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URL-type Content Creation

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Any reproduction or distribution of these materials in whole or part without the expressed

written consent of the company is strictly forbidden.

Feature Guide:

Creating Content that includes External URL-type Assets

March 2016


OnPoint Digital, Inc. All Rights Reserved

March 2016 i

Table of Contents

1.0 Creation of External URL-type Content – Introduction ................................................................................... 1

Applications involved ........................................................................................................................................ 1

Why is this Useful? ............................................................................................................................................ 1

2.0 Create the Asset .............................................................................................................................................. 2

2.1 Creating a Single-File HTML type asset ....................................................................................................... 2

2.2 HTML Asset created within OPCM that contains a link to an external URL ................................................ 3

2.3 HTML Asset that redirects to an external URL (auto-launch) ..................................................................... 5

2.4 HTML Asset created externally that contains a hyperlink to an external URL ............................................ 6

3.0 Create the Page and assign the Asset to it ...................................................................................................... 7

4.0 Create a Nugget inside OPCM and assign the Page to it ................................................................................. 9

4.1 Create a Nugget – Standard (Manual) Process ........................................................................................... 9

4.2 Create a Nugget – Content Wizard Process .............................................................................................. 14



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1.0 Creation of External URL-type Content – Introduction

This document provides instruction on how to create a ‘URL’ type asset for use in a nugget. The nugget is composed

of a single page with a single text / HTML asset.

Once assigned and accessed by the user, the nugget will launch and either 1) show the HTML file with a link that

must be clicked by the user to launch the browser, or 2) the nugget will auto launch to the specified URL -- based on

how the HTML asset has been created.

Applications involved

OPCM, OPCV, OPPortal, Mobile Apps

Why is this Useful?

The use of referential materials is more and more common in today’s blending learning scenarios. It is natural that

organizations wish to leverage existing repositories of curated content rather than recreate them, and it is certainly

faster and less expensive to make that content available with simple links to direct users to find the information they

seek rather than copying the content into the OnPoint platform.

OnPoint’s software supports the creation of content that acts as the shortcut to that content item within an external

repository, and there are several options for how this URL-type of content can be created depending on the user

experience desired. URL-type assets are easy to create within the system, or OnPoint can auto-create them in batch

should there be an external catalog of content where the content detail (such as id, title, description, category, etc.)

can be easily provided via a spreadsheet.

Pros and cons: A URL-type asset takes the user’s content experience outside of the OnPoint platform to an external

web site or content repository. The OnPoint portal remains open in the background (for online users) until the user

closes the external window or until the OnPoint portal reaches session timeout. One benefit is that the OnPoint

system will track the time the user is in the nugget, unless there is a timeout. Another benefit: portal search

features can be used to look for content via title, description and meta-tag.

With CellCast (for mobile users), the app launches the content experience outside the app altogether, and the user

will need to re-enter the app once they are finished consuming the external content item. The benefit of search will

apply for mobile users, allowing them to find available content and link out to it – even though the content is not

residing on the mobile device. One potential downside with URL-type content is that the mobile user must have a

satisfactory internet connection or the experience once they click the link will be less than ideal. All content stored

inside the OnPoint LMS/CellCast server can be quickly downloaded to a user’s mobile device, allowing it to be

viewed offline; so for any content that is deemed key to having the user access be immediate and every-present, a

URL-type asset should be avoided and a standard nugget with the actual content inside the asset should be created.

[Note: Access to certain content platforms may require Single Sign-on or specialized URL with some form of

authentication variable (e.g. valid login id or email address shared by both systems) to pass the user through without

a second login required. Other platforms may not support this, and the user will need to login first before the link

can open the particular item.



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2.0 Create the Asset

The implementation process below steps through the process of creating the appropriate nugget and how to create

the different types of HTML assets to assign to that nugget.

Again, there are two options to consider:

1. Create a single HTML file that contains a clickable hyperlink to the URL (preferable approach if you have

instructions to provide to the user on the page that includes the link

2. Create a self-launching single HTML file (preferable approach if you have no instructions to the user and you

want an immediate launch of the item)

The process begins by starting at the Asset level and then utilizing the Nugget Wizard to create the nugget. These

elements are connected together, published, and assigned to the user for viewing.

2.1 Creating a Single-File HTML type asset

In the OnPoint Course Manager (OPCM) application, hover over the Content menu and select Assets. Then click the

Add Single-File Asset button.



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You will then have several options:

Create a single file HTML asset created within OPCM that contains a link to an external URL

Create a single file HTML asset that redirects to an external URL when it is opened

Create a single file HTML asset created externally that contains a link to an external URL (Content

Wizard)

The following instructions will serve as a starting point for creating the asset for the options above. In the next

section, we’ll discuss how to create the associated nugget.

