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{{Moodle 1.6}}
{{Certificate}}
{{Moodle 1.7}}
{{Infobox plugin
The '''Certificate module''' creates PDF certificates/diplomas for students of the course and is completely customizable. You can add borders, watermarks, seals and even show grade information. It was originally created by Hugo Salgado, July, 2004, updated by David T. Cannon, July, 2005 to use FPDF and include printing grades, updated and currently maintained by [http://moodle.org/user/view.php?id=3239&course=5 Chardelle Bush] to include backup/restore, types, reporting, emailing, unicode support, etc.
|type = Activity
|entry = https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_customcert
|tracker = https://github.com/markn86/moodle-mod_customcert/issues
|discussion = https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_customcert
|maintainer = [[User:Mark Nelson|Mark Nelson]]
|float = right
}}
The '''Certificate module''' creates PDF certificates/diplomas for students in a course. You can add borders, watermarks, seals, signatures, outcomes, grades, add custom text to a certificate via the settings menu.


There are different certificate modules for 1.6 and 1.7. They are not compatible.   These instructions were written for 1.6.  
Certificate should be downloaded from the download Plugins at Moodle.org (see the info box on the page for a link).  You should select the certificate download that matches your Moodle version.
 
==Certificate examples==
Here are 3 examples. Click on one to enlarge it.  Two examples show certificates made with the settings menu. The two other examples show a few possible ways to customize a certificate.
<gallery caption="Certificate examples - click on any to enlarge" widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="6">
Image:Certificate 27 plain.png|Shows no options selected, standard title, course name, user name and words.
Image:Certificate 27 manyoptions.png|Shows many text and images selected, signature, seal, watermark, code, grade, teachers name, custom text and border.
Image:Certificate199 example creative.png|Custom border, custom signature, custom seal, custom watermark, code, outcome
Image:Certificate 27 customcode.png |Custom everything, new certificate type, with new text strings, new text and image positions, plus uploadd watermark, seal, signature and border.
</gallery>


==Installing==
==Installing==
#Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file in a temporary area, keep the paths
#Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file (for example mod_certificate_moodle27_2014041800) for the Moodle version your are using in a temporary area,
#Find the folder that is called "Certificate" in the unpacked area
#Copy the "certificate" folder to your Moodle mod folder located for example at yourhost\moodle\mod . The certificate folder will include folders backup, db, lang, pix (including subfolders for  borders, seals, signatures and watermarks), and type (with sub folders for each of 4 default types).
#Copy that folder to your moodle mod folder located for example at yourhost\moodle\mod . This will include folders db,docs and all the subfolders located under pics.
#Go to your Moodle, and click on the Notifications link in the Site administration. Moodle knows something has been added and it will proceed to install the certificate module.
#Copy the file called "certificate.php" in the folder called "yourLangfolder" to your language folder, for example yourhost\moodle\lang\en. Note: It is not necessary to move the lang file into the Moodle lang folder, the certificate lang folder can stay in the mod/certificate folder.
#Go to your Moodle, open up the administation block, configuration. Moodle knows something has been added and it will proceed to install the certificate plugin module.
 
==Settings==
Help buttons give more information about each setting.
[[Image:Certificate_Settings_page.JPG|thumb|250px|center|Moodle 1.6 Certificate Setting Page ]]


==Tips & Tricks==
''Note:'' It is not necessary to move the lang file into the Moodle lang folder, the certificate lang folder(s) can stay in the mod/certificate folder.
* Want to indicate specific credits to display for a course? Use the Course ID field to record this informationFor example "IS101- CREDIT HOURS 5.0" or simply "5.0 CEUs"
''Note:'' Advance users upgrading from 1.9.9 or installing Certificate for the first time, might consider editing the files in the pix folder before installing via the notification link. These will be used as the default fileSite administrators [[Certificate customizing|can upload more images via the interface]] after installing the module.


If you are using your own theme you have to put the icon.gif inside a folder called certificate and put in your mod folder image
See also: [[Installing_contributed_modules_or_plugins]] in MoodleDocs.


===Lesson dependency trick 1===
==Settings==
Many Moodlers issue a certificate upon sucessful completion of a course.  For those who use Questions in a Lesson to determine if a student can receive a certificate, here is one way to hide the certificate until the student passes.  At the end of a lesson we will provide the student an option to select a link that will print a hidden certificate activity.  The only non standard Moodle feature this uses is the Certificate module itself.  [[Adding/editing_a_lesson#Dependent_on |Lesson dependency]] is available from 1.6 onward. 
This is a short list of settings listed by their groupPlease see [[Add/edit_certificate_module]] for more detailed information.


*Create a Certificate activityHide it.  
*General - Certificate name and introductionThe certificate will use the course name, this is the link name.
*Create a lesson. We will call it "Certificate Qualification". This is the lesson that needs to be passed to get a certificate. We might add questions to this lesson as a means to automatically determine that student qualifies for a certificate.
*Issue options -Here you can set email options, determine if you want to save and how user views the certificate. You can set minimium time the user must be in the course before issuing the certificate.
*Create another lessonWe will call it "Certificate Gateway".  In lesson settings make it [[Adding/editing_a_lesson#Dependent_on |dependent]] upon the "Certificate Qualification". For example we might say a student must answer 80% of the questions correctly. Still in lesson setting go to the [[Adding/editing_a_lesson#Link_to_activity |link to activity setting]] and link it to Certificate.
*Text options - determine date,  security code, grade outcomes, credit hours, teachers names, custom text.
*Design (and image) options - select  certificate type/print orientation, select images for border, lines, watermark, signature, seal or say no to any or all of these options.
*Common module settings -These are standard Moodle module settingsSee [[Common module settings]]
*Locking options - if conditional dependencies has been turned on by the site administrator,  teacher can set standards that must be met before certificate can be issued.


