Shared Commons (Update file creates new files instead of overwriting)

[JimmyW]

Hi

I have used Blueprints before and the default behavior is when I upload a new version of file it overwrites the file with the same filename, I then sync the courses that needs the file and the file is overwritten in the courses with the updated version.

But when using a module from a Shared Commons this is not the behavior, instead it actually creates new files in the course root files folder each time you update the Shared Commons modules.

So each time I updated a Shared Commons to a course it will generate new files in the course files root folder. I excepted it to behave like the blueprint sync where it overwrites the files with the same file name instead of adding copy's each time.

Image below shows what the Shared Commons module contains.

Files in the Shared Commons module

Image below shows a course root files after the Shared Commons module have been updated.

Instead of overwriting the files it adds a copy with the added numbers -1, next time i update a file in teh Shared Commons modules the course will get a file named -2 and so on.

Image shows second time I updated the Shared Commons module. Displays the root files in a course that uses the Shared Commons module. Now displaying -2 in file names and keeping files -1 and original file.

[kmeeusen · Accepted solution]

Hi @JimmyW 

Yes, this is exactly the expected behavior of these two different programs. Do you have a question for this forum, or are you suggesting that the behavior of both programs should be the same; or more specifically, that Canvas Commons behave like BluePrints when updating content to a Canvas course?

If that is what you are asking for, then you should copy this post over as a new Idea Conversation in this Canvas Community.

• How do idea conversations work in the Canvas Community?
• How do I create a new idea conversation in the Canvas Community?

Good luck,

Kelley

[JimmyW]

Thank you for answering @kmeeusen 

I will copy this over to Ides, I did not know this was the default behavior as I feel it's odd to create new files on each update. Courses using Shared Commons will end up with a lot of files not needed in the files directory making the user experience bad in the end. I also believe that the data consistency will be an issue here if you want all courses to have the same files if using the same Shared Commons.