Quick Tips: Blackboard Content Editor Basics

The Content Editor has been redesigned to improve your experience adding text and other digital  content to your Blackboard course. The new content editor has two view modes: simple mode
and advanced mode. 

Basic Information - 

By default text is formatted to 12-point, left-justified, Arial. Multiple methods available to add, format, and edit text and objects: content editor functions, right-click contextual menu, and keyboard shortcuts.

Change the mode by clicking the double arrow in the upper-right corner of the content editor. 

Simple Mode Buttons:

The following table defines each function.

Function	Description
	Bold the selected text.
	Italicize the selected text.
	Underline the selected text.
	Select the font face for the text. Click the down arrow next to the displayed current font to select from a list of all available fonts.
	Select the size of the text. Click the down arrow next to the displayed current font size to select from a list of all available font sizes.
	Set the text color. Click the down arrow to select a different text color.
	Create a bulleted list. To learn more, see Working With Lists.
	Create a numbered list. To learn more, see Working With Lists.
	Begin the automatic spell check. Click the down arrow to select a different language. To learn more, see Using the Spell Checker.
	Add a new or edit an existing hyperlink. To learn more, see Using the Link Function.
	Remove a hyperlink from the selected text or object.
	Opens a preview window showing how the content will appear after submitting.
	Open the context editor help information pop-up display.
	Expand the content editor window to fill the entire browser frame.
	Access the advanced content editor features.

Advanced Mode Buttons -

The following tables describe each function.

Row 1 Functions	Description
	Bold the selected text.
	Italicize the selected text.
	Underline the selected text.
	Display text with a horizontal line through the letters (strikethrough).
	Select a paragraph style for the text. Click the down arrow next to the displayed current style to select from a list of all available styles.
	Select the font face for the text. Click the down arrow next to the displayed current font to select from a list of all available fonts.
	Select the size of the text. Click the down arrow next to the displayed current font size to select from a list of all available font sizes.
	Create a bulleted list. To learn more, see Working With Lists.
	Create a numbered list. To learn more, see Working With Lists.
	Set the text color. Click the down arrow to select a different text color.
	Set the text highlight (background) color. Click the down arrow to select a different highlight color.
	Remove all formatting, leaving only the plain text.
	Opens a preview window showing how the content will appear after submitting.
	Opens the context editor help window.
	Expand the content editor window to fill the entire browser frame.
	Collapse functions to one row of the most used text formatting functions.

Row 2 Functions	Description
	Cut the selected items.
	Copy the selected items.
	Paste the most recently copied or cut items.
	Search for and replace text. To learn more, see Using Find and Replace.
	Undo the previous action.
	Redo the previous action—available only if an action has been undone.
	Align text to the left margin.
	Align text in the center.
	Align text to the right.
	Align text to both the left and right margins.
	Move the text or object to the right (indent). Click again to indent further.
	Move the text or object to the left (outdent). Click again to outdent further. You cannot outdent text beyond the left margin.
	Make the text into a superscript.
	Make the text into a subscript.
	Add a new or edit an existing hyperlink. To learn more, see Using the Link Function.
	Remove a hyperlink from the selected text or object.
	Enter text to the right of the current mouse pointer location (default).
	Enter text to the left of the current mouse pointer location.
	Add a thin horizontal line to the current mouse pointer position, spanning the entire width of the text area.
	Add a thin centered line, setting width, height relative to the current mouse pointer position, and whether to use shadows. To learn more, see Inserting Lines and Horizontal Rules.
	Insert a nonbreaking space character at the current mouse pointer position.
	Begin the automatic spell check. Click the down arrow to select a different language. To learn more, see Using the Spell Checker.

Row 3 Functions	Description
	Add a link to a file in the text box. The Insert Content Link window appears. You can link to the following file types: DOC, DOCX, EXE, HTML, HTM, PDF, PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX, TXT, WPD, .XLS, XLSX, and ZIP. You can link to a file from your computer, from Course Files, the Content Collection, or a URL.
	Embed an image in the text box or edit an existing selected image. The Insert/Edit Image window appears. You can add the following file types: GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, PNG, and TIF. You can add images from your computer, from Course Files or the Content Collection, or a URL. To learn more, see Adding Images.
	Embed a media clip in the text box or edit an existing selected media object. TheInsert/Edit Media window appears. From the Type drop-down list, select the type of media you want to add: Flash (default), HTML 5 video, QuickTime, Shockwave, Windows Media, Real Media, lframe, and Embedded Audio. You can add media files from your computer, from Course Files or the Content Collection, or a URL. To learn more, see Adding Media Files.
	Opens the WIRIS Formula Editor page—the visual math equation editor page. To learn more, see Using the Math Editor.
	Add a mashup. To learn more, see Adding Mashups.
	Click to show all nonprinting characters. Click again to hide them from view.
	Format the text as a blockquote.
	Opens the Select Special Character window. Select a symbol to insert at the current mouse pointer position.
	Opens the Insert Emoticon window. Select the emoticon to insert at the current mouse pointer position.
	Position the mouse pointer where you want the anchor to appear and click to open the Insert/Edit Anchor window. Use anchors to position (anchor) other items and objects, such as images. To learn more, see Using Anchors.
	Opens a preview window so you can see how the content will appear after publishing.
	Click to open the Insert/Edit Table window. To learn more about tables, see Working With Tables.
	Click to open the Table Row Properties window.
	Click to open the Table Cell Properties window.
	Insert a blank row in the table above the current mouse pointer position.
	Insert a blank row in the table after the current mouse pointer position.
	Delete the current row from the table. If you select multiple rows, all are deleted.
	Insert a blank column in the table to the left of the current mouse pointer position.
	Insert a blank column in the table to the right of the current mouse pointer position.
	Delete the current column from the table. If you select multiple columns, all are deleted.
	Merge two or more selected table cells into a single cell.
	Split previously merged table cells. If the cell or cells are not ones that were merged, nothing happens.
	Click to open the HTML Code View window. Then, you can directly edit the content HTML code. This feature is intended for experienced web developers. To learn more, see HTML Code View.
	Edit the cascading style sheet (CSS). This feature is included for experienced web developers. To learn more, see Advanced Imag

Information taken from the Bb Help Wiki located at https://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn