Use Lockers
Format a post and add GIFs, links, and previews
Use bold, italic, emoji, and links in a post, add a GIF, and choose or remove the link preview card.
The short version
- Posts support bold, italic, emoji, and links, up to 5,000 characters. The editor does not add headings or lists.
- The link tool searches your Locker's pages, published courses, and events, or takes a pasted web address.
- A post can show one preview card for a link to another site. You can change its image or remove it. The title and description come from the linked page.
Write a post
- 1
Open the composer
In the community feed, select Write something.
- 2
Add a title if you want one
Type in Add a title. Titles are optional and can be up to 120 characters.
- 3
Write the post
Type in the body. Paragraphs and line breaks stay as you write them.
- 4
Choose a category and post
Pick a Category and select Post. The list only shows categories you are allowed to post in.
Bold, italic, and emoji
Select the words, then choose Bold or Italic in the post tools. The shortcuts are Ctrl+B and Ctrl+I, or Cmd on a Mac. Choose Add an emoji to insert one where the cursor sits.
If the post runs past 5,000 characters, the composer says Posts can contain up to 5,000 characters. Shorten it before you post.
Add a link
Suggestions only include pages, courses, and events in this Locker that you can already open. Pasted addresses need to start with http or https.
- 1
Select the words, or leave nothing selected
Highlight the text that should become the link. With nothing selected, Lockers inserts the destination's title as the link text.
- 2
Open the link tool
Choose Add or edit link, or press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on a Mac).
- 3
Search or paste
Under Search your locker or paste a URL, type part of a course, event, or page name, or paste a web address. Pick the suggestion or confirm the address.
- 4
Change or remove a link
Put the cursor in the link and open the tool again. Select Remove link to turn it back into plain text.
Add a GIF
GIFs come from GIPHY, and search returns G-rated results. The same picker works in comments. If Add a GIF does not appear, GIF search is not available in your Locker right now.
- 1
Open the picker
Choose Add a GIF in the post tools.
- 2
Find one
Type in Search GIFs, or pick from Trending GIFs. Select More GIFs to load more. Pause previews stops the moving previews while you browse.
- 3
Attach it
Select the GIF. To take it off before posting, select Remove GIF.
Link preview cards
When a post contains a link to another site, Lockers reads that page and shows a card with its image, title, and description. The composer says Finding link preview… while it looks. Links to your own Locker, to lockers.social, and to the YouTube video attached to the post do not get a card.
A post has one card. If the post links to several outside sites, choose the one to preview under Preview link. You cannot edit the card's title or description, because they come from the linked page.
- 1
Change the image
Select Change preview image, then choose a Site image, Upload image, Remove image, or Reset image. Wait for Preparing preview image… to clear before you post.
- 2
Remove the card
Select Remove preview. The link stays in your post. Restore link preview brings the card back.
Other things a post can hold
To change a post later, open its menu and select Edit post. The same formatting, GIF, and preview tools are there.
- Up to four images with Add an image.
- An uploaded video with Upload a video, or a YouTube video with Add YouTube video.
- A poll of two to six options with Create a poll.
- Owners and admins also see Send email to all members, which emails the post to the community.
Build the smallest useful version of your community.
Start with a feed, classroom, calendar, messages, and member list. No card required.
Start a community