How to...Use the Text Editing Interface

"How To" documents are step-by-step explanations for performing certain common tasks. For broader and more detailed Help documentation, as well as "Quick Guides," visit the Help Main Menu.

The Task: In the Presentation module, use the text-editing interface to enter and/or edit text and other aspects of a block.

1. When using the Presentation module, there are several ways you can enter and edit text within a block on a page. (See How to...Enter Text on a Presentation Page.) This Help document assumes you are operating with the Advanced HTML Editor turned off. If you activate that editor, most of the following tools and options will not be available.

2. For any given block, the text-editing interface is accessed via the "Edit Text" button.

3. The following four areas appear in the interface, each with its own options and sub-options:

A. Basic configurations for this block

Block sequence number: This number determines where this block appears in the sequence of blocks on the page. By default, the sequence number for any newly created block is automatically incremented so that it becomes the bottom block on the page (because most pages are built from top to bottom). Generally you should leave the sequence number alone, but—if you need to adjust the sequence of blocks on the page—you can edit the number here, or you can edit the sequence of blocks for the entire page via the "Edit Block Sequence" button at the page level.

Spacing between previous block and this block: These five options control the amount of space between the previous block and this block. Using XXX as one block and ZZZ as the next, you have these options:

No space	One blank space	Next line	One blank line	Two blank lines
XXXZZZ	XXX ZZZ	XXX ZZZ	XXX ZZZ	XXX ZZZ

Links between top of page and this block: This allows you to make a "jump" link from the top of the page to this block and/or link from this block back to the top of the page.

Block placement: These options allow you to center a block, indent it, put a box around it, and/or put a color background behind the block. You can use any of these options singly or in combination.

Assign and display sequential auto-numbering for this block: This option will automatically number each block, which can be useful for some outlining purposes.

Heading for this block: Depending on the "Layout and Colors" configurations (set at the presentation level), this optional text heading for the block will automatically be displayed with a larger font and different color.

Sub-heading for this block: Depending on the "Layout and Colors" configurations (set at the presentation level), this optional text sub-heading for the block will automatically be displayed with a larger font and different color.

Bold, Italic, Underline: Use these options singly or in combination to treat all the text entered under "Text for this block" for this block.

Font size: The size selected here will override configurations from "Layout and Colors" (set at the presentation level) for all the text entered under "Text for this block" for this block.

Font color: The color selected here will override configurations from "Layout and Colors" (set at the presentation level) for all the text entered under "Text for this block" for this block.

Pre-formatted text: If you choose this option, the system won't add HTML tags to your text for this block, so you'll need to manually control line spacing, etc. In some cases, this can unexpectedly make your lines of text very long and force the user to scroll and scroll and scroll horizontally. Be careful!

Convert URLs to clickable links: In this block, any URL (a string of text beginning with "http://" or "https://") will automatically be converted into a clickable link.

Lists: These radio buttons allow you to convert your text into bulleted or numbered lists, with nesting if desired. (See also How to...Make HTML Lists)

Text: Type or paste your text for this block into this text entry area. (See also How to...Enter Text on a Presentation Page.)

4. After entering and/or editing text and/or adjusting other options, you'll need to click the "Confirm Editing Text" button at the top or bottom of the page to save your changes.

5. You can always continue editing your text and options at any time until you're completely satisfied with everything.

For further instructions or related information, check the Help Main Menu.

Distance Education office Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Oct-2008 08:40:10 PDT	Email to CATE Webmaster