BLACKBOARD 9.1 TEXT EDITOR
The Text Editor within Blackboard allows you to create and edit HTML-based content, without needing to know
HTML code. It is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor.
If you are familiar with Microsoft Word, using the Text Editor within Blackboard will be comparatively
straightforward since many of the features and icons are common to word processing in general.
How does the Text Editor work?
The Text Editor consists of a text entry box where content is created and displayed as it will appear to the
end-user. Above the text entry box are three rows of graphical toolbars, which contain the icons and
commands that can be used to format the text. Hovering over the icon with your mouse will reveal the name
of the command. The arrows to the left side of each row of the toolbar can be used to minimize and maximize
rows.
Each command in the Text Editor inserts the HTML code necessary to create the desired effect when the page
is displayed in a web browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari…).The display you see is how the page will
look once submitted. The HTML code used is “hidden” from view. However, you can review the HTML code
and enter additional HTML tags by selecting the HTML icon
in the second row of the tool bar.
How do I use the Text Editor?
Place the cursor in the text entry box and begin typing. Use the icons in the toolbar to add formatting and
effects to the text as you enter it or highlight existing text and use the toolbar to add formatting and effects.
Once you have selected a command by clicking an icon, that formatting or effect will remain active until you
deselect the command by clicking the icon again. Formatting functions can be used in conjunction with one
another (i.e. bold and italicized text).
HTML contains some pre-defined text types that you can apply using the dropdown menu that displays Normal
by default. The formats available are Heading 1 to Heading 5 (with 1 being the largest and 5 being the
smallest), Address, and Formatted. You can also change the font size and type using the provided dropdown
lists. The uppermost toolbar also contains commands, such as bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, subscript,
superscript, text alignment, numbered and bulleted lists, and indention. You are probably familiar with these
commands since they are common to most word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.
The middle toolbar contains more commands frequently found in word processing programs. These commands
are used to manipulate and format text that has already been entered, such as cut and paste, add a hyperlink,
color, highlight, and preview. NOTE: Copying and pasting from a Word document into the Text Editor is not
recommended. The formatting from Word to Blackboard does not always translate correctly and can result in
an HTML coding error.
The final toolbar contains tools which allow you to upload files, images, and audio/visual elements into
Blackboard.
University of Saint Francis
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BLACKBOARD 9.1 TEXT EDITOR
List of functions and commands
The table below contains a full list of the functions and commands available in the Text Editor.
Icon/Image
Command/Function
Example
Normal
Browser default
Heading 1
Heading 1
...
Heading 5
Address
Formatted
Font size 1
...
...
Heading 5
Formatted text
Font Size 1
...
Font size 5
Arial
Verdana
Bold
Arial
Book Antiqua
Century Gothic
Comic Sans
Courier New
Garamond
Georgia
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Tahoma
Times New Roman
Verdana
Bold
Italics
Italics
Underline
Underline
Strikethrough
Strikethrough
Subscript
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University of Saint Francis
Formatted text allows you to
preserve tab stops.
Address text
Font Size 5
…
Notes
The default font size is set to 3.
It is recommended that you use
size 3 or above for your text in
order to maintain end viewer
readability.
This feature can be useful when
editing yours or another
student’s work.
This feature is useful for
scientific formulas, such as
chemistry equations.
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BLACKBOARD 9.1 TEXT EDITOR
Superscript
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Left align
Left aligned text
Centered
Centered text
Right align
Text direction of left to
right or
Text direction of right to
left
Numbered list
Bulleted List
Decrease Indentation
This feature is useful for
scientific formulas and
mathematical equations.
This is the default setting in the
Text Editor.
-34
Right aligned text
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2.
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•
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Item one
Item two
Etc.
Bullet one
Bullet two
Etc.
Not indented
Increase Indentation
Indented text
Spell Check
Cut
Copy
Paste
Clear Formatting
Decrease indentation will only
work if the indentation had been
previously increased.
Don’t use the Tab key to indent.
The spell checker will open in a
new window and suggestions
will be provided for misspelled
words.
The cut icon will not work in the
Firefox browser. You will need to
use CTRL+X.
The copy icon will not work in
the Firefox browser. You will
need to use CTRL+ C.
The paste icon will not work in
the Firefox browser. You will
need to use CTRL+V.
This icon will remove all
formatting, such as bolding,
numbering, etc. from your text.
Undo
Redo
Hyperlink
Create Table
University of Saint Francis
University of Saint Francis
1
4
7
2
5
8
3
6
9
A new window will open for you
to paste in your link address
(URL). You may elect to have
the page open in a new window.
In the new window indicate how
many rows and columns you
want, as well as borders and
spacing.
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BLACKBOARD 9.1 TEXT EDITOR
Horizontal Link
Symbol picker
Text color
Colored text
Highlight text
Highlighted text
WebEQ Equation Editor
MathML Equation Editor
View HTML code
Preview display
Markup Validation
Attach file
Attach image
Attach MPEG/AVI
(movie) content
Attach QuickTime
(animation/movie)
content
University of Saint Francis
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Horizontal lines will span the
entire width of the page.
Opens a pop-up box from which
you can select a symbol to
insert.
A pop-up box will open for you
to select a color.
A pop-up box will open for you
to select a color.
Opens the WebEQ Equation
Editor, which allows for entry of
scientific notation via GUI.
Opens the MathML Equation
Editor, which allows entry of
scientific notation using HTML
coding.
Converts the WYSIWYG editor
into HTML code.
Produces the view of the item as
it will appear once submitted.
Click this icon to determine if the
HTML coding behind your text is
correct.
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for a file. You may
elect to have the attachment
open in a new a window.
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for an image. You
can set the width and height,
the border, and Alternate text.
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for a video file.
You can also specify the height
and width, autostart, and movie
controls.
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for a QuickTime
file. You can also specify the
height and width, autostart, and
movie controls.
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BLACKBOARD 9.1 TEXT EDITOR
Attach sound clip
Attach Flash
(audio/animation)
content
Add Mashup
University of Saint Francis
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for an audio file.
You can also specify autostart
and available controls.
Opens a new window allowing
you to browse your computer or
provide a URL for a Flash file.
You can also specify autostart
and available controls.
Allows you to search YouTube
(videos), Flickr (photos), and
SlideShare (presentations) to
add these visual files to your
item.
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