Importing content - using copy function

[AndrewB1]

if I copy a Canvas course using the import tool as shown in image, will it overwrite the existing course or will it save as a new (second) version of the current one? Just a bit unclear and nervous about the warning message shown in the image - I don't want to lose the original.

[gnoack · Accepted solution]

I've had different experiences.  The instructor guide states it will override existing content, which I take to mean it will replace existing content. ."If you import content into a new course, edit the content in the new course, and later import the previous content again, the imported content will override the existing content."

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-copy-a-Canvas-course-into-a-new-course-...

I've also done this accidentally and imported duplicates of every activity and resource. 

If you already have content in an existing course, it would be best to either import with the option to select specific content. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-select-specific-content-as-part-of-a-co...

Or, you could copy items individually to the new course.  This guide will show how to copy a page.  It works similarly for other content, including entire modules. https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-copy-a-page-to-another-course/ta-p/1085

[gnoack · Accepted solution]

I've had different experiences.  The instructor guide states it will override existing content, which I take to mean it will replace existing content. ."If you import content into a new course, edit the content in the new course, and later import the previous content again, the imported content will override the existing content."

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-copy-a-Canvas-course-into-a-new-course-...

I've also done this accidentally and imported duplicates of every activity and resource. 

If you already have content in an existing course, it would be best to either import with the option to select specific content. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-select-specific-content-as-part-of-a-co...

Or, you could copy items individually to the new course.  This guide will show how to copy a page.  It works similarly for other content, including entire modules. https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-copy-a-page-to-another-course/ta-p/1085

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@AndrewB1 ...

In addition to the information that you got from @gnoack, another thing that you can do is try out the course import process in your school's "test" environment.  (This way, you can see exactly what happens when importing content ... if it overwrites, replaces, adds to, etc.).  This "test" environment is completely separate from your school's "production" environment ... which is the environment that you typically sign into on a day to day basis.  Testing all this out in your "test" environment will not disturb anything that you've done in your "production" environment ... as this environment is meant for you to do any kind of testing you want before doing things in "production".  I always tell people to make sure you sign out of "test" before returning to "production" ... so as to not get confused about which environment you are in.  Here are some Guides for you on the "test" environment:

• What is the Canvas test environment?
• What is the Canvas release schedule for beta, production, and test environments?
• How do I access the Canvas test environment as an instructor?
• How do I log out of Canvas as an instructor?

Hopefully these Guides will be of help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions.