Navigating the Toolbar & Content Window

If you are copying content directly from an email or web page, to avoid errors, you’ll first need to clean the text. The easiest way to do this is to paste the content into Notepad, and from Notepad into the Article Content box.

For Mac users, you are able to use TextEdit for this.

If you are copying formatted content, such as from a Microsoft Word document, some formatting will be copied across from your document. However, if you’re starting with clean text, here is a guide to formatting your content using the toolbar.

Edit

Through this tab, you’ll be able to Undo (Ctrl+Z) and Redo changes (Ctrl+Y), Select All (Ctrl+A), and Find and replace text (Ctrl+F).

You will be able to access options such as Cut & Paste through keyboard shortcuts. A quick guide to the shortcuts can be found below:

1. Copy (Ctrl+C)
2. Cut (Ctrl+X)
3. Paste (Ctrl+V)

Insert

Image

Select From System

1. Select the browse button to the right of the Source box.
2. Click the image you wish to add or use the search bar to filter.
3. You can alter the image size by changing the values in the ‘Dimensions’
   Note: To maintain good image quality, we recommend that you don’t upscale your images.
4. For images that have a white or transparent background we advise the use of no styling. Simply change the Image Style to No Styling.
5. Click Ok to add the image to the article.

Upload New

1. Select the Choose File icon on right of the Source box.
2. Navigate to where the file is saved on your computer.
3. Double click the file or click Open to add it to the article.

Gallery

Select From System

If your gallery has already been uploaded into the Media Downloads section of your Control Centre then you will be able to use this popup to browse for the folder.

1. Select the browse button to the right of the Gallery Id box. Please note: There are only two file types that you'll be able to use: JPGs and PNGs.
2. Use the drop down box to select the folder.
3. Click Select.
4. Click Insert to add the gallery to your article.

Create New

If you have not yet uploaded the gallery, you can do so now by selecting the Create New button.

1. Add the Folder Name.
2. Drag and Drop your files into the drag and drop box.
   As an alternative, you can also browse for the files by clicking Choose Files, navigating to where the files are saved on your computer, highlighting all images within the folder, and clicking Open.
   Note: you can repeat this process as many times as necessary.
3. When all file names are displaying, click the Create Gallery
4. Once the gallery has finished uploading, the system will supply you with an Id. Click Insert to add it to the article.

Video

The following steps can be used to insert a Youtube or Vimeo video:

1. Click on the Video Play icon.
2. Simply paste the video URL (web address) or ID into the box and select Ok.
3. Use the tick boxes at the bottom of this popup to choose whether you would like to show suggested videos, or remove the video heading.

Direct Video Embed

If you have been given an embed code for a video, such as a WISTIA video, this can be added through the Embed Code tab then selecting the OK button.

NOTE: Some videos that are embedded from other sources such as Facebook or Panopto, will not render correctly in your PDF print version so may need to be hidden from your content. For more information on hiding elements of content from your print version, see the PDF Formatting Options section of this Knowledge Base Article.

PDF Flyer

This option is used to add a PDF file to your newsletter.

1. Select your file by using the Upload or Search buttons.
2. Create the title for the button.
   EG: ‘Click here to download the Canteen Menu’
3. If you are wanting the pdf to be embedded in your newsletter, make sure the Show Flyer checkbox is ticked.
4. If you are wanting to hide the URL (web address) of the file, make sure the Show Download Link checkbox is unticked.

Link Button

This option is used to create a button.

1. Place your URL (web address) link in the URL field.
   Please note: You can use this option to also link through to a PDF by using the upload or search buttons.
2. Select a name for the button.
   EG: ‘Click here to view the School Website’
3. If you are wanting to not display the URL (web address), make sure the Hide URL checkbox is checked.
4. You can select an icon for your button that will be displayed on the right hand side via the Icon drop down box.

Special Elements

Border Box

Colour Box

Line Break

A Line Break is used to create a divider line between content.

PDF Formatting Options

There are a few different ways you can format the printed view of your Newsletter. The options available are outlined below:

PDF Break

PDF Break is used to move all content underneath the Element to the next Column.

PDF Hide

PDF Hide is used to hide a piece of content from the Print view of the newsletter.

PDF Only

PDF Only is used to show a piece of content only in the Print view of the newsletter.

Clear

This option is used to stop content such as floated images from effecting the content beneath them. They can be placed directly below content to avoid any overlap.

1. Select the blank line where you would like to insert the clear.
2. Select Clear.

Table

You can add a table to your content by using the Table menu option. Tables are a great way to space out and organise your content (rather than using the 'Tab' key). Please note: it's not recommended to copy and paste tables from somewhere straight into your articles.

