Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Canvas Release: New Rich Content Editor (2020-01-18)

Canvas Release: New Rich Content Editor (2020-01-18)

This document introduces the New Rich Content Editor as noted in the Canvas Release Notes (2020-01-18) 

For additional feature updates, please refer to the New Rich Content Editor User Group.

The New Rich Content Editor enhances the content creation experience in Canvas.

 

 

Feature/Integration Setup

Feature Options

The New Rich Content Editor involves the RCE Enhancements feature option, which can be allowed on a course-by-course basis or turned on for all courses across the entire account. By default, this feature option is set to Off. Canvas admins can manage this feature option in Account Settings. 

This feature option will be enabled for all accounts on 16 January 2021.

Community Resources

Future Enhancements

This document outlines existing functionality included in the initial release of this feature. The Rich Content Editor will continue to receive additional feature enhancements over future releases as indicated in Canvas Release Notes. Please follow the release notes for future functionality updates.

Customer Feedback

Community feedback for the Rich Content Editor is welcome per Canvas Community Feedback Guidelines, which outlines general feedback, broken functionality, and feature enhancements.

User Group

Feedback is also welcome in the New Rich Content Editor Users Group.

Feature Documentation

How-to documentation for this feature is included in the Canvas Guides:

 

Account Management

Permissions

The Rich Content Editor displays content inherent to each user role.

Users will view both course and user files in the Rich Content Editor if they have the Course Files - add / edit / delete permission enabled. 

Users without this permission only view their own user documents.

Account Settings

Disable Canvas Media

The Account Settings page includes an option to disable uploads to Canvas Media in the New Rich Content Editor. When media is disabled, the Media icon is removed from the New Rich Content Editor toolbar. This option allows institutions to remove the native Canvas media icon in the toolbar in favor of using external apps for media hosting.

External Tool (LTI) Favorites

The account-level App Configuration page displays an Add to RCE Toolbar column. Any available apps that are configurable to the New Rich Content Editor display as a button in the column. Up to two apps can be added to the toolbar at any time. 

Note: This page does not display the Add to RCE Toolbar column if the feature option is set to Allow for the account.

erinhallmark_0-1604355093494.png


If the page includes more than two apps that can be configured for the New Rich Content Editor, all available buttons are grayed out once the maximum of two apps have been enabled.

erinhallmark_1-1604355093478.png

Storage Quotas

All uploaded/recorded media files are added to course, group, or user files and may be subject to Canvas storage quotas.

Canvas files have quota limits set for each user area: user (personal) files, course files, and group files. New media recordings are added to user files, course files, or group files and count against each specific quota. For students, any attachments added as part of a graded assignment submission are uploaded into user files but are not counted against the user quota.

Files may need to be manually removed from user, course, or group files.

Existing files in course copies and shared content does not count against course or user quotas.

View additional information about media files:

Course Setup

Feature Options

If the RCE Enhancements feature option is not already turned on for the entire account, instructors can enable the RCE Enhancements feature option in Course Settings.

This feature will be enabled for all courses in all accounts on 16 January 2021.

 

Rich Content Editor UI Overview

The toolbar includes a condensed, more intuitive look. Toolbar menus are grouped by common icons and interactions.

The following enhancements are included with this feature update:

  • The Rich Content Editor expands to the full width of the browser and can also be expanded into full screen mode
  • The toolbar includes a condensed, more intuitive look
  • Toolbar menus are grouped by common icons and interactions
  • The content sidebar only displays when linking to other parts of Canvas, accessing Canvas files, or accessing uploaded media
  • Image and media additions include drag and drop; images include an Unsplash search and content auto-scaling
  • When content in a browser window is long enough to require a scroll bar, the Rich Content Editor menu bar is fixed at the top of the browser window. Users can scroll the length of the browser page and manage content in the Rich Content Editor without having to scroll back up the page to access the menu.
  • The Keyboard shortcut, Accessibility Checker, and HTML Editor icons have moved to the bottom of the editor next to the word count. Additionally, the Rich Content Editor window can be resized using the Move handle below the window, and the window can be expanded to full screen.

erinhallmark_2-1604355093477.png


If the browser window isn’t fully expanded, the toolbar may hide some toolbar items. The Options menu includes the remaining toolbar items. 

If you’ve selected an item within a menu, the menu displays an arrow indicating the location of the most recent active item.

erinhallmark_3-1604355093475.png

 

Rich Content Editor Toolbar

The New Rich Content Editor Toolbar provides quick access to the most common options used in the Rich Content Editor.

erinhallmark_34-1604355503346.png

 

Rich Content Editor Menu Bar

The New Rich Content Editor Menu displays above the toolbar by default. The Menu bar is primarily designed to assist users who require keyboard navigation. Additionally, the Menu bar includes options that are not included in the toolbar.

Unless otherwise noted, all features included in the toolbar can also be accessed via the Menu bar. 

Content Auto-Save

When a user enters content in a Rich Content Editor window then navigates away from the page or refreshes the page, the user can return to the same page, and Canvas will notify the user if any saved content is different from the existing content. The user can preview the autosaved content and select the Yes button to load the autosaved content. Selecting the No button will discard the autosaved content.

erinhallmark_0-1604358125685.png

 

Course-Level Features

Paragraph Formatting

The font size and paragraph menus are in the first section of the tool bar. 

