Selecting the action

The action determines what action will be taken when the specified On trigger has occurred. Different actions are available based on the trigger selected.

  • On triggers do not apply to actions specified within button, form object, test or survey properties.

  • You can delay when an action is triggered. For details, see Delaying an action.

To select the action:

  1. In Project Explorer, double-click the graphic of the action. The Action ribbon is displayed.

  2. In the Action and Target group, use the Action drop-down list to select the appropriate action. The default action is None (No Action). Select it to take no action. The list is divided into the following categories:

    Navigation

    Go To

    This action navigates to the target location specified. When you select this option, you can further specify if the target location should be opened in a separate window.

    See also: Executing Go To actions
    Go To Web Address This action launches the specified Web address. When you select this option, you can further specify if the target location should be opened in a separate window.

    See also: Executing Go To actions

    Exit Project/Close Window

    This action exits the project if it is executed from the main window presenting the project or closes the current window if it is executed from a secondary or pop-up window.

    Objects

    Hide

    This action causes the target object to become hidden if it is currently visible. When the target object is hidden, the selected transition (out) will be applied to the target object.

    See also: Specifying an object's transitions

    Show

    This action causes the target object to become visible if it is currently hidden. When the target object is shown, the selected transition (in) will be applied to the target object.

    See also: Specifying an object's transitions

    Toggle Show/Hide

    This action causes the target object to either become visible or hidden, depending on its current visibility state. When the target object is shown, the selected transition (in) will be applied to the target object. When the target object is hidden, the selected transition (out) will be applied to the target object.

    See also:Specifying an object's transitions

    Move

    This action repositions the target object specified in the Target field to a specified position in the Move To field at the speed you select in the Speed field.

    To directly specify the positions, specify random positions, or specify the value of a variable to use for the positions, click the Move To field. The Move window opens. To directly specify the coordinates, enter the coordinates in the X Position (Horizontal) and Y Position (Vertical) fields as necessary.To edit the position, speed, or effect, click the graphic in the Move To field. The Move To window opens. To specify the value of an existing variable to use to reposition the object, click the corresponding Variable list and select the appropriate variable. (To create a new variable, click the button. Define the new variable in the Add Variable window.) To specify a random X or Y position, click the corresponding Random button. The random number assigned will be greater than or equal to the min value specified and less than or equal to the max value specified. Use the Effect field to select the appropriate effect. Click OK to close the Move window.

    Move the slider in the Speed field to select the speed from (Slow) to (Fast).

    See also: Modifying variable values
    Creating a variable
    Resize

    This action resizes the object specified in the Target field to the width and height in pixels specified in the Size To field at the speed specified in the Speed field. You can also specify a percentage relative to the target object's current size. To directly specify a width and height in pixels, specify a random width or height, or specify the value of an existing variable to use for the width and height, click the graphic in the Size To field. The Size To window opens. To directly specify the new width and height, enter the appropriate number of pixels in the Width and Height fields as necessary. To specify the value of an existing variable to use to resize the object, click the corresponding Variable list and select the appropriate variable. (To create a new variable, click the button. Define the new variable in the Add Variable window.) To specify a random X or Y position, click the corresponding Random button. The random number assigned will be greater than or equal to the min value specified and less than or equal to the max value specified. To specify a percentage relative to the target object's current size, enable the Use Percentage of current size check box. Select the percentage from the Percentage list, or directly type a value into the field. Use the Effect field to select the appropriate effect. Click OK to close the Size To window.

    Move the slider in the Speed field to select the speed from (Slow) to (Fast).

    See also: Modifying variable values
    Creating a variable

    Change Contents

    This action changes the contents of the object to which the action is applied and replaces it with the target object specified in the Target field. This action can be used to change the contents of a text block to a specified variable value, change the contents of questions, or change images, audio, video and other objects. Specify the variable whose value will replace the text in the Value field. To change the contents to specific text, select Set Text in the Value field and enter the text in the Text field. To specify additional text, an existing variable, a new variable, or a random value, click the Expand arrow in the Text field. The Text window opens. Enter additional text as necessary. Click the Variable button to insert an existing variable's value, click the New Variable button to configure and insert a new variable, and click the Random Value button to configure and insert a random number. Click OK to close the Text window.

