MoodleDocs - User contributions [en]

Metacourse

2011-09-21T10:47:54Z

Ianmcn: /* Creating a meta course */

{{Metacourse}}
==What is a metacourse?==

A '''meta course''' is a course that is "with" or linked to one or more courses for its student [[Enrolment|enrolment]] (enrollment to some). Adding or subtracting participants in a metacourse can only be done from the courses it is linked to. The linked courses push enrolment information to the metacourse(s) every time [[Cron|cron]] is run. There are [[Metacourse examples of use|many uses for a metacourse]].

The course meta link option must be turned on by the site adminstrator.
''Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link''. The standard package default is to hide this feature.

''Concept note:'' When using a meta course, Moodle calls the courses it is linked to '''child''' courses. Some people like to think of them as parent courses. In any case a meta course has a kinship with one or more non-meta courses when it comes to enrolment.

In the simplest form, a linked course only needs to contain just the Students who are to be enrolled in a meta course. There do not need to be resources, assignments, or wikis, etc., just the Students in the linked course. In the simplest form, a meta course '''cannot''' enroll Students, but will have resources and activities for students in the linked courses.
{| class="nicetable" align="center"
|-
![[Image:simplemetacourse0.png|thumb|left|200px|Created - a child course and a meta course.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse1.png|thumb|left|200px|Associating one child course and one meta course.]]
|}

Examples: one "child" course (a course linked to a meta course) can be associated with many meta courses. Or one meta course can have many child courses associated with it. Both the child courses (non-meta courses) and the meta courses are independent and can be recycled many times, that is, each can be associated with many of the other. However, a course can only be one type or the other and meta courses cannot be linked directly with other meta courses.
{| class="nicetable" align="center"
|-
![[Image:simplemetacourse2.png|thumb|left|200px|2 child courses and a meta course.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse3.png|thumb|left|200px|1 child course and 2 meta courses.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse4a.png|thumb|left|200px|3 child courses and 2 meta courses.]]
|}

==Creating a meta course==
For information on how to create a metacourse, see [[https://docs.moodle.org/20/en/admin/setting/enrolsettingsmeta Course meta link plugin]] and see this screencast [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA5QcTb13no&feature=player_embedded]]

==Tips and Tricks==

=== Example Procedure for Experimenting with Metacourses ===
In this example, there are 2 sections of students in the "Parent" course: "Section 001" and "Section 002". Students are enrolled in the section courses.

# Turn Metacourses on by going to Site administration -> Plugins -> Enrolments -> Manage enrol plugins and enabled Course meta link.
# Created the following courses:
## Parent
## Section 001
## Section 002
# Enroll users into Section 001 and Section 002. Leave Parent enrollment empty.
# Go to Parent course. Go to Settings -> Course admin -> Users -> Enrolment methods. On that screen, add method "Course Meta link" and choose Section 001. Repeat steps for Section 002. If you look at participants for the parent course, you will see the users from Section 001 and 002.
# If you log-in as a student from section 001, you will see section 001 and parent in your course listings. If you want only students to see the parent course, then go to:
## Site Administration -> Courses -> Add/edit courses. Choose the category for the section 001 course. Find the course section 001. Click the eye icon to hide the course.
## '''OR''' search for the course from the home page logged in as site admin. Click the eye icon to hide the appropriate courses.
# Repeat above for section 002. If you log in as a student, you can't see/search for section 001. However, an admin can still see/search for these now hidden child courses. The will be grayed out to indicate that they are hidden.

===Draw a map of your courses===
Get an oversized piece of paper (A3 or 11"x17'), draw boxes for courses and give them names. Add lines to connect the boxes to show relationships. Label the meta courses (alternatively, color the meta course boxes). Add arrows to the lines so you will know where enrolments come from. This is a great tip from the Business Uses forum.

===Groups do not transfer===
Meta course enrolments do not transfer groups from the and enrolment does not happen immediately, but occurs next time the [[Cron|cronjob]] runs.

