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Text/HTML Editor

Text/HTML Editor

Owned by Alisa Cunnington (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jan 15, 2025 by Stuart McCulley
9 min read

The Brightspace Editor integrates with all D2L Brightspace Learning Environment tools that have HTML content creation capabilities. For example, the HTML Editor is available when you edit discussion topics, create custom instructions for assignment folders, or create content topics.  

Access the Brightspace Editor

The Brightspace editor appears in multiple tools and content areas within your Brightspace course. Below are some examples of where you can access the editor:

  • Using an Page in the Content area

  • Adding instructions for an Assignment, Quiz, etc.

  • Adding a description for a file, link, video, etc.

  • Posting a Discussion topic or reply

  • Sending Emails from your Classlist

  • Editing Widgets from your Course Homepage

Brightspace Text-Editor
HTML Text-Editor

See the Page article for descriptions of each of the tools.

Text Formatting

Strikethrough, Superscript, or Subscript text

While bold, italic, and underline are easily accessible from the main toolbar, there are additional text format options available.

  1. Highlight the text you want to format, then click the arrow next to Underline.

    Underline drop-down menu
    Sub-menu in Underline

     

  2. Select strikethrough, superscript, or subscript from the drop-down menu.

Add Heading Styles

Use heading styles to structure your text and make your content more accessible for students using screen readers.

To add a heading style:

  1. Click the format drop-down menu (set to Paragraph by default). 

    Format button
    Format drop-down menu in Paragraph

     

  2. Select a Heading style (H1, H2, H3, etc.) from the drop-down menu.

Font Colour

Text can be changed to any colour. Please keep in mind Accessibility and UDL Principles if you’re changing text colour.

  1. Highlight the text you want to format, then click the Select Colour button to open the Select a Colour window.

    Font Colour button
    Select Colour button

     

  2. Select a font colour or enter a hex value.

    Font Colour menu
    Click Save to finish

Change Text Alignment

Users are able to manipulate the alignment of the text based on their needs.

  1. Place your cursor where you want to align the text, or highlight the text you want to format.

  2. Click the alignment button.

    Alignment button
    Alignment button

     

  3. Select an alignment option from the menu.   

    Brightspace Text-Editor with text-alignment options highlighted
    Drop-down menu within Alignment button

Add a Bulleted or Numbered List

The list tool allows for the creation of different lists. Users also have the ability to increase and decrease the indent on listed items to align them with other sections.

  1. Place your cursor where you want to create a list, or highlight the text you want to format.

  2. Click the Bulleted list button.

    Bulleted list button
    Bulleted list button

     

  3. Select the Bulleted list or Numbered list from the drop-down menu. You can also increase or decrease the indent of listed items from this menu.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with list options highlighted
    Drop-down menu within Bulleted list button

Additions in the Text Editor

Add Page Dividers

Page dividers can be a helpful tool to separate blocks of text or varying pieces of content.

  1. Place your cursor where you want to add a divider.

  2. Click the other insert options icon in the editor.

    Other insert options button
    Other insert options icon

     

  3. Select Divider from the drop-down menu.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with Divider highlighted
    Drop-down menu within the other insert options icon

Add Emojis

While some may not consider them “professional”, emojis and similar symbols add a small visual element to what could otherwise be a bland text block of content.

  1. In the Brightspace editor, place your cursor where you want to insert an emoji.

  2. Click the other insert options icon in the editor.

    Other insert options button
    Other insert options icon

     

  3. Select Emojis from the drop-down menu.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with Emoji highlighted
    Drop-down menu within the other insert options icon

     

  4. In the Emojis pop-up, select an emoji.

    Emojis menu
    Search for emojis or sort by category

Add Equations

The Graphical Equation Editor enables users to insert mathematical equations within the Brightspace Editor. It supports the input of MathML, LaTeX, graphical, and chemistry equations.

  1. Access the text-editor you wish to create an equation in.

  2. Click the other insert options icon in the editor.

    Other insert options button
    Other insert options icon

     

  3. Click the Equation icon to see the equation options.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with Equation highlighted
    Drop-down menu within other insert options icon

     

  4. From the Equation drop-down list, select which kind of equation you want to insert.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with the Equation options highlighted
    Equation sub-menu accessed by clicking Equation

     

  5. In the Insert Equation window, enter your equation using keyboard characters and your cursor to select symbols from the tabs.

    Insert Equation Window
    Various mathematical and scientific options for creating equations

     

  6. Click Insert.

  7. Click Save or Publish or Update to save your work. The options will vary depending on which tool you are using the Text Editor within.

Insert Code Snippets

With coding knowledge, users can spice up their content with various learning objects and content-structuring not normally supported by the basic Brightspace text-editor.

