Adding HTML with a Mac Tutorial

Tips & Tricks

Adding HTML into Blackboard

If you are unable to use a PC computer with Internet Explorer (browser) you will not be able to use the Blackboard HTML editor. For those Mac users or PC / Netscape users you must add HTML to your Blackboard courses the old fasion way.

Basic HTML
HTML Editor
Copy/Paste HTML
Zipping a Folder
Uploading a Zip Folder

Adding an Item
From the Control Panel:

Click on the Content Area link where you want the item added (Syllabus, Course Materials, Assignments, External Links).

Click on the Item icon.

Choose a name from the Name drop-down menu or type a name in the Name field.

Type a description of the item in the Text field.

Click on the Browse button in the Content - Attach section to find the item to upload.

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Content Attachments:

Name of Link to File – Use this option to name the link to your attached file. If you leave it blank, the filename of the attached file will be the link your students click on to view the item.

Create a link to this file – Use this option to create a link to this file.

Display media file within the page – Use this option when you are working with graphic images or media files that you want to display within the page.

Unpackage this file – Use this option when uploading .zip (compressed) files. This is typically used with PowerPoint presentations saved as HTML or a web site with many pages.

Options:

Do you want to make the content visible? – Enable this option to give your students access to your item.

Do you want to add offline content? – Enable this option if you have a companion CD-ROM that accompanies your course.

Do you want to track number of views? – Enable this option to track how many times individual users access your item.

Do you want to add metadata? – Enable this option to add metadata. Metadata is data about the item, such as ownership, resource format, and copyright information.

Choose date restrictions – Enable both the Display After and Display Until options to control when your item is visible. This option automates the “make the content visible” option.

Basic HTML

The Text field under Content Information allows you to type text with basic HTML, which displays through a browser. You must add the basic HTML to your text within the Text field. When you type HTML do not add these tags: <html>, <head>, <title>, or <body>.

Bold text: text here
Italic text: text here
Underline text: text here
Horizontal rule: <hr>
Linked text: <a href="http://www.calpoly.edu">link text here</a>
Paragraph text: text here
Text break: - place this after the last word that you want a return line
Add image: <img src="image file name here">

Bb HTML Editor (PC/IE Only) ( view video tutorial) [top]

The Text field under Content Information allows you to type HTML, which displays through a browser.
HTML: When you type HTML do not add these tags; <html>, <head>, <title>, or <body>.

Blackboard HTML Editor (PC, IE Browser Only)

Function How To

Line Break
On your Keyboard, hold the shift key and push the return/enter key.

Paragraph Break
On your Keyboard, push the return/enter key.

URL Link
Select the text and click on the Link button.

Change Text Font/Size
Select the text and click on the font pull down lists.

More Information

Q: Why would I type HTML into the Text field?
A: By typing HTML into the Text field you have more control over the content format (bold, italic, tables, colors, fonts, etc.).
Q: Do I need to know HTML to add HTML to the Text Field?
A: No, you can use Dreamweaver to create your content and then copy/paste the HTML into the Text field.

Copy/Paste Text or HTML [top]

The Text field under Content Information allows you to type HTML, which displays through a browser.

HTML: If you copy/paste HTML into this field, remember to only copy/paste between and not including the body tags
(<body>This Only</body>).

Note: Do not copy/paste Word 2000/2001 HTML into Blackboard text fields. Microsoft adds style sheet tags into your HTML which will not work in Blackboard because the style sheet resides between the <head> and <body> tags. If you use Word 2000/2001 download the Microsoft Word 2000 HTML Filter(PC only). More Information on How to Add Microsoft Word into Blackboard.

More Information

Q: Why would I copy/paste HTML into the Text field?
A: If you do not know how to write HTML, you can use Dreamweaver to create your content and then copy/paste the HTML into Blackboard. HTML will allow you to have more control over the content format (bold, italic, tables, colors, fonts, etc.).

Zipping a Folder [top]

Using DropZip

If you do not have the DropZip software, go to the Plugin Center and download StuffIt Expander for the Macintosh and install it on your computer. StuffIt Expander includes unregistered shareware versions of DropStuff™, DropZip™ and DropTar™

Drag the folder over the DropZip icon located on your hard drive. (If the registration page appears, just click on the Not Yet button to proceed.)
A number of Zip windows will appear as DropZip compresses your presentation. A zip document will appear in the same location as your presentation folder with the same name as your folder but with a .zip extension.

Using PowerArchiver or WINZIP

If you do not have PowerArchiver installed on your computer, go to http://software.calpoly.edu/pc/index.html and
download it to your computer. If you prefer to use WINZIP, you can download a 30-day trial of WINZIP at
http://www.winzip.com/; however, after the 30-day trial you will have to buy WINZIP to continue using it.

To zip your folder, RIGHT-click on your newly created folder on the desktop.

If you are using PowerArchiver, when the menu appears from right-clicking, select Compress to
“name_of_folder.zip.” PowerArchiver will take a moment to compress (zip) the folder. You will find the zipped
folder on your desktop with the same name as the folder you zipped and with a zip icon that looks like a folder held
in a vise.

If you are using WINZIP, when the menu appears from right-clicking, select Add to “name_of_folder.zip.” WinZip
will take a moment to compress (zip) the folder. You will find the zipped folder on your desktop with the same
name as the folder you zipped and with a zip icon that looks like a folder held in a vise.

Upload a Zipped Folder [top]

With a zipped (BasicChem.zip) folder created, you can upload the full file into Blackboard and unpackaged the files within the Add Item tool.

From the Control Panel:

Click on the Content Area link where you want the item added (Course Materials, Assignments, Course Documents, External Links).

Click on the Add Item icon.

Choose a name from the Name drop-down menu or type a name in the Name field.

Type a description of the item in the Text field.

Click on the Browse button in the Content Attachments section to find the item to upload.

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

From the Content Attachments pull down list, choose Unpackage this file – Use this option when uploading .zip (compressed) files. This is typically used with PowerPoint presentations saved as HTML or collections of linked web pages.

More Information

Q: After completing all the steps above, I still see a .zip file and it is not unpackaged, why?
A: Sometimes the Unpackage this file is not selected fully. You will need to do the process again and double check that in the Content Attachments pull down list, you choose Unpackage this file.

Function	How To

Line Break	On your Keyboard, hold the shift key and push the return/enter key.
Paragraph Break	On your Keyboard, push the return/enter key.
URL Link	Select the text and click on the Link button.
Change Text Font/Size	Select the text and click on the font pull down lists.