Desire2Learn 9.0

Exporting and Importing Grades

You can export online course grades to a text editor such as Excel. It is a good idea to do this regularly to back up your grades. You can also import grades by adding a list of students and grades from outside the online course.

Desire2Learn's import/export feature uses a comma separated value (CSV) file format. Using a program such as Excel, you can open, work with, or create CSV files.

Recommendations
Exporting Grades
Importing Grades

Recommendations

Exporting grades is fairly straightforward, but importing grades into D2L can go wrong more easily. To successfully import grades, follow the recommendations in this section.

Set up your gradebook in D2L. Create grade items in D2L, and use unique names for categories and grade items - duplicate names lead to errors on import.
Export your D2L gradebook, make the desired changes, and re-import the file. This ensures the correct column headings for each grade item.
Be aware that some types of grade items cannot be imported. Only Numeric, Text, Pass/Fail and Selectbox grade items can be imported, so deselect all other grade item types when exporting your gradebook. For information about types of grade items, consult Grades: Terminology. Also deselect the Calculated Final Grade.
To save processing time, export only the grade items you intend to grade in Excel and re-import to D2L.
During the export process, when prompted to open or save the CSV file, open it. Then rename the file, using no spaces or special characters other than the hyphen and underscore. Save the file, choosing CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv) from the Save as type pull-down menu.

Exporting Grades

Exporting grades from your Desire2Learn course produces a CSV file with the students' information separated by commas. If you plan to import grades, first set up the grade items in D2L, and then export grades so you can work with a file with the correct rows and headings.

NOTE: It is a good idea to export your Grades List a couple times during the semester and at the end of the semester so that you have a backup of your Grades List.

From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click GRADES
The User List screen appears.
Click EXPORT GRADES
The Export Grades pane appears.
In the Export Options section, select the desired options
In the Choose Grades to Export sections, select the grade items you want to export
HINT: A grade item is selected when a check appears next to it.
Click EXPORT TO CSV
The Export Grades dialog box appears.
Click the grade link
The File Download dialog box appears.
Click OPEN
The file opens in Excel.
OPTIONAL: Make any desired changes
Click FILE MENU
Click SAVE AS
The Save As dialog box appears.
Navigate to and select the desired save location
In the File name text box, type a name for the file
WARNING: Keeping the default name creates problems when importing the grades into D2L.
In the Save as type pull-down menu, select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)

WARNING: Saving as a different sort of CSV file creates problems when importing the grades into D2L.
Click SAVE
A confirmation dialog box appears.
Click YES
The file is saved.
Close the Excel file

Importing Grades

After creating grade items in D2L, export the gradebook
NOTE: Be sure to open the gradebook file, add grades in the appropriate columns, and save as a CSV file with a new name when exporting the gradebook. See Exporting Grades for full instructions.
From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click GRADES
The User List pane appears.
Click IMPORT
The Import Grades pane appears.
In the Import File text box, type the location of the CSV file
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
When you have the information placed as you desire, click NEXT
Step 2: Errors and Warnings Found appears.
WARNING: If an error message appears, review the document you were importing. Make sure it is saved as a .csv file. Check that you followed the recommendations. If that does not resolve the problem, export the file again, making sure to follow the directions exactly. If you still get an error message, make sure that no categories and grade items share a name (e.g., exam). Contact the Help Desk if problems persist.
Click NEXT
Step 3: Preview Import appears.
Click IMPORT
The gradebook is imported.