rich-text-editor-with-froala

Froala Rich Text Editor in Ruby on Rails

wiktor-plagaWiktor Plaga
March 25, 202310 min reading time

Froala Rich Text Editor in Ruby on Rails

The Froala Rich Text Editor is a powerful and flexible WYSIWYG editor that can be easily integrated into any web application. With its intuitive interface and extensive customization options, the Froala Editor is a popular choice for developers who want to provide their users with a rich and engaging content creation experience.

In this tutorial, we will explore how to integrate the Froala Rich Text Editor into a Ruby on Rails application. We will start by installing the Froala gem and configuring it to work with our Rails application. Then, we will create a simple form that allows users to create and edit rich text content using the Froala Editor. Along the way, we will cover some of the key features of the Froala Editor, including its toolbar options, image and file uploading capabilities, and integration with popular front-end frameworks like Bootstrap. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid understanding of how to use the Froala Editor in your own Ruby on Rails applications.

What is Froala?

Froala Rich Text Editor is a powerful and feature-rich WYSIWYG editor that allows users to create and edit rich text content in a web application. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to format text, add images and videos, and customize the appearance of their content. The editor is highly customizable, allowing developers to tailor its functionality to meet the specific needs of their application.

One of the key benefits of the Froala Editor is its ease of integration with popular web frameworks like Ruby on Rails, Angular, and React. It provides a range of integration options, including a simple JavaScript API and pre-built plugins for popular front-end frameworks. Additionally, the editor is designed to be highly responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring that users can create and edit content on any device. Overall, the Froala Rich Text Editor is a powerful and flexible tool that can help developers create engaging and dynamic content in their web applications.

Why use Froala for Rich Text Editor in Ruby on Rails application?

There are several reasons why one should consider using Froala Rich Text Editor for their web application. Firstly, Froala provides a highly customizable and user-friendly interface that allows users to create and edit rich text content with ease. The editor offers a wide range of formatting options, including headings, lists, tables, and media embedding, making it a versatile tool for content creation.

Secondly, Froala is designed to be highly responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring that users can create and edit content on any device. The editor is optimized for touch devices, providing a seamless experience for users on smartphones and tablets. Additionally, Froala provides a range of integration options, including pre-built plugins for popular front-end frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue.js, making it easy to integrate into any web application.

Finally, Froala is a reliable and secure tool for content creation. The editor is regularly updated with new features and bug fixes, ensuring that it remains a cutting-edge tool for developers. Additionally, Froala provides robust security features, including XSS protection and content filtering, ensuring that users can create and edit content without compromising the security of their web application. Overall, Froala Rich Text Editor is a powerful and flexible tool that can help developers create engaging and dynamic content in their web applications while providing a seamless user experience.

Prerequisites

To complete the "Froala Rich Text Editor in Ruby on Rails" tutorial, you will need the following prerequisites:

  1. Basic knowledge of Ruby on Rails framework, including how to create and configure a new Rails application.
  2. Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as basic understanding of jQuery.
  3. A working installation of Ruby and Rails on your local machine.
  4. Access to a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) for writing code.
  5. A basic understanding of how to use the command line interface (CLI) to run Rails commands and manage your application.
  6. A Froala Editor license key, which can be obtained from the Froala website.
  7. Basic knowledge of how to use Git for version control and deployment.

Ruby on Rails Froala step by step setup and configuration

Integrating Froala Rich Text Editor into a Ruby on Rails project is a straightforward process that involves installing the Froala gem and configuring it to work with your Rails application. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Install the Froala gem: The first step is to install the Froala gem in your Rails application. You can do this by adding the following line to your Gemfile:
gem 'froala_editor'

Then, run the following command to install the gem:

bundle install
  1. Configure Froala: Next, you need to configure Froala to work with your Rails application. You can do this by creating an initializer file in the config/initializers directory. In this file, you can set your Froala license key and any other configuration options you want to use. Here's an example:
# config/initializers/froala_editor.rb

FroalaEditor.configure do |config|
  config.key = 'YOUR_LICENSE_KEY'
  config.toolbar_buttons = ['bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'strikeThrough', 'subscript', 'superscript', 'fontFamily', 'fontSize', 'color', 'emoticons', 'insertImage', 'insertVideo', 'insertLink', 'insertTable', 'undo', 'redo']
end

In this example, we're setting the Froala license key and specifying which toolbar buttons to include in the editor.

  1. Add the Froala Editor to your form: Once you've installed and configured Froala, you can add it to your Rails form. To do this, you need to include the Froala JavaScript and CSS files in your layout file, and then add the Froala Editor to your form field. Here's an example:
# app/views/posts/_form.html.erb

<%= form_with(model: post, local: true) do |form| %>
  <%= form.label :title %>
  <%= form.text_field :title, class: 'form-control' %>

  <%= form.label :content %>
  <%= form.text_area :content, class: 'form-control froala-editor' %>

  <%= form.submit 'Save', class: 'btn btn-primary' %>
<% end %>

In this example, we're adding the Froala Editor to the content field of our form by specifying the froala-editor class.

  1. Initialize the Froala Editor: Finally, you need to initialize the Froala Editor in your JavaScript file. You can do this by adding the following code to your application.js file:
// app/assets/javascripts/application.js

//= require froala_editor.min.js

$(document).on('turbolinks:load', function() {
  $('.froala-editor').froalaEditor();
});

In this example, we're requiring the Froala JavaScript file and initializing the editor on any field with the froala-editor class.

