You can use simple passwords in your OpenLabyrinth cases to restrict access to parts of your case, using a hidden node.

This is a bit fiddly to do at present, primarily for advanced authors. (To be refined.)

1. In your case map, using Visual Editor, create a new node that is not linked to any other. Once you have updated the master map, make a note of the Node ID number for this hidden node.

2. Create a single-line QUestion in the case, in the usual fashion.

3. Within the Rules for that QUestion, you will use a basic syntax something like this…

The first line says to go to Node 12757 if the answer is blank. The second line says to go to Node 12758 if there is a successful match (but you wouldn’t use something as obvious as “password”, would you? (Yes, I know that millions do!)). The third line tells OLab what to do if there is no match for what has been entered.

Using this approach, the author can control where in the case the User ends up, depending on what they answer. This same approach was originally designed for basic interpretation of free-text entries. But several authors have found this useful for providing password-only access to their Instructor Guides (see previous post).