    When the object is an image, you can select a resource from several locations. You can select a previously imported file, select a local file, or select from the Media Library. Previously imported files are listed. Select one to select a previously imported file. To select a local file, select Browse from File. To select from the Media Library, select Browse My Media.

    Shapes are not valid targets for the Change Contents action.

    Set Character Pose

    This action sets the new pose of the character. Set the character to change to one of the following new poses:

    • Arms crossed
    • Happy
    • OK Sign
    • Pointing down left
    • Pointing down right
    • Pointing middle left
    • Pointing middle right
    • Pointing up left
    • Pointing up right
    • Sad
    • Thinking
    • Thumbs Down
    • Thumbs Up
    • Waving
    • Writing

    See also: Working with characters
    Set State This action sets the state of the button as either enabled or disabled. Use the Target field to select the appropriate button and use the State field to select the appropriate state.

    Commands

    Display Message

    This action can be used to display the text specified in the Message field in a generic message box. You can display specific text or display the value of variable. To specify additional text, an existing variable, a new variable, or a random value, click the Expand arrow in the Message field. The Message window opens. Enter additional values as necessary. Click the Variable button to insert an existing variable's value, click the New Variable button to configure and insert a new variable, and click the Random Value button to configure and insert a random number. Click OK to close the Message window.

    See also: Modifying variable values
    Creating a variable
    Display Page in Pop-up

    This action can be used to display the page specified in the Target field d text in a pop-up window. If the location selected is scrollable, select the object to scroll to in the Scroll To field; otherwise, select Top of Page.

    Run Action Group

    This action starts the target action group (a group containing only actions). The actions contained within the action group will begin executing one-by-one, from top to bottom, as the actions are listed within the group in the Project Explorer.

    See also: Grouping and ungrouping objects

    Print Current Page

    This action will launch the user's Print window, enabling the user to print the current page.
    Run JavaScript

    This action executes the JavaScript specified in the JavaScript field. You can specify JavaScript text or the value of a variable. Click the Expand arrow to specify additional text. The Editor window opens. Lectora Online is embedded with the Ace code editor. Specify the additional text as necessary. Click Save to save the changes and click Close when you are finished with the Editor window.

    For information about working with the Ace editor, see Using the Ace editor.

    •

    You can use tokens within a Run JavaScript action for replacement and manipulation within your custom Javascript. For details, see Token replacements for custom JavaScript.
      • For custom JavaScript relating to Seamless Play Publishing, see Custom JavaScripting.
    Set Tracking Status

    This action sets the tracking status for a specific chapter, section, page, test, test section, or survey. For example, you can use this action to mark a page as "In Progress" until a user completes viewing a video.

    • When the Set Tracking Status action is used to set the tracking status for a project, chapter, section, page, test, test section, or survey to "Not Started", all the child chapters, sections, and pages will be reset to "Not Started". For example, setting the project to "Not Started" will force all of the child chapter, sections, pages, tests, test sections, and surveys to "Not Started". Setting a chapter to "Not Started" will force all child sections, and pages to "Not Started".

    • When the Set Tracking Status action is used to set the tracking status for a project, chapter, section, page, test, test section, or survey to "In Progress", the target is set as "In Progress" regardless of whether its children are "Completed". Additionally, chapters, sections, pages, tests, test sections or surveys above the target (its parents) will never automatically go to "Completed" because it is "In Progress". The only way to change the status of a target set to "In Progress" is by using another Set Tracking Status action to set it to another condition (for example, "Completed").

    • When the Set Tracking Status action is used to set the tracking status for a project, chapter, section, page, test, test section, or survey to "Completed", the target is set to "Completed" regardless of the tracking status of the children. The only way to change the status of a target set to "Completed" is by using another Set Tracking Status action to set it to another condition.

