Blackboard Learn 9 - Tri-County Technical Collegeetcdata.tctc.edu/VPAA/Instructional_Support/ReadyToDelete... · 2011-02-03 · 1. Click the Course Files folder where the files will

Blackboard Learn 9.1

Last updated: March 2010

© 2010 Blackboard Inc. - 2 - Using Course Files

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Table of Contents

Course Files Overview ..................................................................................................... 5

Access and Organize Course Files ............................................................................. 6

Creating Folders in Course Files .................................................................................. 8

Hands-on Activity ........................................................................................................ 10

Uploading Files to Course Files ..................................................................................... 11

Overview ...................................................................................................................... 12

Uploading Multiple Files Using the Browse Function .............................................. 13

Uploading Multiple Files Using the Drag-and-Drop Function ................................ 17


Uploading Zipped Packages .................................................................................... 20

Overwriting a File ........................................................................................................ 23

Uploading and Keeping a File Zipped ..................................................................... 24


Uploading Files Using Browse My Computer ........................................................... 27


Working with Files and Folders in Course Files ............................................................. 30

Viewing Files and Folders in Course Files ................................................................. 31

Moving Files and Folders in Course Files .................................................................. 34

Renaming Files and Folders in Course Files ............................................................. 36

Ask Dr. C ....................................................................................................................... 37

Searching Files and Folders in Course Files .............................................................. 38



Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files ......................................................... 41

Creating HTML Objects in Course Files ..................................................................... 42

Creating Reusable Content in the Course .............................................................. 45


Linking to Files in Course Files ..................................................................................... 50


Viewing a File’s Course Links ..................................................................................... 54

Downloading Files and Folders from Course Files .................................................. 57

Setting Permissions ......................................................................................................... 58


Course Files and WebDAV ............................................................................................ 64

Setting up a Web Folder ............................................................................................ 65


Ask Dr. C ....................................................................................................................... 69


Course Files Overview

Creating and maintaining a repository of materials is an important part of developing

an online course. With Course Files, not only do users have access to all of their files, but

they have the ability to manage, organize, and view those files as suits their needs.

Course Files is a centrally located repository on the Blackboard server for organizing and

storing content. Course Files is accessible in all Blackboard Learn courses, and if the

content management capability is also licensed, the full functionality of the Content

Collection is available through this area. You can move a large amount of content from

a local drive to Course Files quickly. Once content is in Course Files, it can be linked to

from any place in the course where attaching files is available.

Course Files within each course displays content for that specific course, not for other

courses taught by the instructor. You can create folders in Course Files to organize your

content in a way that is logical to you.

Content in the repository is considered course content for course reuse. Therefore, links

to files can be deleted in the course, yet the files themselves will remain in Course Files

where they can be linked to again. Also, if a file is modified or moved to another

Course Files folder after it is linked in the course, the link will not be broken.

Learning Outcomes

After reviewing this material, you will be able to:

Access and organize Course Files

Upload files to Course Files

Work with files and folders in Course Files

Create and link to content in Course Files

Set permissions on files and folders in Course Files

Use WebDAV technology with Course Files


Access and Organize Course Files

Each course has its own Course Files area, which is not seen by or available to students.

Figure 1.1

Take Note

A. Course Files is located in the Control Panel.

B. Click the double arrows pointing down to expand the Files section. The name of the

top level folder in Course Files is the Course ID. Also, the search field

appears. Individual files do not appear in this Files section.

C. Click the double arrows pointing right to expand Files into the content frame.

Course Files Overview: Access and Organize Course Files


You can also click the Course ID in the Files section to open Course Files in the content

frame. Course Files contains the folders and files you added to your course.

Figure 1.2

Take Note

A. Within a folder, items can be downloaded, copied, moved, and deleted. Select an

item’s check box and click the function on the Action Bar.

B. Click a folder’s name to view its contents.

C. Sort a column by clicking the column heading or the caret.

D. In the Permissions column, click the icon to view who can see, edit, delete, and

manage the file or folder.


Creating Folders in Course Files

Create the Course Files folders and subfolders needed to organize your files. Once you

have your folder structure in place, you can upload content. The folder structure in

Course Files is separate from folders in a Content Area of a course and has no impact

on the presentation of content.

QUICK STEPS: creating a folder

1. On the Action Bar, click Create Folder.

2. Type a Folder Name.

3. Click Submit. The folder appears in the directory in Course Files.

Figure 1.3

Editing, Deleting, and Moving Folders

You can edit the name, delete, and move any folder except the top level Course ID

folder. Changing the name or moving a folder does not break any links to content in

the course. This is discussed later in this manual.

If you delete a folder, the contents of the folder are permanently deleted and the links

to that content in the course are broken. The system notifies you that the Delete action

will result in broken links. In the course, the broken links appear with an “Invalid File”

statement next to them.

