Being informed about news

News - Introduction

With the help of news, you can inform yourself about current events in ILIAS.

If, for example, a new forum post is written in a course or group, a new file is uploaded, or a new wiki page is created, a news item will be sent to you automatically.
Instructors can write news in the courses, groups, or categories and send it to your news block.

You can access your news in multiple places:

  • In the overview of the Personal Desktop in the News block.
  • In the News entry of the Personal Desktop
  • In the News block of objects
  • In the timeline of objects

Note: Only some of the features may be available in your installation. Please get in touch with your technical support.

In the news block, you get a compact display of current messages for all ILIAS objects found on the Personal Desktop. For example, you will be informed about posts in the forum or new files in courses.

You want to read the news that is displayed in the News block.

  1. Open the Overview item in the Personal Desktop menu.
  2. In the "News" block, click the link to the news you want to read.    
    Note: You will see the links only if you have selected detail level 2 or 3 in the News block via the ⚙.
  3. ILIAS displays the complete news item.
  4. Click the link to go directly to the object in question.

Hints:

  • You can determine the time period of the news
  • You can also subscribe to news as RSS feed to be always informed about changes on your ILIAS installation without having to log in extra.

Set period for news block

You want to change the time period for displaying news.

  1. Open the item Overview in the menu Personal Desktop.
  2. ILIAS displays the overview of the Personal Desktop.
  3. In the News block, click the ⚙ and select the Settings entry.
  4. ILIAS opens a new page.
  5. Select the desired period for the news display on the Personal Desktop in the Settings for the internal news area.
  6. Click on Save.
  7. ILIAS accepts the setting and shows you all news from the selected period.

Note: You can also subscribe to news as an RSS feed to stay informed about changes on your ILIAS installation without logging in.

Subscribe to news as an RSS feed.

You want to subscribe to the contents of the News block of the Personal Desktop as a personal RSS feed.

  1. Open the Overview entry in the Personal Desktop menu.
  2. Click on the RSS button at the bottom of the News block.
  3. ILIAS opens a new page with the URL of your news feed.
  4. Open or copy this URL into an RSS reader of your choice to be informed about new news via RSS.

Note: You can also set up a private news feed.

Set up a private RSS feed.

You want to subscribe to private news as an RSS feed. This news feed contains public news and news defined as private by the respective authors. You can also subscribe to your news feed using an external application (RSS reader). This way, you will receive the news of your ILIAS profile without being logged in.

Note: This newsfeed is protected by a password, which you can set up under "Settings". Please replace -password- with your feed password in the URL below.

  1. In the Personal Desktop menu, open the Overview item.
  2. In the upper section of the News block, click the ⚙ on the right.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select the Settings option.
  4. ILIAS opens a new page.
  5. Select the Enable private RSS feed checkbox in the Private news feed settings section.
  6. Under Password, enter a password for the new RSS feed.    
    Note: Do not use your ILIAS password for this under any circumstances!
  7. Under Repeat Password, enter the password for the new RSS feed again.
  8. Click on Save.
  9. ILIAS displays the URL of your private news feed and reports, "Your changes have been saved". In the displayed URL, replace the -password- placeholder with the password you chose in step 6.
  10. Open or copy this URL into an RSS reader of your choice to be notified of new private news via RSS.

Note: After you set up a feed password, you can also reach the URL of your private news feed by clicking the RSS button in the News block.

Hide news block

You no longer want to display the News block on your Personal Desktop.

  1. Click the ⚙ in the News block.
  2. Select the Hide entry.
  3. ILIAS hides the News block.

Note: You can show the News block again by selecting Show News in the Actions menu.

Show news on the personal desktop.

The News function shows you a clear representation of all new changes from the objects of the Personal Desktop. You will be informed here, for example, about new forum posts, edited wiki pages, or news written by instructors.

You want to view the news on your Personal Desktop.

  1. Open the entry News in the menu Personal Desktop.
  2. ILIAS opens a new page and shows you all news.
  3. Click on the link to go directly to the relevant item.

Note: You can filter the news by time and context.

Filter news

You want to display only the Personal Desk news published in a certain period of time or for a certain object.

  1. Select News in the Personal Desktop drop-down menu.
  2. ILIAS opens a new page.
  3. Click the Show filter link in the upper right corner.
  4. ILIAS shows you the filter.
  5. In the selection menu under Time period, select the desired period for which the news should be displayed.
  6. In the drop-down menu under Context, select the desired object for which the news should be displayed.
  7. Click on the Apply Filter button.
  8. ILIAS displays the news in a filtered manner.

Hints:

  • To hide the filter, click the Hide Filter link in the upper right corner.
  • To restore the original filter settings, click the Reset Filter button.

Read news in objects

In the News block, you will receive current news for the group, category, or course you are currently in. For example, you will be informed about new posts in the forum, uploaded files, or news created by instructors.

You want to read the news displayed to you in the news block.

Prerequisite: You are in a group, category, or course.

