\label{Construction_Space_Overview}

%
The Authoring Space is the environment in LON-CAPA where you create and update your course resources. Creating content involves both \textit{authoring} the resource during editing, and then \textit{publishing} the resource to make it available for use in courses. The figure \ref{Authoring Space Figure} shows the top menu. If you move your mouse pointer over your name at the top left of the page, a dropdown box will be displayed which you can use to select ``Preferences'' (see Setting Preferences in the course coordination manual).

The displayed menu also includes:
\begin{itemize}
	\item\textbf{Main Menu} provide links to additional personal settings.
	\item\textbf{Authoring Space} returns you to the current authoring space.
	\item\textbf{Browse} provides a link to published resources.
	\item\textbf{People} provides a menu to add coauthors.
\end{itemize}
The gray bar under the menu provides a clickable bread crumb trail. The current \textbf{authoring space} folder location is displayed near the bottom of the figure \ref{Authoring Space Figure}, and is clickable. The \textbf{Recent} dropdown box lists recent folder locations for quick navigation.

The upper right menu is not shown here, but includes the following links:
\begin{itemize}
	\item\textbf{Message} links to your e-mail box.
	\item\textbf{Roles} returns you to your roles page.
	\item\textbf{Help} provides a link to online help for the authoring space. The online help is a modified version of this manual.
	\item\textbf{Logout} is a link to close the session.
\end{itemize}

At the bottom of the page is a directory as shown in the figure \ref{Example Directory Figure}. On the left edge, icons help identify the content type. The \textbf{Actions} dropdown provides commands to move, copy, paste, publish the resource or other content-type-dependent options. The \textbf{Name} column provides a link to the resource or folder. The \textbf{Title} column provides a link to the meta data provided to help other users find your resource. The \textbf{Status} column shows whether the resource is \textbf{Published, Unpublished, or Obsolete.} The vertical bar (pink in the figure) color denotes the status: Green (published); Pink (unpublished); Gray (obsolete).

 In the center of the page are three action menus: \textbf{Actions for current directory, Upload a new document, Create a new directory or LON-CAPA document}. The first two menus are intuitive when exploring them. The third menu is shown in the figure \ref{New Content Menu} and new content types are described later in this manual. 

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}\includegraphics[width=0.5\paperwidth]{author_top_menu}\end{center}

\caption{Authoring Space Upper Menu\label{Authoring Space Figure}}

\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}\includegraphics[width=0.8\paperwidth]{author_example_directory}\end{center}

\caption{Example of Author Directory\label{Example Directory Figure}}

\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}\includegraphics[width=0.5\paperwidth]{author_new_content}\end{center}

\caption{New Content Menu\label{New Content Menu}}

\end{figure}