bb tour anz 2017 - workshop - enhancing learn css
Post on 21-Mar-2017
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Enhancing Learn 9.1 using CSS
Michael Garner
Sustainable Theming Practices
Styling the environment
Styling the environment
• Creates consistency for improved user Experience
• Sense of ownership and inclusion in the large enterprise solution set
• Can support innovative pedagogical practices
• And many more . . .
Planning…who do we involve…it’s important
• Involve Marketing and/or Corporate Web team . . . Why?
• Usability feedback from users
• Allow time– Run as a project or build ample time into upgrade
timeline– Storyboard ideas, create mockups, design brief
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Creating your own design brief
Local development - Workstation Setup
• Developer VM–https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-1104
• Zip Tool–Windows OS may have issues with native zip tool
• CSS Editor of your choice–Brackets (http://brackets.io/)
Anatomy of a Bb Learn Theme
• Download the Bb Default 2016 Theme
• Extract Files
• Navigate to zip folder
Anatomy of Bb Learn Theme
• Two root folders–Core–Plugins
• Main focus – ‘core’ folder
• Core folder contains most of the CSS files used by Learn
Anatomy of a Bb Learn Theme
• The theme.css contains the stylesheet includes that get combined into the main theme file when uploaded. I prefer to make all the changes and additions to this file to minimise file edits
• NOTE: Theme.css is not referenced when viewing My Blackboard pages. app_nav.css is used
Customising the theme
• First, let’s change the tab background
• Right click in the tab background and select Inspect Element
Customising the theme
Customising the theme
• If making significant changes:
• Add css changes to end of app_nav.css rather than finding and changing original values
Customising the theme
• Can also break into additional files and import into theme.css
Customising the theme– responsive CSS
• You can use the 480/768.css files or include you own by placing CSS code in between
@media only screenand (min-width:320px) and (max-width:480px) {
.global-nav-bar .logout-link { width: 30px; }
.global-nav-bar { font-size: 13px; height: 30px; }
}
Deploying your custom theme
• Once you have updated the CSS files, change is complete, zip up core and plugins directories
• Using a command line script can expedite this process
Deploying your custom theme
• Upload zip file to System Admin > Brands and Themes > Theme & Palette Catalog
• Great article on automating this process using the content system–https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-3285-customizing-the-blackboard-
learn-experience-with-css
• Create at least one course, instructor and student accounts for testing
Customising the theme
• Once you have updated the CSS files, change is complete, zip up core and plugins directories
• Using a command line script can expedite this process
Code
TestAdjust
Customising the theme – Reducing impact of upgrades
• Upgrades are a reality
• Plan theme updates into your upgrade plan
• Separate enhancements from original code and COMMENT appropriately
• Use a diff tool to review latest theme with your custom theme
Customisation – Reducing impact of upgrades
Reduce the pain of upgrades by minimising:
• Major page layout changes
• If using bootstrap elements, extract the required elements and adjust for inclusion in theme package. Do not simply include the bootstrap css files.
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Some great theme examples
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Considerations for SaaS – Learn 9.1 NOT ULTRA
For those considering a transition to the AWS SaaS hosting platform running Learn 9.1, some considerations:
• Continuous Delivery – updates every 2-4 weeks
• Ongoing theme updates
• Understanding the impact of your theme updates
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Resources
• Blackboard Help: https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Learn/Administrator/Hosting/User_Interface_Management/040_Brands_and_Themes/050_Themes/Learn_2016_Theme
• Customising the Blackboard Learn Experience: https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-3285-customizing-the-blackboard-learn-experience-with-css
• Show us your Blackboard: https://community.blackboard.com/message/11768#comment-11768
For more information please contact me:
Michael.Garner@blackboard.com
@mikegarnr
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