MoodleDocs - User contributions [en]

Man course formats

2008-08-05T08:37:05Z

MartyJacobs:

The Meta, Activities and Noticeboard (MAN) course formats are 6 related formats, designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

== Main formats ==
The three main formats in the family are Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. Here is a brief summary of what each format does:

'''Meta format''' - This format automatically adds links to a Meta course's child courses to the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays a list of child courses (if the course is a Meta course), a 'noticeboard' area and a list of activity category links in the main content area.

== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

[[Category:Contributed code]]

Man course formats

2008-08-05T08:36:27Z

MartyJacobs:

The Meta, Activities and Noticeboard (MAN) course formats are 6 related formats, designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

The three main formats in the family are Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. Here is a brief summary of what each format does:

'''Meta format''' - This format automatically adds links to a Meta course's child courses to the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays a list of child courses (if the course is a Meta course), a 'noticeboard' area and a list of activity category links in the main content area.

== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

[[Category:Contributed code]]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:51:01Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' is a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays a list of child courses (if Meta course), noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

[[Category:Contributed code]]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:14:00Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays a list of child courses (if Meta course), noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

[[Category:Contributed code]]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:13:39Z

MartyJacobs:

[[Category:Contributed code]]

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays a list of child courses (if Meta course), noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:07:00Z

MartyJacobs: /* Hybrid formats */

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:05:37Z

MartyJacobs: /* Links */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.
== Links ==
Demonstration courses: [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6 Demo courses]

Entry in Modules and plugins database: [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717 MAN course formats]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:03:20Z

MartyJacobs: /* LINKS */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.
== Links ==
Link to more information (including demo courses) [http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6]

Entry in Modules and plugins database [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T13:02:26Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.
== LINKS ==
Link to more information (including demo courses):
[http://moodle.martyjacobs.net/course/category.php?id=6]

Entry in Modules and plugins database:
[http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717]

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:59:14Z

MartyJacobs: /* Hybrid formats */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:58:52Z

MartyJacobs: /* Why MAN? */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download,as follows:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:58:24Z

MartyJacobs: /* Why MAN? */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for '''M'''eta, '''A'''ctivities and '''N'''oticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download,as follows:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:57:56Z

MartyJacobs: /* Why MAN? */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course acts as a portal to the 'topic' courses.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download,as follows:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:56:38Z

MartyJacobs: /* Hybrid formats */

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.
== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats included in the download,as follows:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:55:56Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.
== Why MAN? ==
MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.
== Hybrid formats ==
There are also 3 'hybrid' formats too:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:54:30Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

== Why MAN? ==

MAN stands for Meta, Activities and Noticeboard. These are the names of the 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

There are also 3 'hybrid' formats too:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:52:48Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

There are 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

There are also 3 'hybrid' formats too:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:52:26Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

There are 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - Duplicates the functionality of the 'Activity modules' block in the main content area of a course. This avoids the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page (and administration time when adding new resources).

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

There are also 3 'hybrid' formats too:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:50:49Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

There are 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.

'''Activities format''' - By duplicating the Activity modules block in the main content area of a course, you can avoid the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page.

'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

There are also three 'hybrid' formats too:

'''Noticeboard/activities format''' - Combines the functionality of the Noticeboard and Activities formats.

'''Meta noticeboard format''' - A noticeboard format that also displays child courses on the home page if the course is a Meta course.

'''Meta noticeboard/activities format''' - Three formats in one! Displays list of child courses, noticeboard and activity category links in the main content area.

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:44:51Z

MartyJacobs:

The '''MAN course formats''' are a family of 6 formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are based on the 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

There are 3 main course formats in the family:

'''Meta format''' - Automatically links to child courses from the course home page. You can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.
'''Activities format''' - By duplicating the Activity modules block in the main content area of a course, you can avoid the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page.
'''Noticeboard format''' - Displays the latest post from the News forum at the top of the course home page. Ensures only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

There are also three 'hybrid' formats too:

Noticeboard/activities format - Combines the fun
Meta noticeboard format -
Meta noticeboard/activities format -

Man course formats

2008-08-04T12:39:41Z

MartyJacobs: MAN course formats - Help reduce clutter on course homepage.