Course Files Overview: Creating Folders in Course Files


QUICK STEPS: editing a folder’s name

1. Click a folder’s Action Link to access the contextual menu.

2. Select Edit.

3. On the Edit page, type a new Folder Name.

4. Click Submit. The new folder name appears in the directory.

Figure 1.4

To delete the folder, use the contextual menu or the function on the Action Bar. You will

receive a warning before the folder and its contents are deleted.


Hands-on Activity

For this activity, use your Practice Course.

Access and Explore Course Files

Make no changes to the files in Course Files at this time.

In the Control Panel, expand Files and click the Practice Course folder so Course

Files opens in the content frame.

Double-click the Units folder.

Sort the contents of the Units folder by Size.

In the Permissions column, click the icon to view who can see, edit, delete, and

manage the file or folder. Click OK to return to Course Files.

NOTE: You can use the breadcrumbs to navigate to previous Course File’s folders you

have accessed. Click the ellipsis … to expand the breadcrumbs path.

Create Folders in Course Files

In the folder of your choice, create two folders.

Edit the name of one of the folders you created.

Delete one of your folders.


Uploading Files to Course Files

Users have multiple ways to upload files to Course Files. You can browse to find files on

your local drive or use the drag-and-drop function to upload them. You can upload a

single file or multiple files and folders in one action. All supported file types can be

saved to Course Files.

Learning Outcomes

After reviewing this material you will be able to:

Use the Browse function to upload files and folders

Use the drag-and-drop function to upload files and folders

Upload and unzip files in Course Files

Overwrite files in Course Files

Upload and retain a zipped file


Overview

Content can be added in one of four ways:

You can upload files and folders into Course Files, either one at a time or in

batches.

Any file uploaded from a local drive using the Browse My Computer function is

automatically added to the top level folder in Course Files.

Content that is created using the Text Editor and saved as an HTML Object is

automatically saved in Course Files as an HTML file.

Course Files has support for WebDAV to allow direct upload, editing, and

management of files in the Course Files area from your desktop or through

WebDAV capable applications.


Uploading Multiple Files Using the Browse Function

When files are uploaded, they are added to the folder that currently appears in the

content frame. Files can be moved to other folders at any time.

QUICK STEPS: uploading multiple files using Browse

1. Click the Course Files folder where the files will be uploaded or upload files to the

top level Course ID folder.

2. On the Action Bar, point to Upload to access the drop-down list.

3. Select Upload Files.

Figure 1.1

4. Select Multiple Files at the top of the screen. The Upload Multiple Files and Folders

page appears.

NOTE: You can select Single File at the top of the screen to be taken to the Upload

Single File page to browse for and upload one file at a time. The Single File option

ensures that zipped package files remain zipped.

Figure 1.2

5. On the Upload Multiple Files and Folders page, click Browse on the Action Bar.

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading Multiple Files Using the Browse Function


6. Open your local drive folder containing the files and folders to upload. You can

upload a single file, multiple files, or one or more folders.

7. Select multiple files and folders at one time by holding down the CTRL key while

clicking the files and folders to upload.

8. Click Open.

Figure1.3

NOTE: If you attempt to upload a file with the same name as an existing file, you will

receive a prompt to overwrite the current file.



9. The files and folders are added to the Upload Multiple Files and Folders page. You

can view the total size of the files you are uploading at the bottom of the Size

column. Click the X in the Remove column for any file you do not want to upload.

You can open another folder on your local drive and continue to add files and

folders at this time.

Figure 1.4

NOTE: The contents of folders appear individually in the upload list, but after they are

uploaded, they are contained in their parent folder in the directory list. You can

remove any files in the folder you do not want to upload.

10. Click Submit. A status bar displays the progress of your upload.

Figure 1.5



11. A message appears stating that the Upload completed successfully and a check

mark appears in each file’s Status column. After a moment, the files and folders

appear in the selected folder in Course File.

Figure 1.6


Uploading Multiple Files Using the Drag-and-Drop

Function

You can use the drag-and-drop function to upload a single file, multiple files, or one or

more folders.

QUICK STEPS: uploading multiple files using drag-and-drop

1. Click the Course Files folder where the files will be uploaded or upload files to the

top level Course ID folder.



4. Select Multiple Files at the top of the screen. The Upload Multiple Files and Folders

page appears.

5. On your local drive, open the folder containing the files and folders to upload.

Position the local drive folder next to the Upload Multiple Files and Folders page.

6. Select multiple files and folders at one time by holding down the CTRL key while

clicking the files and folders to upload.

7. Press the files and drag them into the upload box on the Upload Multiple Files and

Folders page.

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading Multiple Files Using the Drag-and-Drop

Function


Figure 2

8. The files and folders appear in the upload box. Click the X in the Remove column for

any file you do not want to upload. You can open another folder on your local

drive and continue to add files and folders at this time.

9. Click Submit. A status bar displays the progress of your upload.

10. A message appears stating that the Upload completed successfully and a check

mark appears in each file’s Status column. After a moment, the files and folders

appear in the selected folder in Course Files.


Hands-on Activity

For this activity, use your Practice Course. All steps to perform the operations are not

listed. Refer to the steps in the manual as needed.

