[Xerte] Re: Interface/authoring options for Xerte?

[Ron Mitchell]

My suggestion would be to forget about Desktop Xerte and Flash output. All
new XOT development is mostly HTML/JS/XML/CSS etc
You can already do lot's of stuff with custom code and/or embedding output
from other tools or extending the existing page types.
You mention a wysiwyg editor - try using an external one to generate some
code and paste that in an existing page type.
Look at the code and the way it works and if you're willing/able to
contribute join the devlist.
HTH
Ron


-----Original Message-----
From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Smith, Bradley
Sent: 29 August 2014 20:49
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: [Xerte] Re: Interface/authoring options for Xerte?

Thanks very much for the quick response, Ron! 

If I get access to a Windows system but don't have the Adobe software needed
to edit Flash content, would I be able to do anything useful with Xerte
Desktop, or would I need to wait until the next release is complete? Is the
dev version of that release stable enough to be worth trying yet?

-Brad

On Aug 29, 2014, at 3:10 PM, Ron Mitchell <ronm at mitchellmedia.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi
> a few quick responses...
> 
> Xerte desktop is the orginal developer tool and yes is Windows only in 
> terms of authoring and Flash only in terms of output. The official 
> name of the online tool is Xerte Online Toolkits (XOT) but many users 
> just refer to this as Xerte and as there isn't any new development or 
> HTML 5 output from the desktop tool XOT is where all new development 
> resides. It's old now but for more details on tools and terminology 
> view that Tools and Terminology screencast on my site via 
> http://mitchellmedia.co.uk/xerte
> 
> If you want to get involved in developing and contributing additional 
> functionality for XOT join the dev list 
> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> 
> Yes the reference to HTML 5 at the moment refers to the playback of 
> LO's rather than creation. With all versions up to 2.1 Flash is used 
> as part of the XOT workspace for authoring. However developments on a 
> non-flash authoring environment are well under way and should be part 
> of the next release which includes a wysiwyg editor based on 
> http://ckeditor.com/
> 
> HTH
> Ron
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> [mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Smith, 
> Bradley
> Sent: 29 August 2014 18:31
> To: Xerte discussion list
> Subject: [Xerte] Interface/authoring options for Xerte?
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I have a few questions I haven't been able to answer by poking around 
> on the site and in the docs I've found, so I'm hoping that someone here
can help.
> 
> First, I mentioned (off-topically) in another thread that I've been 
> finding the templates for lesson objects in XOT a bit limiting, and 
> asked about ways to develop my own. Shortly thereafter I noticed the link
to "Xerte Desktop"
> on the downloads page, which sounds like it could be what I'm looking for.
> However, the only download option is for a Windows installed. Am I 
> correct in inferring that if you're on a Mac or Linux you're limited 
> to the XOT interface, which is limited to simplified templates? Is 
> there any other way to develop more complex xerte-compatible learning 
> objects if you're not using Windows?
> 
> Second, on the website it says that Xerte is now available in HTML5. 
> Does this only refer to the ability to export HTML5 content, or is 
> there a non-flash version of the XOT interface somewhere I'm missing. 
> I think my confusion here is because I'd been thinking that "Xerte" 
> and XOT are the same thing. Is it more accurate to say that "Xerte" 
> refers to the content that XOT outputs?
> 
> Finally, one thing I mind myself missing a lot on XOT is a WYSIWYG 
> editor for formatting text with html. Especially if there is a 
> non-Flash version of the tool that I could hack on, I'd be interested 
> in seeing what would be involved in adding one (e.g. a js-based editor 
> like TinyMCE). Has any work been done on that that I should know 
> about, or is there a reason why this wouldn't be worth trying?
> 
> Thanks to anyone who can help!
> -Brad
> 
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This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and
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error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it.   Please do not
use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any
attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do
not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham.



This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment

may still contain software viruses which could damage your computer system,
you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the
University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.