The MAN course formats are a family of 6 course formats designed to reduce the number of links on the course homepage and improve course communication. These formats are nothing fancy and are based on 'Topics' and 'Social' formats.

There are 3 main course formats in the family, namely:

'''Meta format''' - By linking to child courses from the course home page of a Meta course, you can run large courses more efficiently by splitting them into several courses, e.g. each topic in your course could be a separate child course in Moodle. The Meta course can then be used as portal.
'''Activities format''' - By duplicating the Activity modules block in the main content area of a course, you can avoid the need to manually add links to the course homepage, drastically reducing the length of the page.
'''Noticeboard format''' - By displaying the latest post from the News forum, you can make sure only the most relevant information is displayed on the course home page.

Theme basics

2005-12-09T19:21:18Z

MartyJacobs: /* header.html and footer.html */

{{Themes}}

== What is inside the themes folder? ==

The themes folder contains the following:

pix/
config.php
favicon.ico
footer.html
header.html
styles.php
styles_color.css
styles_fonts.css
styles_layout.css
styles_moz.css

==== The pix folder ====
This contains all pictures and icons used in the theme. The 1.5 themes come with pictures for the tabs and eventually for the gradients. (All Moodle 1.5 themes use the pix folder.)

==== The favicon.ico ====
This is the small icon shown in the browsers in front of the URL (as for 1.4).

==== header.html and footer.html ====
These contain your logo, the login, the jumpto menu, the breadcrumb navigation, the moodle logo etc. Within these files you can give Moodle your individual look at the top and the bottom of all pages (as for 1.4).

These are the main variables available for use in these files:

$CFG (object with all system variables)
$THEME (object with all current theme variables from config.php)
$course (current course object)
$meta (all the meta tags, including stylesheets)
$home (boolean)
$title (page title)
$heading (heading for the page)
$navigation (the raw navigation "breadcrumbs")
$navmenulist (xhtml)
$menu (the popup menu or button)

Header only:

$direction (ltr or rtl)
$bodytags (tags that need to be added to the body)

Footer only:

$homelink (link back to "home" - current course page or site page)
$loggedinas (string with name of user as link)
$performanceinfo (string with performance information)

Finally, the header and footer can contain any Moodle PHP code, so all sorts of other data can be extracted from the database or environment as necessary.

==== styles.php ====
This has the same name as in 1.4 but takes another task in 1.5. It is called from header.html and builds the bridge to the CSS files. You don't need to edit anything.

==== config.php ====
This also has the same name as in 1.4 and another task in 1.5. In this file you configure how the CSS files work together. You can build your theme onto the standard or onto any parent theme and can include or exclude several CSS files.

==== The stylesheets ====
With Moodle 1.5 started the work to clearly [[#Separating Content from Presentation|separate content from presentation]] for better flexibility, accessibility and for more flexible page design. To give you the chance to work relatively easy for few changes of color and fonts the CSS is separated into three files:

styles_layout.css
styles_fonts.css
styles_color.css

In addition, <code>styles_moz.css</code> contains Firefox and Mozilla specific formatting, especially the rounded corners.

==== Additional files ====
Lastly, theme designers may provide information about the theme, plus a picture preview. The picture preview is shown on the themes page, the info in the README file after the theme has been selected.

README.html
screenshot.jpg

== Separating content from presentation ==

The content layer of the page is represented via XHTML, the presentation layer via CSS. To connect the belonging information in both layers XHTML tags and named hooks within page are used. You need quite a lot of them to style complex web applications like Moodle.

== Cascading CSS ==

Moodle themes use style sheets to describe the Moodle "look" by controlling the layout, fonts and colors. These are constructed by a PHP script called "styles.php" in each theme directory, and controlled by a file called "config.php" in the same place.

Moodle has a "standard" theme which is very plain and provides a basic layout for other themes to build on. Each theme may also have a "parent" theme, which will be included before the current theme.

