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The Rich Text Editor - Full article

Modified on: Mon, 29 Sep, 2025 at 12:21 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS


1. Overview & Introduction

The Rich Text Editor (also known as the Editor) is a comprehensive content creation tool used throughout itslearning for formatting text and integrating various types of media. Use the Rich Text Editor when creating course content, assignments, discussions, announcements, or any other text-based materials. The editor provides familiar word processing functions alongside specialised tools for embedding videos, recording audio, inserting mathematical formulas, and linking to course resources. Teachers and students with appropriate course permissions can access the editor when creating or editing content.

2. Prerequisites & Requirements

User permissions required:

  • Editing rights in the relevant course area (varies by location)
  • For media uploads: appropriate file storage quota

System/browser requirements:

  • Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Microphone access (for audio recording features)
  • Camera access (for video recording features)
  • Stable internet connection for media uploads

Dependencies:

  • Extension Library features require platform-level enablement
  • Teams and Google Meet integration require institutional configuration

3. Getting Started

3.1. Accessing the Editor

The Rich Text Editor appears automatically when creating or editing content in itslearning. You will encounter it in numerous locations throughout the platform, including:

  • Course content pages
  • Assignment creation
  • Discussion posts
  • Announcements
  • Messages

3.2. Expanding the Full Toolbar

In some cases, you might initially see a reduced version of the editor where not all functions are displayed.

To access all editor functions:

  1. Look for the "More options" button in the toolbar
  2. Click "More options" to expand the hidden icons

The full toolbar will then display all available editing functions.

4. Core Features & Functions

4.1. Text Formatting Tools

The first section of the toolbar contains standard text formatting functions. These symbols and functions should be familiar from other word processing programmes.

 

Available formatting options:

  • Font selection
  • Text size (Normal, Heading, etc.)
  • Bold, Italic, Underline
  • Text colour
  • Background colour
  • Special characters (Ω)
  • Text alignment (left, centre, right, justify)

4.2. Text Alignment and Structure

The next section provides tools for structuring your content.

 

Structure functions:

  • Subscript (lower text on the line)
  • Superscript (heighten text on the line)
  • Increase indentation
  • Decrease indentation
  • Numbered lists
  • Bullet points
  • Language definition for text sections

4.3. Media Integration Icons

The toolbar includes numerous icons for integrating different types of media and content.

 


 Anchor: Sets a marker ("anchor") in a text that you can directly refer to with a link.
Link: Inserts a link, for example, to another webpage or an anchor.

When you paste a link, the editor will try to embed the content behind this link.  There are 3 possible outcomes:

  • Embed code can automatically be retrieved (via Embed).
  • There is no embed code behind the link, but the editor can build an object based on the metadata of the page.
  • No object can be created and the link will be added as a normal link.
Table: Inserts a table.
Smiley: Opens a selection of smileys to insert into the text.
Tree link: Inserts a link to a resource in the course you are in.
File from "My web files": Sets a link to a file in your personal storage area on itslearning.
image: inserts an image from the computer, or from your files in itselarning


Audio recording: Here you can record audio or upload an audio file.

Video recording: Here you can record a video or upload a video file.
WIRIS formula editor: Inserts mathematical symbols and formulas.
Embed video: Here you can embed a video from another webpage.
Teams-meeting: Here you can create a teams meeting for your course, and add the link to this page
Google meet: Here you can create a meet room for your course and add the link to this page
Extension library: Here you can access additional functions enabled for your platform.

4.4. Additional Functions

 

The next section of the toolbar provides:

  • Undo (regret actions in the editor window)
  • Redo (go forward with actions)
  • Cut, Copy, and Paste shortcuts

  • The final icon is the "Source" button, which displays your content in HTML code format.


