DE Oracle @ UMUC

Using the TFE: Creating Text Within the Text Entry Area

Basic instructions for using the TFE are included in the WebTycho Help website, at tychousa.umuc.edu/wtdocs/wthelp/html/usetfe.html. The information below builds on those instructions. The best resource for questions about using the TFE is the WebTycho Help Desk, available at the HELP button in the WebTycho classroom.

Setting Up the TFE: Browser Check

First and foremost, you need to ensure that you have the proper software installed on your computer to support the TFE. Even if you decide not to compose with the TFE, in order to see documents composed by others who have created a document with the TFE, you must have JavaScript 1.5.

In order to compose with the TFE, in addition to JavaScript 1.5, you will need the latest version of Java Virtual Machine (JVM). JVM is available from the Faculty Center within the WebTycho classroom or directly from java.com. Please consult WebTycho's Help and Support site for more information regarding technical requirements when using the TFE.

Ideally, your Java settings in your browser should look like this:


Make sure your Java (JVM) version is at least version 1.4.2 and your JavaScript is version 1.5.

Enabling the TFE

Once logged into WebTycho you need to ensure that the TFE is enabled. Select Options--> Account Preferences, then select the radio button next to Enable Text Formatting Editor. Confirm your action by clicking on the Submit button. The TFE is now enabled.

Loading the TFE

When loading the TFE for the first time you will have to approve the installation of an applet. The following Warning - Security window will open. Your selection can be either "Yes" or "Always". (The exact appearance of this warning window will depend on your browser.)

Once you have given approval for the applet, the TFE will load. Depending on your connection speed, this could take several moments. You will need to let the TFE completely load before you can start composing your content.

This example illustrates a generic view of the TFE.

Editor Features

The TFE offers many basic features found in traditional word processing software.

Below is an example of text composed directly in the TFE.

Insert Table

To insert a table, click on the Insert Table icon of the editor. This opens the Insert Table window. Here you can select the properties of a new table. Click the OK button once you are done specifying the table properties.

Table Formatting

After you have created the table, you can customize its appearance with various formatting options, available on the toolbar, or from a context-sensitive menu if you right-click within the table itself. For example, to merge or split cells, use the tools shown below, or to select Background Color for the table or cell, use the Properties menu available if you right-click from within the table/cell.

Insert Hyperlink

To insert a hyperlink, click on the Hyperlink icon.

This will open the Insert Hyperlink window where you can specify "Text to display" and "Address" (URL). Alternatively, you can select a word/phrase from the document, then click on the Hyperlink icon and enter the URL in the "Address" field.

Once you select the OK button, the hyperlink will immediately appear in the document. It will be active once you submit.

Insert Image

To insert an image, select the Insert Image icon. You can either select an image from your local drive or from the Image Library in your classroom, if you have images already filed there.

Every image that you add in documents created with the TFE will be stored in the "Image Library" for future reuse. The images in the library are stored in the Place holder for Files folder located under the Course Content menu in WebTycho. (For Fall 2005, images that students add using the TFE are also placed in the classroom's Place holder for Files.)

Instructors may also upload images (and other filetypes) directly to the Place holder for Files for future use from within the TFE, as described below. 

If you insert an image from the Image Library into a TFE-enabled textbox in WebTycho text, the image itself may not display until you submit. 

 

"Place Holder for Files"

The "Place holder for Files" found in all WebTycho Course Content areas starting Fall 2005 is the resident folder for image and other files that can be linked-to from text areas in the classroom via the TFE. You may wish to edit this Content item/folder to give it a more descriptive name. If you will only place images in it, you can name it, for example, "Class images." It will function in the same way, no matter what it is named.

The Image Library (referred to above) is located in Place holder for Files. You can attach image files and Word or Excel Files in Place holder for Files, and then link to them from within text you place in the TFE.

Files are placed in Place holder for Files by both students and instructors, by 1 of 3 methods:

1. Direct Upload to Place holder for Files. Only instructors have this option, but it is the most efficient method. From the Faculty Center, select Manage Course Content, then Edit Place holder for Files. Go through a normal file attachment process. Up to 5 files can be attached at a time, up to a virtually unlimited total number of files.
   
   Since the files cannot be reordered or renamed once uploaded, give meaningful names to the files before attaching them. This facilitates identifying them later.
2. Direct Attachment of Image Files via the TFE. As noted above, the TFE has an option to search any user's local computer directory to locate and attach an image within the text. When the text box is submitted to WebTycho, the image is uploaded to the Place holder for Files. The original filename is retained, so careful file naming is helpful for identifying the file for possible reuse later.
3. Indirect Attachment of Image Files via the TFE. Embedded images in MS Word documents that are pasted into the TFE also are uploaded to Place holder for Files when the text is submitted within WebTycho. These images have unrecognizable alphanumeric filenames in the Image Library, and this method of attaching images can cause delays in the Submit process.

Identifying the Images in the Image Library/Place holder for Files

The easiest way at present to view the images in Place holder for Files is to click on the title of the placeholder folder and then click individually on the individual image icons gathered there. Any images that haven't been given recognizable filenames or that were uploaded via embedment in a pasted file are difficult to identify in any other way.

Instructors may wish to make the Place holder for Files item available to students so they also can click on the attachments to identify the images located there, should they wish to link to any of them. To make Place holder for Files viewable in the Course Content submenu, from the Faculty Center, select to Manage Content/Edit place holder for files, select to make the link visible, and Submit. (Remember: The title "placeholder for files" can be changed to "Class Image Library" or some other name, as desired.)

Using the TFE: Pasting Formatted Text in the Text Entry Area

In general, the TFE reproduces many basic formatting commands applied to text created in either a word processor or an HTML editor when the text is copied and pasted into the TFE. However, individually applied formatting is not necessarily reproduced faithfully. For example, the basic Heading levels available in the toolbar of MS Word are reproduced as standards within the TFE, but individually applied colors and size and style commands often are not. Tables are reproduced, but table backgrounds may not be. In addition, the TFE does not recognize multiple levels of indentation or outline levels, and it recognizes only 3 basic seraph fonts and 1 non-seraph font.

Copying from MS Word and Non-published HTML Documents

If composing in MS Word, it's best to use only built-in formatting commands and apply others sparingly, since elaborate formatting will have to be reapplied manually once the text is pasted into the TFE.

If Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) styles are used in an originating HTML document, the CSS formatting is not likely to be reproduced within the TFE.

Copying from Published Webpages

When copy/pasting from published webpages, you may find that much if not all of the formatting is reproduced well within the TFE. Any images will be reproduced as linking to the origininating website's images rather than as pasted images... the images are not "acquired" by the TFE.

TFE Design View vs. HTML View

As a side-benefit to those who are familiar with HTML, the TFE allows hand-coding and editing in HTML mode, via changing the View to HTML. In fact, the TFE and HTML input types are now closely interchangeable.

Final Note:

As with any application the Text Formatting Editor has some limitations. You must download and install Sun Microsystem's JVM in order for the editor to work. If you experience problems with the TFE please contact UMUC360 at 888-360-UMUC (8682) or 301-985-6710 or UMUC360 they are there to assist and can be reached 24/7.