• Select Table from the drop down menu and select how many columns and rows you would like to include. Click with your mouse to add the desired table to your content.
• Once you have inserted your table, you are able to apply to begin adding in your content. You can also add a colour to either your entire table or specific cells. Simply just select the cell or entire table and navigate to Cell or Table colour.
• The Style classes option allows you to do things such as remove the table borders and padding.

When you click on your table, a little toolbar pops up which allows you to quickly make changes to your table. E.g. Adding in an additional rows and columns.

Adjusting Column and Row Widths

You are able to adjust the size of your columns and rows by using Table Properties within Table from the drop down menu.

You are then able to apply the appropriate Width and Height to your table. You can also alter the Cell spacing and padding here.

Applying Table or Cell Background

Simply have your cursor placed within one of the cells, navigate to Table in the menu and then Table colour. Once you have clicked on your chosen colour, it should be applied to your table.

Merging Cells

If you would like to merge multiple cells together:

1. Select the cells you would like to merge.
2. Select Cell under the Table Menu option.
3. Select Merge Cells.

Alternative Table Options

• If the table you are wanting to create is quite complex and is hard to recreate within your Schoolzine account. We recommend creating the table in a word document, saving it as a PDF and inserting it as a 'PDF Flyer'.
• The table can also be included as a jpeg or PNG. Once the table has been created in word, take a screenshot using snipping tool and then insert it as an 'Image'. See below image:

Tools

Spellcheck

By selecting this Tool you will turn on spellcheck for your content, allowing the Schoolzine System to show any spelling errors that may be found within your content.

Paste as Text

If you have copied content that has both text and images, if you have this Tool active it will only paste the text based content.

Link

You can use this option to hyperlink text within your content.

Link to Document

If you are wishing to link your text to a PDF file you will be able to use this option.

1. Place your URL (web address) link in the URL field.
   Please note: You can use this option to also link through to a PDF by using the upload or search buttons.
2. Place the text that you are going to link the document to in the Text to display. 
   EG: ‘Click here to download the Canteen Menu’
3. Select how the link will be opened, either in the Same Window or in a New Window.
4. Applied Classes: This is an optional field to allow extra styling to be applied to the text. You will be able to leave this.

Link to URL (web address)

If you are wishing to link your text to a URL (web address) you will be able to use this option.

1. Place the web address in the URL Field.
2. Place the text you are wanting to hyperlink in the ‘Text to display’
   EG: ‘Click here to view the School’s Website’
3. Select how the link will be opened, either in the Same Window or in a New Window.
4. Applied Classes: This is an optional field to allow extra styling to be applied to the text. You will be able to leave this blank.

Link to Form

If you are wanting to link a Webform that has been created in the Control Centre, you will be able to use this option.

1. Select the Web Form you are wanting to use by pressing the button on the right of the Form URL.
   If you have the URL (web address) for the webform already, you will be able to place it directly into the Form URL field
2. Place the text you are wanting to link the Web Form to in the ‘Text to display’ field.
   EG: ‘Click here to complete the Camp Permission form’
3. Select how the link will be opened, either in the Same Window or in a New Window.
4. Applied Classes: This is an optional field to allow extra styling to be applied to the text. You will be able to leave this blank.

Link to Email

1. Populate the ‘Email’ field with an email address.
2. Place the text you are wanting hyperlink in the ‘Text to display’ field.
3. Applied Classes: This is an optional field to allow extra styling to be applied to the text. You will be able to leave this blank.

Format

Content Formatting

• Paragraph Style
  • This Style is the default style applied to the content of your article. Any thing that is not made into a heading should be tagged as ‘Paragraph’ Style. This will be selected by default.
• Heading 1
  • This style is used to indicate any main headings. The Title of your article/event will be styled using this style.
• Heading 2
  • This style is used for sub headings within your content. This is the most common heading style used while building newsletter content.
• Heading 3
  • This style is used for a sub-sub heading, to be used under a Heading 2.

Text Based Formatting

These options allow you to change the styling applied to your text. From left to right these options are:

• Font Size
  • This option allows you to increase or decrease the size of the font within your newsletter.
• Text Colour
  • This option will allow you to change the colour of your font.
• Bold
  • This option will apply a Bold to your content.
• Italic
  • This option will apply Italics to your content.
• Underline
  • This option will apply an Underline to your content.
• Strikethrough
  • This option will apply a Strikethrough to your content.
• Clear Formatting
  • This option will clear any formatting selected. This is used to remove unwanted styling.
• Alignment
  • Used to adjust contents alignment. The options available are Left, Centre, Right and Justified

• Lists
  • The left option is used to create a Bulleted list.
  • The right option is used to create a numbered list.