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{{Working with files and folders}}
{{Managing content}}
<p class="note">'''Please refer to [[Talk:Working_with_files_and_folders|page comments]] before editing this page.'''</p>
*Moodle provides an easy way for a teacher to present materials to their students. These materials may take the form of files such as word-processed documents or slideshow presentations. The materials can be displayed on the page either as individual items or bundled together inside folders. One teacher might for instance wish to share a single research document in pdf format; another might have a folder of sample past examination papers for students to download.
*Most types of files can be uploaded and accessed through Moodle but the student needs to have the correct software to be able to open them.


For the user who wants to add or find files, the file picker will be the tool they will use.  The file picker comes up within a context (any time you want to work with any kind of file).
==Adding files==
*To add files or folders, a teacher needs to have the editing turned on in their course and then select either [[File]] or [[Folder]] from the activity chooser (or "Add a resource" drop down menu).


==Accessing the File Picker==
{|
From Moodle 2.0 onwards, access to the File Picker can be found in many places. For example in the the Add A Resource menu most options will use it, the [[HTML editor]] (add a picture or a link), or by updating any existing file.
| [[File:filefolder23.png|thumb|Selecting a file or folder in the activity chooser]]
| [[File:Workingwithfiles.png|thumb|The "Add a resource" drop down menu]]
|}


==Orientation within the File Picker==
*The screen for uploading and displaying a file (or folder of files) includes an "add" button. Clicking on this button takes you to the [[File picker]] which is the name given to the file storage and access area within Moodle. Find out more about the places you can upload or add files from in the [[File picker]] page.
*There is also a block (with an arrow) into which you can drag and drop a file straight from your desktop into Moodle.(Note that this  currently doesn't work with Internet Explorer.)


On YouTube, an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3DeIrip8Co|short animated tour of the File Picker].
{|
| [[File:newdraganddrop.png|thumb|Area for dragging and dropping files into]]
|}


In the image below, we have selected the Server Files repository at demo.moodle.org and the English Moodle Features Demo course. Because we have logged in as the teacher, this displays the file structure for the context of the course.
==Viewing uploaded files==


[[File:File picker demo moodle server files.png|thumb|center|300px|Moodle Feature Demo's Server files]]
* Once uploaded, files appear as thumbnails in the file manager for easy recognition.
The major parts shown are:
* Files view can be easily toggled between icons view or a table view with sizes and dates, or a hierarchical list view.
# The repository column
# The file picker column
# Upload a file repository link - for this [[Context]]
# [[Server files]] - those files you have permission to access
#[[Working with files and folders#Folder structure and paths|Folders]] in System/English/Moodle Features Demo - these contain files
# [[Repositories]] - for example, Dropbox, Google, Flickr, Wikimedia


==Uploading a file==
{|
| [[File:truthumbnailsiconsview.png|thumb|File picker icon view]]
| [[File:tableview.png|thumb|File picker table view]]
| [[File:hierarchicallistview.png|thumb|File picker hierarchical list view]]
|}


The following instructions explain how to upload and display a single file in a section of your area's front page.
==Editing or updating uploaded files==


#Go to the course area where you want the file to be available and Turn Editing On.
*Clicking on the name of an uploaded file opens up a pop up dialogue box which allows file details quickly to be altered.
#Go to the relevant section on its front page
#Select the Add A Resource menu
#Select File; this loads the Adding A New File To... screen
#Give your file a brief, meaningful name (displays as the text of the link) and a brief description (displays in the index of resources)
#Select the Add button; this loads the File Picker
#From the left column, select Upload A File
#Select the Browse Button; this loads your computer's file management system, allowing you to select the file you need.
#Select the file you need; this returns you to the File Picker.
#Change the remaining settings as appropriate:
##If you want to change the name of the file, enter the new name in the Save As field
##If you want to indicate the author of the file, enter their name in the Author field
##If you want to apply different copyright licence, select it from the Choose License menu
#Then click the Upload This File button; this returns you to the Adding A New File To... screen
#We'll look at the other settings elsewhere; for now, scroll down and click Save And Return To Course
#A link to your file should appear in place.


