How do I make files visible to students?

[margaret_cheney]

In my own menu "Files" is greyed out.  The files I've uploaded have a green icon saying that they're published, but my students can't see them.  

   What I've been able to find in the documentation says that by default, files are supposed to be visible to everyone in the course.  I don't seem to have any menu items that allow me to modify access.  Any advice?  

[kona · Accepted solution]

In general I'd recommend adding the files to your course Modules page instead of making Files visible - How do I add assignment types, pages, and files as module items? 

Yet, to get the Files link to become visible to students you would need to add it to the navigation menu via your course settings. The following directions describe how to do this - https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2555 

Hope this helps!

[kona · Accepted solution]

In general I'd recommend adding the files to your course Modules page instead of making Files visible - How do I add assignment types, pages, and files as module items? 

Yet, to get the Files link to become visible to students you would need to add it to the navigation menu via your course settings. The following directions describe how to do this - https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2555 

Hope this helps!

[margaret_cheney]

Thanks!  I created a module, added the file (from Files) to it, and checked the student view;  the module apparently isn't visible to students either, in spite of the fact that it appears "enabled" in Settings -> Navigation.  

   In Settings -> Navigation, I've tried many times to "enable" Files.  That causes Files to temporarily appear "enabled", but when I navigate away and come back to Settings -> Navigation, Files is always back to being "disabled".  

   Any ideas?  

[kona]

In your Modules make sure the module has a GREEN cloud icon and not a gray cloud icon. If it's gray then it means it's not published. See this guide for information on this - https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2822 Once you have published content in your Modules it should become visible to students.

As for why Files won't stick, that is super strange. I wonder if your College has something in place to prevent you from making it visible.

[margaret_cheney]

Yes, that module does have a green cloud icon.  I'll ask my students tomorrow if they can see it.  Also, I'm trying posting the link to the actual file; I wonder whether they'll be able to get to it that way?  If none of these ideas work, I think I'll just give up and post this stuff on my home page.  

[kona]

Make sure the Module and the File (on Modules) have green clouds. If your students still can't access the content I would recommend contacting someone at your College for assistance/support; this is the global Canvas Community.

I did a quick check and found the following resource - Instructor Support - Canvas Information and Resources - Colorado State University. This explains the different ways you can get Canvas Support/Help directly from your Institution. This is the Canvas Guides area (#1 from that page), so I'd recommend trying one of the different options. Hope someone there can help!

[scottdennis]

Hello Margaret,

I took a peek in your course and found that the Modules navigation link was enabled and that the homework PDF file in the module was published but the module itself was not published.  Because there weren't any published modules, when in Student View, the Modules navigation link was not visible.  I took the liberty of publishing the module (by clicking on the little cloud icon to make it go from gray to green) and then verified that the Modules link and the module (and file) are now visible in student view.

Hope that helps!  Thanks.

[MelissaMiller1 · Accepted solution]

Hello all. This is an old thread, but I found it because I was having the same problem. That is, I uploaded a file to Files, but this did not automatically make Files visible to students. Through some trial and error, I discovered that there must be some minimum file size in order to trigger this function and make Files visible to students. So if anyone else is having this problem, just keep adding more files. Once you reach the minimum, Files will automatically become green, not greyed out, and will be visible to students.

[NoraIsacoff]

THANK YOU MelissaMiller1. This solution worked for me!