Writing Box · Step-by-step lesson
Writing Box: text and formatting
Highlight words, change style, size, font and colour, align paragraphs and expand the editor.
Before you start: Open a page or content item you can edit in the Admin Portal. These lessons demonstrate the existing Writing box controls.
How to use this lesson
Read the instruction, then look at the pointer on the example screen. Click or tap Next below when you are ready. The example screen is a demonstration. It cannot save, send or change anything.
“Select” means click once with a mouse, or tap once with a finger. You can go back, restart or take a break at any time.
Step 1 of 28
Open the page you want to edit
In the portal, select Pages, then click a page you can edit. The same Writing box is also used for News, Events, Emergency pages and Gateway content.
Look at the example. Then select Next when you are ready.
Step 1 of 28. Open the page you want to editWatch the pointer. Use the lesson’s Next button to continue.
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Read all instructions together
Open the page you want to edit
In the portal, select Pages, then click a page you can edit. The same Writing box is also used for News, Events, Emergency pages and Gateway content.
Find the Writing box
Scroll down to Writing box. This example already contains a sentence. Click inside the box to type your own content.
Make more room
Select Expand writing box to work in a larger window.
Highlight the words first
Drag across the words you want to change. The selected words are highlighted. On a touch device, touch and hold, then adjust the selection handles.
Select Bold
Bold makes the selected words heavier. Highlight your words, then click the Bold icon. Click it again to remove that formatting.
See bold text
The highlighted words now use bold. Each example here starts with the same plain sentence.
Select Italic
Italic makes the selected words slant. Highlight your words, then click the Italic icon. Click it again to remove that formatting.
See italic text
The highlighted words now use italic. Each example here starts with the same plain sentence.
Select Underline
Underline draws a line below the selected words. Highlight your words, then click the Underline icon. Click it again to remove that formatting.
See underline text
The highlighted words now use underline. Each example here starts with the same plain sentence.
Open Text size
Highlight the words, then select Text size in the toolbar.
Choose Large
Choose a readable size. Four sizes are available.
Check the result
The selected words now use Large.
Open Font
Highlight the words, then select Font in the toolbar.
Choose Georgia
Choose Arial, Georgia or Courier New.
Check the result
The selected words now use Georgia.
Open Text colour
Highlight the words, then select Text colour in the toolbar.
Choose Blue
Choose a colour that stays clear against the background.
Check the result
The selected words now use Blue.
Select Align left
Click in the paragraph you want to align, then select this alignment icon.
Check the paragraph position
The paragraph is now aligned to the left. Alignment affects the paragraph, not just one word.
Select Align centre
Click in the paragraph you want to align, then select this alignment icon.
Check the paragraph position
The paragraph is now aligned to the centre. Alignment affects the paragraph, not just one word.
Select Align right
Click in the paragraph you want to align, then select this alignment icon.
Check the paragraph position
The paragraph is now aligned to the right. Alignment affects the paragraph, not just one word.
Return to the page
Select Return to page to leave the expanded Writing box. Your changes remain in the editor.
Save your changes
Click Save on the surrounding page or article form. Formatting is not saved to the public page until you save that form.
Your formatting is saved
Check the resident preview to make sure the text is easy to read. The word counter in the editor updates as you write; it is not a separate control.