===Transfer of roles===
By default all role assignments from child courses are synchronised to meta courses. However, the "Roles that are not synchronised to metacourses" setting in ''Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link > Settings'' enables administrators to exclude particular roles.

===Restoring a meta course===
When restoring a meta course with the option "deleting the course first", you will notice that the enrolments that were used by the course previously are now gone. In order to re-link the course, navigate to the new course and select the link "Child Courses" from the "Administration" block on the main course page and re-link the course to its parent.

==See also==
*[[Metacourse examples of use]] - Why use a metacourse? here are many examples
*[[Related courses block]] - contributed code that shows meta or child course relationships

Using Moodle forum discussions:
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=48901 Metacourses?] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=39438 Best reference for describing a metacourse] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=89741 Assign student in course] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=156900#p686857 Confusion over meta-courses] Forum discussion

[[Category:Course]]
[[Category:Teacher]]
[[Category:Enrolment]]

[[cs:Metakurzy]]
[[de:Metakurs]]
[[es:Metacourses]]
[[fr:Méta-cours]]
[[ja:メタコース]]
[[ru:Метакурсы]]

YouTube videos repository

2011-09-18T09:51:22Z

Ianmcn: /* Searching for and embedding a video from Youtube */

{{Repositories}}
The Youtube repository allows users to search from within the HTML/TinyMCE editor for a youtube video which they can then embed without the need for any coding. The option needs to be enabled by the administrator before it is available for teachers and students.
==Enabling the Youtube repository==

*Go to Site Administration>Plugins>Repositories>Manage Repositories;
*Select from the drop down next to Youtube "Enabled and visible";
*If desired,click on "Settings" and give Youtube a customised name (not essential)

[[File:Youtuberepo.png]]

==Searching for and embedding a video from Youtube==
Youtube videos can be searched for and embedded anywhere there is the HTML/TinyMCE editor, for example a label or a page. Before this works, you must enable the multimedia filters under Administration/Plugins/Filters/Manage Filters. Set Multimedia Plugins to "On" and make sure youtube is selected under Settings (it should be by default).
*Click the filmstrip, "Moodle media icon" in the editor:

[[File:Moodlemediaicon.png]]

*Click "Find or upload a sound, video or applet"
*The file picker will appear with Youtube videos as an option. Click it and a search box will appear:

[[File:Searchyoutube.png]]

*Type in your search terms. Videos on that topic will appear. Click the one you want to use and it will appear enlarged.
*Rename if desired; add the author and license if needed and click "Select"
*The video will be previewed in the next screen.

[[File:Pinnacleridge2.png]]

*Click "Insert"
*''DO NOT WORRY IF YOUR VIDEO NO LONGER SHOWS''! You will just get a blue text link until you save. Then it will display. If it still displays as a text link after saving, make sure you have enabled the Multimedia filter as instructed at the top of this page.

==FAQ==
===The youtube repository is enabled but I still can't see the youtube option in the file picker===
*Are you sure you are working with the text (TinyMCE) editor? The youtube option allows you to search for and embed youtube videos into the editor in places such as labels or pages. You won't see it simply by clicking the "add" button when uploading a file, for example.

YouTube videos repository

2011-09-18T09:50:12Z

Ianmcn: /* Searching for and embedding a video from Youtube */

{{Repositories}}
The Youtube repository allows users to search from within the HTML/TinyMCE editor for a youtube video which they can then embed without the need for any coding. The option needs to be enabled by the administrator before it is available for teachers and students.
==Enabling the Youtube repository==

*Go to Site Administration>Plugins>Repositories>Manage Repositories;
*Select from the drop down next to Youtube "Enabled and visible";
*If desired,click on "Settings" and give Youtube a customised name (not essential)

[[File:Youtuberepo.png]]

==Searching for and embedding a video from Youtube==
Youtube videos can be searched for and embedded anywhere there is the HTML/TinyMCE editor, for example a label or a page. Before this works, you must enable the multimedia filters under Administration/Plugins/Filters/Manage Filters. Set Multimedia Plugins to "On" and make sure youtube is selected under Settings (it should be by default).
*Click the filmstrip, "Moodle media icon" in the editor:

[[File:Moodlemediaicon.png]]

*Click "Find or upload a sound, video or applet"
*The file picker will appear with Youtube videos as an option. Click it and a search box will appear:

[[File:Searchyoutube.png]]

*Type in your search terms. Videos on that topic will appear. Click the one you want to use and it will appear enlarged.
*Rename if desired; add the author and license if needed and click "Select"
*The video will be previewed in the next screen.

