CTools version 2.7.1 was released to the U-M community on Dec. 28. A significant upgrade, 2.7 includes new features in existing tools, improvements in ease-of-use and navigation, and bug fixes.
Linking to a Parent Site is a new feature that allows users to link one site to another to allow quick and easy navigation. Linking doesn’t affect the behavior or content, but users who are members of both sites and have permission to view both will see menu links or breadcrumb navigation between the two. A parent site can have many child sites pointing to it, but a child site can have only one parent. This feature is found in the Site Info tool.
Two import processes in the Gradebook tool have been merged into one, the loading dock. Also in the Gradebook tool, users now can change the order of Gradebook items, and can upload or download the spreadsheet template for importing grades.
In CTools 2.7, when a user opens the Forum tool for the first time, a forum and topic already will be set up. Users then can customize the forum and topic. Topics now inherit changes, such as permissions changes, made to forum itself.
In Resources, permissions capabilities have been expanded to include group-based permissions. It also is possible now to clear permissions and to undo changes that have not yet been saved.
Several smaller enhancements also have been made, including changes to the Announcements creation page that make the hiding option more clear. In Assignments, instructors have a “clear grade” option. In the Wiki, navigation breadcrumbs have been replaced with a “Recently Visited” dropdown menu. In 2.7, a module that has neither a start nor an end date is never open, unlike in CTools 2.6 modules.
Important Note Regarding the Discussions Tool
At the time of the 2.7 upgrade, the Discussions tool was removed from the list of selectable tools. CTools has been offering both the Discussion and Forums tools for a number of years, but new development has focused on Forums. The goal in removing it from the selection list is to direct all new site owners to Forums.
The Forums tool supports the W3C accessibility guidelines and is compatible with mobile devices. These capabilities are essential to provide equal opportunity for participation by all CTools users, and to support the expanding use of mobile computing. Current Discussion users are strongly encouraged to use Forums instead.