Student view of the above example. The student will see a course with 2 lessonsIf they try to enter the Certificate Gateway Lesson, first, they will be told that they must pass the Certificate Qualification Lesson with a score of 80% or higherWhen the student takes the Certificate Qualification Lesson and only scores 70%, they will not be able to take the Certificate Gateway LessonThe only way they can get to the certificate is to qualify to take the Certificate Gateway Lesson.
==Customizing certificate==
 
There are several ways to create a custom certificate. Please see [[Certificate customizing]] for many examples and code hintsA few quick examples from easiest to more skilled required:
'''Important Note''': For this trick to work you must have Show Grades set to Yes in the Course settings page or this trick won't work (and you'll get very frustrated wondering why :) )
*Add your own images via the site administration>Plugins>Activities>Certificate>Settings>Upload images >Type.  Types are boarders, seals, signatures and watermarks.
*Alternatively, add your images to the appropriate /mod/certificate/pix folderThis will also make them available under settings.   
*Edit the text strings in the /mod/certificate/lang folder files, or though the customize language tool available to site administrators.  
*You may create as many "types" of certificates as you wish. This is more complicated and requires some knowledge of PHP and access to the moodle/mod/certificate folder.


==See also==
==See also==
 
* [[Add/edit certificate module]]
* [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=45370#208505 Discuss]
* [[mod/certificate/view|Viewing a Certificate]]
* [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=308  Download 1.6 ]
* [[Certificate customizing]] - many tips and how to make changes to code to customize certificates even more.
* [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=56265 Download 1.7]
* [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=279569&parent=1201200 Adding new fonts to certificate] to support non-English languages
 
* Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=7163 Certificate module] forum
* Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=33997 Certificate module] forum
* [[Conditional activities]] - When this site feature is turned on, teachers can set conditions based upon other activities in the course before a certificate will be issued.
* [[Activity_Locking]] - a conditional dependency add-in
* [[Development:Certificate Module|Development of the certificate module]]
* [[Development:Certificate Module|Development of the certificate module]]
* [http://tracker.moodle.org/browse/CONTRIB-334 Patch to enable linking] to [[Face-to-face module|Face-to-Face]] contributed module.


[[Category:Teacher]]
[[Category:Certificate]]
[[Category:Modules (non-standard)]]
[[Category:Contributed code]]


[[es:Certificate]]
[[es:Módulo certificado]]

Latest revision as of 20:41, 24 April 2016

The Certificate module creates PDF certificates/diplomas for students in a course. You can add borders, watermarks, seals, signatures, outcomes, grades, add custom text to a certificate via the settings menu.

Certificate should be downloaded from the download Plugins at Moodle.org (see the info box on the page for a link). You should select the certificate download that matches your Moodle version.

Certificate examples

Here are 3 examples. Click on one to enlarge it. Two examples show certificates made with the settings menu. The two other examples show a few possible ways to customize a certificate.

Installing

  1. Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file (for example mod_certificate_moodle27_2014041800) for the Moodle version your are using in a temporary area,
  2. Copy the "certificate" folder to your Moodle mod folder located for example at yourhost\moodle\mod . The certificate folder will include folders backup, db, lang, pix (including subfolders for borders, seals, signatures and watermarks), and type (with sub folders for each of 4 default types).
  3. Go to your Moodle, and click on the Notifications link in the Site administration. Moodle knows something has been added and it will proceed to install the certificate module.

Note: It is not necessary to move the lang file into the Moodle lang folder, the certificate lang folder(s) can stay in the mod/certificate folder. Note: Advance users upgrading from 1.9.9 or installing Certificate for the first time, might consider editing the files in the pix folder before installing via the notification link. These will be used as the default file. Site administrators can upload more images via the interface after installing the module.

See also: Installing_contributed_modules_or_plugins in MoodleDocs.

Settings

This is a short list of settings listed by their group. Please see Add/edit_certificate_module for more detailed information.

  • General - Certificate name and introduction. The certificate will use the course name, this is the link name.
  • Issue options -Here you can set email options, determine if you want to save and how user views the certificate. You can set minimium time the user must be in the course before issuing the certificate.
  • Text options - determine date, security code, grade outcomes, credit hours, teachers names, custom text.
  • Design (and image) options - select certificate type/print orientation, select images for border, lines, watermark, signature, seal or say no to any or all of these options.
  • Common module settings -These are standard Moodle module settings. See Common module settings
  • Locking options - if conditional dependencies has been turned on by the site administrator, teacher can set standards that must be met before certificate can be issued.

Customizing certificate

There are several ways to create a custom certificate. Please see Certificate customizing for many examples and code hints. A few quick examples from easiest to more skilled required:

  • Add your own images via the site administration>Plugins>Activities>Certificate>Settings>Upload images >Type. Types are boarders, seals, signatures and watermarks.
  • Alternatively, add your images to the appropriate /mod/certificate/pix folder. This will also make them available under settings.
  • Edit the text strings in the /mod/certificate/lang folder files, or though the customize language tool available to site administrators.
  • You may create as many "types" of certificates as you wish. This is more complicated and requires some knowledge of PHP and access to the moodle/mod/certificate folder.

See also