1. User-Defined Variables
Instructions for creating user-defined variables in Lectora
To create a variable:
1. Click the Variable Manager icon from the Tools toolbar or select Variable Manager
from the Tools menu.
a. The Variable Manager window opens.
b. Click on the User-Defined tab if the Variable Manager window is not already
opened to this tab.
2. Click the Add button. The new variable is added to the list.
3. Use the controls within the Variable Information box to specify the following:
 Variable Name: Specify the name for the variable. This name must be unique to all
existing variable names. Variable names cannot contain spaces or special
characters.
 Initial Value: Specify the initial value for the variable. This is the default value of the
variable when the published title is launched.
 Retain variable value between sessions: Select this to retain the variable's value
through subsequent launches of the published title. With this selected, if the variable
value has changed, the next time the user launches the published title, the variable
will load with the previously modified value.
 Random initial value: Select this to assign a random integer value to a variable.
When you select this option, specify the Min Value and Max Value in the fields
provided. When the published title is launched, the default value of the variable will
be a random number greater than or equal to the Min Value specified and less than
or equal to the Max Value specified.
4. Click OK to create the new variable.
Additional comments from Alliant Quality Partners: Lectora also allows you to create user-
defined variables ‘on-the-fly’. When you are in the process of adding an action that involves
modifying a variable, the option to create a variable is available. Simply click the New Variable
button and define its properties from within the Action Properties box.
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2. Step-by-Step Summary of Variable Activity
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3. Step-by-Step Summary of Variable Activity
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4. Step-by-Step Summary of Variable Activity
What developer sees… Summary of Programming
#1 (blue button) is the trigger that runs the action
groups for showing the images and luggage stickers,
based on questions answered.
#2 (red button) is the trigger that resets the form to
clear out answered questions.
#3 when radio button Airplane is selected, group is
hidden; plane is revealed.
#4 when radio button Cruise Ship is selected, group
is hidden; ship is revealed.
#5 show respective group of images when the
reason for travel is a match (varReason equal to
1,2,3,4)
#6 show respective group of images when the travel
destination is a match (varDestination equal to
1,2,3,4)
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5. Programming Variables – Storyboard Example
Let’s say we have an example where the learner is in a course and they are going on a trip… they are talking to a travel agent who is asking them
questions related to their travel. Based on the answers to some questions, we can help them pack their suit case.
Here is a storyboard example…
Variable Initial Possible When this Happens… Set this Value… And Do this… But Only if… Otherwise…
Name Value Values
varReason 0 1 = business meeting Sun Bathing is varReason=2 Show 2 Sunbathing group* Reason is 2 Ask for missing
2 = sun bathing selected information.
3 = sight seeing * group images so that only
4 = hiking one action is required to
show the entire group.
varDestination 0 1 = Hawaii Hawaii is selected varDestination=1 Show Hawaii luggage sticker Destination is 1 Just do it!
2 = New York
3 = Arizona
4 = Seattle
varTravelMode 0 1 = airplane Cruise Ship is selected varTravelMode =2 Show cruise ship image Mode of travel Ask for an
2 = cruise ship selected is answer to the
Cruise Ship question.
Using a simple table like this to storyboard (plan out) your activities can help you THINK through the variables before you program them.
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6. Variable Examples Explained
Example 1 We know from the web that radio
User-Defined buttons signify a single selection and
Variables checkboxes imply multiple selections.
This example shows how you In this Lectora example, the radio
can guide the learner down a button group (modes) is used to
specific path by asking them to restrict the learner to one choice.
make a choice, and then using Without it, more than one radio
that information to maneuver button could be selected. The Lectora
the course in that direction. form object (transportationForm)
holds the objects the learner sees.
What the developer sees… What you need to know…
truckActions; planeActions; trainActions;
boatActions are Lectora Action Groups. Each
time a radio button is selected, a series of
actions is executed (see #4).
First the screen is cleared of any previous
selections, and then the variable is asked
(ModVar) to remember the current selection,
followed by their current choice being
presented. Clearing the form first ensures the
learner will always see the results of the current
selection.
vehicleImages is a group that contains the
individual images of each transportation mode.
userChoices is a group that contains the
Lectora Form object (transportationForm). That
form holds the Lectora radio-button group
(modes), which is used to communicate the
learner’s selection by way of actions that are
added to the individual radio. This group also
holds the graphics and text the learner sees on
the screen.
varFeedback is a group that holds the
graphics and text for feedback presented to the
learner when they make a selection. For
example, if they select trucks, the truck image is
presented, along with the text related to that
selection. The action groups and variables work
together to remember the selection and present
the appropriate text/image combination.
