[ARCHIVED] html editor

[mtw56]

the html editor in Canvas seems relatively limited.  Are there any features that can be enabled on the admin side or is there any way for users to gain better functionality?

[Chris_Hofer]

There aren't any tools that I'm aware of which would allow you to add more functionality to the RCE.  The only exception would be external LTI apps.  For example, you could add LTI apps like YouTube, Wikipedia, and USA Today, and those would appear in your RCE menu list...as show in this screen shot.

[Stef_retired]

 @mtw56 ​, I did a quick search of feature ideas related to the Rich Content Editor/HTML Editor that are currently open for voting and came up with these (although I'm sure there are more). If you have specific suggestions, you might want to add your idea and use case(s) to the Canvas Feature Ideas space, after reviewing the HTML Whitelist, which shows you exactly what attributes and tags are allowed in Canvas's HTML Editor, and after reading this guide: How to write a good feature idea submission​

[hyrum]

Mark - You can also check our our Canvas Style Guide for great tips and HTML examples on how to spruce up your Canvas content.

[Jeff_F]

I do not believe it to be wrong minded to suggest using an HTML editor outside Canvas.  Best of breed would be Dreamweaver and plenty of free applications are also available.  e,g, CoffeeCup, Squarefree, KompoZer, etc.  Sorry if I am being Captain Obvious here. 

In addition, for the casual user a page such as this serves as both tutor and code generator:  HTML Codes, Editors, and Generators.

[Stef_retired]

 @mtw56  and  @Jeff_F ​, you might be heartened by this intriguing comment on the Word Count feature idea. 

[scottdennis · Accepted solution]

Hi  @mtw56 ​,

There have been what I would consider several helpful replies here.  In addition to Dreamweaver many people report success using Softchalk.

To answer your original question, no, there are not additional features that an admin can turn on for the RCE.

thank you

[dejonghed07]

Hi  @mtw56 ,

There is a hidden editor's menu bar in the Rich Content Editor. Select Alt-F9 to see it.

[Stef_retired]

 @dejonghed07 ​, could you specify the operating system and browser you use to bring up the hidden menu bar? Every time I hit Alt-F9 on my Windows machine through the Firefox browser, it opened up a pre-addressed email in Microsoft Outlook. :smileyconfused:

[dejonghed07]

Hi stefaniesanders​,

We can't use Firefox on our campus because of all the security issues. We use Chrome on Windows 7 computers. I found the hidden menu by clicking on the i symbol above each Page where it says HTML Editor. Click on the lower case "i" symbol that looks like this:

[Stef_retired]

Wow,  @dejonghed07 --all these years using the RCE, and I never noticed that little i. I tried this in Chrome on my Windows 7 machine, but got no response to the Alt-F9 command. I'll keep plugging away at it. Thanks!

[mtw56]

I wonder if Canvas could make this action more obvious to users?

[Stef_retired]

 @mtw56 , you could certainly submit a suggestion to Canvas Feature Ideas​ along those lines. I don't plan to, because I still can't get it to work on my machine. :smileyplain:

[mtw56]

Are you clicking inside of the text area first and then using Alt+F9?  That is how I got it to work.  Thanks for the suggestion!

[Stef_retired]

Yes. When I try it through Firefox, it pulls up an email prepopulated with the link to the page on which I'm working. And when I try it on Chrome, nothing happens. I strongly suspect it's an issue with my particular hardware setup (or it could be chalked up to PEBCAK, if you know what I mean ). Thanks anyway for the help!

[scottdennis]

As far as I know, stefaniesanders​, the alternate menu/Alt-f9 option only works in Windows.  Again, as far as I know, it brings up drop down menus that have the same options as you get with the icons, which I assume is handy for a11y purposes.  Did I pack in enough caveats and disclaimers about not having tested any of this thoroughly? 

[Chris_Hofer]

Alt+F9 works for me, but nothing really happens with At+F10.  It just seems to sort of (but not really) highlight the B (bold) button at the top of the RCE.  Is that the "editor's toolbar" which is already "open"?

[Stef_retired]

...the alternate menu/Alt-f9 option only works in Windows.

Sadly,  @scottdennis ​, not in my Windows. But I truly think it's PEBCAK. :smileysilly:

[Jeff_F]

.... problem exists between cat and keyboard???

[Stef_retired]

C = chair  :smileylaugh: