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The Conversion Guide is a reference for preparing Word documents for conversion to HTML.

Overview

This Conversion Guide outlines ways to prepare your content in Word so that it can be processed into HTML easily and effectively, and uploaded to a learning management system such as BCIT's Learning Hub.

word, html5 logos

Why follow this guide?

  1. Simple markers ensure clear communication of your ideas
  2. Standard templates provide consistent structure and aesthetics
  3. Clear instructions enable a seamless process of conversion

How to use this guide

Word documents serve as the build files for the modules in your course. Build files include:

This guide introduces a variety of course production elements - different ways to display course content. When crafting the content of your build file, you can include any of these elements.

Below is an example of a quiz element:

example element
Example of an element

Elements have various components:

Preview
A preview of the element as it will be seen on the webpage.
Word
An example showing the Word text that you provide to achieve what's in the preview.
HTML
The underlying HTML code.
Notes
Additional information such options and restrictions for formulating your content.

When we receive your build file, the course production team will use it to quickly convert the content into HTML and upload it to the Learning Hub.

Examples of how Course Production works

Below are some before and after examples of content converted from Word into web format.

Getting Started

  1. Review the Essential Tips to learn useful tips and avoid some of the common pitfalls of using Word to create your build files.
  2. Familiarize yourself with all of the elements available through the menu.
  3. Scan the MS Word Tutorial section to learn which tools are best to use and which ones could cause problems.
  4. Choose a document to work from in the Templates section.
  5. Refer back to this guide regularly as you develop your content.

Essential Tips

Here are some things to consider when preparing your content:

Navigating content in Word

The Navigation Pane is a great way to view the structure of your content. Under the View menu, check the Navigation Pane box.

navigation pane howto

The Navigation Pane give you a good overview of the structure of your content, and allows you to move quickly around your document by clicking on a heading.

Ideally the navigation follows a "stair-step" content structure. secondary navigation pane howto

By right-clicking on a heading, you can gain access to various tools for working on your build files.

navigation pane tools howto

In the example above, selecting Promote would change Sub-Topic to Heading 2.

Leaving special instructions

Word comments are the best way to leave instructions for the course production team:

  1. Select the word or paragraph that you want to leave instructions about
  2. Right-click and choose New Comment
word comment howto

Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt + M on a Windows computer or Command + Option + A on a Mac.

Instructions that are embedded directly in the text will likely be missed!

Copying content from Word, PDFs, and other sources

If you're pasting content from other sources, try to clear or merge the formatting so that the text uses the Normal style. This ensures that hidden formatting in Word won't emerge in the HTML.

merge formatting howto

If you forget this step, you can always go back and clear the formatting later.

clear formatting howto

File names and linking to files

When you include other files (like PowerPoints or PDFs) with your build request, it's helpful if their names do not include spaces. Spaces in a file name can cause problems when browsers try to locate the file.

A good file name:

bsnc-2000-stephens-learning.pdf

It's also helpful if the text in your Word document links directly to your additional files so that there's no question about where the files should be linked.

To link a file:

  1. Start by making sure your additional file is in the same folder as your Word document (create a folder if necessary)
  2. Select the text that describes the file
  3. Right-click on the text selection and choose Hyperlink
  4. Click the Select button and choose the file you want to link to
  5. Click OK

Page titles

When you're preparing your build file, try to give new pages different titles so that students can more easily find them in the Table of Contents. Any text with the Heading 1 style will become a new page, and the more unique the page name, the better.

Requesting files in the Table of Contents

To request a link to another file (like PowerPoints or PDFs), insert a title along with the file name using Word Heading 1 styling in the exact spot where you would like the file to appear in the TOC:

The above syntax in Word will output to HTML as:

MS Word Tutorial

Refer to the images below to see which Word tools we recommend for creating your build file.

