There are two methods available to perform a batch copy operation. The COPYINTO Snapshot command can perform a batch copy through the Snapshot tool or a batch copy can be done through a less robust but more expedient command line tool. This topic details how to use the command line tool to perform a batch copy operation. For instructions on using Snapshot to perform a batch copy operation please see the Blackboard Learning System Advanced Integration and Data Management Manual.
By default, when a Batch Copy is performed an exact copy of the course is created. If there is existing content in the destination course, this content will remain after the copy. The Course Menu settings in the new course will depend upon the areas of the course copied
The batch file follows exactly the same format as a Snapshot flat file. The first row defines the attributes and the subsequent rows hold the data for each copy. The delimiter used in the file must match the delimiter set in the snapshot.properties file. Finally, the file must be a text file (.txt).
Example:
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY|TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY
HIST101|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID
HIST102|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID
HIST103|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID2
The EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY is an attribute used for advanced data management. If a course is created through the GUI, the EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY is simply the Course ID.
If the destination courses do not exist they must be created as part of the process or the copy will fail. To create the destination courses the COURSE_ID and COURSE_NAME attributes must be added to the batch file.
Example:
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY|COURSE_ID|COURSE_NAME|TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY
HIST101|HIST101|Introduction to American History until 1865|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID
HIST102|HIST102|Introduction to American History from 1865|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID
HIST103|HIST103|Introduction to Central American History|TEMPLATE_COURSE_ID2
The Batch tool for running Copy functions must be run from the command line. The tool must be run from the Web/app server. The command syntax is shown below.
Windows:
C:\Blackboard\tools\admin\BatchCourseCopy.cmd <path_to_file>
UNIX:
/usr/local/blackboard/tools/admin/BatchCourseCopy.sh <path_to_file>
Please note that the path to the Blackboard directory may be different based on where the Blackboard Learning System was installed.
Where <path_to_file> is the full path to the batch file that will be processed. Note that the delimiter used in the batch file must be the same delimiter in the snapshot.properties file. The default value is a pipe (|). Also, the command will only process a batch copy on the default Virtual Installation. To perform a batch copy on another Virtual Installation the COPYINTO Snapshot command must be run.