File Path in Search

[auroraellen]

When using the search field in Files, it doesn't seem that the file location or path is viewable. Am I missing something or does this feature not exist?

We use Canvas as an internal website / file sharing platform rather than as a class, so we have a lot of files and it would be helpful to know where they are based on the search function.

Thanks for any assistance!

[abunag · Accepted solution]

Hello Aurora,

The feature doesn't exist.

[Stef_retired]

 @auroraellen ​, your idea, or something very similar to it, was proposed as a feature idea in an earlier voting period but was archived because it received an anemic response from the Community:    However, because users' priorities change over time, feature ideas can always be resubmitted for reconsideration in a new voting period. So, if this is functionality that would be valuable to you, please consider resubmitting it to the Canvas Feature Ideas space after reading How do I create a new feature idea?​

[christopher_phi]

Thanks for that heads up stefaniesanders‌, I would love to see this feature and have resubmitted it: 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/11117-when-searching-files-show-file-path-breadcrumb 

[SimonssonMagnus]

I agree this is a problem, if the feature still doesn't exist. It seems basic. However, I wonder if it is something to do with the fact that it is possible to move files between folders without ruining any links to the files from pages etc. This is a strength that I think is more important than the weakness of not being able to see the "pathway" to the file when doing a file search.  

[Ron_Bowman]

@SimonssonMagnus -

Not sure if you are interested (I don't know the cost either), but here is a post regarding tidy-up which probably does what you are interested in doing.

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Instructional-Designer/Tool-to-Identify-and-Delete-Unused-...

So if they wrote a program that can be added in to the functionality of Canvas to do this, then there is a way for people to write their own javascript to do what is being asked (we should not have to do it, but this is a problem waiting for a solution).

[Ron_Bowman]

@SimonssonMagnus 

I found the following:

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Developers-Group/Adjust-All-Assignments-Files/ba-p/254678

which may be of use.  The most recent verison link is at the bottom of the discussion, but you may have to read how to use it in the earlier parts or in James discussion

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi there @SimonssonMagnus ...

@Ron_Bowman is correct about TidyUP.  Here is a sample from my own sandbox course:

As you can see, after I run the TidyUP tool in my course, it will display a list of all the files in my course.  This particular JPG image, "Hydrangeas.Jpg" is located in course "Files" within the "Sample Pictures" folder.  If this file was buried in additional folders...several levels deep, it might look like this:

Path: Course Files / Sample Pictures / Plants / Flowers

I also recently learned that, although it is a search tool which includes searching for files, the Atomic Search LTI external tool does not currently show you the path to a file in your course "Files".