2) Working with the Editor
The body typically contains the main content that appears on a webpage. There is menu bar located at the top which is used to format text, add headings, styles, links, tables, etc.
The editors functions are listed below.
Going from left to right, the order of the editor functions is listed below. Each of the editors functions are described in the sections that follow.
Undo | Redo
Remove Formatting
Bold, Italics, Bullet List, Ordered List
Headings
Styles
Horizontal Rule
Anchors
Links
Special Characters
Find/Replace
Tables
Add Image in Body Copy
Upload Image
View HTML Source
Toggle Full Screen
2.1) Undo | Redo
Allows you to undo or redo any edit you make to the body copy block.
2.2) Remove Formatting
Whenever you copy and paste text into Drupal from another source (Google Docs, Microsoft Word, PDFs, etc), the pasted text will use the font styling of the original source file (font type, color, size, etc). This font styling will likely be different from the font styling used on the Swarthmore site. The Remove Formatting function removes that imported formatting and makes the text look consistent with the rest of the website. Simply highlight the text you wish adjust using your cursor and then click the Remove Formatting button.
Please note: All content on the website should use the same style found on the Swarthmore website. To ensure consistency, always use Remove Formatting option when you copy and paste content into the Drupal CMS.
2.3) Bold / Italics / Bullet List / Ordered List
Allows you to add bold and italics content as well as bullet and ordered lists.
A Note About Lists
There are two kinds of lists - bulleted and numbered lists and they serve different purposes.
Numbered lists should be used when the order of completion is important. For example, if you are doing a reverse sear on a steak, you need to slow cook the steak before you but it on high heat to sear the outside. The list would look something like this:
Heat the oven to 250 F;
Dry the steak surface and add any seasonings like salt and/or pepper;
Place the steak in an oven proof pan for 15-20 minutes. You’ll want the steak to be about 30 degrees lower than the desired serving temperature;
Sear the steak. Put it on a hot grill or in a hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side and 30-60 seconds on the sides;
Baste with butter and add aromatics;
Let it rest for 5-10 minutes;
Serve
Congratulate yourself on cooking a most delectable steak.
A bulleted list is used when it doesn’t matter what comes first or last. A simple example might be a packing list:
charging cords and plugs;
socks;
shirts;
slacks;
toiletries and medications;
extra pair of eye glasses;
2.4) Headings
Allows you to add headings to your content. All webpages follow a standard convention of ranking of headings from H1 to H6. The Page Title (the most important element) is the H1. If you include heading/subheadings in the page content, you would start with H2 and then use H3-H6 for additional sub-headings.
Please note: Whenever using headings, you must follow the proper heading sort order. This is essential for accessibility, readability, and to maintain consistency. Headings are the number one way that visitors with screen readers navigate the web. If you are curious to see this in action, take a look at Screen Reader Demo With Headings [YouTube].
H1: The title of the page
H2: First point
H3: Subsection of first point
H3: Subsection of first point
H3: Subsection of first point
H2: Second point
H3: Subsection of second point
H4: Child of second subsection
H4: Child of second subsection
H3: Subsection of second point
H2: Third point
2.5) Styles
The styles drop down menu allows you apply custom font styles to your content. This is useful if you wish to include lead paragraphs (slightly larger font size for the intro paragraph) or pull quotes (a quote pulled from the content) to your body content.
2.6) Horizontal Rule
Allows you to add a horizontal rule to your content.
2.7) Anchors
Anchor are internal links within the body content of a page that allow you jump to a section of the page. Anchors are typically placed at the beginning of the section heading or paragraph that you want visitors to jump to.
The only requirement is to add a name for the anchor - the name should be one word and contain no spaces. Examples of good anchor names are:
CreatingAnchors
admissionsRequirements
required-documents
You will know you've successfully created an anchor when you see a red flag appear in the Copy Editor. This red flag will not be visible to the public and is intended to help remind you of its presence while editing. If you need to edit the anchor name, you can click on that flag and the Anchor dialog will reopen.
2.8) Links
Adding links to other webpages or other content is one of the most common tasks you’ll be doing when creating webpages. The most important think to remember about a link is the text of that link. Make sure it is meaningful and lets a visitor know a little about what will happen when they visit that link. Visit Unlock the Power of Meaningful Links to learn more. Here are some examples of informative and uninformative link text:
Ineffective | Effective |
---|---|
WCAG-compliant links should explain their purpose for the link text alone. Click here to learn more. | WCAG-compliant links should explain their purpose from the link text alone. |
Check your contrast levels using https://webaim.org/resources/ | Check your contrast levels using WebAim’s Contrast Checker |
Swarthmore’s Accessibility website includes five tips for preparing accessible materials | Swarthmore’s Accessibility website includes five tips for preparing accessible materials |
Here is an introduction from WebAIM to links and hypertext | |
How to have a 10 minute conversation [PDF] |
2.8.1) Linking to another webpage in Drupal
Highlight the text you wish to become a link
Click the the chain icon in the menu bar. This will open the link editor window
2.8.2 How the Link Editor Works
Link URL - is where you would add the link or URL.