==Where is the file I uploaded?==
{|
| [[File:popupdialogue.png|thumb|File info popup dialogue]]
|}


You can always find your file in the File Picker, and link to it from anywhere in any of the other areas you edit.
==Creating an alias/shortcut==


A Search function for the File Picker is planned for a future version which will make doing this easy. However, just for now you need to remember the context (e.g. which section of which course area) from which you originally uploaded your file. This will allow you to browse to it in the File Picker.
*When an uploaded file (or a file from the file system or EQUELLA repositories) is re-used elsewhere on Moodle, the teacher has the option to make a copy (a new, unconnected version) or to create a shortcut or ''alias''. (Note: Previously an alias could be made to a file stored in Box.net, however with [[Box.net APIv1 migration |Box.net API v2]]  this is no longer possible.)
*If an alias is created, then when the original file is updated, it will change in all instances of the alias. So a teacher might add course notes to their private files for example, and then add them into a number of courses. When the teacher makes an alteration in the file in their private files, this alteration will be reflected in all instances of the course notes.
*An alias can be recognised by its thumbnail. See the difference in the screenshot below between the original file (left) and the alias (right):


So, to find a file you have already uploaded:
{|
| [[File:alias.png|thumb|Creating an alias]]
| [[File:shortcut1.png|frame]]
|}


#Open the File Picker
===Areas in which aliases cannot be made===
#Select the link to Server Files
#Use the breadcrumb trail and the folders to navigate to the folder or sub-folder containing the files for course area where you uploaded the File
#You will find your file inside a folder with the same title as the file.


Once again, this may initially seem pretty byzantine as you navigate through what seems like a maze of folders. However, the new way that Moodle 2.0 handles files solves many of the problems of former versions and makes good design sense. The planned Search function will tie up the loose ends. Meanwhile, consider uploading your files to a single folder on one of your areas - that way you will be able to find them in one place.
An alias cannot be made in the following areas of Moodle:


==Who can access the file I uploaded?==
* an assignment submission
* a forum post attachment
* a workshop submission
* a quiz essay
* a database activity file field


Anyone enrolled in a course area where the file is displayed can access that file.
This is to prevent cases such as a student uploading an item for assessment and then subsequently changing the original in their private files. When a student uses a file from their private files in one of these instances, they do not see the options to "copy" or "create an alias". Below is an example of a file added to an assignment:


Anyone with editing access in a course area where the file is displayed can link to that file in turn.
{|
| [[File:aliasassignment.png|thumb|Assignment submission with no option to create an alias]]
|}


If you want to prevent either of these kinds of access, use your [[Private_files|Private Files]].
==See also==
*How to share a single file with students: [[File]]
*How to share a folder of files with students: [[Folder]]
*Questions about the file picker: [[File picker FAQ]]
* [[Restoring file aliases]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrOKxYRJvGU How teachers upload files in Moodle 2 video]


==Uploading a several files at once==
[[de:Arbeiten mit Dateien und Verzeichnissen]]
 
[[es:Trabajando con archivos]]
This is a way to avoid repetitive process of uploading file by file. It is also a good way to upload a small web site i.e. a collection of interrelated files with a strict structure and a start page.
[[fr:Utilisation de fichiers]]
 
Your organisation may offer alternative ways to upload several files at once, including WebDAV or FTP. Otherwise to upload a several files at once you need to 'zip' (compress and bundle) them first, to get Moodle to treat them as a single upload. The following instructions explain how to create and upload a zip file, unzip it, and display on your area's front page.
 
Please note, the details may vary depending on what software your computer is running.
 
===First, on your computer, create your zip file===
 
#Open your file management software (e.g. My Computer or the Finder) and go to the place on your local or networked filespace where your files are stored
#Ensure the files are organised into the folder structure you want to display when you upload. N.b. the only limit on the number of files here is the file size limit per upload set by your Moodle Administrator and (if lower) your own course area.
#Ensure the start page is at the top level of the structure, and clearly named
#Select all the folders and files you want to upload. To do this:
##on a PC running Windows, hold down the Ctrl key and click on each file
##on a Mac, hold down the Command (aka Apple) key and click on each file
##on Linux
##if all the files are contiguous, you can click on the top one, hold down the Shift key and click on the bottom one; all the intervening files will then be selected
#Next, zip them together to make learn.gold treat them as a single file for the purposes of uploading. To do this:
##on a PC, right-click on your selection and choose Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder, or similar
##on a Mac, use Archive or see http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/zip.html
##on Linux
#Note the name of the new zipped file.
 
