Sometimes I like to experiment with ideas for eLearning interactions and a few months ago one of these experiments led me to creating this carousel-style interaction (you can click the image to see a demo):

I wrote about it here but essentially it uses a slider to show layers with each image in a different position. I also posted the demo to an E-Learning Heroes Community forum and someone asked if the same effect could be created using buttons instead. The short answer is yes and here’s how I did it.

I started by making a duplicate of the current slider-based interaction as the layers and positions of the images are set up correctly. I deleted the slider and created a couple of buttons (one for left and one for right) using a square shape and an arrow image that I had on file.

Then I needed to figure out a way to make the layers show (creating the spin effect) depending on which arrow was being clicked. I wanted to make the images spin in the same direction as the arrow that was being clicked.

The solution I came up with was to use a number variable. Variables are great because they ‘remember’ information and the same variable can be used many times anywhere in your project. You can then use this information to make things happen. The slider interaction uses a number variable but it’s created when you insert the slider. For this interaction, I created my own number variable.

First, I added my variable via the ‘Manage project variables’ area…

…and called it ‘Count’.

Then I added two triggers (one for each button) the add 1 to Count if you click the right arrow or subtract 1 from Count if you click the left arrow.

Then I needed to do something with the Count information – instead of the layers showing when the slider was in a particular position, they’d now show when the variable Count had a certain value.

Remember, clicking the buttons changed the value and so a different layer would be shown each time.

Because you can’t keep spinning the images around and around, I added some change of state triggers on the arrow buttons that change their state when you go as far as you can in either direction. As a bonus, I also found that by using the buttons instead of the slider, it freed up some space in the middle of the slide that allowed me to add a small amount of text (if required).

Often there’s more than one way of building something in Storyline 2 and this is another example of this as well as the power that variables can bring to your project.

To view the updated interaction click the image below:

You can access the .story file from the Downloads page of this website.