The Document Unpackager allows you to upload a zip (compressed) file containing multiple folders and files to Blackboard. The zip file is then unpackaged (opened) and used to create course content items with the files attached. The directory structure within the zip file is translated into folders within Blackboard. The advantage to using this is that you don't have to go through the steps of uploading multiple items into Blackboard from your computer.
How do I create a zip file to upload? (Instructions for Windows users)
- Go to the folder on your computer where the folders/files are located
- Click on the folders/files you wish to add to your zip file (NOTE: to highlight multiple documents you will need to hold down the "Ctrl" button while clicking on them OR you could first put all of the folders/files into a new folder)
- 'ext, right click with your mouse on one of the highlighted folder/file name(s) and then choose "Send to a "Compressed (zipped) folder".
- A new zip folder will be created containing all of the files/folders that you selected.
- This zip folder can be uploaded to Blackboard as a package (see instructions below) that will be automatically opened up for you and will retain the folder/file structure from your zip folder.
How does it work?
- Go to your course control panel in Blackboard
- Click on the content area where you'd like to add the items (for example, Course Documents)
- Click on the drop-down menu on the upper right side of the screen (where it says "Learning Unit")
- Select "Document Package" and then click the "Go" button
- Select the relevant availability dates for the items (this can be changed later on if different items need to have different availability dates)
- Click on the browse button to locate the zip file that you created
- Click on the filename then click "open"
- Click "submit" at the bottom of the screen
How can I change the titles of the items?
By default, Blackboard will put the file name as the title for each of your items. If you want to change them, simply click on the "modify" button next to each item then change the item name and click submit. Clicking on "modify" will also allow you to select different availability dates for the items that you uploaded.
You can also choose to move any of the items into different folders or content areas within your course by clicking on the "copy" button next to the item.
