User Guide QuickStart Wizard

Overview

Ensure the QuickStart Wizard is available to your users

The QuickStart Wizard launch button will show for all users when all of the following criteria are met:

The institution has enabled the QuickStart Wizard via Account Settings or JavaScript (this tool is disabled by default).
The user is editing an item where the sidebar would work.
The user has access to DesignPLUS (regardless of whether the sidebar launch button is hidden).
The Rich Content Editor is empty when it loads.

Please note that the QuickStart Wizard launch button will load regardless of whether the sidebar launch button has been hidden.

designplus quickstart wizard launch button

Use this tool to:

Quickly apply template content when creating a new page.
Provide access to template content for non-sidebar users.

Related Tools:

Video Guide

Interface

Learn about the different components in the QuickStart Wizard tool interface.

General Interface

general interface of the quickstart wizard

1.) Content Preview: This area will display a preview of the content you have created. You can reorder or remove sections of content in the preview. On the first load, the preview will display instructions for new users.
2.) Templates and Blocks Tabs: Choose between adding templates (replaces all page content) or content blocks (adds chunks of content to the bottom of the page).
3.) Add to Editor button: Takes the content from the preview and inserts it into the Rich Content Editor. This button is disabled until content is added to the preview.
4.) Cancel button: Closes the QuickStart Wizard without saving the preview.
5.) Close button: Closes the QuickStart Wizard without saving the preview.

Templates Tab

1.) Search Filter: Filter available templates by keyword.
2.) Source Filter: Filter available templates by source (current course, extended course, primary course, Cidi Labs). Please note that Cidi Labs source templates may not be available if your institution has disabled Cidi Labs imports.
3.) Category Panels: Expand and collapse available templates by category.
4.) Item buttons: Hover to see a preview of the template content. Click on the button to replace the content in the preview area.
5.) Course Items Selector: This dropdown allows you to select any course item of the same type as the item you're editing and use it as a template. Pages are available for all content types.

Blocks Tab

1.) Collection Filter: Filter available blocks by collection (page source).
2.) Search Filter: Filter available blocks by keyword.
3.) Source Filter: Filter available blocks by source (current course, extended course, primary course, or Cidi Labs). Please note that Cidi Labs source blocks may not be available if your institution has disabled Cidi Labs imports.
4.) Category Panels: Expand and collapse available blocks by category.
5.) Item buttons: Hover to see a preview of the block. Click on the button to add the block to the bottom of the content in the preview area.

Instructions

Enable the QuickStart Wizard at your institution (admin required)

Open your institution’s Primary Customizations Course (or an Extended Customizations Course, if you want the Wizard available only to a particular Canvas subaccount).
Select the [Account Settings] page.
Select the Edit button for the the [Account Settings] page. Launch the DesignPLUS Sidebar.
Open the Advanced tab of the DesignPLUS Sidebar.
- Note: If you do not see the Advanced tab, use the kebab (More Options) menu of the sidebar, select User Settings, and enable all advanced tools.
Select the Account Settings tool.
Find the Enable QuickStart Wizard option.
Check the Override JS Setting checkbox.
Check the Enable the QuickStart Wizard Button for all users checkbox.
Save the page.

More information can be found in the DesignPLUS Admin Guide.

Launch the QuickStart Wizard

Create or edit a blank page, assignment, discussion, classic quiz, announcement, or syllabus.
Wait for the QuickStart Wizard launch button to appear next to the Canvas title input.
Select the QuickStart Wizard launch button and the tool's modal will appear.

Apply a page template

Select the Templates tab of the Wizard.
Browse the categories of available templates and hover over template options to preview them until you find one you like. Use the filters if needed.
Select the button for the template you like and it will be added to the Wizard's preview area.
Select Add to Editor to insert the template in the Rich Content Editor.

Add content blocks

Select the Blocks tab of the Wizard.
Browse the categories of available blocks and hover over block options to preview them until you find one you like. Use the filters if needed.
Select the button for the block you like and it will be added to the bottom of the preview area.
Reorder the block if needed by dragging and dropping in the preview area.
Select Add to Editor to insert the preview content in the Rich Content Editor.

Reorder content

Hover or use keyboard controls to locate the content you want to move in the preview area.
Select the content and then drag and drop it into the desired position, or use the move up/move down buttons.
The preview will reload with the new order.

Remove content

Select the Remove button in the section of content you want to remove.
The preview will reload with that section removed.

Add preview content to the Rich Content Editor

Select Add to Editor to insert the preview content in the Rich Content Editor.

Resources

Design Considerations/Best Practices

Please consider the following when choosing to use the QuickStart Wizard tool:

After adding template content to the editor, make sure to customize it so that it makes sense for your course.
You do not need to use the DesignPLUS Sidebar to customize the template content you added, but it is highly recommended when editing more complex elements.
Any page can be used as a template from your course, so if you would like to create your own page starter for the Wizard, you can do that. The page does not need to be published, either. You can learn more about course-level customizations in the User Guide.
Admin Users - Be aware of the available template and block options your users will see before enabling this tool. Make sure to only publish templates and blocks in your customizations courses that you want to have available.
Admin Users - Multiple [Content Blocks] pages are now supported. You can organize content block categories and titles by using the Content Block tool's Advanced panel while editing a [Content Blocks] customizations page. You can also organize blocks into collections by giving a title to each page, such as "[Content Blocks] Syllabus" or "[Content Blocks] Assignments".

Why use this tool?

The DesignPLUS QuickStart Wizard provides an easy on-ramp for novice users. If your institution has hidden the full DesignPLUS Sidebar, then the QuickStart Wizard is a great way for non-sidebar users to get access to the templates and content block resources that you've designed.

Are you nervous about opening up the full sidebar tools for all users? The QuickStart Wizard is an excellent alternative that provides all users creating new content with only two basic tools: Template Content and Content Blocks.