Desire2Learn 9.0

Using HTML Editor

When creating text in Desire2Learn (News, Discussion, Content, etc.), you are working in the Design view of the integrated HTML Editor. This editor offers both basic and advanced formatting options. In addition to formatting options, the Advanced tab in the HTML Editor allows you to insert equations and objects such as audio files.

The HTML Editor Environment
Using the HTML Editor
Copying and Pasting Content into the HTML Editor

The HTML Editor Environment

Whenever you create text (e.g., a Discussion, a News item), you will be using the HTML Editor. The Basic tab of the HTML Editor window is shown here.

Basic toolbar buttons:

Button	Description
	Turns the spell checker on and off. When on, misspelled words are underlined in red.
	Bolds text.
	Italicizes text.
	Underlines text.
	Left-aligns text.
	Centers text.
	Right-aligns text.
	Full-aligns text.
	Formats text into a bulleted list.
	Formats text into a numbered list.
	Inserts a table.
	Inserts a Quicklink. See Creating Topics with Quicklink for more information.
	Inserts an image.

The Advanced toolbar contains all the buttons on the Basic toolbar as well as the following:

Button	Description
	Cuts the selected text and moves it to the Clipboard.
	Copies the selected text to the Clipboard.
	Pastes text.
	Pastes text as plain text.
	Pastes text from Microsoft Word.
	Undoes previous action.
	Redoes last undone action.
	Allows you to change the color of text.
	Outdents the selected text.
	Indents the selected text.
	Opens the Horizontal Rule dialog box, with which you can insert horizontal lines.
	Makes the selected text subscript.
	Makes the selected text superscript.
	Puts a ~~strikethrough~~ through selected text.
	Opens the Insert/Edit Attributes dialog box, allowing you to set attributes (e.g., title, text direction).
	Opens the Select custom character dialog box, allowing you to insert custom characters.
	Opens the Insert Equation dialog box, allowing you to create equations.
	Opens the Insert Object dialog box, allowing you to insert audio and video objects.
	Allows you to format text (e.g., Paragraph, Heading 1).
	Changes the font family.
	Changes the font size.

In both the Basic and Advanced tabs, three buttons appear on the bottom toolbar.

Button	Description
	Opens the HTML Source Editor window, in which you can edit the HTML code directly.
	Opens the Preview window, in which you can see your document as it will appear to students.
	Toggles full screen mode for the HTML Editor.

Using the HTML Editor

In the text area, type the desired text
HINT: To have the HTML Editor appear full screen, click TOGGLE FULLSCREEN MODE
To apply basic formatting to your text, select the Basic tab » use the toolbar buttons
To apply advanced formatting to your text, select the Advanced tab » use the toolbar buttons

HINT: You can make changes directly to the code by clicking EDIT HTML SOURCE
To check the spelling of your text, click TOGGLE SPELLCHECKER
For more information, refer to Using Spell Check.
To preview the new changes, click PREVIEW
To make any additional changes to your message, repeat steps 1-5
If you are using full screen mode, to exit it, click TOGGLE FULLSCREEN MODE
When finished, click SAVE or POST

Copying and Pasting Content into the HTML Editor

RECOMMENDED: Remove formatting from text you are copying, including bullets, numbers, tabs, page numbers, etc. Pasting formatted text may add code which can cause unintended results.

Copy the text you want to paste into the HTML Editor
In the HTML Editor, select the Advanced tab
To paste text that contains no formatting, click PASTE
To paste text that contains some formatting, click PASTE AS PLAIN TEXT
This will remove the formatting and paste only the text.
To paste text that has been copied from Microsoft Word, click PASTE FROM WORD
Using the Basic and Advanced tabs, apply the desired formatting
Click SAVE or POST