I created a set of dynamic panels (4 states) each contains a different image.  Ultimately I would like to be able to have a "timer" change the state of the panels (rotate through the pictures) every 10-15 seconds.  Has anyone done something like this using an interaction or some other method?

There isn't a way to do this in version 4...

But in version 5.0 (www.axure.com/axurerp5beta.aspx), it is possible to create this type of animation (even though it is a little bit of a "hack"). We are planning to fully support this in the future, but for now, I have attached a sample file of the workaround.

Start by adding a case to the event that triggers the animation. We need the event to behave as if there was a condition on the case so we add a condition to the case that we know will always be true (i.e. OnLoadVariable = "" assuming we aren't using that variable for something else). Then add the set panel state action for the first action in the animation.

Next add a second case. This time you don't need a condition, you can just create the second set of actions in the animation. These actions will include the Wait action (which should be the total time from the start of the event to when this action should be executed) as well as the set dynamic panel action. In the interaction tree, we need to change the "Else If" to and "If" so that the second case will also always occur. To do that, right click on the second case and use Change to IF.

Repeat for 3rd, 4th, etc. cases.

Not elegant yet, but it should work.

Unfortunately, when I run this I get to step 2 and nothing else happens. Firefox browser, Win Vista. Any ideas?

 

Update--it works in IE. Maybe need to check Firefox settings. 

drpinata:

Unfortunately, when I run this I get to step 2 and nothing else happens. Firefox browser, Win Vista. Any ideas?

 

Update--it works in IE. Maybe need to check Firefox settings. 

I think this was fixed for Firefox in the last beta update. Are you running 5.0.0.1463? If not, can you try downloading and installing the latest at www.axure.com/axurerp5beta.aspx?

I just checked and I had Axure 5.0.0.1453, so I will update to the ...1463 version and I expect that will fix it. Thanks, Victor! I'll post confirmation after I try this.

...1463 fixes the problem I was having with this not working under Firefox.

I came up with a way to loop through states of a dynamic panel by using the onpageload event and the ability to refresh a page using open reload in current window interaction.

So, the home page has one dynamic panel (but you could have more) with five states, each with a different image of my dog and numbers (used these pictures for playing around and numbers to make the file smaller). The onpageload cases use the onloadvariable equals"" as the condition, with 4 following If true cases with a wait time and set panel state to state. Then the last case using the if true statement, a wait time, and then open reload in current window. With this you will have a page that cycles through the panel states based on the wait time, when it gets to the last state/case the entire page will refresh and go through the states again and again.  

I discussed this idea with a colleague and he took it further and suggested placing the home page in an iframe on a separate page, to avoid awkward refreshes but to also still maintain normal functionality on the page, essentially only the iframe refreshes rather than the entire page.