Step-By-Step
Adding a File to a Content Area
(Text version)

1. By default, Blackboard contains 4 content areas called Course Information, Course Documents, Assignments and External Links. Content material posted to these 4 areas is accessed by clicking on any of the navigation buttons of the same name on the left side of the Blackboard course site. Instructors or TAs can rename these content areas (and thus the button names) as well as adding new content areas (and buttons) via the Control Panel / Manage Course Menu function.

2. There are a number of different methods to add a file to a content area. Blackboard allows files of any file type to be uploaded and attached to a content area except a .EXE (Executive) file. However, for a student to read an uploaded and attached file, they must have the proper software installed on their computer to read the file. For instance, if the instructor uploads and attaches a Microsoft Word document, the student must have Microsoft Word installed on their computer to read the file. If the instructor uploads and attaches a PDF document, the student must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on their computer to read the file.

3. One method of adding a file to a content area is to "Attach" the file. To attach a file to a content area:

• Log in to the Blackboard site as usual:
• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you would like to add the file. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed.
• Click on the "Add Item" button at the top of the page.This will display the Add Item form.
• You can use the dropdown box to select an item name or you can type in a name for the item to add in the box marked "or specify your own name".
• You can add a description of the item in the box marked "Text".
  
• Under the section marked "Content", click on the "Browse" button. This will display your computer's file locater dialogue box. Using the dropdown box on the top of the file locator, locate the directory and folder that contains the file you want to attach. Click on the name of the file then click on the "Open" button on the file locator. The locator dialogue box will disappear and the path to the file will be located in the box next to the "Browse" button.
• Type a link name into the box marked "Name of Link to File". These are the words the student will click on to see the file. It can be anything like for instance "View File".
• Leave the Special Action dropdown box set to "Create a link to this file".
  
• Under the sections marked "Options", decide if you want the item to be visible to students. Leaving the default "Yes" radio button will make the item visible to students. Selecting the "No" radio button will hide the item from students. You will always be able to see a hidden item in the control panel.
• Leave the "Offline Content" radio button set to "No". - This function does not work in this version of Blackboard.
• If you want to track the number of students that view this file select the "Yes" radio button marked "Do you want to track number of views?".
• Leave the "Add Metadata" radio button set to "No". - This function does not work in this version of Blackboard.
• You can choose a certain date and time for the item to become visible to students and/or a date and time to make the item hidden from students. To make the item visible to students at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display After" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the item to become visible to students. If you want the folder to become hidden at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display Until" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the item to become hidden from students. You will always be able to see a hidden item in the control panel.
  
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the Root level of the content area. The item should now be displayed.
• You can add as many items as you like to the Root level of a content area.
• It is always a good idea to go back to the course site and view any item you have added as a student would view that item (not in the control panel). To return to the course site click on the course site name in the "crumb trail" at the top of the page.

4. You can add any number of attached files to a single item. To attach additional files to a single item (as opposed to adding more items):

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area where you added the original item. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content items or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed.
• Click on the "Modify" button to the right of the item name. This will display the Modify form for that item.
• Note that the name of the attached file is located under section #2. To attach additional files to this item, click on the "Browse" button. This will display your computer's file locater dialogue box. Using the dropdown box on the top of the file locator, locate the directory and folder that contains the file you want to attach. Click on the name of the file then click on the "Open" button on the file locator. The locator dialogue box will disappear and the path to the file will be located in the box next to the "Browse" button.
• Type a link name into the box marked "Name of Link to File". These are the words the student will click on to see the file. It can be anything like for instance "View File".
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the Root level of the content area. The item should now be displayed with the additional links to attached files.
• You can attach as many files to a single item as you like.

4. Students access this attached file by clicking on the proper Content area button and then on the link name.

• If they have the software installed on their computer to read the file, it will open in the Blackboard window.
• Students also have an option to right-click the link name and choose to open in a new window. This will open the file in its own window.
• students also have the option to right-click the link name and choose to save the file to their computer.

5. To replace an attached file with a different file:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area where you added the original item. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content items or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed.
• Click on the "Modify" button to the right of the item name. This will display the Modify form for that item.
• Note that the name of the attached file is located under section #2.
• To Remove the file click on the "Remove" button next to the file name. A warning will be displayed. Click "OK". This will remove the old file.
• To attach the new file to this item, click on the "Browse" button. This will display your computer's file locater dialogue box. Using the dropdown box on the top of the file locator, locate the directory and folder that contains the file you want to attach. Click on the name of the file then click on the "Open" button on the file locator. The locator dialogue box will disappear and the path to the file will be located in the box next to the "Browse" button.
• Type a link name into the box marked "Name of Link to File". These are the words the student will click on to see the file. It can be anything like for instance "View File".
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the Root level of the content area. The item should now be displayed with the link to the new file

6. To remove the attached item completely:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area where you added the original item. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content items or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed.
• Click on the "Remove" button to the right of the item name. A warning will be displayed. Click "OK". The item is now removed completely.

7. A file can also be "Attached" using the built-in WYSIWYG editor. To attach a file using the WYSIWYG editor see Blackboard Step-By-Step - Using the WYSIWYG editor.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu