Certificate module: Difference between revisions

Certificate module
Type	Activity
Set	N/A
Downloads	https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_customcert
Issues	https://github.com/markn86/moodle-mod_customcert/issues
Discussion	https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_customcert
Maintainer(s)	Mark Nelson

Latest revision as of 16:13, 19 May 2022

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.

Certificate examples - click on any to enlarge
Shows no options selected, standard title, course name, user name and words.
Shows many text and images selected, signature, seal, watermark, code, grade, teachers name, custom text and border.
Custom border, custom signature, custom seal, custom watermark, code, outcome
Custom everything, new certificate type, with new text strings, new text and image positions, plus uploadd watermark, seal, signature and border.

Installing

Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file (for example mod_certificate_moodle27_2014041800) for the Moodle version your are using in a temporary 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).
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 minimum 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 borders, 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.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Update}}
+{{Certificate}}
-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.
+{{Infobox plugin
+|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.
+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.  A certificate that uses the standard features found in the install package.  Then 2 others with slightly more customization.
+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 1.gif|Standard features showing: Fancy border, signature line, seal, code
+Image:Certificate 27 plain.png|Shows no options selected, standard title, course name, user name and words.
-Image:Certificate199 example lines.png|Standard lines, signature, seal, watermark, code, grade, outcomes, with custom text
+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==
-#Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file in a temporary area,
+#Download and Unpack the Certificate zip file (for example mod_certificate_moodle27_2014041800) for the Moodle version your are using in a temporary area,
-#Copy the "certificate" folder to your moodle mod folder located for example at yourhost\moodle\mod . This 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 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).
-#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, 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.
-See also: [[Installing_contributed_modules_or_plugins]] in MoodleDocs.
+''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 [[Certificate customizing|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.
+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 or reissue certificates.
+*Issue options -Here you can set email options, determine if you want to save and how user views the certificate. You can set minimum time the user must be in the course before issuing the certificate.
-*Print text options - determine date,  security code, grade outcomes, credit hours, teachers names, custom text.
+*Text options - determine date,  security code, grade outcomes, credit hours, teachers names, custom text.
-*Design (and image) options - select Type, then determine orientation, and select images for border, lines, watermark, signature, seal or say no to any or all of them.
+*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.
+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 borders, seals, signatures and watermarks.
-The easiest way is to add your images to the appropriate /mod/certificate/pix folder.  This will make them available under settings.  For example, add your logo to the "seals" folder.  Another way is to edit the text strings in the /mod/certificate/lang folder files.
+*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.
-However, it is possible to reposition and format text and images by editing a single file located in the /mod/certificate/type folder.   You may create as many "types" of certificates as you wish. This is more complicated and requires some knowledge of PHP and TCPDF (which is the open source software used by Moodle to generate the Certificate files.
+*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.
-==Certificate companions==
-{{Update}}
-===Certificate Site-wide Report===
-As of February 2008, there is a '''Certificate Site-wide Report''' which can be added in Moodle 1.9, as a supplement. This is an add-on to the certificate module--if installed, you will have an option when creating a certificate to send that certificate's info to the report. An optional  block is included that provides a link to the report. Students will see a list of all received certificates. Administrators (or those who have the capability of viewing site reports) will see a link on the Certificate Report page to view/download a report of all students' received certificates.  To install: Place the certificates folder in your root (main) moodle folder and upload to your server.  Place the my_certificates block folder under your moodle/blocks folder, upload to your server and click on the Administration>>Notifications link to install.
-===Certificate Verification Block===
-A companion to the Certificate module for Moodle 1.9.  This is a block with a form for entering a given certificate code for verification. The verification page shows the student name, course name, date received and grade (if a grade is printed on the certificate).  The certificate code can be printed on a certificate.
-This feature is useful when a Registrar, supervisor or administrator wishes to verify that the printed certificate is valid for that student.  To install: Place the verify_certificate block folder under your moodle/blocks folder, upload to your server and click on the Administration>>Notifications link to install.
-==Bugs in 2.x and workarounds==
-*Certificate 2.x sort of works as of 4 Sept 2011.  Not recommended for a production server at this point.
-*Certificate icon does not appear in navigation bar - put a copy of the /mod/certificate/icon.gif in /mod/certificate/pix as icon.gif.
-*Certificate will not print  (fatal error) when "show grades" is used - do not put grade in certificate until it is fixed.
 ==See also==
 * [[Add/edit certificate module]]
 * [[mod/certificate/view|Viewing a Certificate]]
-* [[Certificate customizing]] - many tips and how tos
+* [[Certificate customizing]] - many tips and how to make changes to code to customize certificates even more.
+* [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=279569&parent=1201200 Adding new fonts to certificate] to support non-English languages
-The links below will lead to the current download areas
-{{Update}}
-*[https://github.com/PukunuiAustralia/moodle-mod_certificate PukunuiAustralia / moodle-mod_certificate] Version 2.0 but will work with 2.1 as well.
-* Moodle.org link? Certificate Sitewide Reports plugin
-* Moodle.org link? Certificate Validation Block plugin
 * Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=7163 Certificate module] forum
-* [[Activity_Locking]] - a conditional dependency add-in
+* [[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.
 * [[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.
+* [[Assignment FAQ#What is a good procedure to issue a certificate based on a face-to-face final test.3F|What is a good procedure to issue a certificate based on a face-to-face final test]]
+* [[Custom certificate module]] - This is a different certificate plugin.
 [[Category:Certificate]]
 [[Category:Contributed code]]
-[[es:Certificate]]
+[[es:Módulo certificado]]

Documentation