5.4. Customize myxblock.css

This section describes how to modify the static CSS file of the XBlock you created, myxblock.css, to provide the functionality in the Thumbs XBlock example in the XBlock SDK.

In myxblock.css, you define the styles that are added to the fragment that is returned by the view method to be displayed by the runtime application.

5.4.1. The Default XBlock CSS File

When you create a new XBlock, the default static CSS file is created automatically, with skeletal functionality defined. In the xblock_development/myxblock/myxblock/static/css directory, see the file myxblock.css.

 /* CSS for MyXBlock */

 .myxblock_block .count {
    font-weight: bold;
 }

.myxblock_block p {
    cursor: pointer;
 }

The file contains CSS code to format the count field that was added by default to the XBlock. Delete this code.

5.4.2. Add CSS Code

You must add CSS code to format the XBlock content. Follow the guidelines below.

  • Create a single class that defines formatting for .upvote and .downvote.
  • The cursor type is pointer.
  • The border is 1px, solid, and with the color #888.
  • The padding is 0.5em;
  • The color for .upvote is green and for downvote is red.

5.4.3. Check CSS Against the Thumbs XBlock

After you have defined the CSS code, check your work against the CSS in the Thumbs XBlock, in the file xblock_development/xblock-sdk/sample_xblocks/thumbs/static/css/thumbs.css.

.upvote, .downvote {
  cursor: pointer;
  border: 1px solid #888;
  padding: 0 .5em;
}
.upvote { color: green; }
.downvote { color: red; }

If necessary, make corrections to the CSS code in your XBlock so that it matches the code in the Thumbs XBlock.

The styles in thumbs.css are referenced in the XBlock HTML file.