3.3: How to Make a LibreTexts Remix

 

This tutorial will walk you through making a customized text using the LibreTexts remixing tool. The Remixer tool can be used for simple tasks like creating a book that consists of select chapters of an existing resource or it can be used to create complex remixes consisting of multiple resources potentially across libraries. 

Finding the Remixer

The "Remixer" is activated by pressing the Remixer icon on the primary toolbar, which will start up a new page (if this is the first time it is activated, it may take up to 15 seconds to load).

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Example of the top of the remixer in "Admin Mode".  .

If the top of your Remixer screen has a grey bar with the term "Demonstration Mode" on the left (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)), then you will not be able to publish your text until you login. However, you can still create an online map of your customized text and save it for future editing/publishing. 

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Primary toolbar for a library shown if a user has not logged in with an instructor's account.

 

Getting Started

When logged into an account with publishing privileges, Remixer will be in "Admin mode" (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)) and the Remixer will appear

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): The Remixer page as it appears. The first four steps are described below

Creation Steps

Step 1: Enter the name you want for your book (typically your name and the name of the class) in the box labeled "LibreText name" (Step 1 in Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)). You MUST DO THIS FOR THE REMIXER TO WORK

Step 2 Decide on which copy mode you desire. The two choices you have are Copy-Transclude and Copy-Fork. By default, the Remixer generates "copy-transcluded" pages that mirror the original Master content. To edit the content on the new Remixed page, authors have to either edit the original material (e.g. with errors) or have to "fork" the page to copy the content from the original master page into the new Remixed page. Copy-forked pages copy as traditional copied pages, which, once copied, can be edited independently of the content of the master page. It is recommended to keep the Remixer in Copy-Transclude mode unless you plan to customize the text on all pages.   You can convert individual sections/pages to distinct forked copies at a later time in order to customize them.

Step 3: A popup tutorial can be turned on by flipping this switch. Use as needed.

Step 4: The autonumber ensures the constructed Remix follows a consistent number scheme and more importantly, adapts to the changing structure of the remix as new content is added, deleted or reorganized. It is recommended to turn this on (switched to the right). There are options available for the autonumber (blue button below autonumber switch); it is recommended to avoid these until users are more proficient with the remixer tool.

Dragging and Dropping Content

The Remixer has two panels: The library panel and the Remix panel (Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)). The library panel on the left side contains the existing content on the LibreTexts libraries and the Remixer Panel on the right side is where you will create your new Remix. The basic remixing approach is to drag content with the mouse from the Library Panel to the Remix Panel. To insert a chapter or section from an existing book simply find it in the Library panel and drag it to where you want it in your remix.

Step 5: Find content you desire to remix by selecting the library under "Library panel" (default is the library the Remixer was opened in) and parse through the hierarchy tree. Once found, use the mouse to click on it and drag it to the Remix Panel. Content in the Remix panel will be green since this is a new page being created (ONLY after the Remix is published). You can continue to drag and drop content in different spots in your Remix Panel.

The first time you try this only put a few chapters/pages into the Remix panel, preferably from a book in the bookshelves. Notice how the chapters and pages renumber. Within the text Figures, Tables and Equations will also renumber

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Working panel of the remixer. Left panel is the "Library Panel" that gives users access to the pages on all 13 libraries. The right panel is the "Remix Panel" i.e., the customized text. Content is dragged with the mouse from the Library Panel to the Remix Panel. The + sign when present expands each entry to show linked subentries

In both panels, the  symbol indicates the top (book) level, the  symbol indicates a chapter, and the  symbol indicates a section (or subsection). 

Users can Select content from any library

At the top of the Library Panel you will find the library selector, you can select material from any of our 13 libraries.

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Users can select from content in different libraries on the platform. The first step is to select the library via pull-down menu.

Reorganizing Remix Content

You can edit your remix by inserting or deleting pages and dragging sections and chapters around as you desire. Above the Library and Remixer Panels is the editor bar (Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)). Here you can add a new (empty) page, change the title of a page or chapter, delete a page or a chapter, undo your latest changes, start over with a new remix, or publish a remix.

Step 6: Rearrange chapters and pages as desired. If autonumber is on, the title numbers will adjust as you reorganize your content. Delete unneeded pages and add new content from the Library Panel. Actions can be reverted via the undo/redo buttons.

The organization in the Remix panel will be automatically stored in on the user computer in the web browser's cookies. They can also be forced to be saved via the "Save Map" below the Autonumber Options (Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)). This allows you to share your remixing map across computers or with other people. 

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Users can use the editor bar to add a new (empty) page, change the title of a page or chapter, delete a page or a chapter, undo your latest changes, start over with a new remix, or publish a remix by first moving it to the server.

Publishing your Remix

When you are ready to publish your remix press the green "Save to Server" button (Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)). You will then see an overview screen summary of your remix outlining the basic properties of the pages that will be created (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)).

Step 7: If you are happy with the summary, press "publish" at the bottom left to publish the remixing map. You can follow the publishing process as your remix is being created in the right panel. 

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Users can edit the page properties of any page in the Remix panel via the Page Properties section (left). Once pressed, the map then is created and progress can be viewed via the right panel.

Take Ownership of your Remix

The Remixer will place your remix in your Sandbox.  When the progress bar has stopped on the far right just click on the Your new LibreTexts is Available here to go to it

Edit Remix

The complete Construction Guide goes into more detail about the Remixer, and how to use the Remixer to change and edit your LibreTexts. In the next page we will discuss how to edit newly create LibreTexts.