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7. Variable Examples Explained
The individual radio buttons trigger
the programming actions in Lectora.
When a radio button is selected, the
action linked to that button is
executed. If your programming calls
for more than one action, you must
use an action group to execute the
string of actions (if the trigger is a
radio button).
This example executes an (action
group) triggered by a radio button.
There are at least 4 other ways this
activity could be programmed in
Lectora:
1. Display each mode as a text
hyperlink (links can trigger one
action so an Action Group is
required if multiple actions are
needed).
2. Display each mode as a labeled
button and attach as many
actions as you wish to the button.
3. Display each mode as an image
and attach as many actions as
you wish to the image.
4. Display each mode as text,
format the text to LOOK like a
link, lay a transparent button
over the text and attach as many
actions as you wish to the button.
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8. Variable Examples Explained
An Action Group is a series of actions that are grouped together.
When the group is called the actions are run in the order they are
listed in the group.
The actions in the Action Group must be placed in their proper
order; first come, first run!
This example sets the value of our variable (_varMode) to
TRUCKS! When the truck option (radio button) is selected. The
same variable can be used for the other three options…
remember that variables can be reused.
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9. Variable Examples Explained
Conditions can be placed on actions
if you don’t want the action to be
carried out unless the condition(s)
are true…
In this case we want to show the
value of TRUCKS! if _optionTrucks
was selected.
Two variables were used to create
this interaction; varValue and
_varMode.
We set the value of _varMode to
TRUCKS! and we modified the
variable
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10. Variable Examples Explained
Example 2
Reserved Variables
This example demonstrates how you can use Reserved
(predefined) variables in your e-Learning.
As shown here, reserved variables include the current date
and time, which platform the learner is using, how many
pages are in the course, etc.
What the developer sees… What you need to know…
In most cases, you can use the Change Contents action in
Lectora to easily change the content of a text box to the
value of the reserved variable.
The Action Properties displayed below defines how our
Reserved Variable sample page is programmed to show
the current date, current time, user platform, page count
and current page name.
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11. Variable Examples Explained
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12. Reserved Variables (Predefined)
Predefined Variable Description Dynamically
Updated?
BrowserType This variable contains the name of the browser No
currently used to view the title. The variable is set to
Lectora when run in preview mode, and LectoraViewer
when run as a published CD title. For titles published
to the Web, the variable value contains the browser
used to view the title, such as Internet Explorer.
CurrentChapterName This variable contains the name of the chapter that Yes
includes the current page being displayed. If there is
no current chapter, then this variable has the value of
Unknown.
CurrentDate For titles published to the Web, this variable contains No
today’s date in the form <Day of the Week>, <Month>
<Day>, <Year>. For example: Wednesday, March 11,
2008. For titles published to a single-file executable or
CD-ROM, this variable contains today’s date in the
form <Month> <Day>, <Year>. For example: March 11,
2008.
CurrentPageName This variable contains the name of the current page. Yes
CurrentSectionName This variable contains the name of the section that Yes
includes the current page being displayed. If there is
no current section, then this variable has the value of
Unknown.
CurrentTime This variable contains the current time in the form No
hh:mm AM/PM. For example, 4:20 PM.
CurrentTitleName This variable contains the name of the title. Yes
ElapsedTime This variable contains the amount of time the user has No
spent within the current title.
PageInChapter This variable contains the current page number relative Yes
to the pages within the current chapter.
PagesInChapter This variable contains the total number of pages in the Yes
current chapter.
PageInSection This variable contains the current page number relative Yes
to the pages within the current section.
PagesInSection This variable contains the total number of pages in the Yes
current section.
PageInTitle This variable contains the current page number relative Yes
to the entire title. If your title contains frames, this
variable contains the current page relative to the total
number of pages within that frame.
PagesInTitle This variable contains the total number of pages in the Yes
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13. Reserved Variables (Predefined)
title. If your title contains frames, this variable contains
the total number of pages within that frame.
Platform This variable contains the name of the platform on No
which the published title is running. For CD-published
titles, this could contain Microsoft Windows NT,
Microsoft Windows XP, and so on. For titles published
to the Web, the variable contains Win32 for 32-bit
Windows platforms, and MacPPC for Macintosh
PowerPC platforms.
PublishDate This variable contains the date and time that the title No
was published in the form <Month> <Day>, <Year>
hh:mm AM/PM. For example, July 21, 2008 4:20 PM.
