.. include:: /shortcuts.rstext .. index:: pair: Block category; General General ----------- The artefacts in this tab are of a general nature or do not fit into any other category and can be used around the site. When you create a page in a group, you do not have the :ref:`plans ` block available as you cannot create plans in groups. Additionally, you can choose the following blocks when you edit the group homepage: * :ref:`Group info ` * :ref:`Group members ` * :ref:`Group pages ` .. index:: pair: Blocks; Text box single: General block; Text box .. _textbox_block: Text box ~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/textbox_chooser.* :alt: Add text Add text to your page. This feature is used when you do not want to keep the text in a journal, e.g. just for small snippets of text. Add a new text box ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/textbox_configure.* :alt: Configure the text box block Configure the *Text box* block #. **Block title**: Provide a title for your text. #. **Block content**: Write your text. You can include formatting, external images etc. #. Alternatively, you can also :ref:`use text from another note ` that you have already written. #. **License**: You see this drop-down menu if the site administrator turned on :ref:`license metadata `. Additionally, if you are in an institution, your institution administrator :ref:`may require you to provide a license `. Your default license is displayed. You can set your default license in your :ref:`account settings `. You may choose a different license for each individual artefact. #. **Advanced licensing**: If you can / must enter license information, you can also provide information about the original licensor and a URL where the original can be found. #. **Tags**: :index:`Enter tags ` to find your text box more easily at a later stage. Separate your tags with commas. If you already have tags, you can click on the link *Show my tags* and select the ones that you think will fit for this collection as well. They will be entered into the text field for you. #. **Attachments**: :index:`Attach files ` to a text box as additional evidence for the text you are writing. The following steps show you how to do that. #. **Files area**: Choose from which files area you would like to select a file: * **My files**: You see all the folders and files that you have created. * **Group files**: You see all the :ref:`folders and files that you are allowed to publish `. * **Institution files**: If you are an institution administrator, you will see institution folders and files. * **Site files**: If you are a site administrator, you will see all site folders and files. Otherwise, you can only see the ones that are in the folder *public* in the *Site files*. #. License information: You see these fields if the site administrator turned on :ref:`license metadata `. Additionally, if you are in an institution, your institution administrator :ref:`may require you to provide a license `. * **License**: Your default license is displayed. You can set your default license in your :ref:`account settings `. You may choose a different license for each individual artefact. * **Licensor**: If you are uploading a file that somebody else created, you can attribute the work to them here and provide their name for example. * **Original URL**: If you are uploading somebody else's file, provide a link to the original Internet address so that others can go there and view the original file. #. **Upload file**: You do not have to go back to your *Files* area in *Content* in order to upload a file. You can do so directly from this screen. #. If the site administrator turned on the :ref:`image resizing option `, you can decide whether you want to have your images resized if they are larger than the specified dimensions. This option is recommended to save space in your portfolio. #. **Folder path**: The breadcrumbs show in which folder you are currently. #. You can still edit any component of the file, i.e. its file name, description and tags by clicking the *Edit* button. #. Choose the file or files you wish to display by clicking the *Select* button. .. warning:: When you place group, institution or site files into a page, beware that these files may not be available at some point anymore when the person in charge deletes them. #. You can also still select files (within folders) that have been submitted in another portfolio page. #. Click the *Remove* button to not display a specific file in this block anymore. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. note:: We recommend you do not include images that you have uploaded to Mahara in a text box. It cannot be guaranteed that they are displayed for other users if they do not have access to the image via another portfolio page. All access in Mahara is granted to pages and through them to the artefact blocks. An image in a text box is not recognized as artefact and can therefore not receive its proper permissions. .. index:: single: Re-usable text box .. _textbox_copy: Re-use text from an existing text box ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You can re-use text from other text boxes (a.k.a. :ref:`Notes `) from one page in another. .. warning:: If you do not make a copy of a text box content and change it, the text is changed in all other instances where this text box is used. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/textboxcopy_configure.* :alt: Configure the text box block by copying text Configure the *Text box* block by copying text #. **Block title**: Provide a title for your text. You should only enter it after you selected the text box to re-use as the title of the original text box will be entered. #. Click the link *Use content from another text box* to view all the text boxes to which you have access. These can be: * your own notes * text boxes from group pages that you can copy * text boxes from institution or site pages to which you have access #. Click *Browse* or *Search* to find the text box that you want to re-use. #. All text boxes are listed with their title and the first line. Click the radio button next to the text box that you want to use again. #. If a text box does not belong to you but a group for example, you see the author next to the text box title. #. Use the pager to move between your notes if more than 5 are displayed. #. The content of the text box that you have selected is displayed in the *Block content* box. You can now make changes. **The text will be changed in all other instances where this text box appears.