[[File:Pinnacleridge2.png]]

*Click "Insert"
*''DO NOT WORRY IF YOUR VIDEO NO LONGER SHOWS''! You will just get a blue text link until you save. Then it will display :)

==FAQ==
===The youtube repository is enabled but I still can't see the youtube option in the file picker===
*Are you sure you are working with the text (TinyMCE) editor? The youtube option allows you to search for and embed youtube videos into the editor in places such as labels or pages. You won't see it simply by clicking the "add" button when uploading a file, for example.

error/moodle/nostatstodisplay

2011-09-13T13:19:32Z

Ianmcn:

Stats

This page can appear if you have not enabled statistics. To enable statistics, log into your Moodle as an administrator. Then, in the Site Administration menu, under Advanced Features ensure that they are enabled.

If you have enabled Statistics recently you should note that statistics are collected by a background task and take some time to become available. Try again later, but do note the time for statistics job to be run in the Site Administration page noted above.

[[fr:error/moodle/nostatstodisplay]]

Email setup gmail

2011-06-14T07:23:56Z

Ianmcn:

Google's mail servers can be set up as the SMTP server for Moodle, although in many cases may not be suitable for a production system (see first heading below).

Setting it up will require a hack to the code.

== Is Google mail suitable for your requirements? ==
Google mail has a couple of limitations which make it unsuitable for many Moodle installs, please check the following two points before continuing.
# '''No support for multiple "From" addresses.''' When sending emails, Moodle attempts to send them "From" the email address of the user writing the message, this allows the recipient to reply directly to the sender via email. Google, both in their Gmail and Apps for Education product do not allow this - so any emails sent from the system will be from the account you use to authenticate on the SMTP server. To make things more confusing, the name will be the recipients, but the email address will be the SMTP account's email address, for example: "Dr Fred Bloggs" <moodlemail@mycollege.edu>. If you wanted to use Gmail's SMTP regardless, you would be advised to use a dedicated account for the purpose, and have an auto response so that messages to the address bounce back with an instruction to click on the link in the email and reply through Moodle.
# '''Daily limit of 500 sent messages.''' There is a daily limit on any one google account of [http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/06/gmails-limitations-for-sending-messages.html 500 individual email messages, or 2000 recipients across all emails]. Your account can get blocked if you go over this on a regular basis. If you have more than 500 users, it will only take one message to the front page news forum to exceed this quota.

== [[Email settings]] ==
Location: ''Administration > Server > [[Email settings|Email]]''

'''SMTP hosts:''' smtp.gmail.com:465 ''NOTE: Leave out the port (:465) in 1.9.2 or lower''

'''SMTP username:''' Your email address @gmail.com or your own domain if using Google Apps

'''SMTP password:''' password for the above email account

== Code Modification ==
In your Moodle site go to <tt>/lib/phpmailer/</tt> and modify the following file:

=== class.smtp.php ===
Around line 83 DIRECTLY after the '''Connect''' function header, insert this line immediately after the "{" :
$host = 'ssl://' . $host;

== Code Modification (1.9.2 or lower) ==
These two additional modifications need to be made in 1.9.2 or lower as the '''SMTP hosts''' setting above will not allow the port to be included.

=== class.phpmailer.php ===
around line 162
*Change <tt>var $Port = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $Port = 465;</tt>

=== class.smtp.php ===
around line 30
*Change <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 465;</tt>

== Tips and tricks ==

* Some sites may need the additional step of un-commenting the '''php_openssl.dll''' extension in <tt>php.ini</tt>.

