Blocks & Layout

Everything in the Lex Editor is a block. Each paragraph, heading, image, exercise, or widget is an individual block that you can select, move, transform, and configure. Understanding blocks is key to structuring effective lessons.

Headings

Headings organize your lesson into scannable sections. The editor supports four heading levels.

How to Create a Heading

Option 1: Text shortcut -- Type # (hash followed by a space) at the start of a new line. Use ## for H2, ### for H3, and #### for H4.

Option 2: Block type dropdown -- Click the block type selector at the left end of the toolbar (it shows "Normal" by default). Select the heading level you want (H1--H4).

Option 3: Slash command -- Type / and search for "heading" to insert H1, H2, or H3. (H4 is not available via slash commands; use the toolbar dropdown instead.)

Start with H2 for main sections (H1 is typically reserved for the lesson title) and use H3 for subsections. This creates a clear document outline in the sidebar.

Lists

The editor supports three types of lists.

Ordered Lists (Numbered)

Use for sequences, step-by-step instructions, or ranked items.

1. Click the ordered list button in the toolbar, or type 1. at the start of a line
2. Press Enter to add the next item
3. Press Enter on an empty item to end the list

Unordered Lists (Bullets)

Use for collections where order does not matter.

• Click the bullet list button, or type - at the start of a line
• Same behavior as ordered lists

Checklists

Use for to-do items, review lists, or self-assessment.

• Click the checklist button in the toolbar
• Each item gets a checkbox that students (or teachers) can click to check off
• Useful for lesson preparation checklists or student self-evaluation

Nesting Lists

Indent list items to create nested sub-lists:

• Press Tab to indent (create a sub-item)
• Press Shift + Tab to outdent (move back up a level)
• Nesting works for all three list types

Blockquotes

Blockquotes are styled with a left border and are useful for:

• Citing sources or example texts
• Highlighting important notes
• Displaying dialogue excerpts
• Presenting grammar rules

Create a blockquote: Type > (greater-than followed by a space) at the start of a line, or select text and click the quote button in the toolbar.

Horizontal Rules

Insert a horizontal line to visually separate sections within a lesson.

Create a rule: Type --- on an empty line, or use the slash command /hr.

Collapsible Sections

Collapsible sections let you hide content behind a clickable header. Students click to expand and see the hidden content.

Type /collapsible or find "Collapsible Section" in the Insert menu. Click the title area to type a descriptive header (e.g., "Click to see the answer"), then add any content inside the collapsible body -- text, images, exercises, or other blocks.

Common use cases for collapsible sections:

• Answer keys -- hide correct answers so students can check after attempting
• Additional examples -- provide more examples for students who need extra practice
• Grammar notes -- optional deeper explanations for advanced students
• Optional readings -- supplementary material that is not required
• Hints -- progressive hints that students can reveal one at a time

Layout Columns

Multi-column layouts let you place content side by side, which is useful for comparisons, bilingual text, or vocabulary tables.

Creating Columns

Use cases for columns:

• Original text on the left, translation on the right
• Grammar rule on the left, examples on the right
• Vocabulary word and image side by side
• Comparing two language constructions

Drag-and-Drop Reordering

Every block in the editor can be reordered by dragging.

1. Hover to the left of any block
2. A six-dot drag handle icon appears
3. Click and hold the handle
4. Drag the block up or down to its new position
5. Release to drop

This works for all block types: paragraphs, headings, images, exercises, widgets, and even multi-column layouts.

Focus Students on a Block During a Live Lesson

During a live lesson, the block drag handle can also be used as a focus tool. Double-click the block drag handle to scroll the teacher and all students to that block and briefly highlight it.

Use this when you want everyone to look at the same explanation, exercise, image, or widget without asking students to scroll manually.

Nesting Blocks Inside Other Blocks

You can also drop a block inside another container block. The drop indicator highlights the container's inner area instead of the gap between blocks — release to nest the block inside.

Containers that accept nested blocks today are column layouts and collapsible sections. Other blocks (paragraphs, tables, exercises, widgets) remain leaf blocks: they can be reordered and moved around, but blocks cannot be dropped inside them.

This lets you build richer layouts without falling back to a multi-column wrapper for every grouping — for example, an image and caption inside a collapsible "Click for hint" section, or a pronunciation widget inside one column of a two-column compare-and-contrast layout.

Page Breaks

Page breaks mark where content should split when printing or exporting to PDF. They also serve as visual separators in the editor.

Insert a page break: Type /pagebreak or find it in the Insert menu.

Page breaks appear as a dashed line across the editor. Students do not see them during normal viewing -- they only affect print and PDF output.

Transforming Blocks

You can change a block from one type to another without retyping the content.

Using the Slash Command

1. Click at the very start of a block
2. Type / to open the command menu
3. Select the new block type (e.g., change a paragraph to a heading)

Using the Block Type Dropdown

1. Click inside the block
2. Use the block type selector in the toolbar
3. Choose the new type

Common transformations:

• Paragraph to heading (or vice versa)
• Normal text to blockquote
• Ordered list to unordered list
• Text to checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I nest collapsible sections inside each other?

A collapsible section can hold most other blocks (text, images, exercises, widgets), but you cannot nest a collapsible section inside another collapsible. For staged reveals, use multiple collapsible sections in sequence.

How many columns can I use?

The editor supports 2 or 3 column layouts. For more complex arrangements, use multiple column blocks stacked vertically.

Can I add exercises inside columns?

Yes. Each column functions as a mini editor. You can add any block type inside a column, including exercises, images, and even other structural elements.

Do page breaks affect how students see the lesson?

No. Page breaks only affect print and PDF output. During normal online viewing, students see a continuous document.