LibGuides for Guide Authors: Getting Started (OLD)

Adding content boxes to a page:

• Click on Add New Box in the column in which you want the box to appear.
• Select a Content Box Type from the drop-down menu.
• Enter a title for the box. (Use title case in page names.)
• Select a location for the box from the Position drop-down menu
• Click Create Box.

The default format for a LibGuides page consists of a narrow column on the left, a wide column in the center, and a narrow column with the librarian's profile box on the right.

The format can be changed to have one, two, or three columns with adjustable widths. Here's how to change from the default:

• Click on Add/Edit Pages on the yellow command bar.
• Select Resize Columns
• Change the number and/or width of columns by following the instructions on the screen.

Two columns (in addition to the column with your profile box) are better than one for multiple boxes. 

If you have more than one content box on a page, using two columns will make apparent, without scrolling, more of what the page offers.  Some content boxes -- ones with large images, for example -- won't work in the left column.  But, in general, side-by-side is better than top-to-bottom.

There are several types of content boxes to choose from. Some of the most commonly used types are summarized below. Click on a name to go to a sub-tab with more detailed information about that box type.

Reusing content boxes:

When adding a new content box, instead of creating a new box you can reuse existing boxes in two different ways. This includes a set of boxes in the Shared Templates guide.

• Link to another box in the system: This option duplicates the selected content box, and will change automatically whenever the original is changed.
• Copy another box from the system:This option duplicates the selected content box, but is not linked to the original. It can be edited on its own.
  • Any box in the BC LibGuides system can be linked to or copied.
• To link to or copy a box:
  • Click on Add New Box in the column where you want the new box to appear.
  • Click on the Reuse Existing Box tab.
  • Choose the guide and box you want to copy or link to.
  • Give the box a title (or keep the existing title.)
  • Leave the check box unchecked if you want to link to the original or check it if you want to copy the box and enable changes to the copy.

Reordering content boxes:

• You can reorder boxes on a page by moving them up or down in a column. You can also move boxes between columns. You can even move boxes from one page to any other page within the same guide.
• To reorder boxes:
  • Click on Add/Edit Pages on the yellow command bar.
  • Select Reorder Boxes.
  • Drag and drop the boxes you want to move to the desired locations.
  • Click on Update Box Order