 

erinhallmark_4-1604355093458.png

 

Text Formatting

The text formatting options have been retained together in the second section of the toolbar, in addition to the subscript and superscript options. When a subscript or superscript is selected, an arrow displays above the selected option.

erinhallmark_5-1604355093476.png

 

Page Formatting

The text alignment options have been consolidated into a single menu. Additionally, the Rich Content Editor includes a consolidated bullet and numbering menu with additional bullet display options. 

This toolbar section also includes options for increasing and decreasing indents and paragraph spaces.

erinhallmark_6-1604355093520.png

Links

The Links menu includes link options for external links and links within a course (with permission). When the Links menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for links within a group.

The Link icon is split; the left side opens the first option in the menu. The right side displays the entire content menu and allows a user to find a specific content item.

erinhallmark_7-1604355093539.png

External Links

External links include an option for the name of the link and the link URL.

erinhallmark_8-1604355093551.png

Course/Group Links

Course and group links display from a sidebar and allow the user to select a link from a page, assignment, quiz, announcement, discussion, module, or course navigation link.

erinhallmark_9-1604355093568.png

Images 

Images can be uploaded from a computer, added from course files (with permission), or added from images in the User Files folder. When the Images menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for images within a group.

The Images icon is split; the left side opens the first option in the menu. The right side displays the entire content menu and allows a user to find a specific content item.

erinhallmark_35-1604355611234.png

Upload Images

The Upload Image option allows users to upload images to the Rich Content Editor. Uploaded images can be uploaded via drag and drop or by browsing the computer. The option to select images via Flickr has been replaced with Unsplash. Additionally, images can be uploaded via URL. Attributes can also be added for the image.

erinhallmark_36-1604355652161.png


Uploads and URL entries display previews in the upload window, which helps confirm if the correct image has been selected.

erinhallmark_37-1604355652023.png


Once the image has been inserted 
into the Rich Content Editor, the image also displays as a preview in the Rich Content Editor. Image options can be modified by clicking the image and selecting the Options button. The sidebar provides alt text options, display options, and allows the image size to be selected. By default, the Alt Text is the name of the image.

erinhallmark_38-1604355714773.png


Notes:
In Display Options, images are embedded by default. If the image is changed to the Display Text Link option, the image cannot be changed back to being embedded unless the image is removed and re-added.

  • Embedded images default to their original size. Images are constrained to the maximum width of the Rich Content Editor but displays the full rendered height of the image.
  • Uploaded images via computer are added to the course folder by default; however, if a user doesn’t have access to the course files folder, uploaded images are added to the User Files folder. When uploaded in a group, uploaded images are added to the group files folder.
  • Uploaded images may take a few moments to fully render and display in the Rich Content Editor window. The New Rich Content Editor displays an indicator showing when content is still rendering.

Usage Rights

For institutions that have enabled the account setting to require copyright and license information for files, the Usage Rights section displays for images. Both the usage right and the copyright holder must be specified before the file can be uploaded in the editor.

Files with usage rights are also indicated as such in the Files page.

Course Files/User Files

Files can be added from course files (with permission) or the User Files folder. When the Files menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for files within a group.

In Course, Group, and User files, the Images folder is displayed by default. However, users can choose to view all files, which displays the complete files structure in the course.

Images previously uploaded to course, group, or user files can be previewed in the sidebar before they are added to the Rich Content Editor.

erinhallmark_39-1604355753113.png

Media

Media can be uploaded from a computer, recorded, or embedded; added from course files (with permission); or added from media in the User Files folder. When the Media menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for media within a group.

The Media icon is split; the left side opens the first option in the menu. The right side displays the entire content menu and allows a user to find a specific content item.

erinhallmark_40-1604355781220.png


Note: The Media icon may not be available depending on an institution’s preference. Some institutions may use third-party tools to manage media, and such LTIs will be included in the Rich Content Editor toolbar LTI section.

erinhallmark_41-1604355781204.png

Upload Media

If media uploads are supported from the menu, the Upload/Record Media option allows users to upload media to the Rich Content Editor. Uploaded media can be uploaded via drag and drop or by browsing the computer. Once selected, the video displays a preview in the upload window, which helps confirm if the correct video has been selected.

erinhallmark_42-1604355849117.png

erinhallmark_43-1604355849232.png

Subtitles can also be added to uploaded videos with the Add CC/Subtitles checkbox. 

When selected, the window includes the option to select the language for the subtitles and a button to select the subtitle file. Subtitle files must be created in advance, either through Amara or another subtitling tool.

Accepted file types include SRT and VTT files. Files can be deleted if needed and re-uploaded. 

 

erinhallmark_44-1604355849027.png


Once the media has been inserted into the Rich Content Editor and fully uploaded, media also displays as a preview in the Rich Content Editor.

Note: Uploaded media may take a few moments to fully render and display in the Rich Content Editor window. The New Rich Content Editor displays an indicator showing when content is still rendering.

erinhallmark_45-1604355849204.png

 

Video Options

Options for uploaded videos can be viewed by clicking the video and clicking the Options button. The Title field defaults to the name of the title.