  1. In the News block, click the link to the news you want to read.    
    Note: You will only see the links if you have selected detail level 2 or 3 in the News block via the ⚙.
  2. ILIAS displays the complete news item.
  3. Click the link to go directly to the object in question.

Hints:

  • It is possible that the news block is not unlocked in your object. Please get in touch with your administrator.
  • You can also subscribe to news as an RSS feed.

Subscribe to the RSS feed of an object.

You want to subscribe to the content of the news block in an object as a personal RSS feed.

  1. Open the desired group, category, or course.
  2. Click the RSS button at the bottom of the News block.    
    Note: The button will only be displayed if your administrator has enabled it.
  3. ILIAS opens a new page.
  4. Subscribe to the feed in an RSS reader of your choice to be informed about new news via RSS.

Manage news in objects

Activate news

The news block can be displayed in the Content tab. It informs members about new content in the course. This can be newly uploaded files and new contributions in forums or wikis that belong to the course. Messages can also be written manually by tutors and administrators.

You want to activate the message block.

  1. Open the Settings tab.
  2. Scroll down to the Additional features section.
  3. Select the Messages checkbox.
  4. Click on the Save button.
  5. ILIAS accepts your entries and reports "Changes saved". Participants will now see the messages in the corresponding block in the Contents tab.

Note: It is possible to automatically send participants a daily e-mail with all messages from their courses and groups. This function must be activated in the administration under General settings > Cron jobs > Daily mail for groups and course news. If necessary, contact your technical support in this regard.

Using news blocks in objects

You want to use news blocks in courses, groups, and categories.

Prerequisite: News is already activated.

  1. Click on the News link in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS displays the News form.
  3. Activate the News checkbox.
  4. Click on Save.
  5. ILIAS displays the News block in the object.

Note: If you do not see the News option in the Settings tab, your technical support must first enable this option.

Create your news

You want to create news for your group, category, or course.

Prerequisite: You are in a group, category, or course.

  1. Click the ⚙ in the news block.
  2. You have two options to continue:
    • Select Add from the drop-down menu.
      or
    • Select the entry Edit in the selection menu.
    • ILIAS shows the list of your self-created news.
    • Click on the Add post button.
  3. ILIAS opens a new page.
  4. Enter a headline for your post under Headline.
  5. Enter your news in the Text form.
  6. Activate the checkbox for the desired access.
    Note: Public news can also be viewed by visitors who are not logged in to the installation.
  7. Click on Save.
  8. ILIAS returns to the Contents tab of the object.

Note: You can edit and delete your entries afterward.

Change news

You want to edit your news for your group, category, or course.

Prerequisite: You are in a group, category, or course.

  1. Click on the ⚙ in the news block.
  2. Select the Edit entry in the drop-down menu.
  3. ILIAS shows the list of your self-created news.
  4. In the Actions column, click the Edit link.
  5. ILIAS opens the forumlar post.
  6. Make the desired changes.    
    Note: Public news can also be viewed by visitors who are not logged in to the installation.
  7. Click on Save.
  8. ILIAS shows the list of your self-created news.

Note: You can also delete your news.

Delete news

You want to remove your news for your group, category, or course.

Prerequisite: You are in a group, category, or course.

  1. Click on the ⚙ in the News block.
  2. In the drop-down menu, select the Edit entry.
  3. ILIAS shows the list of your self-created news.
  4. Activate the checkbox in front of the desired news item.
  5. Click on the Delete button.
  6. ILIAS will ask you to confirm the deletion.
  7. Click on Confirm.
  8. ILIAS shows the list of your self-created news without the deleted news.

Note: You can also edit your news.

Set settings

You want to define the settings for news in your group, categories, or courses.

Prerequisite: you are in a group, category, or course.

  1. Click on the ⚙ in the news block.
  2. In the drop-down menu, select the Settings entry.
  3. ILIAS displays a new page.
  4. Make the desired settings:
    • To hide the News block for learners, select the Hide News block checkbox.
    • To make only news visible after a certain date, activate the Show news from date checkbox and enter a date in the Start date form.
    • Whether only logged-in users or all visitors of your installation should have access to the news in your object is controlled by selecting the radio buttons at Default access.
      Note: Public news can also be viewed by visitors to the installation who are not logged in.
    • Users can set up their web feed to the object's internal news if they activate the checkbox Own web feed.
  5. Click Save.

Create RSS feed

You want to create an RSS feed for a group, category or course so that your members are always informed about changes without having to log in separately.

Prerequisite: You are in a group, category or course.

  1. Click on the ⚙ in the News block.
  2. In the drop-down menu, select the Settings entry.
  3. ILIAS displays a new page.
  4. Activate the checkbox Own web feed.
  5. Click on Save.
  6. ILIAS shows the new RSS button in the News block of your object, which can be used to set up a web feed for the object.

Note: You can also set up web feeds on the Personal Desktop for all news.

