[ARCHIVED] How do I get a "Next" button at the bottom of my Home Page?

[tami_russell]

I created and published my home page in a course, but it does not have the "Next" button at the bottom of the page. How do I get one to show up so students can just click next to begin the first module?

[Stef_retired · Accepted solution]

 @tami_russell ​, every item that you want to be part of the module progression needs to be included in the modules. So, if you want your students to be able to click on the "Next" button at the bottom of the home page, the home page also needs to be the first item in the first module. You can create a module called "Home Page" or "Begin Here" to accomplish that, and then add the actual home page to that module. Follow the instructions here: How do I add items to a Module?​

Alternatively, some designers choose to create a "Click Here" button that is linked to the first module or to the Modules List, and you would use the Content Selector panel to create that link; see What is the Content Selector in the Rich Content Editor?   You'll find additional resources on creating buttons in the Instructional Designers​ group, so if you're not already a member, you might want to join that group and browse through the ideas.

[tami_russell]

Stefanie,

   Thank you for your fast response. I have gone back and created the page that I want to be my home page within the first module. When I view it in the Pages list, it has the Next button. But, when I open the course and see it as the home page, it does NOT have the Next button. Any idea what little step I must be leaving out?

[tami_russell]

I was able to add the Click Here feature using the Content Selector panel, so I'll be fine with that for now. Thanks for your help!

[tami_russell]

I was able to add the Click Here feature using the Content Selector panel, so I'll be fine with that for now. Thanks for your help!

[Stef_retired]

 @tami_russell ​, I'm glad you were able to get this to work. Creating a Click Here button is by far the better of the two options, because it's more intuitive for students.

[michelle_steven]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. Adding the page to a module did not work for me either so I also added a click here button.

[vanessa_clark]

I sent a message to Support, because I noticed that the next button wasn't showing up on my Home page even after adding it to the module. They said that this is the intended function for Home pages. I searched in the community and found that someone has suggested that there be an option to have the next button on Home pages - view the idea and vote for the suggestion here. 

[fandrey]

Clicking on this link "view the idea and vote for the suggestion here" leads to a page titled "cold storage", which doesn't bode well for Canvas fixing this issue. A person ought to be able to choose to either show or suppress the Next button for a home page.

[Stef_retired]

 @fandrey ‌, if you'd like to join the private group Cold Storage‌ to view ideas that did not receive high enough vote totals to move forward for future consideration, you can request membership in the group. (FYI, the linked idea garnered 14 votes during its six-month time span.)  More about how ideas are considered can be found in How does the feature idea process work in the Canvas Community?‌

[saurilio]

A person ought to be able to use the tools without having to volunteer their time to help the provider improve them.

[sjjorstad]

I totally agree with others who want the option to have the Next button display on the home page. I'm sure there's a reason by it was programmed to behave this way, but the option should be incorporated into the user interface.

I also wanted to add my vote but got to the Cold Storage page and think it should be easier to provide feedback than to need to request access to a private group.

[Stef_retired]

@sjjorstad  The linked idea was archived due to low support nearly four years ago. Here's a recent one that is specific to courses where the home page has been set to Syllabus:  Add Next Button Option to Syllabus Tool.

[sjjorstad]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it, and that every feature cannot be incorporated and that the development team has to prioritize.

[ajdeeley]

If your home page is in a module, it should have the previous/next buttons available to it no matter. As a course landing page in a course making use of the modules to move a student through content, it should MOVE them through the content. The student shouldn't have to search or be instructed to click here then click here then here again. And the instructor shouldn't have to figure how to build another link that should already be there. If the page is in a module, the previous/next buttons are available to it no matter how you find the page, except for when it is the course landing page.  😮