Upload Multiple Files Using the Browse Function

If you need files to use in these activities, follow these instructions: On the Course

Menu, click Workshop Resources. In the Course Files item, click the zipped

package named uploading.zip and save it to your local drive. Unzip the

package and move the folder to your desktop.

In Course Files, navigate to the folder to which you want to add multiple files.

Upload three or four files in one action using the Browse function and searching

for the folder you downloaded from Workshop Resources.

Before clicking Submit, remove one file.

View your additions to the folder in Course Files.

Upload Multiple Files Using the Drag-and-Drop Function

On your local drive, open the folder you downloaded from Workshop Resources.

Use the drag-and-drop function to upload two more files to Course Files. Do not

click Submit.

If you have another folder on your desktop, use the drag-and-drop function to

upload the folder.

Click Submit. All the files and the folder are added in one action.



Uploading Zipped Packages

Files and folders can be zipped into a package and uploaded into Course Files. You

can choose to upload the zipped file and automatically unzip its contents, keeping the

folder structure and links intact, or keep the file zipped.

Example: Unzip file

If you created a lesson with several interrelated pages, images, links to URLs, and

documents, you can zip the lesson and add it to Course Files using the Upload Package

option. When a zipped package is added in this way, the system automatically unzips

its contents. You can then create a link to this unzipped package and select a starting

page so students can view your lesson in a Content Area. When you want to make a

change to any of the lesson’s elements, you can edit any part of the lesson’s content

without removing and uploading a new zipped file. All links will remain intact in the

Content Area.

Example: File remains intact

You may need a zipped package to remain zipped. For example, if you want to

include several images for students to use in a presentation, use the Single File upload

option to add the zipped file to Course Files where it remains zipped. Then, you can

create a link to it in a Content Area and students can download it to their local drives,

unzip the package, and use the contents.

QUICK STEPS: uploading and unzipping a package

1. Create a folder in Course Files for the contents of the zipped package. In our

example, we created a lesson_1 folder.

2. Click the name of the new folder.


4. Select Upload Package.

Figure 3.1

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading Zipped Packages


5. On the Upload Package page, click Browse to locate the zip file on your local drive.

Figure 3.2

6. Click Submit. The zipped package automatically unzips in the selected folder.

Figure 3.3

In the preceding example, the lesson_1 folder is open in Course Files and you can see

the zipped file automatically unzipped. The zipped file contained five folders.

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading Zipped Packages


In the Content Area, from the Build Content drop-down list, create an Item or a File and

use the Browse Course Files function to search for the start page for the unzipped

content. In our example, the start page is in the content folder inside the lesson_1

folder. We selected page_1.htm as the start page. Type a name for the Link Title.

Figure 3.4

In the Content Area, students will click the link for the lesson’s start page and be able to

view the lesson contents in order with all links intact.

Figure 3.5 – Student view of the start page for an unzipped package

At any time, you can edit one or more files and you will not need to upload and link to

a new zip. Edit the individual file you need to update and overwrite it in Course Files. The

changes will show in the Content Area and no links will be broken. The steps for

overwriting a file are presented next.


Overwriting a File

QUICK STEPS: overwriting a file

1. Once you have edited a file on your desktop, navigate to the file in Course Files you

want to overwrite.

2. Click the file’s Action Link to access the contextual menu.

3. Select Overwrite File.

Figure 4.1

4. On the Overwrite File page, click Browse to locate the edited file on your local

drive.

5. Click Submit.

Figure 4.2

The system automatically overwrites the existing file with the same name, even if you

rename it on your local drive before overwriting. Click the file to open it and view your

changes. If you have linked to this file in your course, the link remains intact and the

changes appear.


Uploading and Keeping a File Zipped

QUICK STEPS: uploading and keeping a file zipped

1. Click the Course Files folder where the zipped package will be uploaded or upload

the file to the top level Course ID folder.



4. Select Single File at the top of the screen.

5. On the Upload Single File page, click Browse to locate the zipped file on your local

drive.

6. Click Submit.

Figure 5.1

The zipped package is added to the selected folder in Course Files.

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading and Keeping a File Zipped


Figure 5.2 – The standard icon that appears with a zipped package includes the word “zip.”


Hands-on Activity


Upload and Unzip a Package

This time you will use the uploading.zip file without unzipping it.

In Course Files, navigate to the folder to which you want to add the contents of

the zip. Create a folder for the contents named “lesson_1.”

Upload the zipped file to the folder you created using the Upload Package

function.


Upload and Keep a File Zipped

In the top level folder of Course Files, upload the uploading.zip file from your

local drive again. Hint: Click Single File at the top of the upload screen to ensure

the zipped file remains intact.

View the file and note the icon that appears with a zipped package.

Overwrite a File

In the top level folder of Course Files, click the group_presentation.doc and save

it to your local drive. Make a change to the document, give it a new file name,

and save it.

In Course Files, click the Action Link for the group_presentation.doc and select

Overwrite File. Browse for the edited file with the new file name on your local

drive. Click Submit.