===Google education edition with 1.9.9===
When using Google Education Edition with 1.99

The latest php mailer is paramont. If someschool.edu email at google is not accepting mails from the moodle as valid mails you need to create an SPF record at your host, allowing mail from the Central Mail server, Google and the local server which satisified Google's validation desires.

@ 14400 IN TXT "v=spf1 ip4:174.121.161.XXX
include:aspmx.googlemail.com mx:c1.hostname.com ~all"

This bit is server side more than moodle so if you are on managed or shared hosting the server admin will have to do the record (try submitting a request to have the record added with full details of how and why to do so) then follow the previous the directions in this record.

== See also==
[[Email settings]]

[[ja:GmailでのEメール設定]]

Email setup gmail

2011-06-14T07:22:04Z

Ianmcn:

Google's mail servers can be set up as the SMTP server for Moodle. This reduces or eliminates the need for an email service on a server and is especially useful if [http://www.google.com/apps/ Google Apps] is used by the institution using Moodle.

This will require a hack to the code.

== Is Google mail suitable for your requirements? ==
Google mail has a couple of limitations which make it unsuitable for many Moodle installs, please check the following two points before continuing.
# '''No support for multiple "From" addresses.''' When sending emails, Moodle attempts to send them "From" the email address of the user writing the message, this allows the recipient to reply directly to the sender via email. Google, both in their Gmail and Apps for Education product do not allow this - so any emails sent from the system will be from the account you use to authenticate on the SMTP server. To make things more confusing, the name will be the recipients, but the email address will be the SMTP account's email address, for example: "Dr Fred Bloggs" <moodlemail@mycollege.edu>. If you wanted to use Gmail's SMTP regardless, you would be advised to use a dedicated account for the purpose, and have an auto response so that messages to the address bounce back with an instruction to click on the link in the email and reply through Moodle.
# '''Daily limit of 500 sent messages.''' There is a daily limit on any one google account of [http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/06/gmails-limitations-for-sending-messages.html 500 individual email messages, or 2000 recipients across all emails]. Your account can get blocked if you go over this on a regular basis. If you have more than 500 users, it will only take one message to the front page news forum to exceed this quota.

== [[Email settings]] ==
Location: ''Administration > Server > [[Email settings|Email]]''

'''SMTP hosts:''' smtp.gmail.com:465 ''NOTE: Leave out the port (:465) in 1.9.2 or lower''

'''SMTP username:''' Your email address @gmail.com or your own domain if using Google Apps

'''SMTP password:''' password for the above email account

== Code Modification ==
In your Moodle site go to <tt>/lib/phpmailer/</tt> and modify the following file:

=== class.smtp.php ===
Around line 83 DIRECTLY after the '''Connect''' function header, insert this line immediately after the "{" :
$host = 'ssl://' . $host;

== Code Modification (1.9.2 or lower) ==
These two additional modifications need to be made in 1.9.2 or lower as the '''SMTP hosts''' setting above will not allow the port to be included.

=== class.phpmailer.php ===
around line 162
*Change <tt>var $Port = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $Port = 465;</tt>

=== class.smtp.php ===
around line 30
*Change <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 465;</tt>

== Tips and tricks ==

* Some sites may need the additional step of un-commenting the '''php_openssl.dll''' extension in <tt>php.ini</tt>.

===Google education edition with 1.9.9===
When using Google Education Edition with 1.99

The latest php mailer is paramont. If someschool.edu email at google is not accepting mails from the moodle as valid mails you need to create an SPF record at your host, allowing mail from the Central Mail server, Google and the local server which satisified Google's validation desires.

@ 14400 IN TXT "v=spf1 ip4:174.121.161.XXX
include:aspmx.googlemail.com mx:c1.hostname.com ~all"

This bit is server side more than moodle so if you are on managed or shared hosting the server admin will have to do the record (try submitting a request to have the record added with full details of how and why to do so) then follow the previous the directions in this record.