** #. If you wish to make changes to the text but do not want to change it everywhere else, click the *Make a copy* link above the *Block content* in the red box. The text is then retained, but it is treated like a new text box. #. Click the *Manage all text box content* link to be taken to your personal *Notes* to make changes there instead of in an existing text box from this popup window here. #. **License**: You see this drop-down menu if the site administrator turned on :ref:`license metadata `. Additionally, if you are in an institution, your institution administrator :ref:`may require you to provide a license `. Your default license is displayed. You can set your default license in your :ref:`account settings `. You may choose a different license for each individual artefact. #. **Advanced licensing**: If you can / must enter license information, you can also provide information about the original licensor and a URL where the original can be found. #. **Tags**: :index:`Enter tags ` to find your text box more easily at a later stage. Separate your tags with commas. If you already have tags, you can click on the link *Show my tags* and select the ones that you think will fit for this collection as well. They will be entered into the text field for you. #. **Attachments**: :index:`Attach files ` to a text box as additional evidence for the text you are writing. .. note:: When you copy a text box, no files that are attached to the original text box are copied. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. seealso:: You can `watch a demo of this feature `_ in action. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Creative Commons license single: General block; Creative Commons license .. _creative_commons_block: Creative Commons license ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/creativecommons_chooser.* :alt: Add a Creative Commons license Add a block to your page which lets users know under which `Creative Commons license `_ your page is published. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/creativecommons_configure.* :alt: Configure the Creative Commons license block Configure the *Creative Commons license* block #. **Block title**: Choose a title for your block. #. **Allow commercial uses of your work?** Decide whether users can re-use your work for commercial purposes. #. **Allow modifications of your work?** Decide whether others can remix your work and create something new and if so under which conditions. #. |new in Mahara 1.9| **License version**: :index:`Select under which Creative Commons license ` you wish to publish your work. You can choose between * Creative Commons 3.0 * Creative Commons 4.0 .. seealso:: Check out `what is new in Creative Commons 4.0 `_, and why you may want to choose that license. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. seealso:: For more information about the licenses and their terms, visit the `Creative Commons website `_. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Navigation single: General block; Navigation .. _navigation_block: Navigation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/navigation_chooser.* :alt: Add a navigation block for a collection Add a navigation block to display links to pages in a collection. .. note:: You must create at least one :ref:`collection ` in order to use this block. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/navigation_configure.* :alt: Configure the navigation block Configure the *Navigation* block #. **Block title**: The title of the collection is chosen automatically unless you provide a different one. #. **Collection**: Choose the collection from the drop-down menu for which you wish to display links in the block. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Plans single: General block; Plans .. _plans_block: Plans ~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/plans_chooser.* :alt: Add a plan to your page Display one of your plans in a block. .. note:: You must create at least one :ref:`plan ` in order to use this block. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/plans_configure.* :alt: Configure the plans block Configure the *Plans* block #. **Block title**: The title of the plan is chosen automatically unless you provide a different one. #. **Plan to show**: Choose the plan which you want to display in your page. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. figure:: /images/plan_portfolio_page_nonumbers.* :alt: Embedded plan Result of an embedded plan in a portfolio page. By clicking on the linked titles, you can show the descriptions of the individual tasks. .. index:: pair: Blocks; My inbox single: General block; My inbox .. _inbox_block: Inbox ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/inbox_chooser.* :alt: My inbox block The *Inbox* block displays the latest messages that you have received. .. note:: This block can only be used on your dashboard. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/inbox_configure.* :alt: Configure the inbox block Configure the *Inbox* block #. **Block title**: The automatic title for this block is "Inbox". You can set another one if you wish. #. **Message types to display**: Place a check mark for each message type that you want to display in this block. #. **Maximum number of items to display**: Decide how many messages shall be shown on your dashboard. You can choose between 1 and 100. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: single: "Read" notification icon for user messages When you display messages from other users on your dashboard through the :ref:`Inbox ` block, you can see quickly which messages you have not read. They are marked in bold and have a closed envelope. Messages you have read are indicated by an open envelope. .. figure:: /images/message_read_icon_dashboard.* :alt: Unread messages have a closed envelope and are displayed in bold whereas read messages have an open envelope Unread messages have a closed envelope and are displayed in bold whereas read messages have an open envelope .. index:: pair: Blocks; Latest pages single: General block; Latest pages .. _latest_pages_block: Latest pages ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/newviews_chooser.* :alt: Latest pages block The *Latest pages* block displays the latest pages to which you have access across Mahara. .. note:: This block can only be used on your dashboard. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/newviews_configure.* :alt: Configure the latest pages block Configure the *Latest pages* block #. **Block title**: The automatic title for this block is "Latest pages". You can set another one if you wish. #. **Maximum number of pages to show**: Decide how many pages shall be shown on your dashboard. You can choose between 1 and 100. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: pair: Blocks; My watched pages single: General block; My watched pages .. _watchlist_block: Watched pages ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/watchlist_chooser.* :alt: My watched pages block The *Watched pages* block displays the pages that are on your watchlist. .. note:: This block can only be used on your dashboard. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/watchlist_configure.* :alt: Configure the watchlist block Configure the *Watched pages* block #. **Block title**: The automatic title for this block is "Watched pages". You can set another one if you wish. #. **Items to show**: Decide how many pages shall be shown on your dashboard. You can choose between 1 and 100. