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Computing

File Names

To ensure that files can be read by all Blackboard users:

Mac Users: Use File Extensions

Name your files using PC-style file extensions, such as "filename.doc" for a Word file. PC users will have trouble opening your files if you do not use file extensions

Blackboard can not understand file names with spaces and with some types of punctuation. Use underscores instead of spaces, and avoid punctuation marks.

Extensions for Common Files Types:

File Type

Extension

Microsoft Word

doc

Microsoft Excel

xls

Microsoft Powerpoint

ppt

Rich Text Format (understood by all word processors)

rtf

Plain text File(SimpleText, WordPad, Notepad)

txt

Photograph

jpg, jpeg

Line drawing, animated

gif

HTML

html, htm

Adobe Acrobat Reader

pdf

 

Bad file name: English paper; draft 1.doc

Good file name: english_paper_draft_1.doc

Give All Files Unique Names

Especially when using the Digital Drop Box feature, be sure to give all uploaded files unique names. If more than one file named "draft1.doc" is uploaded to Blackboard, the first file will be overwritten by the second. This may cause the work of some students to be lost. Adding the student's username to the beginning of the file name will avoid this problem.

Bad file name: draft1.doc

Good file name: mavassar_draft1.doc

This page was last updated on 8/31/05.