5. Step-by-Step Workflows

5.1 Embedding Media Content

Objective: Add external video or media content

Steps:

  1. Copy the URL of the video or media content
  2. Click the Link icon or Embed video icon
  3. Paste the URL
  4. The editor will attempt to embed the content automatically
  5. If embedding fails, the link will appear as a standard hyperlink

Result: Embedded media content displayed directly in your page, or a link to external content.

5.2. Inserting Tables

Objective: Create a structured table for data presentation

Steps:

  1. Click the Table icon (⊞)
  2. Select the number of rows and columns
  3. Click to insert the table
  4. Fill in your content
  5. Use table properties to adjust formatting as needed

Result: A formatted table for organising information.

5.3. Recording Audio and Video

Objective: Create recorded content directly in itslearning

For audio recording:

  1. Click the Audio recording icon (?)
  2. Allow microphone access if prompted
  3. Click record and speak
  4. Click stop when finished
  5. Save or upload your recording

For video recording:

  1. Click the Video recording icon (?)
  2. Allow camera and microphone access if prompted
  3. Click record
  4. Click stop when finished
  5. Save or upload your recording

Result: Embedded audio or video content created directly within itslearning.

5.4. Creating Mathematical Formulas

Objective: Insert mathematical notation and formulas

Steps:

  1. Click the WIRIS formula editor icon (√)
  2. Use the formula editor interface to build your equation
  3. Click Insert when complete

Result: Professional mathematical notation displayed in your content.

6. Settings & Customization

6.1. Language Selection

Define which language is used when writing specific text sections. This assists with spell-checking and accessibility features.

To set language:

  1. Select the text
  2. Choose the language from the language dropdown in the alignment section
  3. The spell-checker will use the selected language for that text

6.2. Source Code View

Advanced users can view and edit the HTML source code directly.

To access source view:

  1. Click the "Source" button on the far right of the toolbar
  2. View or edit the HTML code
  3. Click "Source" again to return to visual editing mode

Use cases:

  • Fine-tuning formatting
  • Troubleshooting display issues
  • Copying clean HTML for use elsewhere

7. Technical Information

7.1. Editor Versions

The Rich Text Editor may appear in reduced or full versions depending on the context within itslearning. The reduced version displays core formatting functions, while the full version shows all available tools.

7.2. Link Embedding Behaviour

When pasting URLs, the editor follows this hierarchy:

  1. First attempt: Retrieve embed code automatically
  2. Second attempt: Build an object based on page metadata
  3. Final fallback: Display as a standard hyperlink

This behaviour ensures that content displays optimally when embedding is supported, whilst maintaining functionality when it is not.

7.3. Supported Media Types

The editor supports:

  • Standard web video formats through embedding
  • Audio recordings in common formats (MP3, M4A)
  • Video recordings in common formats (MP4, WebM)
  • Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF)
  • External content from supported platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

8. Troubleshooting

8.1. Common Issues

Problem: Editor toolbar is incomplete or missing functions

Solution:

  1. Look for the "More options" button
  2. Click "More options" to expand hidden icons
  3. If functions remain unavailable, verify your permissions for the content area

Problem: Pasted content appears with unexpected formatting

Solution:

  1. Use the Source view to examine HTML code
  2. Consider pasting as plain text first, then reformatting
  3. Use undo (Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z) if formatting goes wrong

Problem: Cannot embed video from external source

Solution:

  1. Verify the video URL is correct
  2. Check that the external platform supports embedding
  3. If embedding fails, the link will still work as a standard hyperlink
  4. Alternative: Upload video files directly if embedding is not available

8.2. Missing Toolbar Functions

Problem: Extension Library or integration icons (Teams, Google Meet) not visible

Cause: These features require platform-level enablement by your institution.

Solution: Contact your itslearning administrator to verify which features are enabled for your platform.

9. Additional Resources

Related Articles

(To be inserted)

More Help Resources

Service Status
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→ https://status.itslearning.com/

Ideas Portal
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→ https://ideas.itslearning.com/

Roadmap
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→ https://itslearning.com/global/roadmap/


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