2.2 HTML Asset created within OPCM that contains a link to an external URL

OPCM offers an HTML editor inside the application that supports the creation of HTML assets if you do not wish to

use an external editor or do not have access to one. When you get to the screen to add a single-file asset, be sure

to set your Asset File Type to Create empty asset file (specify the filename in the File/ID/URL edit box) choice from

the dropdown. As that dropdown instructs, specify a filename as well in the File/ID/URL field. You must define an

extension (.HTML) in this space.



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When you click the Save button, you’ll be brought to the Content: Asset screen for the asset that you just created.

Notice there is an edit link to the right of the Asset Type field. If you click this, an editor will appear. This is where

you can create your hyperlink. Click OK when finished to save the contents of your newly-created asset.



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[Note: wherever possible, create URLs as https versus http. Some browsers will refuse to auto-launch http URLs

because they are not secure, and the alert for the User, asking if they want to proceed to the unsecure URL, is not

always easy to notice.]

2.3 HTML Asset that redirects to an external URL (auto-launch)

To redirect a user to an external URL that automatically loads the website, simply paste the following HTML source

code into the HTML file (whether the file was created externally or internally).

<script type="text/javascript"> window.location = "https://www.google.com/" </script>

Text can be added to instruct users that may have popup blockers turned on if the URL is launched with a

target=_blank for a new window.

If you are pasting this into an internally-created file you will need to click the ‘Source’ button in the HTML Editor. The

HTML Editor launches as a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, and clicking ‘Source’ allows you to edit

the source code of the file.



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2.4 HTML Asset created externally that contains a hyperlink to an external URL

Use any HTML or text editor to create an HTML file with a hyperlink in it. For this example, we used Sublime Text, but

any editor will do.

In OPCM, the HTML assets to be used for nuggets can be created outside of the OPLS and uploaded as part of the

Content Wizard to create the appropriate nuggets. This can be done in place of creating the content directly in the

OPCM and instead the .HTML files can be created outside OPCM and uploaded this way. Nugget single file assets

can be created as a single HTML file that has the launch or URL code for the URL as described in the above

methods.



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3.0 Create the Page and assign the Asset to it

Next, we need to create a new page and assign the asset we just built to that page. Hover again over the Content

main menu tab at the top of OPCM and click on Pages.

Then click the Add Page button.



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Fill out any information that is needed about the page and click the Save button.

After saving, you will be presented with an information screen about the page you just built. There is an asset

assignment button. Click this, then find your asset from the Available Assets list. You can use the Filter button to

narrow your search should a large number of assets already exist. After you click on the asset, click Save. The asset

will now be assigned to the newly created page.



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4.0 Create a Nugget inside OPCM and assign the Page to it

Once you have created your page and assigned your asset to it, it is time to build a nugget. You can do that within

the standard Nuggets area, or via the Wizards area. The nugget will then be assignable to users and groups.

4.1 Create a Nugget – Standard (Manual) Process

Go back to the OPCM navigation bar, hover over Content and select Nuggets.

Then click the Add Nugget button.



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Make sure to fill out all required fields for the nugget and click Save.



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Click the Assignments subtab. Then click Assign Page.

Find the page you created in the previous step, click on it to add it to the Assigned Pages section, and click the

Finished button.



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Click the Web Version selection. [If using the Wizard, this value is set automatically. We are reviewing ways to set

this automatically on publish via the standard method described in this section if there is only one page and one

asset in the nugget.]

Your new nugget is now ready to be published. Click the Information tab, click the Publish button at the bottom,

select your publish settings, and click the Publish Nugget button.



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Sync options determine how long the content is present on the user’s device. The Sync options in NO way affect

assignment or availability.

1. None - Objects published with the sync option of “None” will not be downloaded until the user attempts to

access that piece of content. When the user attempts to access, the file will be downloaded at that time.

2. Sync - Objects published with the sync option of “Sync” are downloaded automatically on the next

subsequent sync for any assigned users and kept on the device until the user completes the content. Once

complete, the server side can control whether that content should be removed from the users’ device x

days after completion. Once the content has been removed, then the user can access and re-download the

content at any point in time.

3. Permanent - Objects published with the sync option of “Permanent” are downloaded automatically on the

next subsequent sync for any assigned users and kept on the device indefinitely.



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4.2 Create a Nugget – Content Wizard Process

It may also be possible for you to create the HTML files to be used for the nuggets outside of the OPLS and then

uploaded as part of the Wizard process.

Select Content – Wizards from the main menu to create a new nugget:

Select HTML (single fle) from the available Nugget options.

Create the nugget as specified, but then be certain to upload the .HTML file created for that specific nugget. This

nugget can then be published and utilized as a standard nugget in the system.

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