0 REUSABLE CONTENT (common elements): Home

Shared and reusable content

Don't re-invent the wheel. Concentrate on creating your unique content i.e. record what only you know.

You can find reusable, shared guide elements in this guide. These are pages and boxes of common/generic information that you can include in your own guides. They can be incorporated as is or you can modify to suit.

Understand the LibGuides meaning of 'Reusing' and 'Copying'

• Reusing: reuse existing LibGuide content and when original content is changed the linked box updates automatically
• Copying: creates exact copy of a LibGuide box/page which you can modify. However content will not update in concert with original.
• You can 'reuse' or 'copy' one box or an entire page in a guide .

Box or page?

Pages of this guide are organised in topics. Typically, you intersperse the individual content boxes from different pages of this guide at appropriate points in your own content. In some rare occasions, you may wish to incorporate the whole page into your guide.

Basic steps

1. Click Add new box in the column where you want the box from this collection displayed.
2. In the Add New Box action screen, select Reuse Existing Box. In the Box to Reuse drop-down menu, choose 'Reusable content (common elements)'. Select the desired content box, then select the Position where you want the box to appear. 
3. If you want to edit the content box to suit your students you will need to tick the Copy option (see note next to this option).
4. Tick Draft if you need to work on the page and the box before it appears as a published item.

Reference

Detailed instructions on how to reuse/copy guide boxes can be found in the following article:

• Reuse or copy an existing box in a guide

Basic steps

To link to an existing page click on ADD/EDIT PAGES on the command bar and select Add/Reuse page.

• Select the Library guide the contact the page you want to reuse
• Select the page and the position for your new page
• If you want to be able to edit the page, tick Copy
• Tick Draft if you need to edit the page before it appears on a published guide

Reference

Detailed instructions on how to reuse/copy guide boxes can be found in the following article:

• Reuse or copy an existing page in a guide

You can reuse (or copy) boxes and pages in other Library guides.

It is good practice to consult with the guide owner, before making use of their content.

Alternatively, you may like to collaborate with the guide owner and create content suitable for the reusable content file.