Angular 18 – CKEditor Implementation with SSR: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of struggling to integrate CKEditor into your Angular 18 project with Server-Side Rendering (SSR)? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of implementing CKEditor in your Angular 18 project with SSR, covering every detail and potential pitfall along the way.

What is CKEditor?

CKEditor is a popular, feature-rich WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor that allows users to create and edit rich text content with ease. It’s widely used in web applications, blogs, and content management systems.

Why use CKEditor with Angular 18 and SSR?

Angular 18 is a powerful front-end framework that enables developers to build fast, scalable, and maintainable web applications. Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a technique that allows Angular to prerender pages on the server, providing better SEO and faster page loads. CKEditor is a natural fit for Angular 18 with SSR, as it enables users to create and edit rich text content within the application.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the implementation, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

• Angular 18 project set up with SSR (using @angular/platform-server)
• CKEditor installed (npm install @ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular)
• A basic understanding of Angular and TypeScript

Step 1: Install CKEditor

Run the following command in your terminal to install CKEditor:

npm install @ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular

Step 2: Import CKEditor Module

In your Angular module (e.g., app.module.ts), import the CKEditor module:

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { CKEditorModule } from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular';

@NgModule({
  imports: [CKEditorModule],
  declarations: [AppComponent],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule {}

Step 3: Add CKEditor Component

Create a new component (e.g., ckeditor.component.ts) to wrap the CKEditor:

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { CKEditorComponent } from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-ckeditor',
  template: `
    <ckeditor
      [editor]="editor"
      [data]="data"
      (ready)="onReady($event)"
    ></ckeditor>
  `
})
export class CKEditorComponent {
  public editor = ClassicEditor;
  public data = '';

  onReady(editor) {
    console.log('CKEditor ready!');
  }
}

Step 4: Use CKEditor Component in Your Template

Use the CKEditor component in your template (e.g., app.component.html):

<app-ckeditor></app-ckeditor>

Step 5: Configure CKEditor with SSR

To enable CKEditor with SSR, you need to configure it to use a DOM-based renderer. Create a new file (e.g., ckeditor.config.ts) to define the configuration:

import { Editor } from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-core';

export const CKEditorConfig = {
  extraPlugins: [require('@ckeditor/ckeditor5-editor-dom')],
  renderer: {
    container: document BODY
  }
};

Step 6: Integrate CKEditorConfig with Your CKEditor Component

Update your CKEditor component to use the CKEditorConfig:

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { CKEditorComponent } from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular';
import { CKEditorConfig } from './ckeditor.config';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-ckeditor',
  template: `
    <ckeditor
      [editor]="editor"
      [data]="data"
      [config]="ckeditorConfig"
      (ready)="onReady($event)"
    ></ckeditor>
  `
})
export class CKEditorComponent {
  public editor = ClassicEditor;
  public data = '';
  public ckeditorConfig = CKEditorConfig;

  onReady(editor) {
    console.log('CKEditor ready!');
  }
}

Step 7: Add CKEditor to Your Angular Module

Update your Angular module to include the CKEditor component:

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { CKEditorModule } from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-angular';
import { CKEditorComponent } from './ckeditor.component';

@NgModule({
  imports: [CKEditorModule],
  declarations: [AppComponent, CKEditorComponent],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule {}

Common Issues and Solutions

During the implementation, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common ones and their solutions:

Issue	Solution
CKEditor not rendering with SSR	Make sure you’ve configured the CKEditor to use a DOM-based renderer (Step 5)
CKEditor not working with Angular routing	Use the CKEditor’s `destroy` method when navigating away from the component
CKEditor throwing errors with SSR	Check your CKEditor configuration and ensure it’s correct (Step 5)

Conclusion

Implementing CKEditor with Angular 18 and SSR may seem daunting, but by following these steps, you can successfully integrate this powerful WYSIWYG editor into your application. Remember to configure CKEditor to use a DOM-based renderer and troubleshoot common issues that may arise.

With CKEditor, your users will be able to create and edit rich text content with ease, enhancing their overall experience in your application.

Additional Resources

For more information on CKEditor and Angular, refer to the following resources:

• CKEditor Angular Documentation
• Angular Input and Output Properties
• Angular Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

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