Step-By-Step
Adding Multiple Interconnected Files
(Text version)

1. Blackboard allows instructors and TAs to upload multiple interconnected files, in zip file format, to their Blackboard course site. This is usually required when posting a series of interconnected web pages or a PowerPoint presentation that has been "packaged" for the web.

2. The series of interconnected web pages must use relative URLs instead of fixed URLs for internal links. Fixed links include the server's domain name as part of the link. For example, the HTML code for a fixed link might look like this:

<A HREF="http://domain.name.com/docs/intro/special.html">Click here</A>

While a relative link might look like this:

<A HREF="docs/intro/special.html">Click here</A>

3. All of the interconnected files must be placed in a single directory (or folder). The main directory can have sub-directories with files inside them, of course, but all the files and sub-directories need to be under one directory to facilitate the compression process.

4. You must also determine the content's entry point. The entry point is usually named something like index.html or default.htm It is the initial file that you want the students to view and carries the relative URLs to the other files. With packaged PowerPoint presentations, it is the main presentation html file. Before uploading, you will need to make sure you know the name of the HTML file that will be the site's entry point.

5. Once all of the files are located in a single directory (or folder) check to see if all of the relative URLs work within that directory's structure. Once you know it all works you can then compress all of the file (and sub-folders if there are any) using either the ZIP format.The zip format is standard on all Microsoft Windows computers and can also be used on Apple Macintosh computers.

6. The procedure for creating the zip files will vary slightly depending upon the compression utility that you choose. WinZip (for Windows users) and StuffIt (for Macintosh users) are popular, but there are other freeware and shareware programs available as well. Refer to the documentation for your compression utility to learn how to operate that particular program. Whichever program you choose, make sure that:

• the compression tool retains the directory structure
• the compression tool saves to the .zip format

7. This process is very simple for WinZip users. When WinZip is installed, it adds commands to the context-sensitive menus (the menus that pop-up when you right-click on something). If you are using WinZip, follow these steps to create the zip archive that contains your Web site:

• Step 1: Right-click on the folder containing your interconnected files.
• Step 2: Select "Add to filename.zip" where filename is the name of the folder.

8. You can add this zip file to a content area or folder by:

• 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 zip 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. If you want to place the zip file in a folder, click on the folder name, This will display the Folder Level of the folder.
• Click on the "Add Item" button at the top of the page.This will display the Add Item form.
• Use the dropdown box or type in a name for the interconnected files in the box marked "Or specify your own name".
• You can add a description of the item in the box marked "Text".
  
• Under section #2, 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 zip file you want to add. 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 zip 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 initial file. It can be anything like for instance "View File".
• Use the "Special Actions" dropdown box and select "Unpackage 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 "File Options" page will be displayed. This may take some time depending on the size of your zip file. In the dropdown box marked "Entry Point" select the entry point file. It is the initial file that you want the students to view and carries the relative URLs to the other files. 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 or the Folder Level of the folder. The link to the interconnected files should now be displayed.
• 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.

3. Students view this these files by clicking on the proper Content area button. The link will be displayed. If you put the zip file in a folder, the student first clicks on the content area button and then the folder name.

4. To remove a this item completely:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you placed the zip 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. If you placed the zip file in a folder, click on the folder name, This will display the Folder Level of the folder.
• 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.

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