In Course Files, note the file name is the original name. Click the

group_presentation.doc. Select Open from the pop-up window. Note that your

changes in the document show.


Uploading Files Using Browse My Computer

When you create content in your course, you can browse for a file on your local drive

or network and link to it. Any file uploaded using the Browse My Computer function is

automatically added to the top level folder in Course Files.

Figure 6.1

In the preceding example, we are uploading a file to a content Item. The Browse My

Computer steps are similar in many course areas.

Uploading Files to Course Files: Uploading Files Using Browse My Computer


Take Note

A. Under Attachments, click Browse My Computer to search for a file on your local

drive or network.

B. The file name appears.

C. Type a Link Title so the file name does not appear in the course. Also, if you rename

the file name later in Course Files, the Link Title will not be affected.

D. Use the Text Editor Attach File function to add multiple files. All files uploaded using

the Text Editor are automatically added to Course Files in the top level folder.

The file uploaded to the content Item is added to Course Files in the top level folder.

You can move the file to a different folder and the link in the course will remain intact.

Figure 6.2

Files uploaded using Browse My Computer when creating an Assignment are not saved

in Course Files. Also, instructors do not have the option to link to files in Course Files when

creating an Assignment or when adding Wiki pages.

Reminder: No files uploaded by students are saved in Course Files. For example, if a

student uses Browse My Computer to upload a file to a Discussion Board post, the file is

not saved in Course Files.


Hands-on Activity


Uploading Files to Course Files Using Browse My Computer

Create a content Item in a Content Area. Type a Name and add information to

the Text box.

Under Attachments, click Browse My Computer to search for a file to upload from

your local drive. Select a file that you have not uploaded to Course Files in

another activity. Type a Link Title. Click Submit.

In the Content Area, view the new content Item and file attachment.

In Course Files, note that the file you uploaded from your local drive has

automatically been added to the top level folder. This file can be reused and

linked in other course areas.


Working with Files and Folders in Course Files

With Course Files, you have the capability of moving and renaming files and folders,

and any links to content in your course will remain intact. You can also use a basic

search function to locate files and folders you have uploaded to Course Files.

Learning Outcomes


View and move files and folders

Rename files and folders

Search for files and folders


Viewing Files and Folders in Course Files

The default view of the files and folders in Course Files is a list with standard small icons in

the File Type column.

Figure 1.1

To make it easier to locate items in Course Files, you can view thumbnail icons of each

item. The system remembers which view you have chosen and it remains until you

change the view.

Click View Thumbnails at the top of the screen to switch to the thumbnails view.

Figure 1.2

Working with Files and Folders in Course Files: Viewing Files and Folders in Course Files


In the thumbnails view, each file and folder is represented by a larger icon. Any action

you can perform on a file or folder in list view can also be performed on a file or folder

in thumbnails view.

Use the slider to change the size of the thumbnails. The thumbnails view displays the

image of the item for image file types, such as .png and .jpeg. For all other file types,

the standard icon representing the file type is shown.

Figure 1.3

Working with Files and Folders in Course Files: Viewing Files and Folders in Course Files


Click an image to preview it. Click the X to close the preview window.

Figure 1.4

Click any icon to view more information. Click the file’s name to open the document,

such as a PDF or Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation. Click a folder’s icon to view the

contents of the folder.


Moving Files and Folders in Course Files

In Course Files, you can move a file to a folder and you can move a folder into another

folder. All links to the moved content will remain intact in your course.

QUICK STEPS: moving a file or folder

1. Select the check boxes of the files and folders to move. You can move one or

multiple items at a time.

2. Click Move on the Action Bar.

Figure 2.1

3. On the Move Content page, the items to move are listed. Click Browse to select the

Destination folder.

Figure 2.2

Working with Files and Folders in Course Files: Moving Files and Folders in Course Files


4. On the Select Folder page, select the Destination folder. You can move a file or

folder from a subfolder to the main Course Files folder by selecting Select current

directory.

NOTE: On the Select Folder page, you can use the Create Folder function on the

Action Bar to add a folder while moving content.

5. Click Submit.

Figure 2.3

6. On the Move page, click Submit. The files and folders are moved to their new

folders.


Renaming Files and Folders in Course Files

You can rename a file or folder in Course Files and any links to the renamed content will

remain intact. However, if the file name appears in your course, the file name will not

be updated in the course area.

Example

If an item in a Content Area has an attachment named “rubric.doc,” and in Course

Files you change the name to “rubric2.doc,” the file name remains “rubric.doc” in the

Content Area where it is linked. You can change the file name on the Edit Item page or

add a meaningful Link Name.

TIP: Changes to file names in Course Files do not affect Link Names you have added to

file attachments in your course, so you may consider always adding a Link Name when

linking files. We discuss linking to content in Course Files later in this manual.

