Canvas LMS Instructor Guide

How do I import Thin Common Cartridge files as separate modules?

If your institution uses Thin Common Cartridge files, you can use the select specific content option in course imports to import content as separate modules. Thin Common Cartridge is a subset of the full Common Cartridge specification.

Selecting content in a Thin Common Cartridge file is structured differently than other import types. Thin Common Cartridge is a lightweight metadata structure most commonly used by K12 institutions that allows publishers to provide digital resources using LTI links (external tools), which usually contains a significant number of resources in one common cartridge interchange file (.imscc). Thin Common Cartridge files are designed by creating items grouped into a folder or series of folders that defines how the content should be organized for the learner.

When importing Thin Common Cartridge files, Canvas uses metadata identifiers and titles to simulate the hierarchical structure within the Thin Common Cartridge file. This structure appears as nested content within the Modules content heading, allowing users to view a structured organization and locate the content they want to import into the course. By default, grouped content is imported as one module, but they can also be imported as separate modules. Individual content within a content group is automatically imported as separate modules.

00:07: How do I import Thin Common Cartridge files as separate modules?

00:12: In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

00:15: Click the Import Course Content link.

00:19: In the Content Type drop-down menu, select the Common Cartridge

00:22: 1.x Package option. Complete any additional fields required

00:27: for the content.

00:29: In the Content section, click the Select specific content radio button.

00:34: When importing content, a message displays explaining that previously imported

00:38: content from the same course will be replaced while manually added

00:43: content will remain.

00:45: Click the Add to Import Queue button.

00:48: In the Content imports section, click the Select content button.

00:53: Thin Common Cartridge files are shown as one module. Click the Modules expand

00:58: icon.

00:59: Locate the content by expanding the nested structure. Content

01:04: groups show the number of items within the group. If

01:08: you want to import an entire content group, select the checkbox next

01:12: to the group.

01:14: Like other course, import types, selecting a Content group selects all

01:18: items within the module group. However, a thin common cartridge content,

01:22: is always imported as one module, which can be extremely cumbersome

01:26: in a canvas course, By default content is imported

01:31: as one module if you would rather import content as separate modules,

01:35: click the import as a standalone, module radio button.

01:40: To import only a few items from a content group, select the specific items

01:44: to be imported.

01:46: Can this places a dash in the content group checkbox? Indicating not, all items

01:51: are selected within the group. Selecting individual

01:55: content items, automatically Imports content as separate modules.

02:00: Click the Select Content button.

02:03: The Content imports section displays the status of your import.

02:07: Running reports display a progress bar.

02:11: The import may also display errors as part of the import status. When

02:17: the course has completed, view modules content by accessing the Modules

02:21: link in Course Navigation.

02:23: View the modules content in your course, either as one module or a separate

02:28: modules.

02:29: This guide covered how to import Thin Common Cartridge files as separate

02:34: modules

Open Settings

In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

Import Content into Course

Click the Import Course Content link.

Select Content Type

In the Content Type drop-down menu, select the Common Cartridge 1.x Package option. Complete any additional fields required for the content.

Select Specific Content

In the Content section, click the Select specific content radio button.

View Content Import Warning Message

When importing content, a message displays explaining that previously imported content from the same course will be replaced while manually added content will remain.

Import Content

Click the Add to Import Queue button.

Select Content

In the Content imports section, click the Select content button.

View Content

Thin Common Cartridge files are shown as one module. Click the Modules expand icon.

Select All Group Content

Locate the content by expanding the nested structure. Content groups show the number of items within the group [1].

If you want to import an entire content group, select the checkbox next to the group [2].

Select Module Import Option

Like other course import types, selecting a content group selects all items within the module group. However, Thin Common Cartridge content is always imported as one module, which can be extremely cumbersome in a Canvas course.

By default, content is imported as one module. If you want to import content as separate modules, click the Import as a standalone module toggle on.

Note: If you want to import several content groups as separate modules, module settings are applied on a per-content-group basis. This means you must fully expand each content group and specify the separate modules option. Otherwise, all selected content in the hierarchy will always be imported as one module.

Select Specific Group Content

To import only a few items from a content group, select the specific items to be imported [1]. Canvas places a dash in the content group checkbox [2], indicating not all items are selected within the group.

Selecting individual content items automatically imports content as separate modules.

Select Content

Click the Select Content button.

View Content Imports

The Content imports section displays the status of your import. Running reports display a progress bar.

The import may also display errors as part of the import status. Learn more about course import statuses.

When the course has completed, view modules content by accessing the Modules link in Course Navigation.

View Modules

View the modules content in your course, either as one module or separate modules.

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