You can share a simulation in three ways: with a Live Link that always shows the latest version, with a Play Session for a group, or as an exported package for your LMS (learning management system), Articulate Storyline or an Articulate Rise 360 course. All three are in the Publish window. To open it, click the Publish icon (rocket) on a simulation's card on the Simulations page, or open More actions and choose Publish.
Share a link or embed the simulation
The Live Link tab gives you two things:
Direct link — send it to learners and colleagues. It opens the simulation in their browser.
Embed code — an <iframe> code, like the code for a YouTube video. Paste it into a web page, an LMS page, or an authoring tool such as Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, Adobe Captivate or Lectora. To find out where to paste it, see your tool's help on web objects or iframes.
Click the copy icon next to a field to copy it.
Using Articulate Rise 360? You have two options: paste the embed code into a Rise Embed block, or upload the HTML5 Package to a Rise Code block. See Add a simulation to Articulate Rise 360 below.
The Publish window of a live simulation. On the left are the tabs Live Link (highlighted), Play Session and Export as…. On the right, the Direct link field (https://app.branchtrack.com/p/…) and the Embed code field (<iframe src=…>) are highlighted, each with a copy icon. At the bottom, the Make simulation private button is highlighted.
Always up to date: your edits appear for learners right away. A learner who is in the middle of the simulation sees them after reloading or restarting.
Private simulations: the link and embed code work only while the simulation is published. If it is private, the tab shows a lock and a Publish simulation button. Click it to publish. To stop sharing, click Make simulation private.
Making a simulation private affects every place it is shared. If you have already sent the direct link or embedded the simulation on a website, LMS page or course, it stops loading there. People see a "Forbidden" page instead. Publish the simulation again and the same link and embed code usually work again. Older simulations with a short link (for example
…/p/ab12cd) get a new, longer link when published again — then replace the old link and embed code.For more about publishing and making a simulation private, see Publishing and Unpublishing a Simulation.
The Live Link tab of a private simulation. A lock icon and the text "This simulation is private and cannot be reached through the direct or embed links." are shown above the highlighted Publish simulation button.
Run a Play Session with a group
On the Play Session tab, create a link for a live training session (for example, on Zoom or Webex) and follow the group's results in real time. See Play Session.
Export a package for your LMS
To keep the simulation on your own LMS, server or authoring tool, open the Export as… tab and click the package you need. It downloads right away.
Best for LMS: SCORM 1.2 (completed/incomplete), SCORM 1.2 (passed/failed) or SCORM 2004 (3rd Edition).
Best for Storyline and other tools: HTML5 Package — a standalone package for your own web server or authoring tool. This is also the package you upload to an Articulate Rise 360 Code block.
Best for Lectora: Lectora Library Object (.awo) — for direct import into Lectora.
For xAPI: xAPI (Tin Can) Package (Beta) — sends learners’ choices and scores to your LRS or LMS.
The Publish window on the Export as… tab (selected on the left). The highlighted list of packages: Best for LMS — SCORM 1.2 (completed/incomplete), SCORM 1.2 (passed/failed), SCORM 2004; Best for Storyline and other tools — HTML5 Package; Best for Lectora — Lectora Library Object; For xAPI enthusiasts — xAPI (Tin Can) Package (Beta). Each package name is a link that downloads it.
An exported package doesn't change. After you edit the simulation, export it again and replace the old package.
You can't export an archived simulation, or a simulation a teammate has open in the editor.
Add a simulation to Articulate Rise 360
You can add a BranchTrack simulation to a Rise 360 lesson in two ways:
| Code block + HTML5 Package | Embed block + embed code | |
| What you add to Rise | The ZIP file from Export as… → HTML5 Package | The embed code from the Live Link tab |
| Shows your latest edits | No. Export the simulation again and upload the new ZIP file. | Yes, right away |
To use a code block:
In BranchTrack, open the Publish window, go to the Export as… tab and click HTML5 Package. A ZIP file downloads.
In your Rise lesson, add a block, choose the Code category and click Upload project.
Upload the ZIP file exactly as it downloaded. Don't unzip it, rename it or change it.
Use the HTML5 Package. SCORM and xAPI packages are made for an LMS, not for a Rise code block.
According to Articulate, code blocks can't be previewed from files on your computer after you export the course. Test the course in Review 360 or in your LMS.
For more about code blocks, see Articulate's guide Rise 360: How to Use Code Block.
How SCORM reports results to your LMS
When the learner finishes, the status is always completed or passed. BranchTrack never sends "failed" based on the score.
The score is sent separately, on a scale of 0 to 100. To change the range, see Adjust SCORM min & max scores.
For SCORM 1.2, choose the version your LMS expects. Choosing the wrong one is the most common reason an LMS shows an unexpected status.
The result is sent when the learner reaches an ending. If they close the window before that, the LMS gets no completion.