Working with File Manager in Blackboard

Quick guide for Designers

File Manager allows you to upload, manage and share any files you need for your unit sites.

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

Upload and add a file from your computer
Unzip a file or folder
Download a file or folder
Navigate File Manager
Set or edit the properties of a file
Copy a file or folder
Move a file or folder
Zip a file or folder
Delete a file or folder
Edit a file that is subscribed to a template

Upload and add a file from your computer

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the Get Files button.
4. Click on My Computer to upload a file from your computer.
5. Navigate to and select the file(s) you wish to upload and click on Open.

top

Unzip a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the title of the .zip file you wish to unzip.
4. Click on Extract .
5. The unzipped file or folder will appear in the File Manager with the same name as the .zip file.

top

Download a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file or folder you wish to download.
4. Click on Download .
5. Select the location to which you wish to download the file or folder and click Save.

top

Navigate the File Manager

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu:

• To view available options for particular files or folders (e.g. Open Folder , Rename , Preview , Delete or Move ), click on the ActionLinks icon next to the title of the relevant folder or file.
• To view files/folders on other pages, click on the Next page icon or Previous page icon at the bottom right corner of the main window. Alternatively, select All or a particular page from the Page drop-down list at the bottom-right corner of the main window, then click on the Go icon .
• To set the number of records per page you can view, click on the Paging Preferences icon at the bottom-right corner of the main window, set your desired number and click OK.
• To sort the files/folders by a particular column, click on the relevant column heading (Title, Type, Last Modified or Size). Click on the arrow that appears to change the order to ascending or descending.
• To filter content by a particular file type (eg Word, image, HTML), click on the drop-down list next to Filter content near the top-right of the window and select the file type, then click on the Go icon .
• To create a new folder, click on the Create Folder button. Type in a title and click OK.
• To create an HTML file, click on the Create File button. For further information on creating files, refer to the Files guides.
• To view and manage private files, click on the My Files button at the top-left of the main window.

top

Set or edit the properties of a file

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file for which you wish to set or edit the properties.
4. Click on Edit Properties .
5. In the Edit Properties window you can set or edit the following information: author, title, description and keywords.
6. When you are finished, click Save.

top

Copy a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the box(es) next to the file(s) or folder(s) you wish to copy.
4. Click on the Copy button at the bottom of the window.
5. In the Browse for Location window, select the location to which you wish to copy the file(s) or folder(s) and click OK.

top

Move a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the box(es) next to the file(s) or folder(s) you wish to move.
4. Click on the Move button at the bottom of the window.
5. In the Browse for Location window, select the location to which you wish to move the file(s) or folder(s) and click OK.

Note: File links within your unit will not break when reorganising and moving files in your Class Files in the File Manager.

top

Zip a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the box(es) next to the file(s) or folder(s) you wish to zip.
4. Click on the Zip button near the bottom of the window.
5. In the Browse for Location window, select the location to which you wish to save the .zip file and click OK.

top

Delete a file or folder

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the box(es) next to the file(s) or folder(s) you wish to delete.
4. Click on the Delete button.
5. Confirm that you wish to delete the files(s) or folders(s) by clicking OK.

top

Edit a file that is subscribed to a template

File Manager files that are subscribed to a template are indicated by the icon: . You cannot edit these files until you 'unsubscribe' them, or break their link back to the template.

Note: Once the link is broken, changes to the template file will not flow through to your unit site. You cannot re-subscribe a file to a template.

1. Click on the Build tab.
2. Click on File Manager in the Designer Tools menu.
3. Click on the box(es) next to the file(s) you wish to unsubscribe (this will enable you to edit the file(s)).

• If you cannot see the file(s) you require in the File Manager, click on Get Files and then click on the Template Manager or Repository icons on the left side of the window that pops up. Click on the headings there until you see your file(s) appear under Title on the right side. Then click on the box(es) next to the file(s) you wish to unsubscribe.

4. Click on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of the window.

• If the file is in HTML you can then edit it from the File Manager. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the file and select Edit . Make your necessary changes and click Save.
• If the file is in a different format, such as Word, PowerPoint, Acrobat Reader, etc., you will have to download the file to your computer (using the steps in Download a file or folder), edit the file and save it onto your computer, then upload the changed file (using the steps in Upload a file from your computer).