Creating content

Content can be created directly in Heropa using the Content module. Once created in the Content module, it can be used in Courses, Environments and Events. 

When creating a content item, there are two types to select from: 

1. Custom: Use this if content is to be created directly in Heropa.
2. External: Use this to incorporate content hosted externally to Heropa within the Content panel. 

Content is comprised of Sections and Exercises. Once created, sections and exercises can be flexibly edited, re-ordered, and deleted.

In this section: 

Creating a new content item

Adding custom content

Adding external content

Managing content sections

Creating a new content item

1. From the Left Navigation menu choose Content, to view the Content library. From the Content library, click Add from the Top Navigation menu.
2. In the Create new content window complete the following information:
   • Company: Select the company that will own the content.
     • Users with a global role type can create content for any company. Users with a company role type can create content for their own company only.
     • Select 'Share with all companies' if the content is to be available to all companies. For more information, see: Sharing resources across Companies.
   • Type: Select Custom to add content directly into the Content module; or External to add content hosted externally to exercises within the Content module.
   • Name: This is the name that will appear in the Content library
3. Once the above information is complete, click Add. You will be returned to the Content List page.

Adding custom content

A content item must be checked out before content can be added to it. See: Editing content.

Once checked out, custom content is added by first creating sections, and then exercises within sections. 

Adding Sections

1. On the Content details page select the Details tab, and then click Add Section.
2. In the Create new section window enter a name for the section, then click Create. Section names are visible to end users.

Adding Exercises

1. At the end of the Section row, click the + icon to add an exercise to the section. 
2. In the Create new exercise window enter a name for the exercise, and then click Create. Exercise names are visible to end users.

Adding content to Exercises

The rich text editor allows for any form of content can be added to an exercise, i.e. text, images, links, document attachments, audio and video files. To add content to the exercise click on the exercise name, or click Edit exercise at the end of the row.

Note: We find the copy and paste functionality to be more reliable in non-Microsoft browsers, and  recommend you use a non-Microsoft browser (Chrome or Firefox) when working in the content editor.

Images

To add images simply copy and paste them from your local computer’s clipboard. Use the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keyboard shortcuts (on a PC) or Cmd+C and Cmd+V (on a Mac)

Note: The Heropa workspace display is responsive so images do not need to be re-sized.

Content from other sources

To copy content from a pre-existing source (MS word / PDF / html) use the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keyboard shortcuts (on a PC) or Cmd+C and Cmd+V (on a Mac).

Converting MS Word documents

Before you start copying and pasting content from MS Word documents into Heropa, there's a few steps we recommend to make it easier to edit in Heropa.

1. Remove bullets and numbering

In MS Word, from menu choose Format > Bullets and Numbering...

In the Bullets and Numbering window, select None for all options.

2. Remove all heading style indentations

Check all the headings in your document for indentations, remove them, then reapply the new style to the entire document.

Adding external content

A content item must be checked out before content can be added to it. See: Editing content.

Once checked out, external content is added by first creating sections, and then exercises within sections. 

Adding Sections

1. On the Content details page select the Details tab, and then click Add Section.
2. In the Create new section window enter a name for the section, then click Create. Section names are visible to end users.

Adding Exercises

1. At the end of the Section row, click the + icon to add an exercise to the section. 
2. In the Create new exercise window enter a name for the exercise, and then click Create. Exercise names are visible to end users.

Adding content to Exercises

Because the content type is external, adding content to exercises simply requires adding a URL. 

This will then display the content from that URL in the exercise in the Content panel of the user's workspace.

Managing content sections

Inserting sections from other content items

Alternatively, entire sections of content from other content items can be inserted. Once the content item is checked out:

1. On the Content details page, from the Action dropdown menu, select Insert content.
2. In the Insert content section window, select the Content item and the section to be inserted, then click Insert.

Re-ordering content

Reorder sections and exercises by dragging them with the reorder icon.

Previewing content

Use the Preview button to preview content as you go. 

Configuring ratings and comments

On the Content details page select the Configuration tab.

There are 2 toggles here that allow default settings to be set for the content being created. These are:

• Allow comments by default
• Allow ratings by default

If the toggles are off, then by default, the Content will not allow comments or ratings.

This can be configured here in the Content module. Alternatively, these can be set within a Course,  Environment or Event, when content is used there.  

How to see which environments are using the content 

On the Content details page select the Environments tab. This contains a list of all environments using the content.

Synchronizing updated content

Content can be updated at any time in the Content module.

If content is being used in a Course, Environment or Event, and is subsequently updated, the content in them remains static until it is synchronized at that level. 

See: Synchronizing updated content

Next...

Adding content

Editing content