Description Lists

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Formatting Text & Media Description Lists

A description list, also called a definition list, is a list of terms, with each term followed by its description or definition. This format is well suited to glossaries, but it can also be used to display lists of items followed by one or more pieces of metadata about each item; for example, a list of events with the date, time, and venue as the metadata. 

Tip for Description Lists

Avoid overwhelming students with very long lists of terms.

Instructions

Add a description list

  1. Place your cursor in the editor where you want the description list to go.
  2. Open the Add New Elements (tab in the sidebar.
  3. Select the  Description List toolThe Edit Current Element  ( tab opens with Description List selected as the active tool.
    Description List tool
  4. A single term/description pair is added to the Canvas editor:
    Term/Description pair
    To add additional items, use the controls at the top of the Content panel. You can either...
    Description List: Content Panel
    1. change the number in the Items box
      OR
    2. click the add  ( +)  button to add items one by one.
  5. In the Canvas rich content editor, replace the placeholder text for each item with the term and description.
  6. To change the formatting of the list, use the tools in the Style panel:
    Descriptive List: Style Panel

    1. Layout: Toggle between vertical or horizontal styled layouts.
    2. Alignment: Select between Left, Center, Right, or Default aligned text.
    3. Padding: Set the spacing gap between the Description List element and other elements on the page.
    4. Term Color: Set the color for the Description List text.

Edit a description list

  1. To edit the list text, use the Canvas rich content editor. To edit or adjust the number, order, or formatting of list items, select the Edit Current Element  ( ) tab in the sidebar.
  2. Select or place your cursor within the description list you want to modify.
  3. Choose Description List as the active tool:
    Description List tool
  4. Use the controls in the Content and Style panels to add, remove, rearrange, and/or reformat the items in the list as desired.

Learn More

Cidi Labs DesignPLUS User Guide: Description List