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Export and Archive Courses

The archive course feature creates a frozen snapshot or permanent record of your course. The export course feature creates a ZIP file of your course content that you can import to create a new course.

The archive course feature creates a frozen snapshot or permanent record of your course. An archive includes all the content, course statistics, users, and course interactions, such as blog posts, discussions, attendance data, and grades.

The export course feature creates a ZIP file of your course content that you can import into your new, activated course. Unlike the archive course feature, the export course feature doesn't include any users or user interactions with the course.

Export a course

The export course feature creates a ZIP file of your course content that you can import into your new, activated course —without any users or user interactions with the course. The export only includes what you select from the list. Note: attendance isn't included in the list.

Export packages are downloaded as compressed ZIP files and are imported in the same format. Don't unzip an export package or delete files from the package, as then the contents won't import correctly.

Control Panel > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course
On the Export/Archive Course page, select Export Package
On the Export Course page, include only the links to course files or include the links and copies of the course files content.

For Copy links and include copies of the content, select Calculate Size to be sure that the package size doesn't exceed the displayed allowed package size.
To remove files and folders from the package, select Manage Package Contents.

In the Select Course Materials section, select the check boxes for each course area and tool to export. If you select Discussion Board, decide whether to include started posts for each thread in each forum (anonymously) or include only forums with no starter post. Select Submit.

Once you have created your export file and have saved it to your computer you will need to delete the zip file in Blackboard:

Open the course > Go to Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course again
Click the down arrow icon to the right of each file listed there > Delete until all files are removed

The .zip file will download to your computer. DO NOT UNZIP BLACKBOARD ARCHIVE OR EXPORT ZIP FILES. These files must remain zipped in order to be re-uploaded to Blackboard. If you want an archive file restored, you will need to contact the Help Desk. NOTE: some large courses might not be able to be restored from archive files.

Archive a course

The archive course feature creates a permanent record of a course including all the content and user interactions. Archived courses are saved as ZIP files. When you archive a course, it isn't deleted from the system.

All files within the course are included in the archive, even if a file wasn't linked in the course.

Control Panel > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course
On the Export/Archive Course page, select Archive Course
On the Archive Course page, optionally select the check box for Include Grade Center History.

The file size and processing time will increase. In the File Attachments section, include only the links to course files or include the links and copies of the course files content. Select Submit

Once you have created your export file and have saved it to your computer you will need to delete the zip file in Blackboard:

Open the course > Go to Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course again
Click the down arrow icon to the right of each file listed there > Delete until all files are removed