[ARCHIVED] Transferring multiple files to the Modules page

[mark-f]

Something has occurred twice in the last week that is a bit vexing and time consuming for sure. I have uploaded a number of files to a particular folder that I created in Files. All of such files are numbered. I'll provide the example of the most recent case. I uploaded 20 short audio files labeled as follows: Track 1, Track 2, Track 3,...Track 20. When I upload the 20 tracks to Files (in the particular folder I've created), the tracks are nicely ordered--1 through 20--the exact manner in which they were uploaded. However, when I move them over to the Module so students can listen to them, for some reason they appear in an almost random order. As this has now happened twice in the last week, I realized that there must either be a step I am missing in the transfer (although I have no idea what it would be) or there is a glitch. As you can tell, I am leaning toward the glitch explanation. Suffice it to say, it is a royal hassle to move each individual file into the correct order on the Modules page.

Any advice or should I take this issue elsewhere?

[Chris_Hofer]

Good evening, @mark-f ...

When you say you move files over to the module, are you following the steps outlined in this Guide to display each individual audio file as a separate item within your module?  How do I add course content as module items? - Canvas Community  When you add files to a given module...as individual module items, they should always stay in the order that you set.  I do not believe they should ever move or re-order on their own.  So, it sounds strange to me that you would be experiencing something like that.

Another option for you to consider...would you be open to creating a single page within your course and then creating links to each audio file on that one page?  That way, you have a central place where students can always go to access those audio files.

And, one more suggestion for you...  rather than uploading your audio files to a folder within your course "Files", have you considered adding audio to a content page in your course using these directions:

• How do I upload an audio file using the Rich Conte... - Canvas Community (Rich Content Editor)
• How do I upload and embed a media file from my com... - Canvas Community (New Rich Content Editor)

I hope these resources will be of help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions about this...thanks!  Take care, stay safe, and be well.

[mark-f]

I like to keep a mirror of the Modules page in the Files page. For example, let's say I create a folder called 'Halloween' in the Files section of a classroom. I will usually make a Module labeled 'Halloween' to correspond with it. My method of upload is really quite simple. If I upload the files (in this case audio files, but in other cases PDFs and JPGs) from my computer that are numbered--in this case Tracks 1 through 20--to the Files/Halloween folder, they remain in the correct order (simply highlight all and open). However, when I go to the Halloween Module and transfer them from the correctly ordered files which are sitting in the Halloween folder under Files in the same classroom (using + Files/Halloween and again by highlighting all of the files to be transferred), they are not ordered correctly. (I should have said that it had not mattered what the type of files were uploaded because it has happened for three different types now: PDF, JPG and most recently (today), MP4.

It would be great to have someone else try this out and see if they encounter the same problem. I suppose that is might be possible to upload all of the files to the Module first and then place them in the correct folder within Files, but this runs counterintuitively to my brain. I guess I can do this, but I'd rather find out why it happens.

[mark-f]

I decided to try again and take pictures of each step. I believe that I'm following an expected procedure, but as you can see, the final outcome on the Modules' page is a relatively random order.

-Mark

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello @mark-f ...

Thank you for the clarification and the additional screen shots.  Although I'm not sure I really have an answer, this does help.  I also wasn't aware that you could select multiple items when building your module, and they would all be added to the module.  I was always under the impression that you had to add items to a module one by one.  I learned something new today.  I did try adding multiple image files all at one time that had a similar file name (the file names included a date and time stamp).  Four of the six files I uploaded were from the same date, but each had a different time in the file name.  Once I added them to a module, one of the four images wasn't in the order that I expected compared to how it was listed in my "Files" page.  So, I *think* I've replicated a similar issue that you are seeing.  I know it's maybe not ideal, but have you tried adding each file one-by-one?  It would take you more clicks of the mouse, but then at least you'd have the order that you wanted.  Otherwise, you'll have to move the files manually.

What were your thoughts about the alternative ways to make your recordings available to your students that I offered?  Would any of those options work for your needs in getting the same information to your students?  With the option I gave for using the audio embed tool, I forgot to mention that I think your audio files would be uploaded to the Canvas media server rather than in your course "Files" ... therefore freeing up some space in your course "Files" to store other files later on.  It doesn't look like your MP3 files are that large, so this probably isn't an issue, but just thought I'd throw that out there for you.

You also might want to consider contacting Canvas Support about this.  I'm not sure if it would be considered a bug or not, but at least you could get the issue logged with them so that they can investigate further.  How do I get help with Canvas as an instructor? - Canvas Community

Take care...