How do I disable inline preview for a YouTube video using the NEW Rich Content Editor?

[clark_gerry]

I'm using the NEW Rich Content Editor. Is there a way to disable inline previews for a YouTube video? I know how to do it with the old RCE, but when I click to modify the link with the new RCE, I don't see the "Disable inline preview" checkbox.

Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, I'm just trying to find my way around the new feature.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[matthewthomas · Accepted solution]

I have the same question. In the meantime, I found a workaround:

1. Create a shortened url for the YouTube video (bit.ly or the like)
2. Use the shortened url & Canvas doesn't flag it as a YouTube video

It's not elegant, but it works until we hear back on this.

[kwennstrom · Accepted solution]

You can also edit the HTML and manually add "class=inline_disabled" to the hyperlink. I did this for the page shown below:

[matthewthomas · Accepted solution]

I have the same question. In the meantime, I found a workaround:

1. Create a shortened url for the YouTube video (bit.ly or the like)
2. Use the shortened url & Canvas doesn't flag it as a YouTube video

It's not elegant, but it works until we hear back on this.

[clark_gerry]

Matt, thanks for the workaround! It's a great tip. In our current Canvas installation, we can toggle between the old and new RCE (until June), so I have just been using the old RCE when I need to disable the preview. Hopefully Instructure will give us a more elegant method.

[gulick_24]

I agree with Matt &  @clark_gerry  --we need a built-in way to disable that inline preview in the #new rce , otherwise our content can look too choppy and visually distracting.  Similar conversation happening here.  The "disable inline preview" button is vital. 

[kwennstrom · Accepted solution]

You can also edit the HTML and manually add "class=inline_disabled" to the hyperlink. I did this for the page shown below:

[kdickso]

Thank you  @kwennstrom ! I messed it up a couple of times, but basically figured out this fix in the HTML.

But, in the mean time I turned off the enhanced RCE.

There is, however, a proposal we all might want to vote up that addresses this:

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/16499-disable-automatic-inline-previews-of-youtube-videos 

[jbielecki]

Thanks so much! 

[hmcmichael]

Same question for me.  We used to be able to do this in the old RCE, and it was so handy for YouTube videos that created disruptive previews.  Would be lovely to have an inline preview option again.  I'd vote for it!

[guyr1]

The HTML option mentioned by @Kira Wennstrom seems to be the only way to get it to work nativity.  Canvas needs to restore this feature to the link tool. 

[ewest]

I completely agree. It is not a workable solution to request for instructors to adjust HTML code to disable previews.

[kdickso]

Hi Everyone,

It turns out that  @ProfessorBeyrer ‌ has made videos for how to do this in the old and new RCEs.

https://community.canvaslms.com/blogs/greg/2020/05/13/inline-previews-in-the-rich-content-editor-old...

Obviously the one of interest here is the one for the new RCE which shows exactly how to go into the HTML and fix the code should you be interested in doing that. It is the method that  @kwennstrom ‌ shows above with a screenshot, but for people who like to see the whole process it might help?

I also saw this note that says a fix may be coming? (Scroll to bottom)

https://community.canvaslms.com/community/ideas/blog/2020/04/30/learning-activities-spring-2020-upda...

Keep your fingers crossed it gets added back in sooner rather than later.

Now if we could only get that toolbar static without having to use tampermonkey scripts!

Cheers.

Katrina

[ryan_corris]

Thanks for sharing  @kdickso !  This is a nice workaround.  Unfortunately many people do not feel comfortable messing with HTML. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

Another problem is when the author of the video on YouTube edits the setting for the video stating it cannot be played on another site.  The YouTube video appears to be embedded, but when you click on it to play the following message appears.

While a link to the video on YouTube is in the message, this does not look good.  Some people may even think it is Canvas' fault that the video is not working.  I would hate for that to happen. 

[kdickso]

Excellent point  @ryan_corris ‌

Did you catch that just by testing it? I'm now wondering if running the test links feature would catch that or not.

I will definitely have to be on the lookout for that issue.

Thanks!

[ryan_corris]

 @kdickso , I did not run the test for the links.  I was just using the RCE and checking things out after adding the video.  I always like to make sure that things work and not just assume they do.  😉  If you get a chance to test with the link tester, I would live to know how that works.

[karen_bowden]

The Youtube video solution for both old and new RCEs is no longer available. Resorting to html workaround.

[ecs222 · Accepted solution]

It can be disabled after adding the link. After you add it and it changes to the youtube preview, click in the link (while still in Edit), select the 'link' tool (the button next to the remove link tool), and you'll see the option to disable preview. select and click 'update link'

I'm hoping for a permanent, meta way to do this, so that I don't have to disable it every time I add a yt link. it's very tedious as it is currently.

[karen_bowden]

Hi, and thank you. I do not have that when I select Link Options. However, strangely enough the in-line preview is no longer displaying by default.