Drupal 7 Instructions and Tips

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Using the Wysiwyg editor

The following image shows what buttons to avoid and what buttons to use. Click on image to see a larger version.

Click for a link to a larger toolbar image.

  • Avoid using the following buttons: Text color, background color, size, styles and tables.
  • Always use the Paste as plain text or Paste as Word buttons to copy and paste content from another source.
  • Use Content Templates for the following: Tables, Images, Videos/Animations, Textboxes, Blockquotes, Highlighted/Colored Text and References/Bibliographies.

 

Setting up the CKEditor Plugin Helper

If you have administrative access, you can set up the CKEditor Plugin Helper for added features including color coded HTML.

First, turn on the CKEditor Plugin Helper module.

  • Go to Modules
  • Search for CKEditor
  • Check the 'ENABLED' box
  • Click the 'Save configuration' button

Second, modify the WYSIWYG profiles settings

  • Go to Configuration/Content authoring/Wysiwyg profiles/Full HTML
  • Set the following in the BUTTONS AND PLUGINS window
    • Uncheck - Source Code
    • Check - CodeMirror: Source
    • Check - CodeMirror: Auto Format
    • Check - CodeMirror: Comment Selected Range
    • Check - CodeMirror: Uncomment Selected Range
    • Check - CodeMirror: Toggle Autocomplete
  • Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page.

Last step, return to a Drupal page to make sure the edit window is working.

 

How To Videos: Creating and Editing in Drupal

We have several videos that talk through the specifics of creating and editing material in Drupal.

Using the Drupal Toolbar (things to use and things to avoid)
Using Templates in Drupal
Creating Tables in Drupal
More to come....

 

Hiding and Revealing Entire Lessons

If you wish to reveal your lessons weekly, rather than all at once (if the course is still in development or if that is your delivery method), the easiest strategy is to use the Hidden Nodes module in Drupal. Here are the steps you need to follow:

First...

To hide a lesson that has already been created:

  • Click on Content → Books
  • Click on "edit order and titles" link next to Lessons
  • Select the lesson you wish to hide and click the Tools icon - Tools Icon
  • Click on Hide Node in the menu 
    Menu
  • Choose Hide Node, and Propagate Hidden Status
    Hide Node Menu
  • Choose Submit.

To reveal previously "hidden" lesson:

  • Click on Outline Designer in your left menu
  • Click on the Course Outline "book" - Edit Order and Titles
  • Select the lesson you wish to hide and click the Tools icon - Tools icon
  • Click on Hide Node in the menu
    Outline Designer Menu
  • Uncheck Hide Node, and CHECK Propagate Hidden Status
    Unhiding a node
  • Choose Submit.