QUICK STEPS: renaming a file or folder

1. In Course Files, click the Action Link for the file or folder you want to rename.

2. Select Edit.

3. On the Edit page, type the new File Name.

4. Click Submit.

Figure 3


Ask Dr. C

In the following table, Dr. C discusses the difference between renaming and overwriting

a file. Dr. C is our Blackboard Learn expert.

Your question Dr. C’s reply

I uploaded an edited

file to Course Files and

my changes do not

show in my course. Did I

miss a step?

As long as you rename files while in Course Files, your

links will remain intact. If you rename a file on your

local drive, and upload it to Course Files, you are

adding a new file. Any edits you made to the newly

named file will not show in the course because you are

not linked to the new file; you are linked to the original

file. You need to establish a new link to the new file.

However, if you overwrite the original file in Course

Files, the system overwrites the file with its original

name, regardless of what you renamed it while it was

on your local drive. The course link to the file remains

intact.


Searching Files and Folders in Course Files

You can search for a file within Course Files using the Search function in the Files section

of the Control Panel.

Figure 4.1

Type a keyword or text string in the text box and click Go to perform a quick search.

Searches are not case-sensitive.

On the Search Content page, results include files and folders within the specific course.

The search does not produce files from across courses.

Figure 4.2

In the preceding example, all the rock images have been found in the search. The path

for each file also appears. Each item has a contextual menu and you can perform all

available actions on the item from this page, such as editing, overwriting,

copying, moving, or deleting.

Working with Files and Folders in Course Files: Searching Files and Folders in Course Files


Alternatively, click Basic Search under the text box to open the Basic Search page in

the content frame.

Figure 4.3

A Basic Search locates files and folders based on a keyword or single text string. You

can select the check box to Search File Contents. File contents are indexed

periodically, so new content may not be found immediately. Searching file contents

can increase the search time.


Hands-on Activity


View Files and Folders in Course Files

Switch to the thumbnails view. Use the slider to change the size of the icons that

appear.

Click the icon for an image file to view additional information about the file. Click

the X to close the box.

Click the image file link to preview the image in a new window.

Click any file’s Action Link to view the contextual menu. Click the X to close the

contextual menu.

Click the icon for the group_presentation.doc to view additional information

about the file. Click the X to close the box.

Click a folder icon to view the contents of the folder. Use the breadcrumbs to

return to another Course Files folder.

Return to list view for Course Files.

Move and Rename Files and Folders

Move a folder you added to Course Files in a previous activity to another folder.

Do not move other folders at this time.

Rename a file you added in a previous activity. Do not rename any files that

were in Course Files originally.

Search Files and Folders

Expand the Files area of the Control Panel.

Type “jupiter” in the text box and click Go to perform a quick search.

On the Search Content page, click one of the images to preview it.

Question: How do you search the contents of files?


Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files

You can create content in your course, save it to Course Files, and reuse it in other

areas of your course. You can also link to content you have uploaded to Course Files

from your local drive or network.

Learning Outcomes


Create HTML Objects in Course Files for reuse in your course

Create reusable content in the course

Link content in Course Files to your course

View a file's course links

Download files and folders from Course Files


Creating HTML Objects in Course Files

Within Course Files, new items can be created using the Text Editor. These items are

called HTML Objects.

HTML Objects are created in Course Files using the Create HTML Object function on the

Action Bar. You can also add files, images, and multimedia to an HTML Object using the

Text Editor functions. Any files added to the HTML Object from your local drive are also

saved in Course Files in the same folder as the HTML Object. The new HTML Object is

ready to be linked to one or more locations in your course as a file attachment.

NOTE: The system administrator can disable this function.

QUICK STEPS: creating HTML Objects in Course Files

1. Click the Course Files folder where the HTML Object will be created or create it in

the top level Course ID folder.

2. On the Action Bar, click Create HTML Object.

Figure 1.1

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Creating HTML Objects in Course Files


3. On the Create HTML Object page, type a Name. This will also be the file’s name in

Course Files.

Figure 1.2

4. In the Text Editor, type the content. Use the Text Editor functions to format the text

and add files, images, and multimedia, if you want. In our example, a file was

added from a local drive using the Attach File function in the Text Editor. Any files

added from your local drive are automatically uploaded to Course Files.

5. Click Submit.

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Creating HTML Objects in Course Files


The new item appears in the selected folder in Course Files, along with any files

uploaded from your local drive.

NOTE: The system automatically adds the .html extension to the HTML Object file name.

Figure 1.3

You will learn how to link to this new item in a later section, Linking to Files in Course

Files.

At any time, you can make a change to the HTML Object stored in Course Files and the

changes are reflected in all instances where it is linked in your course.

If an HTML Object is deleted from your course where it is linked, it is not deleted from

Course Files. The link to the HTML Object in the course is deleted. To delete the HTML

Object from a course completely, it must be deleted from Course Files.


Creating Reusable Content in the Course

When you create a content Item or a folder in the course using the Text Editor, you can

save the content as an HTML Object and add it to a folder you select in Course Files.

The content can then be reused in your course as a file attachment by linking to it from

Course Files.

