Attachment in Canvas messages

[anne_marenco]

The scenario:

1. a student messages me from the Canvas Inbox
2. I get the message in my campus email
3. I reply to say "send me a file"
4. the student replies and attaches the file
5. I never get it
6. I tell the student to email me form his/her email program, not form canvas and not a reply to the message
7. I get the attachment

The same thing works when I try to send a file to a student.

Why?  And can this be fixed?  Actually I only care about can this be fixed?

Thanks.

Anne

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hello  @anne_marenco ...

As I read through your steps, the first thing that came to mind was an existing Feature Idea here in the Community that was submitted by one of our instructors where I work: https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/4746-attachments-to-inbox-from-external-email" modifiedtitle="....  Does Tammy's Feature Idea match your experience?  If so, I would encourage you to add your vote and consider posting a comment to her posting letting Instructure know why something like this would be important for you to have as a Canvas feature.

I know this might not be the exact answer you were looking for, but I hope it has helped to answer your question in some way.  Be well, and stay safe!

[mwadmin]

I think this is a browser issue.  I am seeing a similar message when the sender uses Edge.

[gnoack]

Hi @mwadmin 

Users have to be using the Inbox Tool in Canvas to send attachments.  You could call it a known issue, but it's really how the tool is designed, as it's not an email you receive in your college email, but a notification of a message.   You can reply to the notification email and it is sent back to the message in Canvas, but attachments won't be included.