Adjust all assignment and quiz dates on a single page

[harris60]

The Problem:

Managing dates one item at a time is tedious when you are planning an entire semester. This is true for new classes, but also for existing classes since the ability to globally adjust imported dates never works for the way my institution designs new semesters.

I would like a spreadsheet format that shows all date related events on one page. I could then set up all events and synchronize them where necessary. This could be an online form, or the ability to download a csv template and reupload the dates.

I have attached a simplified snapshot of this kind of spreadsheet.

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

Please read through the Ready Release Notes (2020-04-18) 

[James]

 @aaron_bannasch ‌,

Please make sure that you're using the latest version -- the script got so popular that it now has its own document: Adjust All Assignment Dates on One Page‌.

A common error is that people enter the dates incorrectly for the spreadsheet. That was a problem with the first version because I formatted like Canvas format "Jun 23 at 12:50 pm" but Google doesn't recognize that. The new version adds error checking to make sure that's found. That doesn't really sound like the problem you're having, since you said nothing happens, but I would make sure that you're running the latest version first.

The other things that come to mind are: make sure you're using Chrome, that you have a @gmail.com account or at least an account where they don't lock down permissions, and that your school is not running behind some kind of proxy server. That was the problem that the original feature requester ran into -- his University was having people access Canvas through a proxy server (like some libraries use to access online databases). The API calls would work through the browser, because they were going through the proxy, but they wouldn't work from Google Sheets because it didn't know about the altered paths. You can see their information here to see if you're in a similar circumstance: For Canvas at IU, how can I request an API token? 

The particular error you're experiencing might happen if the API was never configured, but (at least with the new version -- the old one is too long ago to remember) it should try to run it before it allows you to load your dates. But you've got to get a success on that configure the API screen before anything else will work and it doesn't sound like you're getting that, which is consistent with running behind a proxy server although there may be other reasons as well. It might also happen if you're not allowed to save things, which is where the part about locked down permissions with your Google account comes from.

[aaron_bannasch]

Thanks,  @James ‌

I saw your other document Adjust All Assignment Dates on One Page where I found the v2 program and tried using a regular Gmail account instead of the Google Apps for Education account and it still didn't work. Then I saw a few people mention that their schools use vanity URLs (something.school.edu instead of school.instructure.com) and figured that might be the problem. Sure enough it was! I don't know why I didn't think of that, especially since when using the live API or doing terminal commands that's the URL structure that works. I guess I just figured I had to use the instructure.com version since that was in the instructions. Anyway, long explanation for something that was attributable to human error on my part. Thank you again for such thorough and quick reply!

[James]

Glad it was something simple and I hope you get some great use out of the script.

[fisher1]

Reposting from Adjust All Assignment Dates on One Page:

James Jones, I would like to thank you for all of the hard work you've done to help make our lives easier in Canvas. You are truly a blessing!

I know that on another discussion thread somewhere else, I asked you about the ability to change section due dates all at once. You told me that it wasn't realistic due to the nature of the script you wrote and the spreadsheet's functions.

Recently, our school just started subscribing (fairly cheap too!) to the EduApp called Adjust-All HQ - by Etudes. This external tool has just added the ability to adjust section due dates all at once. I am not a rep for Etudes, but I just wanted to let others know what I found as a solution. Below is a screenshot I took as a sample when I was playing around with it.

[bakerjudy]

Consider using Adjust-All HQ available from Etudes, Inc.  For details, visit Adjust-All HQ - Etudes 

[christy1]

I spend most of my time each semester adjusting dates for the seven plus different courses I teach.

Would be great to be able to 1) Select All in the Calendar 2) slide up or down or manually enter in a move forward or move back command for everything in the whole course. OR be able to select just quizzes OR be able to enter in a holiday for everything to adjust accordingly.

This is my number one issue.

[kstelling2]

Similar, but a little bit different, I teach the same course 3 times in a semester, One MW, one TR.  Each starts at a different time.  It would be great to be able to change the time items are due, as well as the date once I have my shell cleaned up for the semester for one class.

[kona]

Make sure and check out this tool that should make your life easier! https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-8585-adjust-all-assignment-dates-on-one-page?sr=search&sear...‌

It includes times as well as days. 

[jannah_bismilla]

https://community.canvaslms.com/community/answers/partners-platform/tutorcom?sr=search&searchId=5dcc...‌ 

[shantel_black]

Also, changing details of assignments (due dates, submission types, attachments, etc) all at once rather than having to go into each assignment to change it, if you have to change several at once. Also, when creating assignments it would be nice to create several assignments at the same time not one at a time where you have to save, then go back to assignments and hit add, etc. It is very time consuming to do one at a time when you are creating a course or if you get behind on your schedule and have to change all the due dates or something like that.