Plug-ins and media players are software that extend the capabilities of your
Web browser to allow you to view various types of files that instructors may
provide.
Downloads
To use Blackboard you may need to download the latest version of your Web browser. These
downloads are available free from the software company just by going to their
site and downloading.
Your instructor may have specific guidelines concerning the naming of files. You must be sure to follow instructors guidelines for each course.
Because electronic files can be accessed by any computer, you must be careful to name your files in such a way that they can be opened on any machine.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when naming your files (your instructor’s guidelines may differ):
1. Length: Keep your file names as short as possible. Different operating systems impose different restrictions regarding the length of filenames; this can range from 12 - 260 characters.
Best practice would be to keep your filename as close to 12 characters as possible, while still following any naming conventions your instructor/professor has established.
2. Acceptable Characters: To ensure your document can be opened, only use acceptable characters for your filenames. Acceptable characters are the basic alpha-numeric characters (a-z, 0-9), the period ( . ), and the underscore ( _ ).
Filenames must NOT include special characters, such as:
` ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) + = { } [ ] | \ / < > / ? , ; : ‘ “
Also, do not use spaces (use the underscore ( _ ) instead), and only use a period to separate the filename from the extension (eg. my_file.doc).
If you are using numbers in your filenames, include a zero with single-digit
numbers;
(eg. use "01" instead of "1"). This way your files will
display in logical order when you sort by filename.
Acceptable Examples: Unacceptable
Examples:
myname_01.doc my name 01.doc
my_file_chpt01.doc my_file_chpt#1.doc
chpt01_myname.txt chpt#1.myname.txt
3. Upper or Lower Case? It is recommended that you use all lower case letters.
4. Extensions: The file extension is an indicator of the
file type. PC machines will add the file extension for you, Mac machines will
not. When working on a Mac, you must manually add the file extension to the
filename or the file can not be easily viewed on a PC machine.
my_name_chpt01.doc
(filename.extension)
You do, of course, need to use the correct filename extension. Here is a brief list of common files and their corresponding extensions
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If you are unsure of the proper file extension, ask your instructor/professor.