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Storyline 360: Set-Focus Trigger

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Storyline 360

Make your courses easier for every learner to navigate. The set-focus trigger feature in Storyline 360 gives you greater control over when course elements receive focus. Clear focus indicators help learners identify and interact with elements such as buttons, hotspots, and data-entry fields, especially when using a keyboard or screen reader. That creates a more inclusive learning environment for everyone.

Elements That Receive Focus

Elements that trigger an action when clicked or accessed with a keyboard display a focus indicator for quick identification. When the focus indicator highlights the interactive element, it’s ready for learner input, like pressing a button. At the same time, screen readers announce the interactive element with its label and current state.

Elements that don’t trigger an action still receive focus—so screen readers will recognize and announce them—but the focus indicator won’t visually highlight them.

Note: The set-focus trigger doesn’t support web objects.

Add a Set-Focus Trigger

To use the set-focus trigger, select the Set focus action in the trigger wizard. Then, set up your trigger event—for example, when the timeline starts—as shown below.

Trigger Wizard in Storyline 360.

Tip: Set a contrasting two-color focus indicator to help learners see the focus indicator on dark and light backgrounds. Use a web-based contrast checker or download a contrast checker tool to ensure the two colors have at least a 3:1 contrast ratio. (1.4.11 Non-text Contrast)

Learner Experience

Here’s what learners can expect when you assign the set-focus trigger to interactive and non-interactive objects:

  • Interactive objects are highlighted by the focus indicator and screen readers announce them.
  • Non-interactive objects aren’t highlighted by the focus indicator, but screen readers will announce them.

What’s the connection between the set-focus trigger and the focus order?

When a learner navigates a slide using a keyboard, the elements should follow a meaningful focus order so learners can perceive and navigate the content smoothly.

Once the set-focus trigger fires and sets focus on an object, the focus order you set is followed. However, if the set-focus trigger is assigned to an object that’s lower in the focus order and you navigate away from it, then the focus goes to the next item in the order. Here’s an example of how this works. To explore the project file, click the download link in the upper-right corner of the interaction.

Learn how slide navigation works for screen reader users and keyboard-only users.

Understand Compatibility

The set-focus trigger is exclusive to Storyline 360 as of March 2025. Project files with this trigger won't open in earlier versions of Storyline 360. To restore compatibility, remove the set-focus trigger.