Page Templates

Once a Sousa page object exists, it be re-used in a number of ways:

Included in multiple sequences
Copied (and perhaps modified) - TBD
Saved out in a content package (or cartridge) - TBD
Used to create a template - TBD

Sousa Page Templates

Any Sousa page object could potentially be identified as a template for making others with the same structure. The page template has a layout type, and several content elements in it abstracted by media type. When the template is used to create a new page, a wizard (web flow) walks the author through each element. At each step, the default can be retained, a new element of the same type chosen, or (depending on the media type) be edited in place.

Page Template Example

WARNING! Several of the media types used in this example are not currently supported or implemented. They are for illustrative purposes only.

Assume that the following page was created using the Sousa Page tool (in fact, there are unsupported media elements included in this example):

From a template perspective, this page looks like this:

Overall, the page has a "t-top" layout type (not currently supported). The top cell spans the grid and contains three content elements: a header, an image, and a plain text. The lower left cell contains two elements: an image and a link. Finally, the lower right has a single element, which is a QTI question type.

Each of the content elements in this layout are number to show the order in which they would be edited by a template wizard. That flow is described as follows:

Creating a Page from a Template

0. A template is selected to be used to create a new page object. It is given a name and a description (etc.).

1. The author may choose to keep the default title, select a new one, or edit the default. In this case, the author is like to enter new header text, but also like retains the size property of H1.

2. The author may choose to keep the default image, or select a new one. Properties can also be edited, but won't really affect what this page is trying to teach.

3. The author may choose to keep the default text, select a new text element, or edit the text. Likely, the text is changed.

4. The author may choose to keep the default image, or select a new one.

5. The author may choose to keep the default link, select a new one, or edit the default. If edited, the URL and label can be changed. By default links appear in a pop-up window, but may also be framed.

6. The author may choose to keep the default question type, select a new one, or edit the default. Editing questions may be beyond the near term scope of Sousa.

After each element is edited, the user sees an intermediate representation of the page under edit. It may be saved at any point.

User Interface Possibilities

In the Sousa Page tool, on existing, known page objects, include a "Copy" link. This link goes to a "New Page" view similar (or identical) to NewPageProducer. This view would collect a new page name (defaulting to "copy of previous") and a new description (defaulting to the old one). In addition, a checkbox would be provided to signal that this page is to be used as a template to create a new page.

If the checkbox is selected, it initiates the page creation wizard described above. Otherwise, a simple copy is made.