Step-By-Step
Displaying Images, Movies, Audio and Flash Files
(Text version)

1. Blackboard allows instructors and TAs to add media content to their course site in a number of different methods.

• Images, movies, audio and flash files can be "attached" to a Blackboard page. In this case the student will click on a link and the media file will be downloaded and then opened in Blackboard. To "attach" a media file see: Blackboard Step-By-Step - Adding a File to a Content Area or Adding a File to a Folder.
• Images, movies, audio and flash files can be displayed "inline". That is, instead of the students clicking on a link which opens the file, the image, movie, audio or Flash presentation is automatically displayed on the Blackboard page.

2. "Inline" media files can be image files (JPG, GIF or PNG), video files (MPEG, AVI, MOV), audio files (MP3, WAV) or Flash files (SWF).

3. To display a media file "inline":

• 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 display the media 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 "inline" media 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.
• 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 media file you want to display "inline". 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.
• Use the "Special Action" dropdown box and select "Display Media File Within the Page". DO NOT add a link name.
  
• 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 new window called "File Options" will open. This may take some time depending on the size of the file you are uploading.
• The "File Options" window will contain a number of settings, depending on the type of media file you selected. Generally, choose not to start the playing of the file automatically. Fill in the width and height setting if you know them. If you don't know the original settings try 320 x 240. Choose to include a control panel if given the option. Choose not to loop if given the option.
• When you are finished setting the media options click on "Submit" at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been updated. Click "OK" to return to the Folder Level or the Root Level. The media file will 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.

4. Students view this "inline" file by clicking on the proper Content area button. The "inline" media file will be displayed. If you put the "inline" file in a folder, the students first click on the content area button and then the folder name.

5. To remove the "inline" media item completely:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you displayed the media 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 "inline" media 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.

7. A file can also be displayed "inline" using the built-in WYSIWYG editor. To display a media file "inline" 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