Files

This option in the administration block is only available to course teachers and site administrators. It allows teachers to upload files such as PDFs, Multimedia, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and so on into your course. In fact it allows you to upload any digital content for inclusion in an activity, resource, course section or a direct download.

Following the Files link in the administration block lets you see a list of uploaded course files arranged under four headings: file name, file size, the last time a given file was modified, and the action you can do with a given file (or folder). Using the box on the left below the file list, you can move the files you choose (by ticking a box on the left to the file name) to another folder, delete them completely or create a zip archive. There are two more actions you can undertake: 'Make a folder' and 'Upload a file' - both are positioned on the right-hand side of the screen under the list.

Whilst uploading is restricted to one file at a time you can upload a zip containing many files. Once uploaded Moodle will recognise the file as a zip and show on unzip link. You can then follow the unzip link which will extract the file(s) within.

To preview any file you have uploaded just click on its name. Your web browser will take care of either displaying it or downloading it to your computer.

HTML and text files can be edited in-place online. Other files will need to be edited on your local computer and uploaded again. if you upload a file with the same name as an existing file it will automatically be overwritten.

When viewing the course files in a new course you will notice there are already directories present. These are for storing course data and any course backup zip files.

You can also create a directory and display the whole contents of that directory using the setting in the add resource drop down in a course section.

Moodle Sub-directories

There are two standard sub-directories that are used by Moodle for storing data, namely the backupdata and moddata directories which are not available to students and teachers without editing privilages. As mentioned above, there are other subdirectories that can be seen by students.