Importing a Package to a Course

Computing Center

Import Package

Instructors may use the Import Package page to upload course materials from another course. For example, if they have exported a course they may import the whole course package, or selected parts of the course through Import Package. Note: Never upload an Exported Course package that has been modified since it was created and downloaded. Opening the ZIP file and changing any of the files in the Exported Course package will result in unstable and unpredictable behavior when the course is imported.

Locate the Course site you wish to import the package to, and click Import Package under Course Options in the Control Panel.

Click Browse to locate the packaged content (zip file) on your computer.

Select the Course Materials you wish to import.* If you would like to import items (i.e. Assessments, Trackable Assignments) that were created in Blackboard, you MUST select the following items: Content, Announcements, Gradebook, and Tests, Surveys, and Pools. Once you have selected your items, click the submit button.

*The information below details what happens to each selectable option when the import is performed.

Course Material

Behavior when copied

Content
Imports course materials, including the following, from the package:
• Uploaded files
• Learning Units
• Links
• Course Information
• Course Documents
• Assignments
• External Links
If you would like to import items (i.e. Assessments, Assignments) that were created in Blackboard, you MUST select this option.

Announcements

All Announcements are imported. If Assessment links appear in Course areas, then this option must be selected, or the link to the Assessment will be broken.

Tests, Surveys, and Pools

All Assessments and Surveys, including questions and options for deploying them are imported. All Pools are imported to the new course. If you would like to import items (i.e. Assessments, Assignments) that were created in Blackboard, you MUST select this option.

Calendar

All Calendar items are imported to the new course.

Course Settings

Certain settings are imported to the course. These include the following:
• Course Name
• Course Description
• Course Entry Point
• Course Design
• Course Banner
• Tools settings that do not exist are added. Existing settings are not overwritten.

The following settings are not imported as part of this operation:
• Course ID
• Course Availability
• Guest Access
• Observer Access
• Course Duration
• Enrollment Options

Discussion Board

Discussion Board forums, including the initial message in the Discussion Board, are imported.

Gradebook Items and Settings

Items in the Gradebook, and their settings, such as type, categories, and display options, are imported. If you would like to import items (i.e. Assessments, Assignments) that were created in Blackboard, you MUST select this option.

Group Settings

Settings include the names of the Groups, the settings for tool availability, and the Discussion Board forum names.

Staff Information All Staff Information is imported.

Resolving the Course Menu items

When importing a package, the Course Menu must resolve itself in the destination course.

If...	then...
a Course area in the package does not exist in the destination course	the area will be added to the Course Menu in the destination course.
the Course area in the package and the Course area in the destination course have the same name and are of the same type (for example, External Links, Staff Information, or content)	the content from the package will be added, but will not replace, the content in the area within the destination course.
the Course area in the package and the Course area in the destination course have the same name but are of different types	the Course area from the package will be added to the destination course under a different name. The new name will append an incremental numeral to the name (for example, Course Materials will become Course Materialsi).

Course Links

Links to parts of a course that are not included in the export package will break when the links appear in the destination course. For example, if there is a link to a Test in a course area and Tests, Surveys and Pools are not exported, the link to the Test will break.