  1. Access the Brightspace Editor and place your text cursor in the spot where you wish to create a code snippet.

  2. Click the Other Insert Options icon in the editor toolbar.

    Other insert options button
    Other insert options icon

     

  3. Select Insert Code from the drop-down menu.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with Insert Code highlighted
    Drop-down menu within other insert options icon

     

  4. Once you select Insert Code from the menu, a source code editor will open in place of the text editor.

    Insert Code window
    Insert code window view

     

  5. Adjust your display settings:

    1. Select your coding language from the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner.

    2. Click on the bullet icon to enable or disable line numbering.

    3. Toggle between dark mode and light mode using the moon/sun icon.

  6. Enter your code the same as you would in a source code editor.

  7. Click on the code snippet to edit it after it has been inserted into the text editor

  8. Click the checkmark to save and insert the snippet into the HTML Editor.

Insert Symbols

Symbols include special characters such as currency, Latin, arrows, and more.

  1. In the Brightspace editor, place your cursor where you want to insert a symbol.

  2. Click the other insert options icon in the editor

    Other insert options button
    Other insert options icon

     

  3. Select Symbols from the drop-down menu.

    Brightspace Text-Editor with Symbols highlighted
    Drop down menu within other insert options icon

     

  4. In the Special Character pop-up, select the symbol you want to insert.

    Special Character menu
    Special characters can be searched for or sorted by category

Embed Multimedia

Insert an Image

Images can be a great way to break up text in a content space, as well as providing visual aid to learning material. Please add alternative text if the image isn’t decorative.

  1. Access the Brightspace Editor you wish to add the image to.

  2. Move your cursor to the location in the Brightspace Editor textbox where you would like to place the image.

  3. Click the Insert Image button in the Editor toolbar 

    Insert image button
    Insert image button

     

  4. Choose the image location:

    • If the image is on the computer, select the My Computer button. Choose the file from your computer and drag and drop it on the designated area or click Upload to select the image from your computer, click the selected image and then click Add.

    • If the image is located on the web, select URL. Enter or paste the web address for the image, then click Add.

    • If the image is located within the course, select the Course Offering Files. Choose the file from your course files, then click Add.

  5. Once you click Add, the system will prompt you to add an alternative text for the image selected. To ensure that the image is accessible to all users, enter a short description of it on the field Alternative Text or check the ‘This image is decorative’ box if it is a decorative image.

  6. Select OK.

  7. Click Save or Publish or Update to save your work.

Insert a QuickLink

Quicklinks are direct links to existing files or activities in your Brightspace course that can be inserted anywhere the Brightspace Editor appears (descriptions, announcements, discussion forums, etc.). For example, you could insert Quicklinks into a module description to link to assessments (Assignments, Quizzes, etc.) that you would like your students to complete for that particular week/module. Quicklinks can enhance course navigation and help make your course files/activities easier for students to find.

Note: It is recommended to use the Quicklink tool instead of copying and pasting a URL link. Quicklinks will continue to work if your content is exported or copied to another course.

  1. Access the Brightspace Editor you wish to add the Quicklink to.

  2. Select the location for the link within the Brightspace editor textbox.

  3. Click the Insert Quicklink icon on the Editor toolbar.

    Quicklink button
    Insert Quicklink icon

     

  4. A pop-up window will open with two categories: Course Materials and Third Party.

    Insert Quicklink menu
    Insert Quicklink menu

     

  5. Select the course item you wish to insert into your HTML Editor.

  6. The pop-up window will close and a URL will be generated.

  7. Continue to edit your content in the Brightspace Editor.

  8. Click Save or Publish or Update to save your work. The options will vary depending on which tool you are using the editor within.

Insert Media Library Video/Audio Files

The Media Library can be accessed from the cog icon next to one’s profile in the top right hand corner of Brightspace. Video and audio files can be uploaded there and then linked through the HTML Editor via the steps below. See more about the Media Library here: Media Library

Media library highlighted under cog icon in top right hand side of Brightspace
The Media Library is accessible from the Admin Tools cog in the top right of Brightspace

  1. Access the Brightspace Editor you wish to add your media to.

  2. Click the Insert Stuff button in the Editor toolbar.

    Insert Stuff button
    Insert Stuff button

     

  3. In the Insert Stuff pop-up window, select where you will be uploading your media from.

    Media Library highlighted in Insert Stuff menu
    Media Library highlighted in the Insert Stuff menu

    • To insert a video/audio file from Media Library:

      1.  Select Insert Media Library.

      2. Click the Embed button next to the video you want to upload.

      3. You will see a preview of your selected media. Click Insert to embed your media into the HTML editor or Back to make changes to your selection. Your media will automatically appear in the HTML editor.

  4. Click Save or Publish to make your media visible to students.

Insert a File from Your Computer

It is possible to embed certain files from your computer directly into the text-editor. This is done with use of the Insert Stuff tool.

  1. Access the Brightspace Editor you wish to add the image to.

  2. Click the Insert Stuff button in the Editor toolbar.

    Insert Stuff button
    Insert Stuff button

     

  3. In the Insert Stuff pop-up window, select My Computer.

  4. Click Choose file, then select a file from your computer.

  5. Click Upload.

Learn more about inserting media and the Insert Stuff tool

Please contact CPI at edtech@brocku.ca with any questions or comments about the contents of this site.