Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our college upgraded to the new Cidi Labs DesignPLUS Sidebar and replaced the legacy toolbar with a more intuitive and improved design. This update enhances the content creation experience in Canvas, making it easier to design and edit courses while also providing built-in accessibility tools to ensure content is more inclusive and user-friendly. Additionally, this transition prepares our college for the future, as Cidi Labs will end support for the legacy toolbar by the end of the calendar year, 2025.

If you only use the Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE) to edit your course content, then you don't have to take any action, review any steps, or watch any training videos. This website and resources are intended only for users who have used Cidi Labs Design Tools to design and style course content, or those who wish to explore the new DesignPLUS Sidebar tools to create professional-looking courses. To learn more please check out the resources from the above navigation bar. 

Cidi Labs DesignPLUS is an upgrade from Design Tools (Legacy). DesignPLUS was developed to help you create and style course content while easily upgrading any of your existing content. All Reynolds Canvas users were upgraded to the new DesignPLUS sidebar on February 24, 2025.

Locate and click on the red rocket ship icon in the upper right corner of the page when editing Canvas content in the Rich Content Editor. If you cannot locate the icon, it can be launched using the following hotkeys from the edit screen on most Canvas content:

• PC: alt + shift + D

• Mac: option + shift + D

The upgrade to the new DesignPLUS sidebar occurred on February 24, 2025. Users no longer have access to the legacy Design Tools sidebar after the upgrade.* You'll know when the DesignPLUS sidebar has been upgraded when it looks like the promotional material on this website, as well as Cidi Labs DesignPLUS Sidebar webpage. The yellow banner announcement at the top of this website also reflects updated information when the upgraded occurred. 

*Some users who have used the legacy Design Tools in the past may still see the legacy toolbar when they edit a page. This is a browser cache issue. If you do, please follow the prompt at the bottom of the toolbar "New DesignPLUS Sidebar Available!" to switch to the new Sidebar.

If you accessed the legacy Design Tools toolbar before February 24, 2025, your browser’s cookies or cache may be preventing the new DesignPLUS Sidebar from appearing. To resolve this, look for the prompt in the lower right-hand corner of the legacy toolbar and click "New DesignPLUS Sidebar Available!" This should refresh your page and display the new Sidebar. If you still see the legacy toolbar after doing this, please contact CETL at canvas@reynolds.edu for assistance.

Your existing course content created with the legacy Design Tools will remain accessible and publishable after the upgrade. However, if you plan to edit legacy content using the new DesignPLUS sidebar, you must upgrade it for compatibility. This upgrade unlocks new features, a streamlined workflow, and enhanced flexibility. If you do not need to edit legacy content with DesignPLUS, no action is required. Your content will remain viewable without issues.

When you edit a page in Canvas with the new DesignPLUS Sidebar, you’ll be asked whether you want to convert your legacy content to the updated version. A simple click of a button will convert your legacy content into the updated style. Depending on the complexity and formatting of your content, you may need to make some minor adjustments in the Rich Content Editor manually to correct any formatting issues. 

You can upgrade your content using the Accessibility & Usability tab in the DesignPLUS Sidebar. Select the Upgrade Tool to convert all the content on the current page.

Additionally, you can convert all legacy content in your course with a single button, the Upgrade Tool. This tool can be accessed from the Settings page in your Canvas course. For detailed instructions, refer to the Course Upgrade guide.

Yes. Without any action, legacy content will still be displayed normally in the live view after the upgrade. Upgrading is only necessary if users want to work with the new DesignPLUS Sidebar, including editing content built with the legacy Design Tools.

No, you must use the Upgrade tool to upgrade legacy content if you want to edit it with the new Sidebar.

Yes, the new DesignPLUS Sidebar has complete feature parity with legacy Design Tools. It also has many new features and a streamlined workflow and user interface. Check out this DesignPLUS Version Comparison chart.

No. You can hide the DesignPLUS launch button in the DesignPLUS user settings or simply close the sidebar when it opens. Continue creating and editing Canvas course content as usual using the Rich Content Editor.

CETL is currently developing several Faculty Learning Opportunity (FLO) workshops planned for the Spring 2025 semester. These include "DesignPLUS Your Courses with Reynolds Canvas Templates" and "Canvas Accessibility Tools with DesignPLUS." See below for session decriptions. Keep a lookout for announcements and our FLO Calendar for upcoming workshop opportunities. In the meantime, please check out the resources provided on this website, including the Additional Resources page.

DesignPLUS Your Courses with Reynolds Canvas Templates

Explore the Reynolds Canvas Templates and learn to design professional, engaging courses with the new DesignPLUS Sidebar for Canvas, updated March 2025. This workshop provides an overview of the tools and features that streamline course development and design, whether you’re editing existing content or starting from scratch. Join us to save time and elevate the quality of your Canvas courses!

Canvas Accessibility Tools with DesignPLUS

Learn how to create inclusive and accessible course content using the DesignPLUS Sidebar. This workshop covers key accessibility tools to address headings, alt text, links, tables, external assets, and more. Gain practical insights and hands-on experience to enhance your course design and provide a better learning experience for all students.