Recent Updates

  • You can use the Rich Content Editor to record a video. You can record media for any length of time, but shorter video recordings are recommended. If your video is longer than 15 minutes, you may want to consider recording and uploading using an external provider. Longer media lengths require a longer rendering time and may be interrupted without a stable internet connection.

    The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    Canvas videos also support caption files. Once you record and save your video, learn how to add captions to a video.

  • You can use the auto-open inline preview for files in the Rich Content Editor. Canvas can preview any file that is supported by the document previewer. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    Notes:

    • You can have multiple files auto-open, but you have to go through the steps in this lesson every time you want to add another auto-open file preview in a feature that uses the Rich Content Editor.
    • In Pages and the Syllabus, the Content Selector sidebar includes visual style updates and content section pagination. However, the overall functionality of the Content Selector throughout Canvas is the same.
  • Canvas has an integrated tool for math and science formulas based on LaTeX, the industry standard for academic publication. The LaTeX Math Editor is built into the Rich Content Editor. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus). Canvas also includes the option to create equations and expressions with its graphical point-and-click editor.

    The Math Editor can be used for basic mathematical formatting for introductory math courses or for more advanced mathematical text for higher-level math courses. Both students and instructors have access to the editor.

    For more help, download the following PDF files:

    Note: To have characters #, $, %, &, ^, _, {, and } appear in the Rich Content Editor, when your equation is inserted, you must use Advanced View and type a backslash (\) before the character. The ~ character can be inserted through Advanced View by typing \~~. The $ character can be inserted through Basic View by typing \$$.

  • If your course has enabled Google Apps, you can create a document, slide presentation, or spreadsheet using Google Drive and then embed that document anywhere you can use the Rich Content Editor in Canvas. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    In Google, you can link or embed files. When files are linked in the Rich Content Editor, the link displays the exact name of the file. Please ensure your file names are correct before linking a file. For embedded files, any time you edit the Google document, it will be automatically updated in Canvas.

    Note: If you cannot view the Google Drive icon in the Rich Content Editor, you can still include your file by creating a hyperlink or publishing your Google content to the web and pasting the embed code in the HTML editor.

  • If your course has enabled Microsoft Office 365, you can link documents from your OneDrive folder anywhere you can use the Rich Content Editor in Canvas. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    When files are linked in the Rich Content Editor, the link displays the exact name of the file. Please ensure your file names are correct before linking a file.

    Note: If you cannot view the Google Drive icon in the Rich Content Editor, you can still include your file by creating a hyperlink or publishing your Google content to the web and pasting the embed code in the HTML editor.

  • You can use the Content Selector to insert and upload course images into the Rich Content Editor. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    Notes:

    • If you do not need to upload images, you can embed images using the Rich Content Editor Embed Image functionality.
    • In Pages and the Syllabus, the Content Selector sidebar includes visual style updates and content section pagination. However, the overall functionality of the Content Selector throughout Canvas is the same.
  • Updated on: Oct 08, 2024

    How do I access the Rich Content Editor?

  • You can easily create and upload caption files when you add video content in the Rich Content Editor. The Rich Content Editor is used in features that support the editor (Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, or Syllabus).

    This lesson only applies to creating captions for videos created or uploaded into Canvas. If you've created a video outside of Canvas that you want to share in your course, learn how to create captions for external videos.

    If you have not yet created or uploaded your video, learn how to record a new video or upload an existing video.

    Note: Users can view video captions in the Canvas by Instructure mobile app. However, iOS devices can only display captions in WebVTT format. If you use another format besides WebVTT, users on iOS devices will not be able to display the video captions.

  • Some videos within Canvas may contain closed-captioned files. You can view the captions in the closed-captioning menu.

    Note: If you view a video in the Canvas by Instructure app, iOS devices can display captions created with WebVTT files. If you cannot view video captions in an iOS device, the caption type is not supported.