Desire2Learn 9.0
Working with Widgets
To convey information to students in Desire2Learn, the Course Home page can be customized using widgets. Global widgets cannot be entirely deleted, but they can be activated or deactivated. For more information, refer to Activating and Deactivating Widgets.
Creating Widgets
Widgets are areas containing specific information regarding the course. Widgets can help add topical organization to your Desire2Learn course.
NOTE: After a widget is created, in order to view it, you must activate it. For information on activating widgets, refer to Activating and Deactivating Widgets.
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From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click EDIT COURSE
The Course Admin Tools pane appears. -
Click WIDGETS
The Manage Widgets pane appears. -
Click NEW WIDGET
The New Widget pane appears. -
In the Name text box, type the desired name
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In the Description text box, type the desired description
NOTE: This description appears in the Manage Widgets pane and is not visible to users. -
Click SAVE
The widget is created.
The Edit Widget pane appears.
Editing Widgets
After creating a widget, you can edit the widget's appearance, release conditions, properties, and content.
Editing Widgets: Accessing the Edit Widget Pane
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From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click EDIT COURSE
The Course Admin Tools pane appears. -
Click WIDGETS
The Manage Widgets pane appears. -
In the Widgets section, from the Actions column, for the desired widget, click EDIT
The Edit Widget pane appears.
Editing Widgets: Appearance
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Select the Customize tab
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To create a border for the widget
- Select Display widget as a box
- From the Box Style pull-down menu, select 1 px solid or 2 px solid
To display the title bar for the widget, select Show the title bar
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Select the Title Bar Color
- To format the widget title,
- In the Widget Title text box, type the desired title
- From the Title Color pull-down menu, select the text color
- From the Title Alignment pull-down menu, select the desired alignment for the widget
- To save your changes, click SAVE
To disregard all changes and return to the Manage Homepages pane, click CANCEL
Editing Widgets: Release Conditions
Release conditions establish a condition(s) that must be met before the widget can be viewed.
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Select the Release Conditions tab
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Click ATTACH EXISTING
The Attach Existing Conditions dialog box appears. -
To attach an existing condition, select the desired condition(s)
NOTE: To create a new condition, refer to Adding Additional Release Conditions, step 6. -
Click ATTACH
The selected conditions are added.
You are returned to the Edit Widget pane.
Editing Widgets: Properties
Widget properties include the widget's name and description.
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Select the Properties tab
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To change the widget's name, in the Name text box, make the desired changes
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To change the widget's description, in the Description text box, make the desired changes
NOTE: This description appears in the Manage Homepages pane and is not seen by the users. -
To save your changes, click SAVE
To disregard all changes and return to the Manage Homepages pane, click CANCEL
Editing Widget Content
This is the content area of the widget, which can include both text and links.
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Select the Content tab
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In the Contents text box, type the desired content
HINT: To use the HTML Editor, click EDIT HTML SOURCE
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To save, click SAVE
To quit creating the widget and return to the Manage Homepages pane, click CANCEL
NOTE: To activate your widget, see Activating and Deactivating Widgets.
Deleting Widgets
If a widget is no longer needed for your course homepage, you can delete it.
WARNING: Deleting a widget removes it from all homepages created within the current course.
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From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click EDIT COURSE
The Course Admin Tools pane appears. -
On the Navigation bar, click WIDGETS
The Manage Widgets pane appears. -
In the Widgets section, for the desired widget, click DELETE WIDGET
A confirmation dialog box appears. -
Click DELETE
The widget is deleted.
