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The Text Box Editor allows Instructors to create professional, vibrant content through a simple editor within the Blackboard Learning System. Using WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), Instructors may format text to create HTML, identify and correct spelling errors, add equations using WebEQ and MathML, and upload different types of files within a text box. |
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Find this page: |
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The Text Box Editor appears within text boxes in the Blackboard Learning System. Examples include Content Areas, Announcements, Calendar, Tasks, Assessments, and Discussion Boards. |
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Actions: |
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The Text Box Editor includes three rows of buttons. The first row is required and may not be collapsed. Users have the options of collapsing the second and third rows with the arrows to the left of the row. Some Text Box Editors open with the second and third rows collapsed, users may choose to expand them. These options cannot be reorganized or rearranged by the user. The following table details the tools available in the Text Box Editor by row: |
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First Row - Basic Actions |
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| Function |
Description |
| Font Style |
Select the font for the text, these options correspond to standard HTML Style types. |
| Font Size |
Select the size for the text. |
| Font |
Select the type of font for the text. |
| Bold |
Make selected text bold. |
| Italics |
Make selected text italics. |
| Underline |
Underline the selected text. |
| Align Left |
Align text to the left of the text area. |
| Align Center |
Align text in the center of the text area. |
| Align Right |
Align text to the right of the text area. |
| Ordered List |
Create a numbered list or add a numbered list item. |
| Unordered List |
Create a bulleted list or add a bullet list item. |
| Decrease Indent |
Move text to the left. |
| Increase Indent |
Move text to the right. |
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Second Row - Additional Basic Actions |
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| Function |
Description |
| Find |
Search for a word or phrase in the text area. |
| Spell Check |
Select the ABC checkmark to open the Spell Check pop-up window. Users use this to check spelling in the text area. |
| Cut |
Cut the selected items |
| Copy |
Copy the selected items |
| Paste |
Paste copied or cut content. |
| Undo |
Select the circular arrow pointing to the left to undo the previous action. |
| Redo |
Select the circular arrow pointing to the right to redo the previous action. |
| Hyperlink |
Add a hyperlink to a URL in the text area. |
| Create Table |
Add a table. Select the number of rows and cells in the table. |
| Horizontal Line |
Add a line to the text box. |
| Background Color |
Add a highlight color to the selected text. |
| Text Color |
Specify the color of the text. |
| WebEQ Editor |
Open the WebEQ Equation Editor icon (x2) to add an equation |
| MathML Editor |
Open the MathML Equation Editor icon (√x ) to add an equation |
| HTML View |
View the HTML code that is generated by the Text Box Editor. Users may also edit the HTML in this view. |
| Preview |
Preview the content as it will be seen by the end users. |
| Help |
Select the question mark to launch the Help page. |
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Third Row - File Attachment Actions |
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Note: The third row action buttons are not always available in the Text Box Editor of the Blackboard Learning System. The third row is always available with the Text Box Editor if the Blackboard Content System is installed |
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| Function |
Description |
| Attach File |
Add a file to the text area. When selected, the Insert Link to File page will appear. |
| Attach Image |
Add an image to the text area. When selected, the Insert Image page will appear. |
| Attach MPEG/AVI |
Add MPEG/AVI media content to the text area. When selected, the Insert MPEG file page will appear. |
| Add Quick Time |
Add Apple QuickTime media to the text area. When selected, the Insert QuickTime File page will appear. |
| Add Audio |
Add an audio file, such as .mp3, .midi or .wav to the text area. When selected, the Insert Audio File page will appear. |
| Add Flash |
Add Macromedia Flash or Shockwave media to the text area. When selected, the Insert SWF File page will appear. |
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Attaching Files |
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| Options in the third row allow users to attach different types of files to a text box. When an option to add a file, for example, Add File or Add Image, is selected from the third row in the Text Box Editor, the page that appears contains a Browse field and a Specify URL field. These options are available when adding or modifying the following items in a Content Area of the Blackboard Learning System: |
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Content Item |
Content Folder |
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Course Link |
External Link |
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Learning Unit |
Assignment |
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| Note: See the File Attachments topic for information on which option is used to upload specific file extensions. For example, a .doc file is uploaded with the Insert link to File option |
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| Browse: Files should always be uploaded from their original source, for example from the user’s local drive, not from another area where the file has been attached to a course in Blackboard. Users should not copy and paste a file from one text box to another; this will cause errors and the files will not appear properly. When the page is opened, a link to the file will appear. Users may select the link to open the file or save the file. |
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Tips on using the WYSIWYG Textbox Editor |
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Spacing defaults to double when typing directly into the editor and hitting ENTER on your keyboard. To maintain single spacing when you hit ENTER, hold down the SHIFT key, then click ENTER. |
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Text can be copy/pasted from other software, such as MS Word, and will maintain most formatting, including bold, italics, bullets, numbering scheme, etc. |
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WYSIWYG does not appear in email textboxes, or Collaboration area |
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WYSIWYG's 3rd toolbar, adding media such as audio and video, does not appear in the Announcements or Discussion Boards area of Bb. |
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The 2nd toolbar in the WYSIWYG tool, which contains spellcheck, highlight, and various other functions, defaults to unavailable in the test manager, pool manager, and survey manager areas. The user must select the Expand button to allow the 2nd toolbar to appear (see below) |
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Major functions of the WYSIWYG Texbox Editor: |
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1. |
Standard Text Editing Tools (Bold, Alignment, Bullets & Numbering, Font Style & Size) |
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Spellcheck Tool (includes personalization component) |
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HTML editing view (allows editing of code) |
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Media insertion tools (MPEG/AVI, Quicktime, Audio, Flash, and RealOne formats) |
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Add Hyperlink (creates different types of hyperlinks) |
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