Link to a Document - if linking to a document (hosted in Drupal) then you click this button.
Advanced - opens/collapses the advanced tab which includes: CSS Classes, ID, and Open in a new window.
Open in a new window - allows you to toggle whether the link should open in a new tab or not. The default setting is have the link open the same window/tab.
Save / Cancel - click the check mark to save your edits or the x to cancel
Note: It is recommended that when linking to an external website (ie not at swarthmore.edu) or to a document, that you have the link open in a new tab.
2.8.3 Creating a link to another page in Drupal
Start typing the name of the webpage you wish to link to. For example, if you wanted to link to the “Admissions & Aid” homepage, you would type “Admissions” and every page in Drupal that has the word “Admissions” in it’s title would appear in the list below.
Select the webpage you wish to link to.
After selecting the page you wish to click to, the link editor will switch back the minimized view. In place of the page name, you will see a reference like this /node/######. This is normal. This is how Drupal keeps track of internal links.
Click the checkmark to save your changes or the X to cancel.
2.8.4 Creating a link using an URL
Link URL - You can also simply copy and paste any URL into the field. This includes both external links, internal links, Google drive links, etc.
Note: It is recommended that when linking to an external website (ie not at http://swarthmore.edu ) or to a document, that you have the link open in a new window/tab located under the advanced options.
2.8.5 Linking to a document
You add a link to a document. Select the text you wish to become a link. Always include the file type to let people know that the link points to a file and not a website. For example, add [pdf] for a pdf file.
Click the Link to Document Button to add a new document (or select) a existing document that has been previously uploaded to Drupal
It is recommended always have PDFS (or other documents) open in a new tab. You can control whether a link opens in a new tab, by clicking the Advanced tab
Under the Advanced tab, slide the toggle to green to have the link open in a new window.
How the “Link to Document” works
Clicking the Link to Document Button will open a new window that allows you upload a new document to Drupal or select an existing document.
Select Document - will display all the documents that has been previously uploaded into Drupal
Upload Document - will allow you upload a new document
Filename - lets you search the documents folder
Name - allows you sort the folder by filename
Created - allows you sort the folder by when it was uploaded.
Radio Button- choose the the file you wish make become a link.
Select Document - save your choice. You will then be returned to the previous window.
Once the document is selected:
The name of the file you selected will appear in the Link URL field
Click the green check mark to add the link in Drupal.
2.8.6 Edit or remove a link
To edit or remove a link, click the link. The link editor window will appear.
You can select the pencil icon to edit an existing link
Or the paperclip X icon to remove the link.
2.9) Special Characters
This function allows you to add special characters (a,e,i,o,u with accents and other marks). This is most common for foreign words and names that might appear on the site
2.10) Find & Replace
Allows you to do a standard find and replace in the body content block.
2.11) Tables
Use this function to add table content to your webpage. Ideally, tables are created to share data e.g. dates and times of a train schedule. Avoid using tables to control look and feel.
You first select the number of rows and columns using the matrix. Remember to include a column or row for table headings (see WebAims article on tables to learn more.)
Add your column or row headings.
Then you add your data.
When creating a table you must include a Caption and column or row headings. These fields are critically important - they not only make tables more understandable and readable, they also help persons with disabilities understand what the table is about. Ideally, tables are created to share date. Avoid using tables to control layout. To learn more about creating accessible tables, take a look at WebAim’s article on tables.
2.12) Add Image
Visit 6.2) Adding an Image in the Body Copy to learn more about adding an image to the body copy
2.13) Upload Image
Allows you upload images directly to Drupal.
2.14) HTML Source
Clicking the HTML Source button will display the underlying HTML responsible for rendering the text formatting, links, images, and other elements that appear on the page. Editors who are comfortable working with HTML may find this functionality useful for troubleshooting, however it is not necessary for the general editing of content.
2.15) Full Screen
The Full Screen button will maximize the Copy Editor to take up the full browser window. This can be useful when working with a large amount of content or as a means of cutting down on distraction during the writing process.
Click the button a second time in order to minimize the Copy Editor, returning it to its original size.