Uploading Files to Canvas from Blackboard, OneDrive, or your Device

Description

This article describes how to add documents and multimedia files to Canvas from Blackboard, OneDrive, or your device. Adding content to Canvas via this method may be more efficient than Importing full course content to Canvas from Blackboard, which often requires additional time and effort to reorganize the content and check for issues.

See Moving course content from Blackboard to Canvas for more information.

Environment

Canvas in your web browser

Solution 

This solution guides you through different download and upload scenarios. You will only need to follow the instructions for downloading files from Blackboard if your content is currently stored there. Select the upload or download scenario that fits your situation.

Downloading files from Blackboard

The file download procedures are different for Blackboard Original and Blackboard Ultra. Blackboard Original allows you to download multiple or single files from a course. When downloading multiple files from Blackboard Original you will create an export file (.zip) to be uploaded to Canvas. Blackboard Ultra only allows single file downloads for upload to Canvas.

Blackboard Original

  1. Log into blackboard.ohio.edu
  2. On the left Global Navigation menu, select Courses
  3. Select the course that you want to copy from
  4. On the left Course Navigation Menu, select Control Panel > Files
  5. Directly below Files, select the Course ID link
  6. In the Course Content pane, you should see a list of any files that have been uploaded to the course.

Note: Any embedded media or files will not be displayed in this list, only items that have been uploaded into the course. 

To download one file:

  1. Right-click on the file name
  2. Select Save, Save As, or Save link as
  3. Once you have downloaded all desired files to your computer, you can log into canvas.ohio.edu
  4. See Uploading files to Canvas from your device below to complete your course migration.

To download two or more files:

  1. Select the box next to the files you want to download

    • You may have multiple pages of files, in this case, at the bottom of the page select Show All to display all the uploaded files for this course.

  2.  Select Download Package

    • This will export all selected files to your computer in a zipped folder (.zip).

  3. Once you have downloaded your export file to your computer, you can log into canvas.ohio.edu

  4. See Export files from Blackboard Original below to complete your course migration.

Blackboard Ultra

If you would like to download files that are attached to your Ultra course, you will need to navigate to those files directly within your courses and download them individually.

  1. Log into blackboard.ohio.edu
  2. On the left navigation pane, select Courses
  3. Select the course you want to copy from
  4. One the file you want to download, select the three-dot menu (…)
  5. Select Download

Uploading files to Canvas

Uploading files to Canvas allows you to store files in Canvas that can later be added to student facing pages as you set up your course. Uploading a file a file to Canvas does not display the content in your course until you add the file to a page.

Note: Canvas has a file size limit of 500MB

Export files from Blackboard Original

  1. Log into canvas.ohio.edu
  2. In the green, left Global Navigation Menu, select Courses
  3. Select the course where you would like to add the Blackboard course content
  4. Select Import Existing Content
  5.  Next to Content Type, select Unzip .zip file into folder
  6.  Select Choose File
  7. Select the .zip file that you previously downloaded from Blackboard.
  8. Next to Upload to, select course files
  9. Select Import
  10. Your files are now being uploaded to the course. The import status is displayed under Current Jobs
  11. Your documents are now available for you to add to pages within your course.

Note: Uploading a file to Canvas does not display the content in your course until you add the file to a page. To add files to your course see Files already stored in Canvas below.
 

Individual files (including Blackboard downloads)

  1. Log into canvas.ohio.edu
  2. In the green, left Global Navigation Menu, select Account
  3. Select Files
  4. Select the location where you want to add the file (a course or My Files)
  5. In the upper right, select Upload
  6. Select the file 
  7. Select Open 
  8. Your documents are now available for you to add to pages within your course.

Note: Uploading a file to Canvas does not display the content in your course until you add the file to a page. To add files to your course see Files already stored in Canvas below.

Adding files to pages in Canvas

Once you upload files to Canvas, you have the flexibility to add them to any page within Canvas, regardless of the course.

Video files

We recommend linking videos to Canvas via Panopto. This makes video content more accessible to students and reduces the size of your Canvas course to avoid reaching the 2GB (2000MB) course size limit. For instructors who have Panopto content in Blackboard they plan to use in Canvas, we suggest reviewing the help article Sharing Panopto Content Between Blackboard and Canvas to ensure your videos are accessible in Canvas before trying to add videos in your new courses.

Follow the steps below once your videos are stored in Panopto.

  1. Navigate to the page in canvas.ohio.edu where you want to add content
  2. Select the Edit button. 
  3. In the Canvas Rich Content Editor select the link icon

A chain link icon outlined in red.

  1. Select External Link
  2. In Panopto, find the video you want to link
  3. Select the Share icon

A share links icon outlined in red.

  1. Select Link
  2. Select Copy Link
  3. Return to Canvas
  4. Under Text, enter the desired language for the link
  5. Under Link, paste the Panopto link
  6. Select Done
  7. Select Save
  8. Your video is now linked on your page

Files already stored in Canvas

You can add content that has already been uploaded to Canvas.

  1. Navigate to the page in canvas.ohio.edu where you want to add content
  2. Select the Edit button. 
  3. In the Canvas Rich Content Editor select one of the following icons to search for and select the desired file:

  • Images

  • Document

A file icon next to a document icon. Both icons are outlined in red.

  1. Select Upload Image, Course Images, User Images, Upload Document, Course Documents, or User Documents
  • Before uploading an image, under Alt Text, provide a detailed and concise description of the image
  1. On the right Add menu, select the appropriate file
  • You can change the file search parameters in this pane if you are unable to located the desired file
  1. Select the appropriate file
  2. Select Save
  3. Your documents will now be linked to the page and images will be displayed

Files stored on your device

  1. Navigate to the page in Canvas where you want to add content
  2. Select the Edit button. 
  3. In the Canvas Rich Content Editor select one of the following icons to search for and select the desired file:
  • Images
  • Document

A file icon next to a document icon. Both icons are outlined in red.

  1. Select Upload Image or Upload Document

Note: If uploading an image

  • Under Alt Text, provide a detailed and concise description of the image
  • Under Display Options, determine if you want to embed the image to be shown on the page or create link to the image
  1. Select the appropriate file
  2. Select Save
  3. Your documents will now be linked to the page and images will be displayed or linked

Files stored in OneDrive

You can add content to your course from OneDrive by embedding the content so it is visible to students on the screen immediately or via a link.

Note: Ensure that the file or folder settings for access and editing are set to ensure that students are able to access the content

  1. Navigate to the page in Canvas where you want to add content
  2. Select the Edit button.
  3. In the Canvas Rich Content Editor select, the OneDrive icon

It may take up to a minute for the screen to load

A multi-hued blue cloud symbol. Outlined in red.

  1. On the Microsoft OneDrive page, select Sign In
  2. Sign into OneDrive with your OHIO credentials
  3. Select your OneDrive file
  4. Select Embed or Link
  5. You will be automatically returned to the Rich Content Editor. Do not select “X”
  6. Select Save
  7. Your documents or images will now be displayed or linked to the page

Get Help from Canvas

  • Live chat with Canvas support (Faculty) 
  • Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support  
    • Dial the Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation Menu 
    • Contact OIT at 740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, test courses/manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.) 

Get Help from OIT

Additional Resources 

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Canvas Learning Management System (LMS)
Canvas is an online Learning Management System designed to facilitate communication and the sharing of course content between instructors, teaching assistants, students, and guests.