nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Instructor Documentation (Corporate)

Automatically customize course content using replace strings

Child Item

Automatically customize course content using replace strings

You can use replace strings to customize course content and communications in Brightspace. Replace strings automatically incorporate your learner's personalized information, such as their name or user ID. This enables you to develop better relationships with your learners, increase engagement levels, and improves the overall learning experience.

About replace strings

Replace strings, sometimes referred to as display configuration variables, are configuration variable names enclosed in curly brackets {} that are automatically replaced by the corresponding configuration variable values. For example, if you enter the text {OrgUnitID} into a field in a tool or widget settings you will see the Organization Unit ID (ou #) of the course when you view the tool or widget. Replace strings are used in all tools that use Brightspace Editor, which appears anywhere that you create content. However, evaluation rules for the replace strings vary depending on the tool.

Evaluation rules for Content topics

For topics created in Content, replace strings are evaluated only once when first entered. Thereafter, there is no record of a replacement string having been entered. For example, if you enter {OrgUnitID} into a Content topic in course 'A' and later copy that topic into course 'B', the Organization Unit ID (ou #) of course 'A' course will display in the topic in course 'B'.

Evaluation rules for all other tools

For all other tools a replace string is evaluated each time the document containing the replace string is viewed. For example, if you enter {OrgUnitID} into a Discussion topic in course 'A' and later copy that topic into course 'B', the ou # of course 'B' will display in the post in course 'B'.

Not all replace strings apply to all tools as described below.

Replace strings are particularly useful within the following:

Course Homepage Widgets
Custom Navigation Bar Links
Navigation Bars
Mail Templates
Grades when adding bulk feedback
Language terms

Use replace strings with various widgets and tools

The available replace strings are:

Category	Replace string	Description	For use in
Organization	{OrgId}	ID number of the organization	All tools that use Brightspace Editor
Organization	{OrgName}	Name of the organization	All tools that use Brightspace Editor, Metadata, Intelligent Agents
Organization	{CurrentDate}	The date. You can shift the date by typing: ({currentDate} + x) or ({currentDate} - x) where x is a number of days	Metadata
Organization	{CurrentTime}	The time. You can shift the time by typing: ({currentTime} + x) or ({currentTime} - x) where x is a number of minutes	Metadata
Organization	{GMTime}	Greenwich Mean Time	Metadata
Org Unit	{OrgUnitId}	ID number of the organization unit	All tools that use Brightspace Editor
Org Unit	{OrgUnitName}	Name of the organization unit	All tools that use Brightspace Editor, Metadata, Intelligent Agents
Org Unit	{OrgUnitCode}	Code for the organization unit	All tools that use Brightspace Editor, Intelligent Agents
Org Unit	{OrgUnitTypeId}	ID number of the type of the organization unit	All tools that use Brightspace Editor
Org Unit	{OrgUnitPath}	Path to files for the organization unit	All tools that use Brightspace Editor
Org Unit	{OrgUnitType}	The current org unit's type (e.g. course offering, department)	Metadata
Org Unit	{LongTitle}	Long title of the current module or topic	Metadata
Org Unit	{ShortTitle}	Short title of the current module or topic	Metadata
Org Unit	{OrgUnitStartDate}	Start date specified for the org unit	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
Org Unit	{OrgUnitEndDate}	End date specified for the org unit	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
User	{UserId}	ID number of the user. This value is used internally by the system	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{UserName}	Full name of the user or the username entered to log on	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{OrgDefinedId}	Organization ID. This is an identifier specified by the campus for the user	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{FirstName}	First name of the user	Metadata
User	{LastName}	Last name of the user	Metadata
User	{Email}	User's internal email address	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{ExternalEmail}	User's external email address	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{InternalEmail}	User's internal email address	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
User	{number}	Mobile number of the SMS recipient	Mobile Carrier Management
User	{InitiatingUser}	User who performs the action that meets intelligent agent's criteria	Intelligent Agents, Email address fields (To, cc, bcc)
User	{InitiatingUserAuditors}	Auditors for the user who performs the action that meets intelligent agent's criteria	Intelligent Agents, Email address fields (To, cc, bcc)
User	{InitiatingUserFirstName}	First name of the initiating user	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
User	{InitiatingUserLastName}	Last name of the initiating user	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
User	{InitiatingUserUserName}	Username of the initiating user	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
User	{InitiatingUserOrgDefinedId}	Org Defined ID of the initiating user	Intelligent Agents, Email body text
User	{InitiatingUserParents}	The parents of the user who performs the actions necessary to satisfy the agent's criteria.	Intelligent Agents, Email address field
Role	{RoleId}	Internal ID number for user's role	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
Role	{RoleCode}	Code for user's role	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
Role	{RoleName}	Name of user's role	Tools that use Brightspace Editor
Mail Template	{HelpDeskEmail}	Email address of the Help Desk	Mail Template Management
Mail Template	{HelpDeskName}	Name for the Help Desk	Mail Template Management
Mail Template	{LoginPath}	URL of the login path for this site	Mail Template Management, Intelligent Agents, Email body text
Mail Template	{PasswordResetLink}	Link for users to reset their passwords	Mail Template Management
Mail Template	{PasswordResetExpiry}	The expiration period for the password	Mail Template Management
Mail Template	{Timestamp}	The current date and time	Mail Template Management

Example: Use replace strings to display a user's name in the course banner

Although there are various replace strings available, as well as various tools that they can be applied in, here is one example. You can use replace strings to display your learner's name in your course banner.

To display your
learner's name in your course banner

From your course home page, locate the course banner.
Click Banner Settings (...) and select Customize Banner Text.
From the Customize Banner Text dialog, select Custom.
Enter the desired text and add the replace string {FirstName}.
Click Save.

Your home page banner updates and displays the name of your learner.

Child Item