How can I use document templates when creating Talon pages (aka Files)?

How can I use document templates when creating Talon pages (aka Files)?

The document template feature adds ready-made content to a file (aka page) in Talon's Course Content tool. This can be a useful starting template (e.g. Course Schedule) or one of our tool specific info pages (e.g. Respondus Lockdown Browser). Document templates like the Elements Template can also provide copy-pastable items (e.g. Accordions or Tabs) you might want to use in other pages in Talon. 

Adding a Document Template

  1. Under Course Content, and inside a module, click the Upload/Create button and choose "Create a File".
  2. Give the file a title.
  3. Click the Select a Document Template button to choose a template.
  4. The document template's content will replace any content currently on the page.*
  5. Customize the template content as needed.
  6. Save and Close.
    select a document template button
Warning
*Warning: Selecting a document template will always REPLACE the existing content on the page, so it's usually only used at the beginning of the page creation process. If you already have content on a page that you want to templatize, consider creating a new page, choose your document template and then copy-paste the original content into the new page. 

How to add elements from the Elements Template to a Talon file

This is useful if you want to add an element to a page without adding the whole template (replacing the content). This process requires some good copy-pasting skills and juggling a few tabs/windows. If pasting in an element messes up other elements, undo the paste and try positioning the cursor on a new line and then paste in the element again. Pasting one element inside other elements doesn't always work well.
  1. In one tab/window, open the page you want to edit in editing mode (Edit HTML).
  2. In another tab/window, create a new file (Upload/Create > Create a File)
  3. Still on this new file, click the "Select a document template" button and choose "07 Elements"
  4. Select the element you want to copy -- be sure to select from the Start Copy to the End Copy text
    selected element from the start copy to the end copy text
  5. Ctrl + C to copy (or right click on the selection and choose "copy")
  6. Return to the tab containing the file you are adding this content to, and enter Edit mode if you haven't already done so (Edit HTML).
  7. Place the cursor on the page where you want the element.
  8. Ctrl + V to paste (or right click and choose "paste")
  9. Customize the pasted element, including removing the "start copy" and "end copy" text.