How Do We Edit Assignment Dates Column by Column, One Column at a Time?

[arthur_maturo_2]

So the batch edit allows us guess which dates in the future we want for the "available from" and "available until" date. However, there are often assignments added during the course. When I import the course, the dates don't match, so using the BATCH doesn't work. Moreover, EMPTY dates will not work with the BATCH option. I find the current system extremely difficult, unnecessarily time consuming, and mostly useless. What we need is a system that allows to adjust COLUMNS at once, and this needs to apply to empty dates as well.

HOW can we BOTH "set" and "edit" old dates and empty dates COLUMN BY COLUMN. i.e., if we want to edit ONLY the "available from" dates on every assignment all at once, how can we do that, aside from copy and pasting a date and laboriously going assignment by assignment? Also, if we want to edit ONLY the "available until" dates on every assignment all at once, how can we do that, aside from copy and pasting a date and laboriously going assignment by assignment? 

[Gabriel33 · Accepted solution]

James' spreadsheet created before the batch edit assignments page existed within Canvas is still the better option to update dates.

You can see all the assignments and their dates within a Google Sheets spreadsheet, and so you can paste a value on all dates if you want, use date formulas (e.g., available until = available from + 7 days), and more.

Adjust All Assignment Dates on One Page

[Gabriel33 · Accepted solution]

James' spreadsheet created before the batch edit assignments page existed within Canvas is still the better option to update dates.

You can see all the assignments and their dates within a Google Sheets spreadsheet, and so you can paste a value on all dates if you want, use date formulas (e.g., available until = available from + 7 days), and more.

Adjust All Assignment Dates on One Page

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @arthur_maturo_2 ...

In addition to the information that you received from @Gabriel33, I wanted to also share with you something that your school may or may not have.  You may have heard of a product from Cidi Labs called DesignPLUS (a paid third-party add on).  Part of this software package includes something called the "Multi-Tool".  In it, you can configure assignment due dates and availability dates with a bit more detail than the standard batch due date screen you are used to using within the normal Canvas interface.  You can find a video about the "Multi -Tool" at this location:

DesignPLUS for Canvas | Cidi Labs

Check out the row for "The Multi-Tool", and start watching at around the 4 minute 40 second mark.  This will give you a quick idea on what the due date modifier can do.

There much more to the Multi-Tool and DesignPLUS in general, so I'd suggest having a conversation with your school's Canvas admin to see if purchasing was an option now or down the road.  The information @Gabriel33 provided to you with a link to James' script is a good alternative if you aren't wanting to use Canvas' built-in bulk date editor.

I hope this will be helpful to you in some way.