== See also==
[[Email settings]]

[[ja:GmailでのEメール設定]]

Upload users

2011-02-09T06:01:46Z

Ianmcn: typo

Location: ''Administration > Users > Accounts > Upload users''

[[Image:Upload users preview.png|thumb|Upload users preview in Moodle 1.9]]
Firstly, note that it is usually not necessary to import users in bulk - to keep maintenance work down you should first explore forms of authentication that do not require manual maintenance, such as [[External database authentication|connecting to existing external databases]] or letting the [[Internal enrolment|users create their own accounts]]. See [[Manage authentication]] for more information.

If you are sure you want to import multiple user accounts from a text file, then you need to format your text file as follows:

==Upload users file format==

* Each line contains fields '''separated''' by commas (or other delimiters) without quotes (") and no trailing delimiter
* The first line is special, and contains fieldnames defining the format for the rest of the file.

*'''Required fields''': In any order
:<code>username, password, firstname, lastname, email</code>
:Validity checks are performed for:
#<code>username</code> can only contain alphabetical '''lowercase''' letters , numbers, hypen '-', underscore '_', period '.', or at-sign '@'
#<code>Password</code> should meet the requirements for the site's [[Site_policies#Password_policy|Password policy]]. .To force password change, set the password field to <code>changeme</code>.
#<code>email</code> is in the form: ''name@example.com'' .

*'''Optional fields''': To provide values other than the default include one or more of these
:<code>institution, department, city, country, lang, auth, ajax, timezone, idnumber, icq, phone1, phone2, address, url, description, mailformat, maildisplay, htmleditor, autosubscribe, emailstop</code>

*'''Custom profile field names''': (Optional). xxxxx is the real custom user profile field name (i.e. the unique shortname)
:<code>profile_field_xxxxx</code>
: Create the custom fields BEFORE importing. Use the standard header. The "shortname" for your custom field is xxxxx. The first record must include "profile_field_xxxxx".
:'''Example''': To create a custom field "genre", you must write a shortname "genre" in the new field, and write "profile_field_genre" in the header of the .csv file.

*'''Special fields''': Used for changing of usernames or deleting of users
:<code>oldusername</code>, <code>deleted</code>

*'''Enrolment fields''': (Optional):
:<code>course1, type1, role1, group1, enrolperiod1, course2, type2, role2, group2, enrolperiod2</code> etc.
**<code>course</code> is the "shortname" if present the user will be enrolled in those courses.
** <code>type</code> refers to the role to be used for associated course enrolment. Value 1 is default course role, 2 is legacy Teacher role and 3 is legacy Non-editing Teacher.
** You can use role field instead to specify roles directly - use either role short name or id (numeric names of roles are not supported).
** Users may be also assigned to groups in course (group1 in course1, group2 in course2, etc.).
*** A group is identified by name or id (numeric group names are not supported).
** From Moodle 2.0, you can set the enrolment duration, in days, for each course (<code>enrolperiod1</code> for <code>course1</code>, <code>enrolperiod2</code> for <code>course2</code>, etc.).

Commas within a field must be encoded as &#44 - the script will decode these back to commas.

For Boolean fields, use <code>0</code> for false and <code>1</code> for true.

Turn email off: <code>emailstop</code> set to <CODE>1</CODE> if the email address should be disabled (default: email is enabled):

To prevent users from receiving a large number of emails from courses or forced subscription forums use the '''maildigest'''. The options for this field are 0 = No digest, 1 = Complete digest and 2 = Digest with just subjects.

Here is an example of a valid upload file:

<code>username, password, firstname, lastname, email, course1, group1 
jonest, verysecret, Tom, Jones, jonest@someplace.edu, math102, Section 1 
reznort, somesecret, Trent, Reznor, reznort@someplace.edu,math102, Section 3</code>

==Updating existing accounts==
By default Moodle creates new user accounts, and skips lines where the <code>username</code> matches an existing account. Set "Upload Type" to '''Add new and update existing accounts''', and existing user account will be updated.