Example

You can create a content Item in the Getting Started Content Area named “Group

Guidelines” and save it in Course Files. Next, in the Assignments Content Area, you can

create a new content Item and link to the Group Guidelines file from Course Files.

Students will have easy access to the guidelines when they are working on a group

assignment.

NOTE: The system administrator can disable this function.

QUICK STEPS: creating HTML Objects in the course

In our example, we will create a content Item in a Content Area and save it to Course

Files.

1. Access the Content Area.

2. On the Action Bar, point to Build Content to access the drop-down list.

3. Select Item in the Create column.

4. On the Create Item page, type a Name. The Name becomes the file name in

Course Files. Type information in the Text box. Format the text using the Text Editor

functions, if you want.

5. At the bottom on the Text Editor, select the Save as HTML Object check box.

6. Click Browse to select the Course Files folder to which you want to save the file. The

default Course ID folder is automatically chosen if you do not select another folder.

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Creating Reusable Content in the

Course


Figure 2.1


Course


7. On the Select Folder page, select the folder. You can also create a new folder from

this page, if you want.

8. Click Submit.

Figure 2.2

9. On the Create Item page, add files and select Options, if you want.

10. Click Submit.


Course


The new content Item is added to the Content Area and is also saved in Course Files in

the selected folder as an HTML Object.

NOTE: The system automatically adds the .html extension to the HTML Object file name.

Figure 2.3

Next, you will learn how to link to files and reuse content you have stored in Course Files.


Hands-on Activity


Create an HTML Object in Course Files

Navigate to the Course Files folder to which you want to create content. Use

Create HTML Object on the Action Bar to create the new content. Use the Text

Editor Attach File function to add a file to the new content. Attach a file you

have not uploaded to Course Files in another activity. The file will automatically

be uploaded to Course Files in the same folder as the new HTML Object.

View the new HTML Object and the file you attached in the selected folder in

Course Files.

Create Reusable Content in the Course

In a Content Area, create a content Item and add information to fit your needs.

Select the Save as HTML Object check box.

Click Browse to select the Course Files folder to which you want to save the file.

Follow the steps to select the folder and submit the new content Item.

NOTE: The new content Item is added to the Content Area and is also saved in Course

Files in the selected folder as an HTML Object.


Linking to Files in Course Files

Now that files have been added to Course Files, they can be linked to areas in your

course when creating content, such as Learning Modules, Lesson Plans, calendar

events, content Items, Journal and Blog topics and instructor entries, Messages,

Announcements, Tasks, Wikis, test descriptions and instructions, and the Discussion

Board.

Wherever attaching files is available, click the Browse Course Files function to attach a

file or use the Attach File function in the Text Editor. Adding files using the Text Editor

offers you more control over where the file’s link appears on the page. Some course

areas do not allow attaching files from Course Files, such as when creating Assignments

or individual Wiki pages.

In our example, we will follow the steps for linking a file to a content Item in a Content

Area using the Browse Course Files function. You can also link to an entire folder in

Course Files. If users have Read permission on the folder and the files in the folder, they

are able to view and download the contents.

QUICK STEPS: browsing Course Files

1. In a Content Area, point to Build Content to access the drop-down list.

2. Select Item in the Create column.

3. On the Create Item page, type a Name and type information in the Text box.

Format the text using the Text Editor functions, if you want.

4. Under Attachments, click Browse Course Files.

Figure 3.1

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Linking to Files in Course Files


5. On the Select File or Folder page, select one or more files and folders.

6. Click the Show List function, represented by the full square, to open the Selected

Files area to view your selections. Remove any file by clicking the X.

7. Click Submit.

Figure 3.2

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Linking to Files in Course Files


8. On the Create Item page, type a Link Title for the attached file; otherwise the file

name appears in the Content Area. Choose a name that is meaningful to students.

Figure3.3

9. Select the Options.

10. Click Submit. The item appears in the Content Area with the selected file linked to

Course Files. The link to the file precedes text typed in the Text Editor.

Figure 3.4 – Instructor view of a content item and file link

Turn Edit Mode to OFF to view the content from the student perspective.


Hands-on Activity


Link to Files and Folders in Course Files

In a Content Area, create a content Item. Under Attachments, Browse Course

Files and link to two files in Course Files—ensure one file is an HTML Object file you

created in an earlier activity. Type Link Titles for both files.

In the Content Area, view the new content Item and the links to the files. Click

the HTML Object file link to see how the content appears. Use the breadcrumbs

to return to the Content Area.

Create a second content Item in a Content Area. Under Attachments, Browse

Course Files and link to a folder. Type a Link Title for the folder.

Turn Edit Mode to OFF and view the two content Items in the Content Area as a

student. Click the folder link to see how the content appears for students.

NOTE: With Edit Mode OFF, you will see all the contents of the linked folder as the

instructor. If any files have permissions removed for students, they will not see

those individual files in the linked folder when they are logged in. Permissions is

discussed later in this manual.


Viewing a File’s Course Links

You can view information about a file stored in Course Files. The 360° View report

includes the file’s properties, such as name, file type, file size, and when it was last

edited. You can also view the permissions assigned to users and a list of links where the

file has been used.