    • Graded tests cannot be the target of a Set Tracking Status action. Graded tests will be automatically set to "Completed" when they are passed; otherwise, graded tests will remain "Not Started" or "In Progress" as appropriate.

    xAPI

    Send Statement

    For xAPI projects, this action allows for statements of learning experience to be delivered to and stored in a learning records store (LRS). The target consists of a verb and an object. Use the Verb field to specify the xAPI statement verb. Use the list to select a predefined verb or enter your own verb. Entered verb names are appended to the ADL namespace so any future ADL verbs can be used or you can use your own unique verb. Use the Object field to specify the target object. You can also use text to report on any activity. The Object defaults to the parent object of the action (that is, the object to which the action is attached).

    To specify additional objects, specify a random value, or specify the value of an new or existing variable, click the Object field. The Object window opens. To directly specify the object, enter it in the window. To specify the value of an existing variable to use as the object, click the corresponding Variable list and select the appropriate variable. (To create a new variable, click the New Variable button. Define the new variable in the Add Variable window.) To specify a random value, click the Random Value button. The random number assigned will be greater than or equal to the min value specified and less than or equal to the max value specified. Click OK to close the Object window.

    Lectora uses the ADL definitions for verbs. For more information on the ADL verbs, visit http://www.adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs.

    See also: Modifying variable values
    Creating a variable
    Working with the Experience API (xAPI)
    Send Course Completion

    For xAPI projects, this action allows for the completion status of the course to be delivered to and stored in a learning records store (LRS). Use the Status field to indicate the course status as either completed, passed, or failed.

    See also: Working with the Experience API (xAPI)

    Documents

    Launch a Program/Document

    This action will launch the specified program or document. You can launch one of the additional files contained within the project, or you can specify a relative or fully qualified Web address of the file you want to launch.

    To display an additional file, specify the fully qualified file name in the File field.

    To specify a relative or fully qualified Web address of the file you want to launch, specify the file's location in the File field.

    If you require additional room, click the Expand arrow in the File field. The File window opens. Enter additional values as necessary.Click OK to close the Value window.

    See also: Working with documents
    Open Attachment

    This action opens the specified attachment.

    See also: Working with attachments

    Media

    Pause

    This action causes the target media object such as a video or audio clip to pause, if it is currently playing.
    Play

    This action causes the target media object such as a video or audio clip to begin playing, if it is not already playing. This action can also be used to begin a timer progress bar. For more information, see Working with progress bars.

    • Converting your audio media to MP3 and video media to MP4 is recommended. Due to plug-in limitations, events within WMA and WMV media used with the Play action will not work when project is published or viewed in Run mode. For details about converting your audio to MP3, see Converting to MP3. For details about converting your video to MP4, see Converting to MP4.

    • A page with 25 or more media configured to automatically start might experience issues on mobile devices. For more information, see Automatically playing media on mobile devices.

    Stop

    This action causes the target media object such as a video or audio clip to stop playing, if it is currently playing.

    Toggle Play Mode

    This action causes the target media object such as a video or audio clip to either start or stop playing, depending on whether it is currently stopped or currently playing.

    Mute Media

    When executed, the action will stop the audio of media this is being played by the media player.

    iOS Safari does not allow the volume to be adjusted programmatically. Volume can only be adjusted by the physical device buttons.

    Unmute Media

    When executed, the action will play the audio of media this is being played by the media player.

    iOS Safari does not allow the volume to be adjusted programmatically. Volume can only be adjusted by the physical device buttons.

    Variables

    Modify Variable

    This action enables you to set or change the value of the variable specified in the Target field. Specify the type of modification in the Type field and the value of the modification in the Value field. To specify additional values, an existing variable, a new variable, or a random value, click the Expand arrow in the Value field. The Value window opens. Enter additional values as necessary. Click the Variable button to insert an existing variable's value, click the New Variable button to configure and insert a new variable, and click the Random Value button to configure and insert a random number. Click OK to close the Value window.