===Next, upload your zip to your Moodle area, unzip, and display===
 
#Go to the course area where you want the files to be available and Turn Editing On
#Go to the relevant section on its front page
#Select the Add A Resource menu
#Select File; this loads the Adding A New File screen
#Enter a brief, meaningful name (displays as the text of the link) and a brief description (displays in the index of resources)
#Select the Add Button; this loads the File Picker
#Select Upload A File
#Select the Browse Button; this loads your computer's file management system, allowing you to select the file you need.
#Select the zip file you made; this returns you to the File Picker, where your zip file's name is displaying.
#Change the remaining settings as appropriate
#Select Upload This File; this returns you to the Adding A New File screen, where your zip file's name is now displaying
#Select the settings icon adjacent to your zip file; this loads a menu
#Select Unzip; this unpacks its contents
#You now need to tell Moodle which page from the collection to open first; find the start page among the unpacked folders and/or files and click its adjacent settings icon; from the menu that loads select Set Main File; it title will then display bold
#You don't need the zip file any more, so select its settings icon and delete it
#Scroll down and click Save And Return To Course; this loads your area's front page with the link to your collection's start page displaying in place.
 
Note that these instructions above only generate a link to one of the files in your unzipped upload - unless that file contains links to the others, they will remain inaccessible to learners until you create dedicated links to them.
 
To link to any of those other files, open the File Picker from any of your other contexts (e.g. a different section or course area) and browse to the relevant file (a search function is planned for a future release).
 
==Uploading and displaying a folder==
 
Rather than spending time creating links to a series of related files, it is often more efficient to link to a single folder and let Moodle do the rest.
 
(Your organisation may offer alternative ways to upload a folder of files, including WebDAV or FTP. If you have a large collection, you may want to consider setting up a repository.)
 
Otherwise first prepare your zipped folder following the instructions for creating a zip file above - but ensuring that you have organised the files you're uploading inside a single folder before you zip.
 
Then upload and unpack your zipped folder as follows:
 
#Go to the course area where you want the file to be available and Turn Editing On
#Go to the relevant section on its front page
#Select the Add A Resource menu
#Select Folder; this loads the Adding A New Folder screen
#Give your Folder a brief, meaningful name (displays as the text of the link) and a brief description (displays in the index of resources)
#Select the Add Button; this loads the File Picker
#Select Upload A File
#Select the Browse Button; this loads your computer's file management system, allowing you to select the file you need.
#Select the zip file you made; this returns you to the File Picker, where your zip file's name is displaying.
#Change the remaining settings as appropriate
#Select Upload This File; this returns you to the Adding A New Folder screen, where your zip file's name is now displaying
#Select the settings icon adjacent to your zip file; this loads a menu
#Select Unzip; this unpacks your folder its name will display
#You don't need the zip file any more so select its settings icon and delete it
#Scroll down and click Save And Return To Course; this loads your area's front page with the link to your folder displaying in place
#Selecting the link to your folder will display a tree menu of its contents, with links to each.
 
==Creating a Folder to display a collection of files==
 
The following instructions explain how to gather together files - including files already uploaded to various different contexts - and display them together within a folder on your area's front page.
 
#Go to the course area where you want the Folder to be available and Turn Editing On
#Go to the relevant section on its front page
#Select the Add A Resource menu
#Select Folder; this loads the Adding A New Folder screen
#Select Create Folder; this loads a prompt to name your folder
##Enter a brief, meaningful folder name, then select OK to return to the Adding A New Folder Screen
##Note that your folder's name appears as a link
#Click the name of your new folder; this loads another screen like the first (note that just above the ''Add'' and ''Create Folder'' options you can see a navigable breadcrumb trail showing you where you are within the structure you're creating; also note that you can create further sub folders at this stage)
#Next, into our new folder, we'll gather some files from different places (assuming you have some).
#Select the Add button; this loads the File Picker
#Browse the File Picker and click on the files you want to display (note that the files are not moved or duplicated - they are simply referenced by Moodle so that they can be accessed from within your folder)
#When you're satisfied, scroll down and select Save And Display; this loads a page displaying a tree of links to the contents of your folder. Note that the first file you added appears as bold.
 
