Canvas course exported as .zip instead of .imscc - cannot import into a new course

[Odelle]

A fellow teacher exported their Canvas course to share with me, but it exported as a .zip file. When I try to import this into my course, I get the following error: "Unsupported content package"

I have tried changing the file extension to an .imscc but it did not work, as I get this error: "Error identifying package type: unknown mime type unknown/unknown for archive attachment_697596920250510-120884-psu3mp.imscc"

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @Odelle ...

Thanks for the additional information.  This is interesting.  I just tried exporting two different courses that I have access to, and both of them produced *.imscc files (not *.zip) files.  One *.imscc file was almost 200 MB in file size, the other was only about 17 MB in file size.

Also, when I look at How do I export a Canvas course?, the second paragraph in the light blue box at the top of the page says, "Exports are packaged as IMSCC ZIP files, which can only be opened by programs that support Common Cartridge files. You can also change the extension from .imscc to .zip and treat it as any other ZIP file."  From my own interpretation, that last sentence implies that the file produced from the export is *.imscc, but that instructors and admins can change the file extension to *.zip (not the other way around).

Have you or your colleague tried exporting other courses using this same process?  Are they also creating *.zip files?  Or, are *.imscc files being generated for these other courses?

Ultimately, this might be a question you need to contact Canvas Support about so that they can look into the issue for you in more detail.  If you do choose this route, please come back to this thread to provide an update so that we can learn more and know if were able to find a solution.

Thanks.  Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello @Odelle ...

Just for clarification, when your colleague exported his/her course, did he/she follow the steps outlined in this Guide?

How do I export a Canvas course?

And, after your colleague sent you the exported file, did you follow these steps to import the file into your own course?

How do I import a Canvas course export package?

I should also ask...are you working in your school's paid Canvas environment?  Or, are you working within the Free For Teachers environment ... which has a maximum course storage limit of 500 MB (which cannot be modified)?  If you are in a paid Canvas environment, your URL would look something like this:

Paid environment -- https://SchoolName.instructure.com where SchoolName is the name of your school

Free For Teacher -- https://canvas.instructure.com

Please keep us posted...thanks!

[Odelle]

Yes, we both followed the applicable steps - we've done this successfully in the past, but the course was always exported as an .imscc file. This is the first time either of us has seen the .zip file export.

We are in our university's paid environment. 

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @Odelle ...

Thanks for the additional information.  This is interesting.  I just tried exporting two different courses that I have access to, and both of them produced *.imscc files (not *.zip) files.  One *.imscc file was almost 200 MB in file size, the other was only about 17 MB in file size.

Also, when I look at How do I export a Canvas course?, the second paragraph in the light blue box at the top of the page says, "Exports are packaged as IMSCC ZIP files, which can only be opened by programs that support Common Cartridge files. You can also change the extension from .imscc to .zip and treat it as any other ZIP file."  From my own interpretation, that last sentence implies that the file produced from the export is *.imscc, but that instructors and admins can change the file extension to *.zip (not the other way around).

Have you or your colleague tried exporting other courses using this same process?  Are they also creating *.zip files?  Or, are *.imscc files being generated for these other courses?

Ultimately, this might be a question you need to contact Canvas Support about so that they can look into the issue for you in more detail.  If you do choose this route, please come back to this thread to provide an update so that we can learn more and know if were able to find a solution.

Thanks.  Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @Odelle,

While I know you told @Chris_Hofer that you have used the export and import process (both in the past without problems but also now), without seeing what your colleague has done and shared with you, it seems that the How do I view course content offline as an HTML file as an instructor? - Instructure Community - 737... process was used instead (this is something I have had faculty at my institution incorrectly do).

The process that I linked to above provides a downloadable ZIP file with and HTML folder structure inside of it.

Does this seem to be the case?

-Doug