Adding and editing files in Blackboard

Quick guide for Designers

The Add File tool allows you to create new HTML pages or add files such as HTML, Word and PDF documents, images and audio to the Home Page, a folder or a learning module.

Mac users: it is recommended that you use Safari as your browser when uploading files.

Add an existing file or document
Upload and add a file from your computer
Create a new file
Preview a file
Show/Hide a file
Edit a file
Remove a file
Add a website

Add an existing file or document

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the Home Page, folder or learning module where you wish to add the file or document.
3. Click on the Add File button at the top left of the main window.
4. Click on Browse for Files .
5. Click on Class Files in the left of the window (if this view is not already showing). Go to and click on the box next to the file you require.

• If you cannot see a particular file in the Class Files, you might find it in the Template Manager or Repository listed in the left side of the pop-up window. Navigate through the folders until your file appears. Then click on the box next to that file.

6. Click OK.
7. The file will now appear on the Home Page, folder or learning module.

Note: For instructions on linking to e-readings, see the Library's Linking to electronic readings page.

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Upload and add a file from your computer

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the Home Page, folder or learning module where you wish to add the file or document.
3. Click on the Add File button at the top left of the main window.
4. Click on Browse for Files .
5. Click on My Computer , navigate to and select the file you wish to upload.
6. Click on Open.
7. The file will now appear on the Home Page, folder or learning module.

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Create a new file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the Home Page, folder or learning module where you would like the new file to sit.
3. Click on the Add File button at the top left of the main window.
4. Click on Create File .
5. In the Create File window, type a title in the Title field.
6. Click on the Enable HTML Creator button if this is not already activated.
7. Type or paste content in the Content field.
8. Type a file name in the File name field if the default name is not appropriate.
9. Click Save or Save and Add Another. The file will now appear in the main window and will also be saved in the File Manager.

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Preview a file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the file you wish to preview.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file.
4. Click on Preview . The file will open in a new window.

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Show/hide a file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the file you wish to show or hide.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file.

• If the file is hidden, click on Show Item to make it visible to students.
• If you want to hide the file, click on Hide Item .

Note: With the Selective Release tool you can show a file to selected members, based on date, student, group or Grade Book criteria. For further information, refer to the Selective Release guides.

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Edit a file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the file you wish to edit.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file.
4. Click on Edit Properties .
5. Click on the Enable HTML Creator button if this is not already activated.
6. Make the necessary changes.
7. Click Save.

Note: In Blackboard you can only edit HTML files - you can't edit files in other formats, such as Word or PDF. Therefore, to edit a non-HTML file you will need to edit it outside of Blackboard and then upload the new file to replace the old one.

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Remove a file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Go to the file you wish to remove.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file.
4. Click on Remove Link .
5. Click OK to confirm you wish to remove the link.

Note: This process will not delete the file from the File Manager. It will simply remove the link from the Home Page, folder or learning module. (For further information on the File Manager, refer to the File Manager guides.)

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Add a website

1. Create a .zip file containing all the files in the website you wish to upload, keeping their folder hierarchy intact.
2. Click on the Build tab.
3. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
4. Click on Get Files.
5. Click on My Computer on the left side of the Get Files window and navigate to and click on the .zip file that contains your website.
6. Click Open. The .zip file will appear in the File Manager.
7. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the .zip file and click on Extract. You will then see a folder in the File Manager with the same name as the .zip file.
8. Click on the Build tab and go to the Home Page, folder or learning module where you wish to create a link to the website.
9. Click on Add File and then Browse for Files .
10. Navigate through the new website folder in the File Manager until you find the site's 'default' or 'index' file.
11. Click on the box next to this file and then click OK. The 'default' or 'index' file will appear on the Home Page, folder or learning module and the website structure should be intact.