Articulate Storyline Localization: Complete Implementation Guide

Introduction to Storyline Localization

Articulate Storyline 360 is one of the most powerful tools for custom eLearning, but its complexity means localization is rarely a simple “export and import” process.

A localized Storyline course must look, feel, and function exactly like the English source course, while accommodating the unique characteristics of the target language. This guide outlines the end-to-end technical implementation workflow.

Phase 1: Source Preparation

Before starting localization, the English source file (.story) must be finalized and locked. Any changes made to the English version after translation has started will cause version control nightmares.

The Localization Inventory

Review the course and document:

• Slide Text: Standard text on slides, layers, and in the notes panel.
• Interactive Elements: Text inside buttons, markers, dials, and sliders.
• Variables: Text-based variables (e.g., passing a user’s name or a custom status).
• Media: Images with embedded text, videos requiring subtitles or dubbing, and audio files.
• Player Settings: The built-in Storyline player labels and navigation buttons.

Exporting for Translation

Storyline allows you to export text for translation in two main formats:

1. XLIFF: The industry standard for translation memory software.
2. Word Document: Often preferred if translations are being handled manually by internal subject matter experts (SMEs).

Best Practice: Always check the “Include speaker notes” box during export if your notes contain the voiceover script.

Phase 2: Translation and Glossary Management

Provide the exported files to your linguists. It is critical to provide them with a Terminology Glossary.

A glossary ensures that product names, software UI buttons, and company-specific jargon are translated consistently. Without a glossary, different translators might translate the same technical term in three different ways, confusing the learner.

Phase 3: Technical Implementation

Once the translated files are returned, the localization engineering begins.

Importing the Text

Import the translated XLIFF or Word document back into a copy of the source .story file.

Managing Text Expansion

This is the most time-consuming part of Storyline localization. Languages like Spanish, German, and Russian take up more physical space than English. When imported into Storyline, the text will often break out of its designated text boxes, overlap with images, or become cut off.

You must manually review every slide and layer to fix layout issues by:

• Adjusting font sizes slightly (while maintaining readability).
• Expanding text boxes.
• Moving images or repositioning layout elements.
• Using scrolling panels for excessively long text.

Fixing Triggers, States, and Variables

Translation imports can sometimes break interactivity.

• States: Ensure the Hover, Down, and Visited states of buttons correctly display the translated text and didn’t revert to English.
• Variables: If a trigger relies on a text variable being equal to a specific English word (e.g., If variable 'Status' = "Complete"), you must update the trigger logic to match the new language, or keep the variable logic in English while translating the display text.
• Quizzes: Verify that feedback layers (Correct/Incorrect) imported properly and that scoring logic remains intact.

Player Labels

Navigate to the Player settings and switch the Text Labels to the target language (Storyline has many built-in language sets).

Phase 4: Media and Audio Syncing

Graphics

Replace any images that contained English text with the newly localized graphic assets.

Audio Synchronization

If the course includes voiceover:

1. Import the new localized audio files.
2. Open the timeline on every slide.
3. Because translated audio is almost always a different length than the English audio, you must manually drag and adjust the entrance and exit timings of every on-screen animation to sync with the new voiceover.

Captions

If using closed captions, import the translated VTT files and ensure they display correctly.

Phase 5: Quality Assurance (QA)

Rigorous QA is the final, essential step.

1. Visual QA: Review the course slide-by-slide to ensure layouts are clean and fonts render correctly (especially important for non-Latin scripts).
2. Linguistic QA: Have a native speaker review the published course in-context to catch translation errors that were missed during the spreadsheet phase.
3. Functional QA: Click every button, take every quiz, and ensure all navigation works.
4. LMS Testing: Publish the SCORM package and upload it to a test environment in your LMS. Verify that the course launches, bookmarks, and reports completion/scoring accurately.

Conclusion

Storyline localization is an engineering process. By following a structured workflow encompassing preparation, careful implementation, layout adjustment, and thorough QA, you can deliver high-quality multilingual training that functions flawlessly.