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Embedded learning building blocks: Course player widget

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  • Administrators

Introduction

Embedded learning allows you to start an instance of your Docebo platform on any external web page, as long as you have access to its HTML and JavaScript code.

The Docebo platform instance opens as a pop-up activated either when the user clicks on a button or interacts with an element - such as a link, or a string - on the external web page. When the pop-up opens, the platform instance shows the training content you, as the Superadmin, have selected for the user on the basis of the action they are performing, in order to provide the best learning on the fly experience, enriching it with ad hoc training.

Embedded learning is available as a web-based application on desktop and mobile platforms.

The course player widget allows you to play content from the Docebo platform as if you were using the Docebo platform itself. As such, all statistics that would be produced when using the Docebo platform are also reproduced by using the widget, allowing the platform to keep track of the learners in the usual manner.

If the training material you have selected is a downloadable file, you will be presented with a download button that you can press to save the file locally. In the event that you have already downloaded this file previously, you will be advised of this fact by the course player widget, while still being given the option to download it again.

The configuration of features like, closed captioning, playback speed controls and the ability to skip ahead or back are managed in the platform. For more information please see Configuring the course player.

Activating embedded learning

To activate embedded learning, reach out to Docebo via the Help Center, or by contacting your Account Manager (if your plan includes this option).

HTML tag

The Docebo course player requires the following tag to be inserted into the web page to display:

<dcbo-course-player
[LIST OF ATTRIBUTES]
>
</dcbo-course-player>

List of tag attributes

The dcbo-course-player tag can accept the following list of attributes, all values associated with the attributes should be encapsulated in double-quotation marks. All parameters are optional, unless stated otherwise in the description.

Parameter Type Description
id string

The ID of the course player.

Please note: If this attribute is not supplied then the widget becomes non-interactive via JavaScript or other widgets in the page.
type string

The single course player type. This attribute can be static or dynamic.

Default value:
static
sources string

The ID of the widget providing the source material to be displayed. The IDs are separated by commas.
courseid string

The ID of the course that will be displayed in the player.

Please note: This parameter is required.
autoplay boolean

If set to true the video in the widget will start playing the content as soon as the Start Learning button is pressed, otherwise it will wait for user-interaction.

Default value:
false
showfullscreen boolean

If this value is set to true or omitted, this widget will be playable in full screen, which can be activated by pressing the full-screen button in the player. If this attribute is set to false, this option will not be displayed.

Default value:
true
showpip boolean

If this value is set to true, a button allowing this widget to be played in "picture-in-picture" mode is displayed. When pressed, the output of the player is overlaid on screen. If set to false the button is hidden and the functionality is removed.

Default value:
true

Tip: This attribute is available only for video content
showtoc boolean

If this value is set to false then the table of contents button will not be displayed.

Default value:
true
forcefullscreen boolean

If this value is set to true, this widget will be started in full-screen mode, otherwise it will remain within the constraints of the widget’s dimensions in the page.

Default value:
false
showthumbsintoc boolean

If this value is set to true then a thumbnail preview of this content to be displayed in the table of contents.

Default value:
false
showpreview boolean

If this value is set to false then the preview will not be displayed.

Default value:
true
tmdownloadmode string

A string value of either blob or link. This attribute changes the training material download mode.

Default value:
blob
globalsearchfilter string

Possible values:

  • courses_and_learning_plans
  • course_content
  • course_catalogs

Default value:
courses_and_learning_plans

Tip: This option is valid only when type is set to dynamic.
noresulttitle string

A custom title shown in the slate when the search result is empty.

Default value:
Whoops, there's nothing here

Tip: This option is only valid when type is set to dynamic.
noresultdescription string

A custom description shown in the slate when the search result is empty.

Default value:
Looks like there is nothing for you in this area right now

Tip: This option is only valid when type is set to dynamic.
showcoursedeadline string

If set to true, shows the deadline of the course in the course details tile. If set to false, the deadline of the course will not be displayed.

Default value:
true

Tip: This attribute shows the course deadline, not the user's enrollment deadline for the course.

Example

You can then add the following tag in the position you wish to place the widget:

<dcbo-course-player
    id="player1"
    courseid="insert valid course id"
    autoplay="false"
    forcefullscreen="false"
    showfullscreen="true"
    showpip="true"
    showthumbsintoc="false"
    sources="id_of_the_myC&LPs_widget"
>
</dcbo-course-player>

Please note that you can place this tag inside a <div></div> tag in order to manipulate the position, size and behavior of the widget itself.