Include fieldname <code>oldusername</code> to updating existing accounts and change usernames. In the preview options, Set "Allow renames" to '''Yes''.
'''Warning''': errors updating existing accounts can affect your users badly. Be careful when using the options to update.

==After preview==
After the preprocessing, depending on the contents of the upload, the following may be available before final user creation
*Settings
** New user password
** Existing user details
** Existing user password
** Allow renames
** Allow deletes
** Prevent email addess duplicates
** Select for bulk operations

* Default values
** Authentication method: Manual account |no login | EMail-based self-registration
** Email display: Allow only other course members to see my email address | hide .. from everyone | allow anyone ...
** Email format Pretty HTML | plain text
** Email digest type: none|complete subjects
** Forum auto-subscribe: no |yes when I post
** When editing text: use HTML| standard web forms
** AJAX and Javascript: yes|no
** city/town
** country
** timezone
** Preferred language
** Description
** Web page
** ID number
** Institution
** Department
** Phone
** Mobile Phone
** Address

==After results ==
Users which were not added, will NOT be auto-enrolled in courses

----

Open another moodle browser and
* Site administration
** Courses
*** Add/edit courses; select the category, and the course
* Course administration
** Users
*** Enrolled Users
**** Enrol users and select the users flagged from other window

==Templates==

The default values are processed as templates in which the following codes are allowed:

* %l - will be replaced by the lastname
* %f - will be replaced by the firstname
* %u - will be replaced by the username
* %% - will be replaced by the %

Between the percent sign (%) and any code letter (l, f or u) the following modifiers are allowed:

* (-) minus sign - the information specified by the code letter will be converted to lowercase
* (+) plus sign - the information specified by the code letter will be converted to UPPERCASE
* (~) tilde sign - the information specified by the code letter will be converted to Title Case
* a decimal number - the information specified by the code letter will be truncated to that many characters

For example, if the firstname is John and the lastname is Doe, the following values will be obtained with the specified templates:

* %l%f = DoeJohn
* %l%1f = DoeJ
* %-l%+f = doeJOHN
* %-f_%-l = john_doe
* http://www.example.com/~%u/ = http://www.example.com/~jdoe/ (if the username is jdoe or %-1f%-l)

Template processing is done only on default values, and not on the values retrieved from the CSV file.

In order to create correct Moodle usernames, the username is always converted to lowercase. Moreover, if the "Allow extended characters in usernames" option in the Site policies page is off, characters different to letters, digits, dash (-) and dot (.) are removed. For example if the firstname is John Jr. and the lastname is Doe, the username %-f_%-l will produce john jr._doe when Allow extended characters in usernames is on, and johnjr.doe when off.

When the "New username duplicate handling" setting is set to Append counter, an auto-increment counter will be append to duplicate usernames produced by the template. For example, if the CSV file contains the users named John Doe, Jane Doe and Jenny Doe without explicit usernames, the default username is %-1f%-l and New username duplicate handling is set to Append counter, then the usernames produced will be jdoe, jdoe2 and jdoe3.

==Deleting accounts==

If the <code>deleted</code> field is present, users with value 1 for it will be deleted. In this case, all the fields may be omitted, except for <code>username</code>.

Deleting and uploading accounts could be done with a single CSV file. For example, the following file will add the user Tom Jones and delete the user reznort:

username, firstname, lastname, deleted
jonest, Tom, Jones, 0
reznort, , , 1

==Encoding==

In Moodle 1.8 the file must be UTF-8. In Moodle 1.9 onwards, the encoding may be selected from a large list, including ISO-8859-1.

==Hints==

===Spreadsheet===

If you use a spreadsheet program such as Excel to create your .csv file, check the resulting output in a text editor before you upload it. It is possible to get trailing commas on each line from an empty field if you have added and deleted columns of information prior to saving the final file. Also check the character encoding. A csv file is a simple text file (ASCII or Unicode) that can be used to upload user accounts.

