Canvas Site Export and Download Options

Environment

Canvas

Issue

Can instructors download course content for viewing outside of Canvas or save for future upload?

Resolution

There are two different options for downloading content:

1. IMS Common Cartridge (IMSCC) format (to import into an LMS)
   • You must be a Teacher, TA, or Designer to export the course.
   • This option is used for backup purposes.
   • It is basically a ZIP archive, filled with XML documents.
     • The files are in an industry-standard format that is hard to open up and read, but is designed to be easily imported back into Canvas, or into another institution's LMS like Blackboard or Sakai.
   • This export contains both classic quizzes and new quizzes.

See the Instructure guide How do I export a Canvas course? for illustrated directions on the IMS Common Cartridge format procedure.

2. ePub (to read or print) 
   • Anyone enrolled in the course can download the course as an ePub file.
   • This option is used for obtaining a hard-copy of the course
   • The file is saved in ePub format, designed to be read on a Kindle, iPad, or other e-reader.

See the Instructure guide How do I view course content offline as an ePub file as an instructor? for illustrated directions on ePub download.

Note: You can't export a Canvas site directly to PDF at this time. Your best bet is to export the ePub version using the instructions above. Then, open the ePub file in an ePub reader (like Apple's Books app on mac OS or Adobe Digital Editions on Windows), "Print" it, and choose to save the file to PDF instead of sending to the printer.

Additional Information

• Check out the new Academic Technology@Michigan website for course planning resources from across U-M
• Visit the Canvas @ Michigan site for faculty including the U-M Instructor Guide with links to additional support resources from across campus
• Check out the Canvas and MiVideo tutorials

For additional questions, please contact the ITS Service Center