Create Enhanced Documents Using Block Options

This article explains how to create documents using block options to produce a variety of layout enhancements.

When to Use?

Enhanced documents provide new and robust options for content design. All enhancements work beautifully using a mouse, trackpad, or the keyboard. All enhancements are mobile friendly for instructors and students. 

Procedure

Prior to the update for creating documents, choices for adding content appeared as:

 

Updates provide content blocks, which allow for greater flexibility in document design.

To create a document using content blocks, click the purple plus sign to create a new document.

After giving the document a title, click on the type of content block to add content. Choices include:

 

• Content block 
  Add content via the content editor. This is the same content editor as before.
• HTML block 
  Add content via HTML or CSS in the document. 

• File upload block 
  Browse for files on the local machine to upload to the document. 
• Content Collection block 
• Browse the Content Collection and select a file to add to the document. 
• Convert a file block 
  Browse for files on the local machine. Once selected, the system converts the file into the document format. Supported file types include PDF, PowerPoint (ppt, pptx, pps), and Word (doc, docx, odt). (In this release, the option to convert a file is only available in the main authoring space. In the Add Content panel (the + menu), the option to convert a file doesn’t appear. Anthology will correct this in an upcoming release. )
• Image block: Instructors can use image blocks to upload their own images, use the AI Design Assistant to generate images, or select images from Unsplash. Image blocks can be moved throughout a Document, just like other block types. Instructors have the option to resize images, set height, and maintain aspect ratios in image blocks.
• Cloud upload block 
  Login to a cloud service and select a file to add into the document. 

Import from Cloud Options

 

Documents Menu Bar

The menu bar remains in view as the instructor scrolls the document to view, add, or edit content. The menu bar contains the edit option when in the view state. After selecting edit, the menu bar displays the following options: 

• Edit 
• Add Blocks 
• Undo/Redo 
• Cancel 
• Save 

You can open the left panel by selecting the + and choosing the desired block. 

 

 

Add blocks from the left panel or select the purple + to add a block as a row

 

Editing, Resizing, and Moving Blocks 

Click the Edit button whenever you need to edit the document.

 

You can create appealing layouts by resizing and dragging/dropping blocks into columns and rows. 

• Each row includes a menu with options to move or delete the block. 
• Each block includes a menu with options to edit, move, resize, or delete the block. 

Move, expand, and shrink options via keyboard controls

 

Enhanced Document Examples with Diverse Content Laid Out in Rows and Columns

Example 1

 

Example 2