Excel translates passwords that begin with - (minus) or + (plus) as zero. Even when saving as .csv and saying "Yes" to "Keep this format, and leave out any incompatible features." Check for this before uploading, as a zero halts the upload process.

If you use a formula in Excel to create fields (for example, the concatenate function to create a user name), then remember to copy the cells with the formula and use special paste with values checked to make them into an acceptable data for a csv file.

===Country===
The country should be written as a two letter code, in capitals. For example, use BE for Belgium or NL for the Netherlands. Using "be" or "nl" as a country code will result in a database error.
:''Tip:'' If you are having trouble working out the two-letter code for a country, you can consult this Moodle source code file /moodle/lang/en_utf8/countries.php [http://cvs.moodle.org/moodle/lang/en_utf8/countries.php?view=markup&pathrev=MOODLE_19_STABLE or click here for a 1.9 STABLE list].
ISO Website: [http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/english_country_names_and_code_elements.htm]

== See also ==
Moodle Docs:
*[[Flat file]]

Using Moodle forum discussions:
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=36851 Can I auto enroll from Excel?]
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=58215 Making Email Optional]
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=97903 Uploading users to custom roles]
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=144569 Matriculacion con flat file csv] - discussion in Spanish

[[Category:Authentication]]
[[Category:Enrolment]]
[[Category:Groups]]

[[fr:Importer des utilisateurs]]
[[ja:ユーザのアップロード]]
[[zh:上传用户]]
[[ru:Загрузка пользователей]]

Email setup gmail

2010-11-21T18:17:27Z

Ianmcn:

Google's mail servers can be set up as the SMTP server for Moodle. This reduces or eliminates the need for an email service on a server and is especially useful if [http://www.google.com/apps/ Google Apps] is used by the institution using Moodle.

This will require a hack to the code.

'''Important warning''': When sending emails, Moodle attempts to send them "From" the email address of the user writing the message, this allows the recipient to reply directly to the sender via email. Google, both in their Gmail and Apps for Education product do not allow this - so any emails sent from the system will be from the account you use to authenticate on the SMTP server. To make things more confusing, the name will be the recipients, but the email address will be the SMTP account's email address, for example: "Dr Fred Bloggs" <moodlemail@mycollege.edu>. This does not render the Gmail useless for Moodle, emails all come with a link you can click through and reply on Moodle, but it is important you understand this limitation before continuing with this setup. If you wanted to use Gmail's SMTP regardless, you would be advised to use a dedicated account for the purpose, and have an auto response so that messages to the address bounce back with an instruction to click on the link in the email and reply through Moodle.

== [[Email settings]] ==
Location: ''Administration > Server > [[Email settings|Email]]''

'''SMTP hosts:''' smtp.gmail.com:465 ''NOTE: Leave out the port (:465) in 1.9.2 or lower''

'''SMTP username:''' Your email address @gmail.com or your own domain if using Google Apps

'''SMTP password:''' password for the above email account

== Code Modification ==
In your Moodle site go to <tt>/lib/phpmailer/</tt> and modify the following file:

=== class.smtp.php ===
Around line 83 DIRECTLY after the '''Connect''' function header, insert this line immediately after the "{" :
$host = 'ssl://' . $host;

== Code Modification (1.9.2 or lower) ==
These two additional modifications need to be made in 1.9.2 or lower as the '''SMTP hosts''' setting above will not allow the port to be included.

=== class.phpmailer.php ===
around line 162
*Change <tt>var $Port = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $Port = 465;</tt>

=== class.smtp.php ===
around line 30
*Change <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 465;</tt>

== Tips and tricks ==

* Some sites may need the additional step of un-commenting the '''php_openssl.dll''' extension in <tt>php.ini</tt>.

===Google education edition with 1.9.9===
When using Google Education Edition with 1.99

The latest php mailer is paramont. If someschool.edu email at google is not accepting mails from the moodle as valid mails you need to create an SPF record at your host, allowing mail from the Central Mail server, Google and the local server which satisified Google's validation desires.

