Reference

Troubleshooting

Common problems with storage, Moodle and SCORM, media, imports and the AI connection, each with cause and fix, plus answers to frequent questions.

Something doesn't work as expected? Look for your problem below. Every entry tells you the cause and the fix in a few steps.

Courses and storage: courses gone, saving failed, storage blocked.
Moodle and SCORM: status not saved, upload rejected, resume not working.
Media and imports: videos, slow courses, presentations, questions.
AI connection: Claude or ChatGPT can't connect, the AI doesn't react.
Frequent questions at the end.

Courses and storage

"Your courses could not be opened"

Cause: the browser doesn't let the Studio use its storage. Private windows and some privacy settings block it, or another Studio tab is still using it.
Fix: open the Studio in a normal browser window. If the message says another tab is blocking the storage, close or reload the other Studio tabs and click Try again.

My courses are gone

Cause: courses live only in the browser where you made them. Clearing the browser data, another browser or another device shows an empty workbench.
Fix: on My courses open Workbench and choose Restore backup to load your last .olsw backup, or open an exported .olsx file with Open file.
Prevent it: click Protect data next to the storage meter on My courses, and use Workbench and Back up everything (.olsw) regularly.

"Saving failed"

Cause: the browser storage is probably full.
Fix: check the storage meter on My courses. Delete courses or versions you no longer need, or use smaller images and videos.

"Studio updated in another tab"

Cause: you opened a newer version of the Studio in another tab.
Fix: reload this tab. Your saved changes stay as they are.

Moodle and SCORM

How to set up the activity in Moodle step by step: SCORM and Moodle.

The status is not saved or stays "Not attempted"

Cause: usually the publish format, an unreachable completion rule, or the course was opened outside Moodle.
Fix:
- Publish as SCORM 1.2; Moodle supports SCORM 2004 only partly.
- Make sure learners can reach the completion rule, for example don't require more slides than the course has. The check step of the publish dialog warns you about this.
- With the status report "passed / incomplete", a failed test stays "incomplete" on purpose.
- Start the course through Moodle, not by opening index.html. Without an LMS the player runs offline and reports nothing.
- Look at the attempt under Reports in the Moodle activity.

Learners always start from the beginning

Cause: Moodle starts a new attempt each time, or the saved progress is too large.
Fix: in the Moodle activity set Force new attempt to No. In very large courses the progress can exceed the 4,096-character limit of SCORM 1.2 and is then not saved: split the course or use fewer variables.

The course window doesn't open (display "New window")

Cause: the browser blocks pop-ups.
Fix: allow pop-ups for your Moodle site, or set the display to Current window.

"The package is invalid" when uploading

Cause: the ZIP file was changed, or it is larger than Moodle allows.
Fix: upload the downloaded ZIP as it is. Don't unzip and zip it again: imsmanifest.xml must sit in the top level of the archive. Also check Moodle's maximum upload size.

A second menu appears on the left in Moodle

Cause: that is Moodle's own course structure, not the player.
Fix: in the activity settings under Appearance set "Display course structure in player" to Hidden and "Show Navigation" to No.

Media

Videos don't play

Cause: the file format is not supported, or the browser blocks videos that start with sound.
Fix: use MP4 (H.264/AAC) or WebM. If autoplay is blocked, the video starts after a click.

The course loads slowly

Cause: everything is packed into the package, also very large images and videos.
Fix: shrink images (ideally under 1 MB each) and videos before you add them.

A web object stays empty

Cause: the address is not https, or the website doesn't allow being shown inside other pages.
Fix: use an https address. If the site still stays empty, link to it with the trigger action Open URL / file instead.

Imports

My Keynote file is not accepted

Cause: the Studio imports PowerPoint (.pptx) and Impress (.odp) files.
Fix: in Keynote choose File > Export To > PowerPoint and import the .pptx.

Charts or SmartArt are missing after a presentation import

Cause: these parts can't be converted.
Fix: they become labeled placeholders. Rebuild them with the chart object or with lines and shapes.

Some GIFT or CSV lines were skipped

Cause: these lines don't match the expected format.
Fix: the import preview lists every skipped line with the reason. Fix those lines and import again.

My JavaScript triggers stopped working after an import

Cause: on purpose. Imports always switch JavaScript off, because code from a file could be harmful.
Fix: check the code, then switch on Allow JavaScript in View Course.

AI connection

How to set it up: Connect your AI app.

Claude or ChatGPT can't connect

Cause: they connect from the internet and can only reach a Studio with a public https address. A Studio on your own computer or in your school network is out of reach for them.
Fix: use the Studio at its public address, or use Claude Code, Cursor or VS Code, which run on your computer. Or use the course script, which works with any chat.

The status shows "Disconnected"

Cause: the tab was closed, you clicked Disconnect, or nothing happened for 2 hours.
Fix: click Start connection in View Connect AI and paste the new sentence into your chat.

The AI works on a file instead of my open course

Cause: this chat is not connected to your Studio tab yet.
Fix: paste the sentence with the code from Connect AI into this chat. In every new chat, paste it again.

Live and File with MCP are greyed out ("Not offered on this Studio")

Cause: this Studio runs as a plain website without its server part, so it has no MCP address.
Fix: use the course script way, which works with any chat, or ask whoever runs your Studio to set up the server part.

The AI doesn't use Open Learning Studio

Cause: the connector is not switched on in this chat.
Fix: switch it on (Claude: + and Connectors; ChatGPT: type @), then start your request with "Use Open Learning Studio".

The AI is slow or its answer is cut off with a big course

Cause: without a live connection the AI has to send the whole course back and forth with every step.
Fix: connect the chat live to your open course, and ask for one chapter or one step at a time.

"Too many open connections from this device"

Cause: several connections from your device are still open.
Fix: disconnect a connection you no longer need (for example in another tab) and try again.

Frequent questions

Does Open Learning Studio cost anything?

No. The Studio is free and has no account or subscription. If you use an AI app, its own plan applies (for example, ChatGPT needs a paid plan for custom connections).

Where are my courses stored?

Only in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded to a server while you edit. Make a workbench backup (.olsw) now and then, and export single courses as .olsx to share them.

How do I move my courses to another computer?

On My courses open Workbench and choose Back up everything (.olsw). On the other computer, open the Studio and choose Workbench and Restore backup.

Does the Studio track my learners?

No. The Studio has no tracking and loads nothing from outside servers, unless you add web objects or videos from other websites yourself. Learner progress only goes to your LMS, for example Moodle, which stores it in its own database. Details: Privacy and offline.

Every keyboard shortcut of the editor and the course player, sorted by task. On a Mac, use Cmd where the table says Ctrl.