'Action: Clear Drop Zone'

actionsdrag-and-dropdrop-zoneresetclear

The Clear Drop Zone action removes items from drop zones in drag-and-drop interactions. It's the "try again" or "reset" button for any activity that uses drag and drop.

Modes

Reset to Origin

Cloned items are deleted. Original items animate back to their starting positions (where they were before being dragged). This is the most common mode — it lets participants try the activity again from scratch.

Delete All

All items — both clones and originals — are removed from view entirely. The items disappear rather than returning to their origin. Use this when you want a clean slate without the items being available for re-dragging.

Targeting

By default, the action clears all drop zones in the Ripple. You can optionally target specific zones by ID if you only want to clear certain areas.

This is useful when your Ripple has multiple independent drag-and-drop activities on the same scene — clearing one activity shouldn't reset the others.

Scope: Local vs Global

  • Local (default): Only the triggering user's drop zones are cleared. Their placements reset, but other participants' placements are unaffected.
  • Global: Everyone's drop zones are cleared simultaneously. Any participant can trigger this — the creator controls which zones and mode are available, so it's safe without a role restriction.

Common Patterns

Try Again Button

  1. Create a button labelled "Try Again"
  2. Add a Clear Drop Zone action on click
  3. Set mode to Reset to Origin
  4. Items return to their starting positions, ready for another attempt

Reset with Score Clear

Chain two actions:

  1. Clear Drop Zone (reset items)
  2. Set Variable: reset $score to 0

This gives a complete restart for scored activities.

Group Reset

Add a "Reset" button to your activity:

  1. Clear Drop Zone with global scope
  2. Everyone's drop zones reset simultaneously
  3. Useful for classroom activities where anyone can restart the exercise for the group

Tips

  • Pair with feedback: Before clearing, consider showing results. Use conditions to check correctness, display scores, then offer a "Try Again" button.
  • Reset to Origin vs Delete: If participants should be able to re-drag the same items, use Reset to Origin. If the items should be gone (e.g. a "submit and clear" flow), use Delete All.

What's Next?

  • Drag and Drop — the complete drag-and-drop system
  • Variables — track scores and attempts alongside drag-and-drop activities