You can use the archive recording tool to create archives of chat sessions. For more information about recording archives, see the Lightweight Chat sections.

Viewing an Archive

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Collaboration link in the Course Tools box on the left.
2. Click the Archives button to the right of the Session Name.
3. To view an archive, click on the name of the archive.

Note: You can see an archive that is still being recorded (it won’t have an Archive Duration) but it may not feature everything that’s been said yet. The final archive file is created when you stop recording.

More Information

Q: I had a chat session, but now I don’t see an archive. What happened?

A: Unlike Blackboard 5.5 and previous, chat archives are no longer created automatically. To create an archive, you must press the Record button while in the chat. The archive will continue to record until you press stop--so if you want a continued archive, just enter the chat, hit record, and leave (only instructors can start recording).

Q: Why isn't there an Archive button next to my session?

A: Only collaboration sessions for which you have recorded archives will have an archive button. You will see a list of all archives available for that collaboration session. Each has an Archive Name (set when you started recording--the default is the name of the collaboration session plus the date you created the archive), the Date Created (which is the time and date you started archiving), and the Archive Duration (the difference between the time you started archiving and the time you stopped—time when the archive is paused still counts toward the value of the archive duration). If the Archive Duration is blank, this archive is still recording.

Q: What does or doesn't the Archive tool archive in a Chat session?

A: You will not see any record of drawings made on the whiteboard (in Virtual Classroom archives), nor will you see private messages (even those intended for you). If a student asks a question using the Q. & A. feature and you answer privately, you will be able to see neither the question nor the response. If you answer publicly, you will be able to see the question, but not your response (though this does’t make much sense, that’s how it goes).

Searching Archives

You can search the list of archives to find archives that meet set criteria. It appears from the panel that you can search by Archive name or Creation Date. However, the Creation Date search tool does not work.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Collaboration link in the Course Tools box on the left.
2. Click the Archives button to the right of the Session Name.
3. In the Search area, click the Archive Name or Creation Date radio button.
4. Enter your search criterion in the text box below the radio buttons.
5. Click the Search button.

More Information

Q: Why can't I get the search to work with a Start or End Date?

A: If you are searching for Start Date or End Date, be sure to enter your date in the MM –DD –YY format—note the spaces before each dash. If you omit the spaces you will get an error. However, the search function still doesn't find any matching dates—neither Start Date nor End Date seems to work.

Sorting Archives

By default, archives are organized in alphabetical order by Archive Name. However, you can also sort them by date created or duration.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Collaboration link in the Course Tools box on the left.
2. Click the Archives button to the right of the Session Name.
3. Click on the Triangle icon above Archive Name, Date Created, or Archive Duration.
   1. Sorting by Archive Name: will display archives in alphabetical order by archive name. Archives with the same name will be sorted by date of creation.
   2. Sorting by Date Created: will display archives in chronological order by creation date.
   3. Sorting by Archive Duration: will display archives from shortest to longest duration.

Note: Your current sorting option will be indicated by an orange triangle icon (the others will be white).

Modifying an Archive

If you want your students to be able to view an archive, you must make it available. By default archives are unavailable, so you must follow these steps before your students can see the archive (they will be able to see that it exists, but they will be unable to read it).

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Collaboration link in the Course Tools box on the left.
2. Click the Archives button to the right of the Session Name. Only collaboration sessions for which you have recorded archives will have an archive button.
3. Click the Manage button to the right of the archive you wish to modify.
4. You can make the archive available to students by clicking the Yes radio button in the Availability to Students area.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

More Information

Q: How do I change the name of the Archive?

A: You can change the name of the archive in the Archive Name field.

Removing an Archive

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Collaboration link in the Course Tools box on the left.
2. Click the Archives button to the right of the Session Name.
3. Click the Remove button to the right of the archive you wish to modify.
4. Click the Delete button on the confirmation page that appears.