The Options menu allows a user to update the title, display options, and size. By default, uploaded videos are embedded by default and set as a large video. Sizes are as follows:

  • Medium: 320x181px 
  • Large: 400x226px
  • Extra Large: 640x361px
  • Custom: aspect ratio is preserved 

erinhallmark_46-1604355849055.png

Record Media

If media recordings are supported from the menu, the Upload/Record Media option allows uses to record media in the Rich Content Editor. Users must allow permission for their computer to access their microphone and webcam. If a user has more than one microphone and/or webcam, the intended microphone and/or webcam can be selected by clicking the button for the desired medium. Recorded media can be previewed before being saved to the Rich Content Editor. 

erinhallmark_47-1604355849023.png

 

Once the media has been inserted into the Rich Content Editor and fully uploaded, media also displays as a preview in the Rich Content Editor.

Note: Recorded media may take a few moments to fully render and display in the Rich Content Editor window. The New Rich Content Editor displays an indicator showing when content is still rendering.

erinhallmark_48-1604355849080.png

Course Media/User Media

Media content can be added from course files (with permission) or the User Media Files folder. When the Media menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for media within a group. 

In Course, Group, and User files, the Media folder is displayed by default. However, users can choose to view all files, which displays the complete files structure in the course.

Media files previously uploaded to course, group, or user files can be previewed in the sidebar before they are added to the Rich Content Editor.

erinhallmark_49-1604355849290.png

Note: All uploaded/recorded media files are added to course, group, or user files and may be subject to Canvas storage quotas.

Canvas files have quota limits set for each user area: user (personal) files, course files, and group files. New media recordings are added to user files, course files, or group files and count against each specific quota. For students, any attachments added as part of a graded assignment submission are uploaded into user files but are not counted against the user quota.

Files may need to be manually removed from user, course, or group files.

Existing files in course copies and shared content does not count against course or user quotas.

To learn more about available options for using media files in Canvas, view the Canvas Media Comparison PDF.

Documents

Documents can be uploaded from a computer, added from course files (with permission), or added from documents in the User Files folder. When the Documents menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for documents within a group.

The Documents icon is split; the left side opens the first option in the menu. The right side displays the entire content menu and allows a user to find a specific content item.

erinhallmark_50-1604355849084.png

Upload Documents

Uploaded document files can be uploaded via drag and drop or by browsing the computer. Selected documents cannot be previewed in the upload window. 

Uploaded files are added to the course folder by default; however, if a user doesn’t have access to the course files folder, uploaded files are added to the user’s files folder. When uploaded in a group, uploaded files are added to the group files folder.

erinhallmark_51-1604355849230.png

Once the name of the file displays in the Rich Content Editor, file options can be modified by clicking the file name and selecting the Options button. The sidebar provides the file name field, link URL, and display options, which can default to collapsed or expanded.

erinhallmark_59-1604356034416.png

Usage Rights

For institutions that have enabled the account setting to require copyright and license information for files, the Usage Rights section displays for documents. Both the usage right and the copyright holder must be specified before the file can be uploaded in the editor.

Files with usage rights are also indicated as such in the Files page.

Course Documents/User Documents

Documents can be added from course files (with permission) or the User Documents Files folder. When the Documents menu is accessed in a group, an option also displays for files within a group.

In Course, Group, and User files, the Images folder is displayed by default. However, users can choose to view all files, which displays the complete files structure in the course.

Unlike other file types, documents cannot be previewed in the sidebar before being added to the Rich Content Editor.

erinhallmark_66-1604356200314.png

Apps

External apps are located within the Apps icon and are displayed in alphabetical order. The App window includes a Search field, which allows a user to search for and add an app. The selected app displays its content from the page sidebar or a standalone window. 

 

erinhallmark_67-1604356200281.png

 

Apps must be previously installed in the account or course to display in the Rich Content Editor Plugin page.

If Commons is installed as an LTI tool, Commons favorites can also be added from the Rich Content Editor.

Favorite LTI Apps

If external tools have been identified as a favorite by a Canvas admin, the apps display directly in the toolbar next to the External Apps icon.

erinhallmark_68-1604356200319.png

Additionally, users can set the External Apps icon to display recently used apps. To display the menu, a user must click the External App icon [1] and select an external app from the window. When the user returns to the New Rich Content Editor, the icon displays a carat, indicating an included menu that can be expanded and displays the last recently accessed app [2]. 

This menu displays up to five recently used apps, in the order of frequency. If a user is using more than five external apps, additional apps can be accessed by clicking the View All button. The menu will continue to update dynamically with the five recently used apps.

erinhallmark_69-1604356200326.png

Embedded Media

Embedded media can be added via the Embed icon. This feature allows all users to embed content in the New Rich Content Editor if the Upload/Record Media window is hidden.

erinhallmark_70-1604356200316.png


Once added, the embedded content displays as a preview in the Rich Content Editor.

erinhallmark_71-1604356200339.png

Change Log

Labels (1)
Was this article helpful? Yes No