So, depending on your settings, you may have up to three stylesheets for a theme:

#"standard" theme - theme/standard/styles.php
#"parent" theme - theme/parenttheme/styles.php
#"main" theme - theme/yourtheme/styles.php

Due to the cascading character of CSS the definitions in later files can overwrite the definitions in the earlier CSS files. Moodle makes extensive use of the cascading character of CSS and gives the theme designer many opportunities. They range from easy development of themes based on the existing ones with few changes up to the design of a completely individual Moodle appearance with new CSS files.

Theme designers can define and add any CSS stylesheets and name them any way as needed for this theme.

== The standard theme ==

<div style="margin:1.2em 0"><div style="float:left">
[[Image:Theme_standard.gif|Theme Standard]]
</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 1: The theme "standard" with the CSS files "styles_layout.css", "styles_fonts.css", "styles_color.css" and "styles_moz.css".
</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== Small changes ==

If you just want to make small changes to a theme like using different colors or adding a logo then your new theme will include the "standard" theme and you define a few extra CSS styles in a new CSS file.

As an example, see the "standardwhite" theme.

It uses the file "config.php" to set the appropriate options. The first entry <code>$THEME->sheets = array('gradients');</code> defines the CSS file "gradients.css" as the file with additional CSS definitions. It also specifies <code>$THEME->standardsheets = true;</code> which says to include all the styles from the standard theme too.

Instead of basing the theme on "standard", you could base it on another theme by specifying <code>$THEME->parent = 'cooltheme';</code>

<div style="margin:1.2em 0">
<div style="float:left">[[Image:Theme_standardwhite.gif|Theme Standardwhite]]</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 2: The theme "standardwhite" with all CSS files from the theme "standard" plus "gradients.css" from the selected theme.</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== Mixed CSS - standard layout plus you own fonts and colours ==

The theme "formal_white" mixes the page layout from the theme "standard" with its own layout, fonts and colours. This way all layout changes in the standard Moodle layout are kept. This is done by setting <code>$THEME->sheets = array('fw_layout','fw_color','fw_fonts');</code> and <code>$THEME->standardsheets = array('styles_layout');</code> in the config file.

<div style="margin:1.2em 0"><div style="float:left">
[[Image:Theme_formal_white.gif|Theme "formal_white"]]
</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 3: The theme "formal_white" with the CSS file "styles_layout.css" from the theme "standard" and the individual files "fw_layout.css", "fw_fonts.css", "fw_color.css".
</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== A theme using a parent theme (faked) ==

An advanced feature is to set any existing theme as the "parent" theme and offer variant themes to this. Two possible uses can be to design one "parent" theme with all CSS definitions. Then offer "child" themes with color variants to be chosen by the users according to their color preferences. These "child" themes need only one CSS file holding the different color definitions. Or create "child" themes which only vary in the logo/banner placed in the "header.html". These "child" themes do not need their own CSS files.

The configuration for the "child" themes could look like <code>$THEME->sheets = array('my_layout');</code>, <code>$THEME->parent = 'formal_white'</code>; and <code>$THEME->parentsheets = array('fw_layout','fw_color','fw_fonts');</code>

<div style="margin:1.2em 0"><div style="float:left">
[[Image:Theme_formal_white_plus.gif|Theme Formalemwhite plus, faked]]
</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 4: The faked theme "formal_white_plus" with the additional CSS file "my_layout.css".
</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== A theme without standard dependencies (faked) ==

This theme would use its own CSS. The settings <code>$THEME->sheets = array('styles_layout', 'styles_fonts', 'styles_color');</code> and <code>$THEME->standardsheets = false;</code> deactivate all other Moodle CSS and make a completely independent theme. All changes in the standard Moodle theme do not change this theme at all.

<div style="margin:1.2em 0"><div style="float:left">
[[Image:Theme_independent.gif|Theme Independent (faked)]]
</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 5: The theme with it's own CSS files "styles_layout.css", "styles_fonts.css" and "styles_color.css".
</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== Some more basic CSS files ==

In addition to theme CSS files, Moodle features a basic CSS file for every module, block and for every language. Developers can provide basic CSS properties for their modules and blocks to get the page or block layout right, if they need formatting for special functionality. The look and feel of Moodle is not changed by these layout basics.

