Can I link directly to a Canvas page or assignment from a message?

[heather_edwards]

Is there any way to send a direct link to a student from a message (Canvas inbox) that will take them directly to a page or assignment? 

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi  @heather_edwards ...

Yes, this should be possible.  When you are on the page or the assignment in your course, just copy the entire URL from your browser's address bar, and then go into your Canvas Inbox to compose your message to your student(s).  Paste in the URL that you copied into the body of the message, and when a student receives the message in his/her Canvas Inbox, the link will be "active" so that he/she can click on it right away and go to the part of your course in question.  I tried this with both a link to a Page an an Assignment in my sandbox course.

I hope this helps.  Please let me know if I misunderstood your question.  Thanks!

[heather_edwards]

UH...that so painfully obvious that now I'm embarrassed I even asked the question! Not sure why that didn't occur to me... thanks!

Heather?

[fschroed]

I was curious about the same thing.  I realize we can add URLs, but I was wanting to add the link like we can in a "Page" by using the Canvas directory.  

[erica_wagner]

Same here. I thought it was odd that the array of options to link etc. aren't visible in the message function the way they are in announcements and so on. I assumed there was a setting or something I could turn on to make the messages on canvas act more like the other features, but I guess it's not possible? Opening a second window to access the assignment directly, then copy pasting the url bar takes more time than a simple drop down menu to link something from the site, but at least it's possible when you need to send something to just one (or a few) students without confusing the rest of the class.

[lynchj12]

In your defense, one cannot tell that the link will be active when composing the message. I had exactly the same question this morning. 🙂

[ecm200]

I was confused too and had the same question as you....the link doesn'tr highlight when you are composing the message, so it's not obvious that the link will be live. But it is! Thanks for asking and to Chris for the answer, I was glad to learn how to do this!

[scottdennis]

Hey Chris,

This was a great answer you gave!  Thanks for being so helpful to your fellow community members, especially in these difficult times.  Please check your direct messages for a small token of our appreciation. 

Thanks again for all that you do and keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Canvas Community Team

[stephanieakratz]

Thanks for explaining this! Is it possible to also link directly to a Canvas page in an Outlook email message? 

Stephanie

[Chris_Hofer]

@stephanieakratz ...

I would think so.  Just copy the URL of the course page into an Outlook message.  But, keep in mind that the Canvas page will only work for students who are in your course...not anyone that is not in your course.  Of course, if you have a Canvas course that is "public", then anyone with the link could access the course content.

Does this help?

[stephanieakratz]

Yes! This worked. Thank you!!