Back button

A CSS token is provided to change the back button icon:

--dcb-flow-course-player-back-button-icon: <icon>

To use it, wrap the CSS token inside dcbo-course-player{}. For example:

dcbo-course-player {
  --dcb-flow-course-player-back-button-icon: 'close';
}

Views

The course player widget has three main views: preview, toc and viewer.

Unless the showpreview tag attribute is set to FALSE, the first view is preview. From there, both toc and viewer can be reached. In every view, if a previous view was shown, a navigation back button is also displayed.

Before a view is shown, a series of prerequisites need to be fulfilled. If these prerequisites are not met then a redirect to a fallback view is executed until the correct view is shown.

Every time a user changes a view, the selected course is refreshed to keep the data up-to-date.

Commands accepted by the course player widget

The following JavaScript commands can be issued to interact with the widget embedded in your page. The commands are dependent on the ID of the player being stated as an attribute when embedding the widget. In the following list, replace the term ID OF WIDGET with the actual ID of your widget.

Command Description and
response promise payload		 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'play',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Loads the current training material and if it is a video also starts playing it.

After the command is received, the promise is resolved with: 
{
  playing: true 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'pause',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Pauses the training material. Any further attempt to play the course will resume from the current training material.

After the command is received, the promise is resolved with: 
{
  paused: true 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'reset',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Stops the playback of the current training material and resets the start point to the first training material of the course.

After the command is received, the promise is resolved with: 
{
  reset: true 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'select_next_tm',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Moves the pointer of the course to the next available training material.

After the command is received, if the command is accepted (Single course player is in the viewer) the promise is resolved with success: true otherwise success: false: 
{ 
  success: true | false
}

Tip: This has no effect if there is no further training material available.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'select_prev_tm',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Moves the pointer of the course to the previous available training material.

After the command is received, if the command is accepted (Single course player is in the viewer) the promise is resolved with success: true otherwise success: false: 
{ 
  success: true | false
}

Tip: This has no effect if there is no previous training material available.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'set_volume_level',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {
    level: VALUE BETWEEN 1 AND 100
  }
)
 Sets the playback volume of the video player to the predefined volume percentage levels.

Possible values:
1 to 100

If the value can not be set due to invalid parameters passed to the command: 
{ 
  success: false
}
If the command payload was sent in in the correct format: 
{ 
  volume: VALUE BETWEEN 1 AND 100 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'mute_player',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Sets the playback volume of the video player to 0. 
{
  muted: true
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'unmute_player',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Sets the playback volume of the video player the previously set volume levels before muting. 
{ 
  muted: false 
}

Tip: This command has no effect if the video player is not muted.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'go_fullscreen',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Switches to full-screen visualization. 
{ 
  fullscreen: true 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'exit_fullscreen',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Switches from full-screen to normal visualization. 
{ 
  fullscreen: false 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'open_toc',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {
    tab: 'overview' | 'content' // optional
  }
)
 Opens the Table of contents (the Table of contents starts in the Overview tab).

Possible values:
  • overview
  • content
If the table of contents cannot be opened: 
{ 
  opened: false 
}
Otherwise: 
{ 
  opened: true,
  tab: 'overview' | 'content' 
}

Tip: This command is only available in full-screen mode.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'close_toc',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Closes the table of contents and reverts back to the player. 
{ 
  closed: false | true 
}

Tip: This command is only available in full-screen mode.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'change_toc_tab',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {
    'tab': 'overview' | 'content'
  }
)
 Change the table of contents selected tab.

Possible values:
  • overview
  • content
If the table of contents cannot be accessed: 
{ 
  changed: false 
}
otherwise: 
{ 
  changed: true,
  tab: 'overview' | 'content' 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'hide',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Hides itself from the page. 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'show',
  'ID OF WIDGET',
  {}
)
 Shows itself (if previously hidden) in the page. 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'load_course', 
  'ID OF WIDGET', 
  {
    'id': 'Insert valid course ID here'
  }
)
 Loads the course specified by the course ID into the widget specified by its ID. 
{ 
  loaded: true | false 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'search', 
  'ID OF WIDGET', 
  {
    'keyword': 'Insert a valid string'
  }
)
 Search the keyword in the global search in order to retrieve and load the first playable course. 
{ 
  loaded: true | false 
}

Tip: This command is accepted only if the type tag attribute value is dynamic.