Since a file can be reused in a course, the 360° View report lists all of the course areas

to which the file has been linked.

QUICK STEPS: viewing Course Links

1. In Course Files, click a file’s Action Link to access the contextual menu.

2. Select 360° View.

Figure 4.1

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Viewing a File’s Course Links


Figure 4.2 – Sections of the 360° View page

Creating and Linking to Content in Course Files: Viewing a File’s Course Links


Take Note

A. The file name appears at the top of the report.

B. Click a heading’s double arrows to collapse or expand a section.

C. View the Permissions assigned to users.

D. View where the file is linked in the course. In our example, the file is linked to a

content Item and a Discussion Board forum.


Downloading Files and Folders from Course Files

You can select a group of files and folders within Course Files to download to a zipped

package that can be saved to your local drive. This is helpful if you want to reuse

selected files in other courses or edit several files offline.

QUICK STEPS: downloading a package

1. In Course Files, select the check boxes next to the files and folders to add to the

package.

2. On the Action Bar, click Download Package.

Figure 5

3. In the pop-up window, select Save and click OK to save the zipped package to

your local drive. The file name for the file is the Course ID with the .zip extension, for

example, earth_sys_sci_104.zip.

When you upload the edited files from your local drive to Course Files in the original

course, the links to content are retained as long as the original file names remain. If you

change the name of any file while it is on your desktop, you are adding a new file to

Course Files when uploading and the edits you made to the file will not show in the

course where it is linked.


Setting Permissions

You can determine who can view the files available in Course Files by changing

permissions for users.

Learning Outcomes


Change permissions on files and folders in Course Files

When a file is added to Course Files and linked to content in your course, it is

automatically assigned the Read permission for all course users. Other users enrolled in

your course, such as a Teaching Assistant or Course Builder, have additional permissions

for your files by default. You can change the permissions assigned to any file or type of

user in Course Files. For example, if you do not want your Teaching Assistant to have the

ability to delete a certain file, you can change the permissions for that file.

The following table describes the privileges for each type of permission.

Type of Permission Privileges

Read View and download

Write Edit and overwrite

Add files and folders to a folder

Remove Download and remove

Manage Control properties and settings

Determine permissions on the Manage Permissions page

You can delete or change permissions as needed.

Setting Permissions: Downloading Files and Folders from Course Files


QUICK STEPS: editing a user's permissions

1. In Course Files, navigate to the folder or file.

2. Click the icon in the Permissions column next to the file or folder.

Figure 1.1

3. On the Manage Permissions page, next to the User or User List, click the Action Link

to access the contextual menu.

4. Select Edit.

Figure 1.2



5. On the Edit Permissions page, under Set Permissions, select or clear the check box

next to the Permissions type.

6. Click Submit.

7. Click OK to return to Course Files.

Figure 1.3



Editing Folder Permissions

When you upload items to folders, they inherit the same permissions as the parent

folder. When editing permissions on the folder, you can choose to do the following:

Edit the existing permissions on the folders and its contents

Overwrite the existing permissions on files and subfolders

Example

Your Teaching Assistant has Read permission on a folder named Course Notes, and she

has Read and Write permissions on the Week 1 file within that folder. You edit her folder

permissions to Read and Manage.

If you add permissions to the existing permissions, your TA will have Read and Manage

permissions for the folder and Read, Write, and Manage permissions on the Week 1 file.

If you select the Overwrite option shown in the following example, she will have Read

and Manage permissions for the folder and all files within it, including the Week 1 file.

NOTE: You can edit an individual file’s permissions, even after using the Overwrite option

on the whole folder.

Figure 1.4



Copying and Moving Files to New Folders

If you copy a file to a different folder, it loses its original permissions and inherits any new

ones associated with its new parent folder. However, if you move a file to a different

folder, it maintains its original permissions. It does not inherit permissions associated with

the parent folder.

Example

You have a file named Terminology and you have given your Course Builder Read and

Write permissions. You also have a folder named Assignments and the Course Builder

has no permissions.

If you copy the Terminology file to the Assignments folder, your Course Builder will not

have any permissions for the Terminology document in the Assignments folder. If you

move the Terminology file, your Course Builder will still have Read and Write permissions

for the file.


Hands-on Activity


View a File’s Course Links

Locate a file that you have linked in your course. Click the Action Link to access

the contextual menu and select 360° View.

View the information in the report and note where the file is linked in your course.

Download Files and Folders from Course Files

In Course Files, select the check boxes next to the files and folders you want to

download. Add a file to the download package that you have added in

another activity, is linked in the course, and is easy to edit. The files found in

Course Files originally are already linked and used for other activities in other

manuals, so do not select those to edit. However, they can be downloaded.

On the Action Bar, click Download Package.

In the pop-up window, save the zipped package to your local drive.

Unzip the package on your local drive to view the contents. Open the file that is

linked in your course. Make a change. Save it with its original file name. In Course

Files, upload the edited file in the appropriate folder.