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Feedback single: General block; Feedback single: New in Mahara 1.9; Feedback block .. _feedback_block: |new in Mahara 1.9| Feedback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/feedback_chooser.* :alt: Add feedback as a block onto a page .. note:: This functionality is only available when the site administrator installed the blocktype plugin "Comment". It is installed by default in a new Mahara installation, but when a site is upgraded, the site administrator needs to install it manually in the :ref:`Extensions `. You can move the feedback section from the bottom of a page elsewhere onto your page to integrate it better with your page content. Please note the following: * There is no configuration possible for this block. * You only see feedback / comments when you display a page, but not in the edit mode. * If there is a lot of feedback on a page, it will be paginated so that it fits into the size of the block. * You can only place 1 feedback block onto a page as it contains the entire page feedback. * Feedback for individual artefacts is still placed at the bottom of the artefact details pages because you cannot put a block onto these pages. * You can move the block like any other block on your page. If you delete the block, the feedback is displayed at the bottom of the page again. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/feedback_display.* :alt: What the feedback block looks like on a page What the feedback block looks like on a page #. The block has the heading "Feedback" unless your Mahara installation uses a different word. #. When you click the *Place feedback* link, a pop-up is displayed in which you can enter your feedback with all the functionality as at the bottom of the page. #. There is no feedback link or display of feedback at the bottom of a page when you put a feedback block onto your page. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/feedback_popup.* :alt: Pop-up window for placing feedback when it is in a block Pop-up window for placing feedback when it is in a block When you place feedback in a block, you do so in a pop-up window. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Group info single: General block; Group info single: Statics about forum content in a group .. _group_info_block: Group info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupinfo_chooser.* :alt: Add the group info block This block is a default block on the group homepage. There is no configuration possible. .. note:: This block can only be used on a group homepage. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupinfo_block.* :alt: Items in the group info block Items in the group info block The block contains information about: #. group characteristics #. group administrator #. group creation date #. dates between which regular group members can participate in group activities #. group statistics * number of group members * number of pages created in the group * number of files uploaded to the group * number of folders created in the group * number of forums created in the group * number of forum topics created in the group * number of posts in forum topics in the group .. index:: pair: Blocks; Group members single: General block; Group members single: Display up to 100 members in the Group members block .. _group_members_block: Group members ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupmembers_chooser.* :alt: Add the group members block This block is a default block on the group homepage. You can display member profile pictures and their names. .. note:: This block can only be used on a group homepage. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupmembers_configure.* :alt: Configure the group pages block Configure the *Group members* block #. **Block title**: The automatic title for this block is "Members". You can set another one if you wish. #. **Shown members**: Choose how many members (between 1 and 100) are shown on the group homepage. All others are accessible via the *Members* tab in the group. The default number of members displayed is 12. #. **Order**: Choose the order in which members are displayed. Options are * **latest**: display members according to their group joining date in reverse chronological order * **random**: let Mahara decide which members to display #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Group pages single: General block; Group pages .. _group_pages_block: Group pages ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupviews_chooser.* :alt: Add the group pages block This block is a default block on the group homepage. You can display pages created in and / or shared with the group in this block. .. note:: This block can only be used on a group homepage. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/groupviews_configure.* :alt: Configure the group pages block Configure the *Group pages* block #. **Block title**: The automatic title for this block is "Group pages". You can set another one if you wish. #. **Display group pages**: Decide whether to display pages that were created in the group. "Yes" is the default option. #. **Display shared pages**: Decide whether to display pages that users shared with the group. "No" is the default option. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is. .. index:: pair: Blocks; Recent forum posts single: General block; Recent forum posts .. _recent_forum_posts_block: Recent forum posts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. image:: /images/page_editor/blocks/recentforumposts_chooser.* :alt: Add recent forum posts Display a specified number of recent forum posts from one group on a page. .. note:: You must be a member of at least one :ref:`group ` in order to use this block. .. figure:: /images/page_editor/blocks/recentforumposts_configure.* :alt: Configure the recent forum posts block Configure the *Recent forum posts* block #. **Block title**: The title of the block is generated automatically unless you provide a different one. The default title is "Recent forum posts". #. **Group**: Choose the group whose forum posts you wish to display. #. **Maximum number of posts to show**: Decide how many of the latest forum posts you wish to show. The default value is 5. You can show up to 100 posts. #. **Retractable**: Tick this checkbox if you want to allow users to reduce the block to its heading on a page. The user can click the *Retractable* icon |retractable| to just show the heading. #. **Automatically retract**: Tick this checkbox if you want to show only the block's heading when a user views the page. The user can click the *Retracted* icon |retracted| to view the entire block. #. Click the *Save* button to accept your changes, or click the *Cancel* button to leave the block's content as it is. The *Remove* button is shown only when you place the block into the page for the first time. #. You can also click the *Close* button |close| in the top right-hand corner to either remove a newly created block before it is being saved or to cancel any changes and leave the block's content as it is.