 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'play_current', 
  'ID OF WIDGET', 
  {
    'keyword': 'Insert a valid string'
  }
)
 Play the current training material. 
{ 
  playing: true 
}
 
DSDK.getCommandBus().send(
  'change_view', 
  'ID OF WIDGET', 
  {
    'view': 'preview' | 'toc' | 'viewer'
  }
)
 Use this command to change the single course player view. The single course player will select the closest view regards the selected view.

Possible values:
  • preview
  • toc
  • viewer

Events generated by the course player widget

Events are generated by the course player widget usage, allowing you to listen and monitor the behavior of the user during the navigation of the widget and the consumption of the course with JavaScript to add extra functionality to your page.

To listen the events, embedded learning provides the proper listener, which is used as follows:

DSDK.getEventManager().on('event_name', (e,p) => {console.log('Event Name => ',p);});

Tip: In the event listener, the following variables are used:

  • event_name is the name of the event
  • e is a string that indicates the emitter ID
  • p is the payload which is an object that depends on the events
Event name Description and
payload type
widget_created

The widget has been created

Payload type:

{
  id: string;
  type: WidgetType;
  view: FlowView;
}
widget_destroyed

The widget has been destroyed

Payload type:

{
  id: string;
  type: WidgetType;
  view: FlowView;
}
course_loaded A course has been loaded by the player

Payload type: 
{
  id: string,
  name: string,
  type: string,
  status: string,
  enrollment_status: string,
  enter_status: string,
  emitter: string
}
type parameter values:
  • elearning
  • classroom
  • webinar
  • learning_plan
status parameter values:
  • max_quota
  • expired
  • validity_in_future
  • user_unauthorized
enrollment_status parameter values:
  • in_progress
  • waiting_list
  • completed
  • suspended
  • overbooked
  • enrolled
  • not_started
enter_status parameter values:
  • in_waiting_list
  • in_waiting_list_play
  • in_waiting_list_enroll
  • locked
  • buy
  • enroll
  • play

Example payload:

{
  id: '189', 
  name: 'Course Example',
  type: 'elearning',
  status: null,
  enrollment_status:'in_progress',
  enter_status: 'enroll' 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
course_status_changed A course status has been changed (user enrolled in the course, start the course, etc.)

Payload type: 
{
  id: string,
  name: string,
  type: string,
  status: string,
  enrollment_status: string,
  enter_status: string,
  emitter: string
}
type parameter values:
  • elearning
  • classroom
  • webinar
  • learning_plan
status parameter values:
  • max_quota
  • expired
  • validity_in_future
  • user_unauthorized
enrollment_status parameter values:
  • in_progress
  • waiting_list
  • completed
  • suspended
  • overbooked
  • enrolled
  • not_started
enter_status parameter values:
  • in_waiting_list
  • in_waiting_list_play
  • in_waiting_list_enroll
  • locked
  • buy
  • enroll
  • play

Example payload:

{
  id: '189', 
  name: 'Course Example',
  type: 'elearning',
  status: null,
  enrollment_status:'in_progress',
  enter_status: 'enroll' 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
playback_started Playback has started in the player

Payload type: 
{
  trainingMaterialId: string,
  name: string,
  emitter: string
}
Example payload: 
{
  trainingMaterialId: '89', 
  name: 'Course Example', 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
playback_paused Playback has paused in the player

Payload type: 
{
  trainingMaterialId: string,
  name: string,
  emitter: string
}
Example payload: 
{
  trainingMaterialId: '89', 
  name: 'Course Example', 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
playback_reset Playback has been reset in the player

This event has no payload
volume_level_changed The volume level in the player has changed

Payload type: 
{
  level: number,
  emitter: string
}
Example payload: 
{
  level: 80, 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
switched_fullscreen The player has switched the full-screen mode

This event has no payload
view_changed The view has been changed either by a command or via the user interface

