Love Lectora gems no.9: Drag and drop answer not moving

Posted by Kristen Featherstone on 25 January 2012 · filed in Lectora

Have you ever found a drag and drop question not letting you drag and drop the answers? Infuriating I know, but sometimes the answer lies in the small options we can take for granted.

Drag and drop questions allow you to create moving answers from text or images. I came across one that used text, but the text boxes had been customised to fit the exact size and colour in the spaces of the drop image, which was like a treasure map where 'x' marks the spot. These text boxes were then all placed on top of one another to save space, so that as you drag each one into an "'x' marks the spot on the drop image" area, the next answer to drag and drop appears underneath.

But what happens when you hover over the first text box and the icon changes from a hand to a pointer, and when you click and drag it a 'no entry' sign comes up as soon as you move off the text box. Odd behaviour? Yes. Annoying? Very much so!

Without realising it, all a course developer has to do is check an option somewhere that is used quite frequently in Lectora, and it can have unexpected consequences that can cause a problem. In this case, one of the text boxes had the option Always on top checked. This was not allowing the box to be moved, and as a result users weren't be able get at any of the other answers underneath.

My Point? When troubleshooting never overlook something just because you think it couldn't possibly be causing an issue. Sometimes the problem can lie in an option that you use all the time.