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Desire2Learn 9.0

Managing Course Files

Desire2Learn provides a central location for managing your course files, referred to as the File Management console. You can use this area to organize the files used for your course content. Organizing your files will make them easier to locate when creating modules and topics. Navigation in this area is similar to Windows Explorer. You can create folders, upload files, download files, change their location and/or name, and delete files.

return to topAccessing the File Management Console

The File Management console is similar to Windows Explorer. The left frame consists of a folder hierarchy with plus (+) signs signifying the existence of subfolders within that folder. Clicking the plus (+) sign expands the folder listing, showing these subfolders. You can navigate through the folder hierarchy to locate desired folders and subfolders. Clicking on a folder displays its contents in the right frame. For more detailed information on navigating, refer to File Management Navigation.

  1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click EDIT COURSE
    The Course Administration pane appears.

  2. From the Tools list, click MANAGE FILESManage Files button
    The Manage Files console appears.
    Manage Files pane

return to topFile Management Tools

Button Function
Hide Tree button Hides folder tree
New File button Opens the New File dialog box
New Folder button Creates a new folder in the current location
Paste button Pastes items from the clipboard into the current location
Upload button Opens the Upload File dialog box, in which you can locate and upload files from your computer
Manage Content button Returns you to the Manage Content pane
Cut button Cuts selected items to the clipboard
Copy button Copies selected items to the clipboard
Delete button Deletes selected items
Download button Downloads selected files
Zip button Compresses selected files into a .zip file
Add Content Topics button Creates topics for selected files

 

return to topFile Management Navigation

As you work with the File Management console, you will have to move from folder to folder. Folders with an expand buttonExpand button have the subfolders and files list collapsed; folders with a collapse buttonCollapse button have the subfolders and files list expanded.

Displaying the Contents of a Folder

  1. If the Folders list is not visible, click SHOW TREE
    The Folders list appears.
    Folders list
    NOTE: If you cannot see the file list for a folder, click EXPANDExpand button

  2. From the Folders list, select the appropriate folder name
    The contents of the folder are displayed in the Contents list.

return to topCreating Folders and Subfolders

Folders help to organize course files. Before uploading files, you should create a folder in the appropriate location to contain the files.

  1. Using the Folders list, navigate to the location in which you want to create the folder or subfolder

  2. Click CREATE NEW FOLDERCreate New Folder button
    The new folder appears in the Name column.
    New Folder in Manage Files pane

  3. In the text box, type the name for the new folder

return to topUploading a File

Files, such as videos or other multimedia, can be uploaded to complement your course content. You can upload multiple files at once through the use of a .zip file. For more information, refer to Working with the Compressed Folders.

  1. Access the File Management Console

  2. Navigate to the folder where you want the new file to be located

  3. Click UPLOADUpload button
    The Upload dialog box appears.
    Upload dialog box

  4. In the text box, type the file location
    OR
    To select the file,
    1. Click BROWSE...
      The Choose File to Upload dialog box appears.
    2. Navigate to and select the desired file
    3. Click OPEN

  5. Click UPLOAD
    The uploaded file appears in the Contents list.

return to topDownloading Files

When you want to make extensive edits to files, it may be easier to download them and work with them in the application that created them (e.g., Word, Dreamweaver).
NOTE: If the file is already linked to a Content topic, retaining the filename will retain the Content topic link when you upload the revised file.

Downloading a File

  1. Access the File Management Console

  2. Navigate to and click the file you want to download
    The File Download dialog box appears.

  3. Click SAVE
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  4. Navigate to the where you want the file saved

  5. Click SAVE
    The Download Complete dialog box appears.

  6. Click CLOSE

Downloading Multiple Files: Zip Files Option

  1. Access the Course Management Console

  2. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to download as a zip file

  3. Select the file(s)
    HINT: An item is selected if a checkmark appears before it.

  4. Click DOWNLOADDownload button
    The Downloading Files dialog box appears.

  5. Click the link
    The File Download dialog box appears.

  6. Click SAVE
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  7. From the Save in pull-down menu, navigate to where you want the file saved

  8. In the File name text box, type a name for the file

  9. In the Save as type pull-down menu, make sure Compressed (zipped) Folder is selected

  10. Click SAVE
    The Download Complete dialog box appears.

  11. Click CLOSE
    For more information on extracting files from the zip file, refer to Working with the Compressed Folders.

return to topMoving Files and Folders

As you reorganize course content, it is a good idea to also reorganize your files and folders.

  1. Access the File Management Console

  2. Select the file(s) and folder(s) that you wish to put in a different folder
    NOTE: An item is selected if a checkmark appears next to it and is highlighted with a green background.

  3. Click CUTCut button
    The file is added to the clipboard.

  4. Navigate to the folder in which you want the file to appear

  5. Click PASTEPaste button
    The file is moved.
    NOTE: If you are moving multiple files to the same destination, you can select them all and move them at the same time.

return to topChanging File and Folder Names

You are able to change the name of a file or folder. When changing a file or folder name, remember that you can not use spaces, hyphens, apostrophes, periods, or forward slashes. Also, it is a good idea to keep the names short but meaningful.

  1. Access the File Management Console

  2. Click the Arrow button for the file or folder that you wish to rename

  3. Click RENAMERename button
    The file or folder name becomes a text box.
    Folder Name text box

  4. In the text box, type the new name

return to topDeleting Files and Folders

  1. Access the File Management Console

  2. Select the file(s) and folder(s) you want to delete
    NOTE: An item is selected if a checkmark appears next to it and is highlighted with a blue background.

  3. Click DELETE Delete button
    A confirmation dialog box appears.

  4. Click YES
    The content is deleted.
    WARNING: Deleting a file with the chain iconChain iconnext to it will break the link to the document in the Content section of your course.

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