The Archive Course feature allows you to archive your courses and save them in .zip format. The .zip files can be stored on a disc or hard drive and can be reloaded into Blackboard for future use. This feature is useful if you want to keep a copy of a course for future reference, or if you have developed a summer or special session version that may not be used again for a year or more.

Note: Archiving a course does not remove the original from the system

From the Control Panel:

1. Click the Archive Course link in the Course Options section.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
3. On the next page, download the archived course by either:
   1. On a MAC - click and hold on the link and choose Download Link to Disc.
   2. On a PC - right-click on the link and choose Save Target As or Save Link Target As.

More Information

Q: Are student records kept with the archive?

A: No, student records are not saved in the archive. Be sure to export your gradebook and any other pertinent student records at the end of every semester.

Q: One of my options is to save the Groups. If student records are not kept, what is kept in the Groups section?

A: The names and settings for each group are saved, along with any discussion forums that have been set up for those groups.

Q: Do I need to archive my course?

A: Yes. You should archive your course as a backup whenever you add a significant amount of content, just as you would back up other computer files. This is the best way for Blackboard Support to restore you course if necessary.

Q: Can I open the archive outside of Blackboard?

A: No, the .zip file can only be read by the Blackboard system.