Payload type: 
{
  view: string,
  emitter: string
}
view parameter values:
  • preview
  • toc
  • viewer
  • viewer_toc
    value emitted when the viewer (view where the current training material is played) and the right panel toc is open
  • waiting_list
    when the modal message of waiting_list is shown
  • warning
    when a full-screen blank slate is shown (if the parameter forcefullscreen is true and the blank slate is shown in the viewer view, the payload will be either viewer or viewer_toc)
Example payload: 
{
  view: 'preview', 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
training_materials_list_loaded Training material list is loaded when content tab in the table of contents is opened

Payload type: 
{
  training_materials_list: [
    {
      id: string,
      name: string,
      type: string,
      locked: boolean | string,
      status: string
    }
  ]
  emitter: string
}
type parameter values:
  • scormorg
  • aicc
  • tincan
  • video
  • youtube
  • wistia
  • vimeo
  • file
  • deliverable
  • htmlpage
  • poll
  • test
  • sign
  • googledrive
  • authoring
locked string parameter values:
  • max_number_views
  • locked_maxattempts
  • locked
Example payload: 
{
  training_materials_list: 
  [ 
    { 
      id: "181", 
      locked: false, 
      name: "Course name", 
      status: "in_progress",
      type: "elearning" 
    }
  ],
  emitter: "player1"
}
warning_shown A blank slate is shown

Payload type: 
{
  type: string,
  emitter: string
}
type parameter values when the emitter is a single course player:
  • widget_invalid_configuration
    The attributes are not valid or the course type is not supported
  • widget_no_content
    There is no content to show. Currently, this occurs only when the course is priced.
  • widget_no_course
  • user_authentication_failed
    The user is not authenticated
  • user_unauthorized
    The user is not authorized to view the requested content
  • user_not_enrolled
  • user_in_waiting_list
    The user is in the waiting list
  • training_material_list_empty
    There is no training material in the course
  • training_material_error
    The training material has an error. This could happen when the training material is removed, or the Docebo platform has problem and embedded learning cannot retrieve the content.
  • training_material_with_prerequisites
  • purchase_info
  • no_result_search
  • course_max_quota
  • course_validity_in_future
  • course_expired

Example payload:

{
  type: 'training_material_error', 
  emitter: 'player1'
}
training_material_status_changed The status of a training material is changed

Payload type: 
{
  emitter: string,
  id: string,
  name: string,
  type: string, 
  status: string
}
type parameter values:
  • aicc
  • scormorg
  • video
  • tincan
  • wistia
  • vimeo
  • file
  • htmlpage
  • youtube
status parameter values:
  • in_progress
  • incomplete
  • completed
  • passed
  • attempted
  • failed
Example payload: 
{
  emitter: "player1",
  id: "181",
  name: "Course",
  type: "scormorg"
  status: "in_progress"
}

Course player widget handling of course visibility rules

Based on the course visibility settings in the Docebo platform, the course player widget restricts access to courses. Unlike in the platform, the courses will still remain visible in the player but will display a message explaining that the course can not be played. The following scenarios are possible:

Scenario Outcome
The visibility of the course in the catalog is set to Show the course only to enrolled learners and the user is not enrolled The course player will display a message denying access to the course
The course self-enrollment setting in the catalog is set to Self-enrollments are not available The course player will present the course's preview page with the Start Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents
The course enrollment policy in the catalog is set to Only Admins can enroll learners The course player will present the course's preview page with the Start Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents
The course has filled its maximum quota for enrollments and is configured without a waiting list The course player will present the course's preview page with the Start Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents
The course has filled its maximum quota for enrollments and is configured without a waiting list and is set to require admin approval for enrollments The course player will present the course's preview page with the Start Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents
The course is set to self-enrollment with pre-set dates The course player will present the course's preview page with the Start Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents
The course is set to self-enrollment with a waiting list and pre-set deadline times not met The course player will present the course's preview page with the Resume Learning button disabled, it will also display a message denying access to the course when clicking on the Table of Contents

Supported training material

At this time only the following types of training material are supported:

Tip: Only e-learning courses are supported

Important notes:
  • Please make sure you allow third party cookies. This is particularly important when using SCORM objects as some course providers make use of cookies in packages and without allowing them, their courses may encounter functionality issues.
  • The SCORM, TinCan (xAPI) and AICC player might require a session cookie to be hosted by the external site. If this occurs, the hosting web site may need to adjust their own cookie policy to accept this behavior. These cookies are mandatory to allow for the correct usage of the Docebo content player.