Upload and Organize Course Files

Relevant to: faculty and staff

This article contains information considered accurate at the time of publishing. Technology updates, changes in University security practices, policies and procedures may effect the information in this article - updates to articles are scheduled on a periodic basis and will address any required changes.

Introduction

Learn how to use the Manage File tool to upload, move and organize files and folders for your course.

Overview of the Manage Files Tool

To get to the Manage Files tool, click on the "Tools" menu in the navbar and select "Manage Files."

In the "Manage Files" tab from top to bottom you'll see:

  1. A breadcrumb trail
  2. A row of five links, each with an icon:
    • Hide/Show Tree
    • New File
    • New Folder
    • Paste
    • Upload
  3. A two-column table. In the narrow left column is the hierarchy of folders (the "tree"); the wide right column shows all the folders and files, with the name, size, type and last modified date. Files that are content topics are marked with a link icon.

You can hide the tree by clicking on the "Hide Tree" link, and restore the tree by clicking "Show Tree."

You can sort the folders and files alphabetically by clicking the small black triangle next to "Name."

Upload a File

You can upload most file types to the "Manage Files" tool, but only certain types of files can be used as content topics. The maximum size for a file is 2 GB.

  1. In the "Manage Files" tool, click the "Upload" link. Note: To upload a file into a folder, navigate to that folder first, then click "Upload."
  2. A new window will pop up. You can either:
    • Drag files from your computer into the area in the window outlined by dashes or
    • Click the "Upload" button to open a window to your computer's file system.
  4. Click "Save."

Organize Your Files

Tips for Organizing Your Files

  • Set up a folder for each module of your course, and store the files for that module there
  • Don't move files that are being used as content topics as it could cause broken links.

Create a Folder

  1. In the "Manage Files" tool, click the "New Folder" link.
  2. A new space will appear at the top of the table of folders and files. Enter the name of the folder in the field that says "New Folder" and click "Save."

Move a File to a Folder

Note: You can move folders the same way you move files.

  1. In the table of folders and files, go to the file you want to move.
  2. Click on the chevron next to the file and select "Cut."
  3. Navigate to the folder where you want to move the file and click "Paste."

Navigate in the Manage Files Tools

You can navigate between folders and up and down the file structure in a couple of ways:

  • Use the "Tree"
    • Click on the name of a folder in the "tree" to see the contents of that folder in the table of folders and files.
    • To see subfolders in the "tree," click on the "+" to the left of the name of the folder. If there are subfolders, the "tree" will expand; if there are no subfolders, the "+" will disappear.
  • Drill down into folders in the table of folders and files, and use the links in the breadcrumb trail to move back up.

File Types for Content Topics

You can upload most file types to a content folder in Manage Files, but only files with specific extensions can be used as content topics. Those file types are listed below.

Tag and text within the tag from user created web documents.

Extension File Type Notes
HTM, HTML, MHT, MHTML Web document Brightspace Learning Environment strips the
RTF, PPT, PPS, PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPTX, XML, XLS, TXT, WPD, XLSX, XLS Text document When embedded in Content, PowerPoint presentations that contain animations do not play; however, downloading the PowerPoint presentations saves them in their native file format, allowing the animations to play
JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIF, TIFF Image  
SWF, MPG, MPEG, RM, MP3, MP4, M4V, M4A, AVI, WAV, RAM, ASF, MOV, RA Media The extensions MP4, M4V, and M4A allow users to drag entire albums, video podcasts, and movies from iTunes
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