    See also: Modifying variable values
    Creating a variable

    Submit Variable Values

    This action submits the values of all defined variables to the relative or fully qualified Web address (typically a CGI script) specified in the Submit Address field.

    You can also specify mailto:<email_address> in this field, where <email_address> is the email address of a recipient to which you want to submit the variable values. This action requires that each user have an email client, such as Microsoft Outlook, on the computer from which they are accessing the published project. In addition, the email server must be configured to accept communications from the published project's location, so the email can be successfully submitted.

    See also: Submitting test, survey and form results to CGI

    Reset All Variables

    This action causes all the variables contained in the project (except for the read-only, reserved variables) to be reset to their initial or default values. This will reset all test results, questions, and form objects.

    Questions, Tests & Surveys

    Process Question

    This action processes the target question. Processing the question includes determining whether the answer is correct or incorrect and displaying the corresponding feedback (if any) defined within the question properties.

    See also: Adding questions
    Process Test/Survey

    If the target is a test, this action causes the test to be scored, results to be submitted, and the appropriate When Completed/Passed or When Canceled/Failed test actions to be executed. This includes grading the testing if one or more of the following is true:

    • Grade the test is enabled on the Test Results ribbon

    • Showing the test results if Show Test Results is enabled on the Test Results ribbon

    • Submitting the results to a learning management system (LMS)/learning record store (LRS) or to email, a custom CGI script program, or to Google Drive if Custom Results Submission is enabled on the Test/Survey ribbon

    • Routing the user to the page specified within the On Completed/Passed or On Canceled/Failed action on the Behavior ribbon.

    See also:Creating a test

    If the target is a survey, this action causes the survey results to be submitted, and the appropriate When Completed or When Canceled survey actions to be executed.

    See also: Creating a survey

    Reset Question

    This action resets the target question. This will clear the question's answer if it was previously supplied, and reset the question back to its default, unanswered state.

    Reset Test/Survey

    If the target is a test, this action causes the test score to be reset to 0, and will reset all of the questions contained within the test to their default, unanswered state. If the target test is randomized, the action will additionally cause the test pages to be re-randomized.

    If the target is a survey, this action will reset all of the survey questions contained within the survey to their default, unanswered state.

    Cancel Test/Survey

    This action cancels the target test or survey and causes the When Canceled/Failed action within the target test's or target survey's properties to execute.

    See also: Setting the resulting action when a test is failed
    Setting the resulting action when a test is passed or completed

    Forms

    Submit Form

    This action submits the target form using the specified submission properties set for the target form.

    See also: Specifying form submission properties

    Reset Form

    This action causes all the form objects of the target form to be reset to their initial or default values.

    Progress Bars

    Set Progress Bar Position

    This action sets the target custom progress bar to a specified Position. This position is relative to the Range specified within the target progress bar's properties. You can directly specify a position, specify a random position, or specify the value of an existing variable to use for the position.

    To directly specify a position, specify a random position, or specify the value of an existing variable to use for the position, click the Position field. The Position window opens. To directly specify the new position, enter it in the window. To specify the value of an existing variable to use as the position, click the corresponding Variable list and select the appropriate variable. (To create a new variable, click the button. Define the new variable in the Add Variable window.) To specify a random position, click the Random button. The random number assigned will be greater than or equal to the min value specified and less than or equal to the max value specified. Click OK to close the Position window.

    See also: Working with progress bars

    Step Progress Bar Position

    This action increases or decreases the target custom progress bar according to the specified Step Size in the Type group on the target progress bar's Properties ribbon. When configuring this action, use the Target field to select the appropriate progress bar and the Direction field to specify in which direction to show the progress. The action moves the bar forward or backward one Step Size increment. If an associated variable is used with the progress bar, the variable value will increase (or decrease) by that amount specified by Step Size.

    See also: Working with progress bars

The action is selected.

See also: Selecting another action

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