Plugins - Introduction

Functionalities that are not included in the standard scope of ILIAS can be made available through so-called plugins.

  • To be able to use a plugin, it must first be installed on the server.
  • Plugins can only be activated or deactivated in the administration.

Information on ILIAS plug-ins can be found at http://www.ilias.de/docu/goto_docu_dcl_3342.html.


Extend ILIAS: Third-party software

Settings

Third-party software in ILIAS

Interfaces can be developed between ILIAS and other software, which then enable a combination of both tools.click on Administration in the main header bar and select the option Third-party software.there is, for example, such an interface to the software "netucate LearnLinc", a virtual classroom that enables synchronous audiovisual communication and offers functions such as application sharing, a shared whiteboard or a voting tool.

Note: netucate LearnLinc is not open source software, so you must expect to pay license costs when using it.the settings for the other third-party software are currently only accessible via the submenu of the dialog.in the respective submenus, you can activate or deactivate the availability of this third-party software, among other things.

These include:

  • Social bookmarking
  • jsMath
  • Google Maps

Activate MathJax interface

With this interface you can activate support for the jsMath-based output of mathematical content in the form of LaTeX expressions:

  1. Download jsMath and the corresponding image fonts from the Sourceforge page.
  2. Unzip jsMath and move the files to a directory on your server that is accessible to the Apache web server of ILIAS. For example, create a directory that is located under ../Services/JavaScript/jsMath.
  3. Create a subdirectory /fonts.
  4. Unpack the image fonts for jsMath image into the subdirectory. For better compatibility, you can extract all non-Sprite fonts from the additional fonts page and extract them to /fonts as well.
  5. Configure the file /easy/load.js according to your needs.
    Define at least the jsMath root directory:root:"./Services/JavaScript/jsMath"(replace the path according to your own structure if necessary).
  6. In ILIAS, open the dialog under Administration> Third-party software > jsMath.
  7. In the Path to jsMath library text field, enter the path to jsMath that you have created. Use the relative path. If you have entered the correct path, ILIAS will give you a corresponding response after saving.
  8. Select the Activate jsMath checkbox and save.

You also have the option of using jsMath as the default method for generating mathematical expressions in LaTeX format for ILIAS users who have not yet activated or deactivated jsMath output in their personal settings. jsMath documentation can be found at http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsMath/users/welcome.html.

Activate and configure the Google Maps interface

You can use this function to display the locations of users and courses in Google Maps. So-called Google Maps can be used in various places in ILIAS: Google Maps is a Google service that allows you to search for locations and then display their position on a map or on an image of the earth's surface (satellite and aerial images). The user can choose between a pure map display, an aerial image and a view that displays both a map and the aerial image. In April 2006, Google provided high-resolution satellite images for most of Germany. Navigation elements make it possible to move around the map/image section even without a search term. A zoom can also be used. [cf. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps , as of 10/16/2007].

Note: To be able to use Google Maps in ILIAS ILIAS, you must apply for a Google Maps API key at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html. The functionality can only be activated once this key has been entered under "API key":

  1. In ILIAS, open the dialog under Administration > Third-party software > Google Maps.
  2. Enter the API key provided by Google in the text field of the same name.
  3. Save.

Google Maps are available in various places in ILIAS below:

  • In courses, it is possible to display a map under Members > Map course members, in which the locations of all course members are displayed, provided they have activated their location in their personal profile (see previous point). The individual members can be accessed on the map via a clickable list on the left.
  • To activate the Google Maps functionality for a course, select the Activate map for course option under Settings > Map settings and save.
  • Note: In addition to the individual locations of course members, a course location is also displayed in the course member map, which can also be specified under "Settings > Map settings".
  • Groups also have a similar function to courses.