The Gateway page is the first page that users see when accessing the Blackboard Academic Suite (unless the Administrator opts to use Portal Direct Entry). The Gateway page includes the following buttons:
· Login: Directs the user to the Login page.
· Course Catalog: Directs the user to the Course Catalog. This button may be disabled by the Administrator.
· Create Account: Directs the user to the Create Account page. This button may be turned off by the Administrator. This button should be turned off unless the Administrator wants anyone with access to the URL to create accounts.
The Gateway page also includes a default welcome message and image from Blackboard Inc.
Note: Blackboard 5 users were able to edit the Gateway page by modifying the login.ci file. This is not possible in Release 6.x. The Gateway page must be customized by editing the gateway.bb file in the branding directory for each Virtual Installation.
To customize the buttons on the Gateway page please see Gateway Options.
The welcome message and image can be customized by replacing an HTML fragment in the file system. It is possible for each Virtual Installation to have its own customized welcome message and image. Follow the steps below to replace the HTML fragment that generates the welcome message and image with one customized for the institution.
Step 1 Access the URL for the Virtual Installation and verify that the Gateway page appears.
Step 2 Within the $blackboard file system change directories to /content/vi/vi_ID/branding. Where vi_ID is the name of the Virtual Installation.
Step 3 Save a copy of the gateway.bb file so that it can be restored to the default.
Step 4 Edit or replace the gateway.bb file with another HTML fragment.
Step 5 Access the URL for the Virtual Installation and verify that the welcome message and image appear as desired.