Home Tab

Name Available Note x1 x2 y1 y2
Paste Special Depends Always use the "Text Only" when pasting content from external sources. 1 7 3 76
Cut/Copy Yes Use this tool to Cut or Copy text within your word document. 7 24 5 50
Format Painter No This tool could cause problems with the HTML output. 7 24 51 74
Font/Size No Do not use because any changes will be ignored in HTML. 25.4 54 9 39
Change Case Yes You can use this tool to change the case of your text. 54.76 60.5 9 39
Clear Formatting Yes This is useful for cleaning up content pasted from external sources. 61.2 65 9 39
Bold/Italic Yes These styles will carry over into the HTML. 25.4 32.5 44 68
Underline No This could be confused with a hyperlink. Use Bold/Italic instead. 32.5 37.5 44 68
Strikethrough & Sub/Superscript Yes These styles will carry over into the HTML. 37.5 48.4 44 68
Text Color No Do not use because any changes will be ignored in HTML. 49 65 44 68
Text Alignment Depends These changes will be ignored however if you would like something aligned please leave a comment in your document. 66 80 44 68
Line Spacing No Do not use because any changes will be ignored in HTML. 81 86.5 44 68
Borders and Backgrounds No Do not use because any changes will be ignored in HTML. 87.5 99 44 68
Lists Depends Typically, this is not a problem. If you are emulating a particular convention (Eg. legal documents), please leave a comment indicating the reason with your specific requirements. 66 82 9 39
Indentation No Do not use because any changes will be ignored in HTML. 82.7 90.3 9 39
Sort Yes Be prepared to undo ;) 91 95 9 39
Formatting Symbols Yes This will be ignored in HTML, but we encourage it's use to help you format. 95.7 99 9 39

Quick Styles

Name Available Note x1 y1 x2 y2
Normal Yes The majority of your text will use this style. .5 10.5 2 23
No Spacing No This will be ignored. 11.5 21.5 2 23
Heading 1 Depends Only use this style to indicate a new page. 22.5 32 2 23
Sub-Headings Depends Avoid choosing headings for aesthetic reasons. Use headings to chunk your content into a hiearchy — always descend one heading level at a time (example: h1, h2, h3, etc.). Do not use more than 6 levels. 33 86.5 2 23
Title Depends Use this to indicate the name of the module (or sub-module) title. 87 98.5 2 23
All other styles No These will be ignored. .5 98.5 25 67.25
Create Style No Custom styles will be ignored. .5 20.5 70 79
Clear Formatting Yes We recommend using this whenever pasting content from an external source. It removes 99% of unwanted formatting. .5 20.5 80 89
Apply Styles... No This will be ignored. .5 20.5 90 99

Insert Tab

Name Available Note x1 y1 x2 y2
Cover Page No This will be removed before production. .5 18 3 27
Whitespace Depends This will be ignored. .5 18 29 78
Tables Depends Use this for presenting data or structured content. Never use tables for layouts! 19 27 3 78
Pictures Depends You can embed images but be aware that Word can shrink your image if it's larger than the width of the page. It's best to provide seperate files for large images. 28 36.25 3 78
Online Pictures Depends Same as pictures. 36.5 44 3 78
Shapes No Don't use. The LTC has graphic artists on-hand to assist you in the creation of illustrations, charts, and diagrams. 44.25 52 3 78
Smart Art and Charts No Don't use. The LTC has graphic artists on-hand to assist you in the creation of illustrations, charts, and diagrams. 52.25 69 3 51
Screenshot Depends Same as pictures. 52.25 69 53 78
Online Video No Provide a link to the media instead. 70 78 3 78
Hyperlink Depends Use this to link to a file, website or an email address. 79 99 3 27
Interlinking No Do not use. Use hyperlinks instead. 79 99 29 78
Name Available Note x1 y1 x2 y2
Comment Yes Instructions in comments are better than implied visual changes. .5 10.5 3 78
Header, Footer & Pagination: No These will be ignored. 11.5 30.5 3 78
Text No These will be ignored. 31.5 75 3 78
Equation No This tool is problematic. Consult the Course Production team to discuss alternatives. 76 91 3 25
Symbol Depends If you are using an unusual symbol, please leave a comment to ensure it is converted into HTML. 76 91 27 52
Flash No This will be ignored. 92 99.5 3 78

Note

It's recommended that you avoid using any other tools not covered here.

Templates

The following documents will help you get started with your next project. Choose a document and start writing!

Name Description
Simple Working Document

Sometimes the best place to start is with a basic file.

Overview Module

One example of a "Getting Started" module you could use as an introduction to your course.

Content Light Module

Useful for courses where content is primarily external (PDFs, links, etc).

Content Heavy Module

Useful for courses where there is a lot of content provided directly within the course itself.

Course Element Notes

This set of notes used by the Occupational Health and Safety (OCHS) program was used to ensure all course modules contained the same elements.