These files are only loaded when the "standard" CSS is activated. They are loaded first before all theme CSS files.

<div style="margin:1.2em 0"><div style="float:left">
[[Image:Moodle_css.gif|Moodle CSS Loading Order]]
</div>
<div style="float:left;border-left:1px solid #CCC;margin-left:2em;padding-left:0.5em;width:13em;font-size:0.9em">
Figure 6: The CSS file loading order of all Moodle CSS and theme CSS files.
</div><br style="clear:both" />
</div>

== External links ==

*[http://www.unodo.de/discussion/moodle_themes/inside/style_example_a.html Moodle demo course page] - this enables you see how the different CSS files form the look of the page. On the top right you see four links on a green bar. With the buttons you can switch stylesheets off (font-style italic) and on (font-style normal). When you switch all stylesheets off you see the content level of Moodle.
*[http://moodle.unodo.de/ Moodle Theme Gallery]
*[http://www.moddular.org/log/css-inspector/ CSS Inspector]
*[http://chrispederick.com/work/webdeveloper/ Firefox Web Developer Extension]

[[Category:Administrator]]
[[Category:Developer]]
[[Category:Themes]]

Theme settings

2005-12-09T19:10:46Z

MartyJacobs: /* Site themes */

{{Themes}}

== Theme settings ==

The following variables may be set by the administrator via Administration >> Configuration >> [[admin/config|Variables]]:

;themelist
:This lists the themes available for course and user themes. Leave this blank to allow any valid theme to be used. If you want to shorten the theme menu, you may specify a comma-separated list of names here, though don't use spaces!. For example standard,orangewhite.

;allowuserthemes
:If you enable this, then users will be allowed to set their own themes. User themes override site themes but not course themes.

;allowcoursethemes
:If you enable this, then teachers will be able to set their own course themes. Course themes override all other theme choices (site, user, or session themes).

== Theme types ==

=== Site themes ===
Site themes may be previewed and chosen via Administration >> Configuration >> [[Themes]].

=== User themes ===
If the option ''allowuserthemes'' is enabled, each user may select their preferred theme on the [[user/edit|Edit profile]] page. All Moodle pages will be displayed in the user's theme, apart from courses where a course theme has been set.

=== Course themes ===
If the option ''allowcoursethemes'' is enabled, each editing teacher may select their course theme via the Force theme option on the [[course/edit|Course settings]] page. The course will always be displayed in the theme specified in the course setting, with user and the site themes being overwritten.

=== Session themes ===
Moodle offers an additional way to set a theme - the '''session theme'''. This is set with the URL and lasts until you log out. When you next login, the site/course/user themes are active again. This option is great for theme testing and works perfectly when you want to enable different themes for different situations.

For example you can offer a special link for PDA users and integrate the session theme ''orangewhitepda'' in that link. Nobody needs to change any settings, you just click on that link. The session theme is called by the URL parameter <code>&theme=orangewhitepda</code>. The whole URL without the session theme could look like <code><nowiki>http://mymoodlesite.org/course/view.php?id=18</nowiki></code> and with the parameter for the PDA theme like <code><nowiki>"http://mymoodlesite.org/course/view.php?id=18&theme=orangewhitepda"</nowiki></code>.

In a standard Moodle installation, session themes are not active. To activate them the administrator must add the parameter <code>$CFG->allowthemechangeonurl = true;</code> to the Moodle ''config.php'' file in the Moodle base directory.

== Theme overview ==

{| style="border:1px dashed #ddd"
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:left"
!Theme type
! style="background:#eee"|Overwrites
!Display
! style="background:#eee"|Setting type
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|Site
|style="background:#eee"| -
|all pages*
|style="background:#eee"|saved in theme profile
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|User
|style="background:#eee"|Site theme
|all pages*
|style="background:#eee"|saved in user profile
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|Course
|style="background:#eee"|Site, user and session themes
|one course
|style="background:#eee"|saved in course profile
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|Session
|style="background:#eee"|Site and user themes
|all pages*
|style="background:#eee"|temporary until logout
|}
(* except courses with the course theme set)

[[Category: Administrator]]
[[Category:Themes]]