Using Timeline

Timeline - Introduction

New events, content, and news can also be displayed in groups and courses on a timeline in a separate Timeline tab in addition to the News block. A lively picture of the participants' individual steps, questions, and interactions is created. The work with the materials runs as usual, while the Timeline tab also documents the collaboration.

The Timeline tab contains a horizontal timeline from which unpaired speech bubbles branch off, containing the news. You can activate automatically created news, for example, reports that a file has been added or a forum post has been created. In addition, you can create your posts, which will be listed chronologically in the Timeline and displayed in all news displays. The Timeline can also be set as the home page.

You can create your news as well as edit and delete them.

Create your news

You want to add your news to the Timeline.

  1. Open the Timeline tab.
  2. Click Add post.    
    Note: This option is only displayed if your administrator has enabled it.
  3. ILIAS opens a dialog Post.
  4. Enter a headline for your news under Headline.
  5. Enter your news in the Text form.
  6. Activate the checkbox for the desired access.    
    Note: Public news can also be viewed by visitors who are not logged in to the installation.
  7. Click on Save.
  8. ILIAS displays your news in the Timeline.

Note: You can edit and delete your news.

Modify news

You want to change a news item you created yourself.

Prerequisite: You have created a news item in the Timeline yourself.

  1. Open the Timeline tab.
  2. Open the ▼ menu next to the news item.    
    Note: This menu is displayed only on your own posts.
  3. Select the Edit entry.
  4. Make your changes.
  5. Click on Apply.
  6. ILIAS displays the news item in the same position as before with information on how to edit it.

Note: You can delete your news.

Delete news

You want to delete a news item you created yourself.

Prerequisite: You have created a news item yourself in the Timeline.

  1. Open the Timeline tab.
  2. Open the ▼ menu next to the news item.    
    Note: This menu is displayed only on your posts.
  3. Select the Delete entry.
  4. ILIAS displays a prompt asking, "Do you want to delete this post?"
  5. Click Confirm.
  6. ILIAS deletes the post.

Note: You can also edit your news.

Manage timeline

Activate timeline tab

You want to use the timeline tab.

Prerequisite: News is already activated.

  1. Click on the News link in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS displays the News form.
  3. Activate the Timeline checkbox.
  4. You can enable Automatically created news and set the Timeline as the start page.
  5. Click on Save.
  6. ILIAS reports "Changes saved". The new Timeline tab is located next to the Content tab.

Note: If you do not see the News option in the Settings tab, your technical support must first enable this option.

Create news automatically

You would like news, e.g., when new wiki pages are created, automatically inserted into the timeline.

Prerequisite: News is already activated.

  1. Click on the News link in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS displays the News form.
  3. Activate the Timeline checkbox.
  4. Activate the Automatically generated news checkbox.
  5. Click on Save.
  6. ILIAS reports "Changes saved". The new Timeline tab is located next to the Content tab.

Note: If you do not see the News option in the Settings tab, your technical support must first enable this option.

Set Timeline as the home page

You want to set the Timeline as the start page.

Prerequisite: News is already activated.

  1. Click on the News link in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS displays the News form.
  3. Activate the Timeline checkbox.
  4. Activate the checkbox Start page.
  5. Click on Save.
  6. ILIAS reports "Changes saved." The new Timeline tab is next to the Content tab and is displayed to users as the first page.

Note: If you do not see the News option in the Settings tab, your technical support must first enable this option.

Allow members to make their contributions.

You want your course or group members to be able to make their posts in the Timeline.

Note: Members only can create their news through the Timeline. These news items will be listed in all news displays.

  1. Open the tab Rights in your course or group.
  2. ILIAS shows the sub-tab Permission settings.
  3. Activate the right Create news for the role Group or Course member.
  4. Click on Save.
  5. ILIAS reports, "The settings have been saved". Your course or group members will see the Add post button in the Timeline tab and write their posts.

Editing contributions of members

You want to change a member's contribution in the Timeline.

Prerequisite: You have already written your own contributions.

  1. Open the Timeline tab in your group or course.
  2. Open the ▼ menu at the top right of the news item.    
    Note: This menu will be displayed to you at all posts.
  3. ILIAS opens the drop-down menu with the actions for the news item.
  4. Select the Edit entry.
  5. Make your changes.
  6. Click on Apply.
  7. ILIAS still shows the news in the same position it was before. The top line displays the addition "Edited: [username]: date, time" in the top line.

Note: You can also delete the posts of members.

Removing contributions from members

You want to delete a member's post in the Timeline.

Prerequisite: Your posts have already been made.

  1. Open the Timeline tab in your group or course.
  2. Open the ▼ menu at the top right of the news item.    
    Note: This menu will be displayed to you at all posts.
  3. ILIAS opens the selection menu with the actions for the news item.
  4. Select the entry Delete.
  5. ILIAS displays the prompt, "Do you really want to delete this post?"
  6. Click Delete.
  7. ILIAS deletes the contribution.

Note: You can also edit the posts of members.