CKEditor Toolbar

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(Using the Toolbar: Article updated to CKEditor 3.6)
 
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The '''Toolbar''' is the area in CKEditor where User may activate most of the editor features. Each button in the toolbar access a different function. Toolbar includes simple functions for basic text formatting and more advanced features like creation of links and tables. Depending on the options chosen during installation CKEditor’s toolbar may look different.
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{{#CUSTOMTITLE:CKEditor Toolbar}}
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== Toolbar Characteristics ==
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The '''Toolbar''' is the section located at the top of the editor window. It contains menu buttons that give you access to various functions of CKEditor. All buttons are grouped according to their function and include both simple operations (like basic text [[CKEditor 3.x/Users Guide/Styling|styling]] or [[CKEditor 3.x/Users Guide/Layout|formatting]]) and more advanced features (like inserting media or forms via a [[CKEditor 3.x/Users Guide/Interface/Dialog Windows|dialog window]]).
  
[[Image:CKEditor_toolbar.png|frame|center|The CKEditor Toolbar]]
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This is what the editor toolbar looks like:
  
In order to use the '''buttons''' in the toolbar user must move mouse pointer over the button. Over the highlighted button a message with name of the button will appear. Clicking on the button executes its function. With more experience, user will have full control over an all CKEditor features and reading button’s description will not be necessary. User will use them intuitively.
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[[Image:CKEditor_toolbar.png|frame|center|The CKEditor toolbar]]
  
Apart from the toolbar’s buttons CKEditor contains also toolbar '''combos''' (drop down boxes). The combos are the white areas with a little arrow on its side. User may easily access them by clicking on the white area or the little arrow. When clicked the menu expand so user may choose from one of its available options. To execute one of the options user  simply needs to click on it.
 
  
User may also collapse toolbar by pressing [[Image:CKEditor_toolbar_rollup.png]]. After pressing this button more than once the toolbar will be expanded.
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The CKEditor toolbar buttons are illustrated with meaningful icons. If, however, you are not sure what functions they perform, hover the mouse cursor over the buttons to see a tooltip with the name of the function.
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[[Image:CKEditor_toolbar_tooltip.png|frame|center|The CKEditor toolbar tooltip]]
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== Using the Toolbar ==
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In order to perform an operation assigned to a button, click the button once. In most cases it will either immediately perform some predefined action or open a dialog window with further configuration options for a feature.
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Remember that the toolbar can also be used with your keyboard. To enter the toolbar, use the ''Alt+F10'' keyboard shortcut. To move to the next or previous button group, use the ''Tab'' and ''Shift+Tab'' keys, respectively. Within a button group, use the ''Left Arrow'' and ''Right Arrow'' keys to move between buttons of this group. To activate a selected toolbar button, press ''Enter'' or ''Space''.
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<note>The accessibility shortcuts for toolbar navigation were modified in [http://ckeditor.com/blog/CKEditor_3.6_released CKEditor 3.6], when the concept of a '''toolbar button group''' was initially introduced. On entering the toolbar you can now use the ''Tab'' and ''Shift+Tab'' shortcuts to navigate between button groups and the ''Arrow'' keys to navigate between the buttons ''within a group''. In CKEditor 3.5.x and before both ''Tab'' and ''Arrow'' keys were used to navigate between the toolbar buttons.</note>
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Some of the buttons serve as placeholders giving you access to further options placed in a drop-down list. They are easily recognizable thanks to a small [[Image:CKEditor_menu_list_arrow.png|arrow]] icon on their right. Clicking the name or the arrow icon of such button expands the list and lets you choose one of its options via the left mouse button. To select a drop-down list option you can also use the ''Tab'' or the ''Down Arrow'' key and then accept your choice by pressing ''Enter'' or ''Space'' on your keyboard. To hide the list, use the ''Esc'' key or click anywhere in the browser window.
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== Collapsing and Restoring the Toolbar ==
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To save on screen estate, you can collapse the toolbar by pressing the [[Image:CKEditor_toolbar_rollup.png|Collapse Toolbar]] button or using the ''Alt+-'' (''minus'') keyboard shortcut. In order to return to the full toolbar view, press the same button or keyboard shortcut again.

Latest revision as of 09:35, 12 May 2011

Toolbar Characteristics

The Toolbar is the section located at the top of the editor window. It contains menu buttons that give you access to various functions of CKEditor. All buttons are grouped according to their function and include both simple operations (like basic text styling or formatting) and more advanced features (like inserting media or forms via a dialog window).

This is what the editor toolbar looks like:

The CKEditor toolbar


The CKEditor toolbar buttons are illustrated with meaningful icons. If, however, you are not sure what functions they perform, hover the mouse cursor over the buttons to see a tooltip with the name of the function.

The CKEditor toolbar tooltip


Using the Toolbar

In order to perform an operation assigned to a button, click the button once. In most cases it will either immediately perform some predefined action or open a dialog window with further configuration options for a feature.

Remember that the toolbar can also be used with your keyboard. To enter the toolbar, use the Alt+F10 keyboard shortcut. To move to the next or previous button group, use the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, respectively. Within a button group, use the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys to move between buttons of this group. To activate a selected toolbar button, press Enter or Space.

important note
The accessibility shortcuts for toolbar navigation were modified in CKEditor 3.6, when the concept of a toolbar button group was initially introduced. On entering the toolbar you can now use the Tab and Shift+Tab shortcuts to navigate between button groups and the Arrow keys to navigate between the buttons within a group. In CKEditor 3.5.x and before both Tab and Arrow keys were used to navigate between the toolbar buttons.


Some of the buttons serve as placeholders giving you access to further options placed in a drop-down list. They are easily recognizable thanks to a small arrow icon on their right. Clicking the name or the arrow icon of such button expands the list and lets you choose one of its options via the left mouse button. To select a drop-down list option you can also use the Tab or the Down Arrow key and then accept your choice by pressing Enter or Space on your keyboard. To hide the list, use the Esc key or click anywhere in the browser window.

Collapsing and Restoring the Toolbar

To save on screen estate, you can collapse the toolbar by pressing the Collapse Toolbar button or using the Alt+- (minus) keyboard shortcut. In order to return to the full toolbar view, press the same button or keyboard shortcut again.

This page was last edited on 12 May 2011, at 09:35.