General structure of a scenario

A SBL-Interactive (SBLi) scenario is made up of 3 key elements; 1. Locations, 2. Items and 3. Actions.

1. Locations - represent different places within the scenario, which users can visit. They are represented in the software as icons in the top left window (Location Window). Initially a default location icon is used (), this image can be replaced with one that better represents the location in question. Roads (or lines) can be drawn between them to link them together. This can be useful for helping users to follow the flow of locations to be visited.

Locations can be places, such as schools, libraries, hospitals, veterinary laboratories and farms, but are not restricted to physical buildings; they could represent rooms within buildings or something completely different (e.g. body parts on an animal, or fields on a farm etc.). Even abstract concepts such as Love, Success, Freedom, Feminism, Racism, Evaluation, Comparison, Truth and Justice can be scenario locations.

Each location can have various Items and Actions associated with it.

2. Items - represent different objects within a location which the user can examine, collect, use or perform actions on, and interact with. Items are represented in SBLi by icons (), once again this image can be easily replaced) in the top right window (Environment Window); the name of an item will appear if you move the mouse cursor over it.

Some items can, if set by the scenario author, be collected by dragging them into the square collection box located in the bottom right corner of the Environment Window. When a user collects an item it goes into the collection tab, and can be used in other locations.

An Item can have Actions associated with it.

3. Actions - represent something that can be done within the scenario, such as inspect, monitor, count, pick a plant, take a sample, talk to a scenario character, take an X-Ray, or write a report. This is completely decided by the scenario author. An action can be set to cost virtual time or money and can be related to a location or to a specific item.