<test name>_Score For each test in the title, a variable will be created that No
will contain the score of the test. If the test has not yet
been taken or the test cannot be scored, the value is 0.
<test name>_<test For each test section in the title, a variable will be No
section>_Score created that will contain the score of the test section. If
the test has not yet been taken or the test cannot be
scored, the value is 0.
Question_#### This variable contains the user's answer to the Yes
question. This variable name can be changed within
the question's properties.
RadioGroup_#### This variable contains the user's selection from the Yes
radio buttons contained in the group. This variable
name can be changed within the radio button group's
properties.
Radio_#### For each radio button (not contained in a radio button Yes
group) in the title, a variable will be created that will
contain whether the radio button is selected. If
selected, the variable will have a value of "on" and
otherwise will have no value. This variable name can
be changed within the radio button's properties.
Checkbox_#### For each check box in the title, a variable will be Yes
created that will contain whether the check box is
selected. If selected, the variable will have a value of
"on" and otherwise will have no value. This variable
name can be changed within the check box's
properties.
Entry_#### For each entry field in the title, a variable will be Yes
created that will contain what the user has typed within
the entry field. This variable name can be changed
within the entry field's properties.
DropList_#### For each drop-down in the title, a variable will be Yes
created that will contain what the user has selected
from the drop-down list. This variable name can be
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14. Reserved Variables (Predefined)
changed within the drop-down list's properties.
List_#### For each list box in the title, a variable will be created Yes
that will contain what the user has selected from the
list box. This variable name can be changed within the
list box's properties.
If you have designated your title as an AICC/SCORM/CourseMill (3.x and above) Published Title, the
following additional variables are available within your title:
Predefined Variable Description Modifiable?
AICC_Core_Lesson This variable contains information used by the Yes
published title to properly calculate the score of the
user in the current title. If you modify the value of this
variable within the content of a title that contains
more than one automatically graded test, then the
AICC_Score of the student cannot be properly
updated and reflected to the AICC/SCORM Learning
Management System (LMS).
AICC_Core_Vendor This variable contains the information required by No
Lectora when running an AICC-compliant title within
an AICC learning management system. This variable
is not used by Lectora-published content.
AICC_Course_ID This variable contains the id of the course in the No
AICC/SCORM learning management system.
AICC_Credit This variable reflects whether the AICC/SCORM title No
is being taken for "credit" or just in a "browse" mode.
AICC_Lesson_ID This variable contains the name of the title's No
assignable unit.
AICC_Lesson_Location This variable contains the current location within the Yes
title content. The Lectora published content sets this
variable on every page of the title to reflect the
current location of the student within the
AICC/SCORM LMS.
AICC_Lesson_Status This variable contains the current status of the Yes
course within the AICC/SCORM LMS. Lectora sets
the value of this variable to incomplete. The
AICC/SCORM LMS will further modify the variable
based on the current AICC_Score for the user and
the value specified as the Mastery Score.
AICC_Score This variable contains the average of all test scores Yes
in the published title. If you modify the value of this
variable within the content of a course that contains
more than one automatically graded test, the
modification will be lost when the user completes an
automatically graded test.
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15. Reserved Variables (Predefined)
AICC_Student_ID This variable contains the user id as reported by the No
AICC/SCORM LMS.
AICC_Student_Name This variable contains the user name as reported by No
the AICC/SCORM LMS.
AICC_Time This variable contains the total time the user has Yes
been in the published title. This value is automatically
updated while the student is viewing the title. If you
modify the value of this variable, the modification will
be lost when the student exits the title. Also, this
variable must be in the format of HH:MM:SS:mm to
be valid when reported to the AICC LMS.
CMI_Core_Entry This variable is only accessible in SCORM 2004 No
published titles and contains information related to
whether the student has previously accessed the
published title.
CMI_Core_Exit This variable is only accessible in SCORM-published Yes
titles and is used to indicate how or why the student
exited the published title.
CMI_Completion_Status This variable is only accessible in SCORM 2004 Yes
published titles and determines the point at which the
student has actually completed viewing the published
title. In a SCORM 2004 published course, the author
MUST set this variable at the point in the course that
the student has been determined to have completed
viewing the necessary content for the course.
If the title is being created for placement on the CourseMill 2.0 learning management system, the
following additional variables are available:
Predefined Variables Description Modifiable?
CM_Course_ID This variable contains the ID of the course as defined in No
CourseMill.
CM_Course_Name This variable contains the name of the title as defined in No
CourseMill
CM_Student_ID This variable contains the student ID as reported by No
CourseMill.
CM_Student_Name This variable contains the student name as reported by No
CourseMill.
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