Content can be created and edited within Terra Dotta using a WYSIWYG editor. This acronym, which stands for "What You See is What You Get", is pronounced as "Wiz-ee-wig".

WYSIWYG editors are frequently used by administrators when taking such actions as creating or editing program brochure content, the site home page, email notifications, and process elements. Options appear from which an admin can insert and modify text, images, tables, hyperlinks, and documents. Applicants also use WYSIWYG editors when they are prompted to answer an essay question in a questionnaire.

This article will discuss the following topics:

Email Notifications
Template
Document Center
Mail Merge
Image Library
Style Editor
Links
Tables
Advanced Formatting Options
Content Management: Embed Media HTML
Frequently Asked Questions

Important Notes:

To access a file link, regardless of whether or not the file's security context is public or private, the recipient must be logged in.
Pasting from Microsoft Word or another word processing application directly into the WYSIWYG field is not recommended. If this is necessary, it is recommended to first copy your content into a plain-text editor in order to strip away HTML the word processor may have added.
The WYSIWYG editor may function differently depending on the browser you are using (i.e. FireFox, Edge, Safari, Chrome). If you are experiencing difficulty with an action, try changing your browser.
Some WYSIWYG editors offer more options than others. For example, the embed media option does not appear in email notification editors but does appear in Content Management when creating signature documents, materials, and assessments.
If your office requires users to access files without first logging into your site, then the Document Center should be used. Documents uploaded via a site's Document Center will always be accessible without requiring the user to be logged into your site and thus should not be considered secure.

Email Notifications

When sending an email to a specific applicant via the Admin Console's Application Admin Manager or via batch action to multiple applicants in Application Finder, a WYSIWYG editor will appear with the following options:

Template

Using this drop-down menu, an admin can access any existing email templates to which they have access. Custom email templates are created and managed from Admin Settings.

Document Center

Clicking on the yellow file folder icon opens up access to the Document Center modal. From here, an admin can choose a file for which an access link will be generated within the WYSIWYG editor.

Two options appear: Existing File and New File.

Existing File

This menu displays documents that have previously been added to your site's Document Center via Site > Document Center. These documents should not be considered secure because anyone with the URL of the document can access the document without needing to be logged into your site.

New File

From this menu, an admin can choose a new file to upload from a local hard drive.

First, a selection must be made regarding the file's security context: should the file be private or public.

Public:

The uploaded file will be accessible to any logged-in user with the URL of the document.
A warning will be displayed to the admin as follows: Any images or other files linked or embedded through the WYSIWYG editor into the body of the message are accessible by public URL, meaning that no secured access restrictions are applied. Do not attach sensitive or confidential information.

Private:

The uploaded file will only be accessible by the logged-in users listed in the email's recipient list in the "To" field. Private files will not be visible to recipients listed in the "CC" or "BCC" fields of the email.
A warning will be displayed the the admin as follows: Any images or other files linked or embedded through the WYSIWYG editor into the body of the message will ONLY be accessible by those users who are listed in the Email Recipients, i.e., the users who are in the results of the query you ran before getting here. If you uncheck the box next to a user, they won't receive the email with the link to the file, but they will have access to the file if they were to obtain the link from another source.

Important Note: For emails generated in the classic interface only, an admin can first select the security context for the file and then have access to modifying the email recipient list. Any recipients who were selected (i.e. checked off) at the time the file was uploaded and the security context was added will have access to the file, even if they are unchecked after the security context was added.

Mail Merge

This functionality allows you to select placeholders for standard information that will be populated with data based on the user and account settings. This includes information such as app cycle and program name along with applicant and program parameters, which allows you to easily personalize messages. Placeholders entered correctly will be highlighted yellow. The highlight will not appear in the content displayed to recipients.

Image Library

Clicking this icon opens up a modal from which you can select an existing image from your site's Image Library. Images may be organized in folders that can be accessed using the "Image Folder" drop-down menu. You also have have the option to upload a new image for use.

After selecting the desired image, click "Ok" to insert the image into the WYSIWYG editor.

To learn more about how to add images to your Image Library, refer to the Managing the Image Library article.

Style Editor

A drop-down menu provides a variety of formatting options for your text, including font sizes, containers, strike throughs, and more.

Tables

A menu appears after clicking on the "Table" icon which prompts you to enter the number of row, columns, and other specifications for your table. Click on "Ok" to insert the table. You can further edit the table via the "Advanced" tab.

Advanced Formatting Options

These include the following:

Bold
Italics
Underline
Numbered List
Bulleted List
Indent Options

Content Management: Embed Media HTML

When creating or updating signature documents, learning content, assessments, or materials in Content Management, the option to embed media HTML appears in the WYSIWYG editor. After clicking on this icon, a modal appears in which an admin can past in the embed code for media. Use this option when you want to display a video to applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I make text wrap around an image?
Typically, this can be solved by adjusting the justification or alignment of the image. After inserting the image into the WYSIWYG editor, double click on the image. An "Image Properties" modal will appear from which you can set the alignment of the image. Then the text should wrap around the image accordingly.

2. How can I add space between an image and the text?
After inserting the image into the WYSIWYG editor, double click on the image. An "Image Properties" modal will appear from which you can adjust the spacing.

3. I'm having issues with single spacing, double spacing and no spacing - help!
If you're having trouble creating paragraphs with single spaces between them, press the "Shift" key on your keyboard as you press enter. This should prevent it from automatically double spacing, or not adding any spaces as it may look in the preview or finished page.

4. How can I add a space between bullet points or numbered list items?
As you press enter, hit the "Shift" key to add a space between list items without adding another bullet or number to your list. Note: This tip works best in Firefox or Chrome.

The Knowledgebase

Study Abroad: Using the WYSIWYG Editor