Windows Vista and the Discussion Board
If you are using the Windows Vista operating system, as of May 1, 2007, that operating system is not compatible with the Visual Text Box Editor and the Blackboard Discussion Board. In order for you to participate in discussion forums or to take quizzes that require you to type your answer in a text box, you must change the Visual Text Box Editor settings in the Personal Information area after you login to Blackboard. Follow these steps:
  1. After you login, click the "Personal Information" link under the "Tools" menu on the left side of the screen:

    Click Personal Information on the Tools Menu.

  2. Then click the "Set Visual Text Box Editor Options":

    Click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options

  3. Then click the "Unavailable" radio button. Finally, click the "Submit" button:

    Select Unavailable on the Visual Text Box Editor Options Page

  4. You will then see the following page. Click "OK" and then "OK" again on the next page that appears.

    Your settings have been changed.

  5. At this point you will be able to use the Discussion Board in the "Smart Text" mode. This means that if you press the enter key twice between paragraphs, a blank line will be displayed between paragraphs. If you know the HTML commands for boldfacing (<strong>bold text</strong>), you will have to add those commands yourself if you want text to be displayed as bold, for example. For other HTML commands, please read Basic HTML for Enhancing Blackboard Documents

  6. When Blackboard and Windows Vista have resolved the problems with the visual text box editor, this Web page will display an announcement.

Modified Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Provided by CEI - The North Carolina Conference of English Instructors