==Editing a Folder and its contents==
 
The following instructions explain how to edit a Folder you have added to a course area's front page through an Add A Resource menu.
 
#Log in and go to the course area where the Folder is displayed
#Select the Folder; its contents are displayed
#Select the Edit button; some options load
#To navigate the folder, click the titles of its contents (note the navigable breadcrumb trail just above which allows you to return to where you were)
#To add or upload further files, select the Add button; this loads the File Picker
#To add further folders, select the Create Folder button
#To download all the contents, select Download all
#Click the settings icon adjacent to the folder name; a menu loads
##You can create a zip file (see instructions and explanation of zipping) by selecting Zip (you might do this to allow learners to download a number of files at once, for example)
##You can change a name by selecting Rename
##You can move folders and files by selecting Move; note that you must select Submit to save any changes here.
##You can delete folders and files by selecting Delete
##Files have an extra setting, Set Main File - this formats its link to make it stand out in the display.
#When you're satisfied, select Submit; this loads a page displaying the folder
 
==Folder structure and paths==
Once a repository has been selected with a click, File picker will show a breadcrumb path with links at the top and any folders or files under it.
 
In the example below, we were in Moodle Features Demo and as a teacher wanted to add a file resource.  We started in the [[Context]] of the course.  We then drilled down by clicking on the folders until we got to the folder that contained images we used in a [[Lesson]] context.
 
[[File:File Picker demo moodle legacy files.png|thumb|400px|center|Using the Server files repository, we drilled down]]
 
If we click on the "English" link in the breadcrumb path, we will see the folders for each course(context) in the English category (context) of courses (this is the first screenshot on this page). <includeonly>

Latest revision as of 10:50, 8 November 2013

  • Moodle provides an easy way for a teacher to present materials to their students. These materials may take the form of files such as word-processed documents or slideshow presentations. The materials can be displayed on the page either as individual items or bundled together inside folders. One teacher might for instance wish to share a single research document in pdf format; another might have a folder of sample past examination papers for students to download.
  • Most types of files can be uploaded and accessed through Moodle but the student needs to have the correct software to be able to open them.

Adding files

  • To add files or folders, a teacher needs to have the editing turned on in their course and then select either File or Folder from the activity chooser (or "Add a resource" drop down menu).
Selecting a file or folder in the activity chooser
The "Add a resource" drop down menu
  • The screen for uploading and displaying a file (or folder of files) includes an "add" button. Clicking on this button takes you to the File picker which is the name given to the file storage and access area within Moodle. Find out more about the places you can upload or add files from in the File picker page.
  • There is also a block (with an arrow) into which you can drag and drop a file straight from your desktop into Moodle.(Note that this currently doesn't work with Internet Explorer.)
Area for dragging and dropping files into

Viewing uploaded files

  • Once uploaded, files appear as thumbnails in the file manager for easy recognition.
  • Files view can be easily toggled between icons view or a table view with sizes and dates, or a hierarchical list view.
File picker icon view
File picker table view
File picker hierarchical list view

Editing or updating uploaded files

  • Clicking on the name of an uploaded file opens up a pop up dialogue box which allows file details quickly to be altered.
File info popup dialogue

Creating an alias/shortcut

  • When an uploaded file (or a file from the file system or EQUELLA repositories) is re-used elsewhere on Moodle, the teacher has the option to make a copy (a new, unconnected version) or to create a shortcut or alias. (Note: Previously an alias could be made to a file stored in Box.net, however with Box.net API v2 this is no longer possible.)
  • If an alias is created, then when the original file is updated, it will change in all instances of the alias. So a teacher might add course notes to their private files for example, and then add them into a number of courses. When the teacher makes an alteration in the file in their private files, this alteration will be reflected in all instances of the course notes.
  • An alias can be recognised by its thumbnail. See the difference in the screenshot below between the original file (left) and the alias (right):
Creating an alias
shortcut1.png

Areas in which aliases cannot be made

An alias cannot be made in the following areas of Moodle:

  • an assignment submission
  • a forum post attachment
  • a workshop submission
  • a quiz essay
  • a database activity file field

This is to prevent cases such as a student uploading an item for assessment and then subsequently changing the original in their private files. When a student uses a file from their private files in one of these instances, they do not see the options to "copy" or "create an alias". Below is an example of a file added to an assignment:

Assignment submission with no option to create an alias

See also