@ 14400 IN TXT "v=spf1 ip4:174.121.161.XXX
include:aspmx.googlemail.com mx:c1.hostname.com ~all"

This bit is server side more than moodle so if you are on managed or shared hosting the server admin will have to do the record (try submitting a request to have the record added with full details of how and why to do so) then follow the previous the directions in this record.

== See also==
[[Email settings]]

[[ja:GmailでのEメール設定]]

Email setup gmail

2010-11-14T18:29:06Z

Ianmcn: Updated with "From" issue warning

Google's mail servers can be set up as the SMTP server for Moodle. This reduces or eliminates the need for an email service on a server and is especially useful if [http://www.google.com/apps/ Google Apps] is used by the institution using Moodle.

This will require a hack to the code.

'''Important warning''': When sending emails, Moodle attempts to send them "From" the email address of the user writing the message, this allows the recipient to reply directly to the sender via email. Google, both in their Gmail and Apps for Education product do not allow this - so any emails sent from the system will be from the account you use to authenticate. To make things more confusing, the name will be the recipients, but the email address will be the SMTP account's email address, for example: "Dr Fred Bloggs" <moodlemail@mycollege.edu>. This does not render the Gmail useless for Moodle, emails all come with a link you can click through and reply on Moodle, but it is important you understand this limitation before continuing with this setup. If you wanted to use Gmail's SMTP regardless, you would be advised to use a dedicated account for the purpose, and have an auto response so that messages to the address bounce back with an instruction to click on the link in the email and reply through Moodle.

== [[Email settings]] ==
Location: ''Administration > Server > [[Email settings|Email]]''

'''SMTP hosts:''' smtp.gmail.com:465 ''NOTE: Leave out the port (:465) in 1.9.2 or lower''

'''SMTP username:''' Your email address @gmail.com or your own domain if using Google Apps

'''SMTP password:''' password for the above email account

== Code Modification ==
In your Moodle site go to <tt>/lib/phpmailer/</tt> and modify the following file:

=== class.smtp.php ===
Around line 83 DIRECTLY after the '''Connect''' function header, insert this line immediately after the "{" :
$host = 'ssl://' . $host;

== Code Modification (1.9.2 or lower) ==
These two additional modifications need to be made in 1.9.2 or lower as the '''SMTP hosts''' setting above will not allow the port to be included.

=== class.phpmailer.php ===
around line 162
*Change <tt>var $Port = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $Port = 465;</tt>

=== class.smtp.php ===
around line 30
*Change <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 25;</tt> to <tt>var $SMTP_PORT = 465;</tt>

== Tips and tricks ==

* Some sites may need the additional step of un-commenting the '''php_openssl.dll''' extension in <tt>php.ini</tt>.

===Google education edition with 1.9.9===
When using Google Education Edition with 1.99

The latest php mailer is paramont. If someschool.edu email at google is not accepting mails from the moodle as valid mails you need to create an SPF record at your host, allowing mail from the Central Mail server, Google and the local server which satisified Google's validation desires.

@ 14400 IN TXT "v=spf1 ip4:174.121.161.XXX
include:aspmx.googlemail.com mx:c1.hostname.com ~all"

This bit is server side more than moodle so if you are on managed or shared hosting the server admin will have to do the record (try submitting a request to have the record added with full details of how and why to do so) then follow the previous the directions in this record.

== See also==
[[Email settings]]

[[ja:GmailでのEメール設定]]

User:Ian McNaught

2010-11-09T00:01:10Z

Ianmcn: New page: Only been working with Moodle since early 2010, after a 6 year sentence working with Blackboard. Still getting used to Moodle, but liking what I see so far, it is clearly developed by peop...

Only been working with Moodle since early 2010, after a 6 year sentence working with Blackboard. Still getting used to Moodle, but liking what I see so far, it is clearly developed by people who love it and use it daily.

I work as Director of elearning for Majan University College in Muscat, Oman where we run Moodle for around 2000 HE and FE students.