Use the Rich Content Editor to Modify Text, Insert Links, Attach Files, and Connect Apps

Last updated on December 10, 2021

The Rich Content Editor is used throughout Canvas. Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and the Syllabus all feature large text boxes with a toolbar across the top where text and media can be entered. This is the Rich Content Editor, and the instructions in this tutorial will work wherever the Rich Content Editor is available. The Editor allows you to easily modify text, share links, attach files, and connect apps. It also lets you add images and embed videos; refer to the “Insert Images Using the Rich Content Editor” and “Embed a Video on a Page” tutorials for more information.

Directions

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Canvas in the Teaching & Learning section.
3. Log in to your Canvas Account.
4. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
5. Click Modules on the course navigation menu to the left.
6. Scroll to the Module that contains the item you wish to edit.
7. Click the Name of the item you wish to edit.
8. Click Edit.
9. Click the Large Text Box. This is the Rich Content Editor.

To Modify Text

1. Click and drag to Highlight the Text you wish to modify.
2. Click one of the Options above the text box to modify the text. 
   • Note: If some of the following options are not available above the text box, click on the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) on the right of the toolbar for a more complete list.
   • Options include:
     • Font size (e.g. 12 pt)
     • Text formatting (e.g. Paragraph, Heading 1)
     • Bold
     • Italic
     • Underline
     • Text color (must also be bold or italicized for accessibility purposes)
     • Highlight color
     • _Subscript/^Superscript (these functions are not accessible)
     • Text alignment (e.g. centered text)
     • List options (e.g. bullet points, numbered list)
     • Indentation

To Insert a Link

1. Click the Hyperlink Icon (it looks like chain links).
   • Note: If you do not see this icon, click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots).
2. Select the Link Type.
   • External Links: link to a URL outside of Canvas.
     1. Type the Text that will be displayed in Canvas (i.e., the title of the webpage or reading you are linking to).
     2. Type the URL that the text will link to.
     3. Click Done.
   • Course Links: link to a page, assignment, or other items within your course.
     1. Click the Arrow next to the type of item you wish to add.
     2. Click the Name of the item.

To Insert an Image

1. Refer to our Tutorial to learn how to Insert Images Using the Rich Content Editor.

To Embed a Video

1. Refer to our Tutorials on how to Embed a Video on a Page and Embed Videos from Yuja.

To Attach a Document

1. Click the Document Icon (resembles a piece of paper).
   • Note: If you do not see this icon, click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots).
2. Select the Document Type.
   • Upload document: the file is on your computer.
   • Course document: the file is in your Canvas account.
   • User document: the file has been submitted by a student in your course.
3. Follow the Onscreen Prompts to add your file.
4. Click Submit (if applicable for your document type).
5. Click Save.

To Connect an App

You can also access the various features of apps through the Rich Content Editor. For example, you can access files from your Google Drive account using Google Apps, or you can insert a link to a Teams meeting using the Microsoft Teams app (Visit the “Integrate Microsoft Teams” tutorial for more information).

1. Click the Apps Icon (resembles an electrical plug).
   1. Note: This may be in the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) rather than in your toolbar above the text box.
2. Click on the Name of the App you wish to connect.
3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts (they vary significantly by app).
4. Click Save.