How do I include files such as PDF, Powerpoint, Word, Excel, etc

From D2L Wiki

NOTE: This is only for text-type files. If you have rich media such as audio or video, please contact us at d2l@uwosh.edu or x2210 to discuss streaming and other methods. Audio and video may not be stored in D2L as the large files are duplicated every semester. On our external servers, they need to exist only once. It is easy to insert links to the files in D2L.

First, consider whether the students need the original file or if it would be better to copy and paste. It is easier and faster for both you and the students to get text that has been copied into D2L. It is longer on both sides to upload and download files. Once you've decided the students do need the original file, here is how to provide it to the students. It involves two primary steps: putting the file in your D2L course and making it available to students. (Please be sure your file follows proper naming conventions for the Web.)

There are two parts to putting files up for students.

Contents 1 Put the file into D2L's Manage Files area 2 Create a QuickLink to the file in a topic

Put the file into D2L's Manage Files area

(If you have already put the file into D2L and just need to change the way it is linked, you can skip this section.)

1. Go to Content.
2. Select Manage Files from the Content Areas links at the left.
   
   
   
   
3. In the upper right, select Upload.
   
   • NOTE: Just like you can use folders to organize items in Novell or on your computer hard drive, you can use folders to organize items in D2L Content. If you have organized your materials into folders, first select the folder you want to put the file in. (You may wish to have it together with related content items, or have a folder specifically for this type of file, etc.)
4. In the popup window, select Browse. Find the file on your hard drive or disk and select it. When you are back to the popup window, select "Upload".
   
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5. Wait for the upload to complete. Small files will take seconds; larger ones may take minutes. The file manager page will refresh and you will see your file listed alphabetically.
6. Look at your file title. If it includes any characters other than letters and numbers, you must change it's name. Special characters (#, -, :, etc.) may make it impossible for your students to access the file. To modify the title of the file click the a-->b (change name)button.
   
   • In the popup window, remove invalid characters. Click OK
7. Return to the "Content" screen by clicking Manage Content in the upper right corner.
   

Create a QuickLink to the file in a topic

1. Go to Content if not already there.
   • To add a link in an existing topic, select Edit.
   • To create a new topic, beside the proper module, add a topic by selecting Add Topic, the first icon. Choose Create New File, the first option.
     
     
2. The Content Editor will appear.
3. Fill in the title, short title, and relevant information for students. You may wish to give details of the assignment, explain what they should do with this file, what type of file it is, whether they need to have special software installed, etc. This information can be copied from Word.
4. Select Advanced tab at the top of the editor.
5. Place the cursor where you want to include the link to the file.
6. Select QuickLink, near the end of the second row of icons at the top of the editor.
7. In the popup window, select the category dropdown menu and choose Course File.
   
8. The window will refresh and you can select Add a File.
9. A list of the files in your course will appear. Find your file and select the radio button in front of it .
10. Choose Select File in the lower right of the popup window.
11. Now back in the first popup window, enter the link caption.
    
    This is the text the students will select to download your file. Be specific and let them know at least a title and the file type. For example
    • Ethics article in PDF
    • Paper #1 assignment (Word)
    • Assignment 5, Excel
    • Sept 22 lecture, PowerPoint
12. Leave the option for where it opens in to the default: Same Frame for ease of use and accessibility. A user who wishes to open it in a new window (or to download it) can do so by right-clicking.
13. Select Insert in the lower right.
14. Your link caption will appear where your cursor was.
15. Include any other text your students need to understand this file, the assignment, etc.
16. When finished, select Save in the lower right.
17. Note that you can include any number of links in one topic, so you could create a topic for all of your handouts, all of your Powerpoints, or whathaveyou.