Cidi Tools

CIDI Tools is a design tool in Canvas that allows for easy building with templated pages, assignments, and other item types. The ProS courses use the preset template Flat 2.

Formatting Canvas Sites with the CIDI Labs Theme

1. Select ‘Edit’ on the page, quiz, assignment, discussion board, etc. to view the RCE (:36 in the video).
   • To launch Cidi Labs Design tools, use the keyboard shortcut alt+shift+d for Windows or option+shift+d for Macs.
   • HINT: To have Cidi Labs Design tools launch automatically in the future, click the ‘Settings’ icon in the far top right and select ‘Automatically launch Tools.’
2. Select ‘Create/Edit Content’ from the CIDI Labs menu (1:33 in the video).
   • Select ‘Choose a Theme’ from the CIDI Labs menu.
   • Select the theme ‘Flat Sections 2.’
   • This will populate a themed H2 that you can modify with any text you want (1:46 in the video).
3. To modify the rest of the content, highlight it (in chunks), then click ‘Add Content Blocks’ and select ‘Selection to Block’ (2:25 in the video).
   • HINT: You will likely find that the theme looks much better if you reduce every heading by one level (make your typical H2s into H3s, your H3s into H4s, and so on).
   • HINT: It helps to play around and experiment a bit to decide what looks best, as the blocks alternate colors. Do not create so many blocks that the page looks visually overwhelming, nor so few blocks that the content all blends together.

Extra Features of CIDI Labs

• To add icons to sections… (5:00 in the video)
  • Make sure your CIDI Labs comfort level is set to ‘Advanced.’
  • Select ‘Add Advanced Elements’ from the CIDI Labs menu.
  • Select ‘Icons’ and click ‘Insert Icon at Cursor.’
  • Choose your icon!

• To change the color of the heading or any other element… (6:15 in the video)
  • Put your cursor in the element you would like to modify (header, paragraph, etc.)
  • Select ‘Customize the Style’ from the CIDI Labs menu.
  •  Select ‘Colors – Advanced’ and make your selection.