How do I create hyperlinks to course or group content in the Rich Content Editor?

When using the Rich Content Editor, you can insert links to course or group content. You may be able to link to content in Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, Announcements, Discussions and Modules. You can also insert links that, when clicked, act like Navigation links.

To create links to documents, images, or media files, learn about adding document, image, and media file links.

Note: To create hyperlinks to group content or Group Navigation links, you must open the Rich Content Editor within a group.

00:07: How do I create hyperlinks to course or group content in the Rich Content Editor? 00:12: When using the Rich Content Editor, or RCE, you can insert links to previously created course or group content. To add group content open the RCE from within a group. 00:24: Place your cursor in the RCE location where you want the link to appear or select the text that you want to link. 00:31: In the toolbar, select Link Options and select Course Link or Groups Link. 00:36: Use the Add menu to select the linked content. Content items are grouped by content type. Click the arrow icon next to the content type to expand it. 00:46: Click the item you want to link. The text will flash before turning into the hyperlink. 00:52: To search for content, type at least three characters in the Search field. 00:57: With the Add menu open, you can select additional text to link using your cursor. 01:02: Click the name of the item you want to link. 01:05: You can also drag and drop content links by dragging and dropping an item to the desired location in the RCE. 01:12: To insert a link displaying the name of the content item, place the cursor in the location where you want the link to appear. 01:19: Inserted Course Navigation links inserted will navigate users to that course feature page when clicked. 01:25: Click the X to close the Add menu. 01:28: Click the "Save" button when you are done editing. 01:31: This guide covered how to create hyperlinks to course or group content in the Rich Content Editor.

Open Rich Content Editor

Open Rich Content Editor

Open the Rich Content Editor when creating or editing an announcement, discussion, or page.

Note: The Rich Content Editor supports keyboard shortcuts. To view the Keyboard Shortcuts menu, click the Keyboard icon or press ALT+F8 (PC keyboard) or Option+F8 (Mac keyboard).

Select Link Location

To insert a link displaying the name of a course or group content item, click to place your cursor in the location in the Rich Content Editor where you want the link to appear [1].

To insert a hyperlink on text to a content item, select the text for the hyperlink [2].

Open Course Link

In the toolbar, click the Links icon [1] and select the Course Link option [2].

Notes:

  • You can also link to course files such as images, media files, and documents [3].
  • To view the Links icon, you may have to click the Options icon [4].  
Open Group Link

When using the Rich Content Editor within groups, you can create a link to group content.

In the toolbar, click the Link icon [1] and select the Group Link option [2].

Notes:

Select Course or Group Content

Select Course or Group Content

Use the Add menu to select the linked content. By default, the Add drop-down menu displays Links for content [1]. You can also add document, image, and media file links.

To search for course or group content, type at least three characters in the Search field [2].

Content items are grouped by content type. To view a list of group content items, click the arrow icon next to the content type [3]. Then click the name of the item you want to link in the Rich Content Editor [4].

Notes:

  • The text flashes before turning into the hyperlink.
  • You may be able to link to course or group content in Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, Announcements, Discussions, Modules, and Navigation items.

Add Course or Group Content

Add Coure or Group Content

To add a content item, open the group content section [1] and click the Add one! link [2].

Insert Navigation Link

You can also insert Navigation links from the Add menu. To insert a Navigation link, click the Group Navigation or Course Navigation drop-down menu [1]. Then select the navigation link [2].

When a user clicks on an inserted Navigation link, Canvas navigates them to that feature area page.

Drag and Drop Content Links

Drag and Drop Group Content Links

You can also choose to drag and drop content links from the Add menu by selecting the item [1] and dragging and dropping it to the desired location in the Rich Content Editor [2].

View Link

View the link displaying the name of the content item [1] or the hyperlinked text [2].

Edit Hyperlink

To edit a content link, hover over the text for your hyperlink and click the Link Options link [1].

View the current linked course or group content [2].

To replace the course or group content link, enter at least three characters in the Search field [3]. Or you can use the feature area sections to find and replace the content [4].

Click the Replace button [5].

Save Changes

Save Changes

Click the Save button.

Notes:

  • The assignment, discussion, pages, and quizzes details pages display a Save & Publish button.
  • The Syllabus page displays an Update Syllabus button.
  • Discussion replies display a Reply button.

View Content Link

View Content Link

View the content. To view the linked course content, click the inserted link [1].

Note: Links to external URLs display an Open icon [2].