By following these steps, you can easily integrate Froala Rich Text Editor into your Ruby on Rails application and provide your users with a powerful and flexible content creation experience.

Froala configuration options in Ruby on Rails

Here are the Froala configuration options for Ruby on Rails integration with their short explanation:

  1. key: The Froala license key that you obtained from the Froala website.
  2. toolbar_buttons: An array of toolbar buttons to include in the editor. You can choose from a wide range of options, including bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, subscript, superscript, font family, font size, color, emoticons, insert image, insert video, insert link, insert table, undo, and redo.
  3. toolbar_buttons_md: An array of toolbar buttons to include in the Markdown editor.
  4. toolbar_buttons_html: An array of toolbar buttons to include in the HTML editor.
  5. toolbar_buttons_text: An array of toolbar buttons to include in the plain text editor.
  6. toolbar_sticky: Whether to make the toolbar sticky or not.
  7. toolbar_bottom: Whether to position the toolbar at the bottom of the editor or not.
  8. toolbar_inline: Whether to use an inline toolbar or not.
  9. toolbar_visible_without_selection: Whether to show the toolbar even when no text is selected.
  10. toolbar_container: The container element for the toolbar.
  11. toolbar_inline_target: The target element for the inline toolbar.
  12. toolbar_buttons_callback: A callback function that is called when a toolbar button is clicked.
  13. toolbar_custom_buttons: An array of custom toolbar buttons to include in the editor.
  14. toolbar_custom_buttons_defs: An object that defines the custom toolbar buttons.
  15. image_upload_url: The URL for uploading images.
  16. image_upload_params: Additional parameters to include in the image upload request.
  17. image_upload_param: The name of the parameter that contains the uploaded image.
  18. image_upload_method: The HTTP method to use for uploading images.
  19. image_upload_headers: Additional headers to include in the image upload request.
  20. image_upload_base_path: The base path for uploaded images.
  21. image_manager_load_url: The URL for loading images in the image manager.
  22. image_manager_load_method: The HTTP method to use for loading images in the image manager.
  23. image_manager_preloader: Whether to use the image preloader or not.
  24. image_manager_delete_url: The URL for deleting images in the image manager.
  25. image_manager_delete_method: The HTTP method to use for deleting images in the image manager.
  26. image_manager_delete_params: Additional parameters to include in the image delete request.
  27. image_manager_delete_headers: Additional headers to include in the image delete request.
  28. image_manager_base_path: The base path for images in the image manager.
  29. file_upload_url: The URL for uploading files.
  30. file_upload_params: Additional parameters to include in the file upload request.
  31. file_upload_param: The name of the parameter that contains the uploaded file.
  32. file_upload_method: The HTTP method to use for uploading files.
  33. file_upload_headers: Additional headers to include in the file upload request.
  34. file_upload_base_path: The base path for uploaded files.
  35. file_manager_load_url: The URL for loading files in the file manager.
  36. file_manager_load_method: The HTTP method to use for loading files in the file manager.
  37. file_manager_preloader: Whether to use the file preloader or not.
  38. file_manager_delete_url: The URL for deleting files in the file manager.
  39. file_manager_delete_method: The HTTP method to use for deleting files in the file manager.
  40. file_manager_delete_params: Additional parameters to include in the file delete request.
  41. file_manager_delete_headers: Additional headers to include in the file delete request.
  42. file_manager_base_path: The base path for files in the file manager.
  43. spellcheck: Whether to enable spellchecking or not.
  44. spellcheck_url: The URL for the spellchecking service.
  45. spellcheck_params: Additional parameters to include in the spellchecking request.
  46. spellcheck_method: The HTTP method to use for spellchecking.
  47. spellcheck_headers: Additional headers to include in the spellchecking request.
  48. spellcheck_whitelist: An array of words to add to the spellcheck whitelist.
  49. spellcheck_languages: An array of languages to use for spellchecking.
  50. height: The height of the editor.
  51. height_max: The maximum height of the editor.
  52. height_min: The minimum height of the editor.
  53. height_default: The default height of the editor.
  54. height_toolbar: The height of the toolbar.
  55. height_bottom: The height of the bottom area.
  56. height_top: The height of the top area.
  57. height_editor: The height of the editor area.
  58. height_uses_padding: Whether to use padding for the height or not.
  59. height_uses_margin: Whether to use margin for the height or not.
  60. height_uses_line_height: Whether to use line height for the height or not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, integrating Froala Rich Text Editor into a Ruby on Rails application is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance the content creation experience for users. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily install and configure Froala, add it to your Rails form, and customize its functionality to meet the specific needs of your application.

Froala provides a wide range of configuration options, allowing you to tailor the editor to your specific use case. You can choose from a variety of toolbar buttons, configure image and file uploading, enable spellchecking, and much more. Additionally, Froala is highly responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring that users can create and edit content on any device.

Overall, Froala Rich Text Editor is a powerful and flexible tool that can help you create engaging and dynamic content in your Ruby on Rails application. Whether you're building a blog, a content management system, or any other type of web application that requires rich text editing, Froala is a great choice that can help you deliver a seamless and intuitive user experience.

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