestions, whether it be an action or Javascript?

    Thank you,

    Cory
  • cclark1204
    cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
    Darrel,

    I used the Javascript you provided and it worked perfectly.  Thank you!

    Cory
  • cclark1204
    cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
    Adam,

    The vendor we use to create some of our modules uses a progress bar, which shows the progression of each page.  Are you aware of an action or Javascript so the user can see how they are progressing on each page, and not just the course as a whole?

    Thank you,

    Cory
  • cainam
    cainam Community Member Posts: 363 ♦ Idol ♦
    I guess you could add a progress bar per page, and use type of 'custom' instead of 'table of contents'.  from there you could modify the progress bar value to show progress, maybe triggered by when different things happen on the page where progress would be evident.  Pages are not timeline-based (like say captivate).   So trying to control/view the page like a video will take a bit more work to accomplish.... If the user is not really interacting with the content on the page, but viewing it like a video, then you could always create a video using Camtasia and drop that on your page (if you have Lectora Inspire that comes with Camtasia).  Hard to say exactly without knowing what you are working with.

    If you have a way to show an example page to the group here, we might be able to steer you in a better direction.
    - Adam Cain
  • carlfink
    carlfink Community Member Posts: 1,102 ✭ Legend ✭
    @Cory, I'm speculating that your vendor is not using Lectora, which does not have the functionality to pause entire pages. It's possible that the content of the page is (for example) and MP4 video that can, indeed, be paused.
  • timk
    timk Community Member Posts: 1,222 ♦ Idol ♦
    It should be pretty easy to identify the software that has been used. I don't have something created with Captivate but both Lectora and Storyline write something like "Generated by: Lectora Inspire 17.0.6" or "Created with Storyline 360" into the source code of every file. Or just ask the vendor which one was used. But indeed a timeline feature is not directly pointing to Lectora.

    If you wanted to create a timeline in Lectora you could use a (silent) audio file and animate your page through events. If you pause the audio the page will pause as well. The audio player comes with an inbuilt "progress bar" that can be customized.

     
  • mnotermans5114
    mnotermans5114 Community Member Posts: 916 ☆ Roadie ☆
    As Tim mentions... a timeline doesnot directly is 'Lectora'. Storyline however has. Add a screenshot of the project and changes are that someone here can immediately link it to whatever programme was used. Storyline, Rise and Captivate all have quite recognizable look and feel if a developer not deliberately changes that.

    As does Lectora for that..
  • cclark1204
    cclark1204 Community Member Posts: 16
    Thank you all for your responses.

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