No Text box for Discussions

Missing Text Box

If the Text box is missing for a Discussion Board when you try to start a new thread or reply to a message, it means that ActiveX controls are disabled and you cannot use the "Text Box Editor" control (also known as the WYSIWYG editor). This has occurred because of recent security updates to Internet Explorer which now handles ActiveX controls differently.

To fix this problem, in Internet Explorer's security settings, make sure the setting for "Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins" is set to enable for the Internet zone and Blackboard is set as a Trusted Site.

Step 1—Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins: Go to the TOOLS menu on the top bar of a window in Internet Explorer. Then click on TOOLS. The following window will appear. Click the SECURITY tab and then look towards the bottom of the window at the Security level. A Medium-High or lower setting seems to work fine. Then click the CUSTOM LEVEL button.
Internet Options for Security

The following screen will appear. Scroll until you find the “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins” and make sure it is marked as enabled.

Security Options

Step 2 —Add Blackboard as a Trusted Site : Go to the TOOLS menu on the top bar of a window in Internet Explorer. Then click on TOOLS. The following window will appear. Click the SECURITY tab and then click the Trusted sites in the zone listed. Then click the SITES button.

Security Options: Adding Trusted Sites

In the text box given for "Add this website to the zone:" type the web address for Blackboard, http://bb8.nefec.org as shown below. Then click the ADD button.

Adding http://bb8.nefec.org as a Trusted Site

Once these steps have been completed, go to one of the threaded discussions to verify that you now have a textbook. If you don't, use the alternate fix explained below.

Alternate Fix for "No Text Box": If the directions above do not work, then the Visual Text Box Editor can be turned off. Here's how...

From the Blackboard Welcome page, on the far left you will see a box labeled TOOLS with "Personal Information." Click the Personal Info link.

Edit Personal Info In Blackboard

Then look for the "Set Visual Text Box Editor Options" link. Change the availability to "Unavailable" and the click the SUBMIT button.

Turning Off Visual Text Editor Make Visual Textbox Editor Unavailable

If you need assistance with this or continue to experience this problem, please contact Garnette Knapp for help.