In the Content Area where the file is linked, check if the link is intact and the edits

show.

Return to the file you edited on your local drive. Make another change. Save it,

but change the file name. In Course Files, navigate to the file and click its Action

Link. Select Overwrite File.

In the Content Area where the file is linked, check if the link is intact and the edits

show.

Set Permissions

In Course Files, click the icon in the Permissions column next to a file that you

added. Change its permissions. Do not change permissions for any files or folders

originally in Course Files.


Course Files and WebDAV

WebDAV is used for sharing files over the Internet and is compatible with most

operating systems. When put into use with Blackboard Learn, WebDAV is a means for

users to access content from Course Files as if it were any other network drive or folder

on their personal computers.

When WebDAV—or a Web Folder—is set up, you can manage all of your course

content files from your desktop, dragging in content from multiple drives and folders,

and organizing it as needed. You can also perform functions on the files and folders in

the Course Files Web Folder because you can see the folder structure and navigate in

it. Finally, you can often edit a file directly in the Web Folder, without downloading it,

editing it, and uploading it again.

Many users are accustomed to using WebDAV and prefer to continue to use this

method for file management.

NOTE: The system administrator determines if WebDAV is available.

Web Folder Actions

The following actions can be performed on files and folders using WebDAV with Course

Files:

Add files and folders

Browse the contents of folders in Course Files

Open and view files, such as a Microsoft® Word file

Create folders

Move, copy, rename, and remove files and folders

Open and edit files, such as Microsoft® Office® files.


Setting up a Web Folder

Most operating systems are WebDAV compatible. All you need to connect is the Web

address of the Course Files folder and a valid username and password. The following

directions are written for Windows® XP. The Mac OS® version is available in a handout.

QUICK STEPS: setting up a Web Folder

1. In Course Files, click Setup Web Folder on the Action Bar of the top level folder.

Starting from this location ensures WebDAV access to all folders contained in

Course Files. If you want, you may select any folder inside Course Files; however, the

Web Folder path must be less than 100 characters.

Figure 1.1

2. On the Using Web Folders page, copy the URL that appears for Current Web

address. You will paste the address in later steps. TIP: To copy, select the address

and right-click; select Copy.

Figure 1.2

3. From the Start Menu in Windows®, select Documents > My Documents. Click My

Network Places in the left frame.

4. Select Add a network place from the Network Tasks menu.

Course Files and WebDav: Setting up a Web Folder


Figure 1.3

5. In the Add Network Place Wizard, select Choose another network location to create

a shortcut.

6. Paste the URL for the Web Folder you copied earlier and click Next.

7. Type your Blackboard Learn username and password, if prompted. Type a name for

the network place and click Next. Click Finish to close the wizard. The Web Folder

opens and appears in My Network Places. You may be prompted again for a

username and password.

8. Access My Network Places and select the Web Folder shortcut you created.

9. Locate the local folder containing the files and folders you want to transfer.

10. With both the Web Folder and the local folder open, you can move files and folders

between them. Click a file and hold, then drag to the destination folder. Release

your mouse and it is dropped in the folder. Files that you drag to the Web Folder are

copied to Course Files. You can also copy files from the Web Folder to a local

folder. You can use copy and paste rather than the drag-and-drop function, if you

want.

Figure 1.4

Course Files and WebDav: Setting up a Web Folder


11. In Course Files, click Refresh on the Action Bar to view the added files.

When you are finished, disconnect from the Web Folder. If you do not disconnect, the

server connection remains open until the computer is shut down. If you are using a

computer others use, they will have access to everything in your Course Files.


Hands-on Activity


Use a Web Folder with Course Files

From the top level folder of Course Files, set up a Web Folder.

In the Web Folder, delete a file you added to Course Files. Do not delete any file

originally found in Course Files.

Use the drag-and-drop function to move files and folders between a local folder

and the Web Folder.

Use copy/paste to upload a file from your local folder to the Web Folder.

In the Web Folder, open a Microsoft® Word document, edit it, and save it.

In Course Files, click Refresh on the Action Bar to view your additions. Open the

document you edited and view the changes.

Ensure that the file you deleted is removed.

When you are finished, disconnect from the Web Folder.


Ask Dr. C

In the following table, Dr. C discusses Web Folders and the benefits to using them.

Your question Dr. C’s reply

In Course Files, when

uploading files and folders, the

Browse function and the drag-

and-drop function work great.

When might I want to use Web

Folders instead?

Some users have been using WebDAV

technology for a long time and prefer to

continue to use this method. They can see the

entire structure of the folders in Course Files and

move files and folders as needed in the

hierarchy.

If you plan on moving a large number of files

and folders or want to reorganize the contents in

Course Files, you can do it quickly using Web

Folders.

Also, the added benefit of being able to edit

files in a Web Folder is useful to some users. You

do not have to download files to your local

drive, edit, save, and upload. With a Web

Folder, you can open the document, edit, and

save it. No downloading or uploading required!