The Blackboard Learning System includes a tool for handling the import/export and archive/restore of a great number of Courses. The tool will process a batch file that includes the Course ID and the name.
A batch file for use with the batch_ImportExport tool only has two values in each row, the Course ID and the full path to the .ZIP package associated with that course. When running an Export or Archive action the .ZIP package will be created using the specified path and file name. When running an Import or Restore action the specified path and file name, point to the .ZIP package associated with the destination Course ID.
Below are examples of the contents of a batch file for use with batch_ImportExport tool. Files should be saved as text (.txt) files.
Restore or Import:
HIST101, C:\course_archives\Archive_File_HIST101.zip
HIST201, C:\course_archives\Archive_File_HIST201.zip
HIST301, C:\course_archives\Archive_File_HIST301.zip
HIST401, C:\course_archives\Archive_File_HIST401.zip
HIST331, C:\course_archives\Archive_File_HIST331.zip
Restore and Import batch files require the exact path, including the name of the package.
Archive or Export:
HIST101, C:\course_archives\
HIST201, C:\course_archives\
HIST301, C:\course_archives\
HIST401, C:\course_archives\
Archive and Export batch files require only the path to the directory where each package will be stored. Adding the package name will result in an error.
The Batch tool for running Import/Export and Archive/Restore functions must be run from the command line. The tool must be run from the Web/app server. The command syntax is shown below.
Microsoft® Windows®:
C:\Blackboard\apps\content-exchange\bin\batch_ImportExport.bat –f <path_to_file> -l <delimiter> -t <operation> -n <virtual_hostname>
Note: Use cmd.exe to open a command line for running the tool. Running the tool from command.com will result in errors.
UNIX:
/usr/local/blackboard/apps/content-exchange/bin/batch_ImportExport.sh –f <path_to_file> -l <delimiter> -t <operation> -n <virtual_hostname>
Please note that the exact path to the Blackboard directory may be different depending on where the Blackboard Learning System was installed.
|
Argument |
Description |
|
<path_to_file> |
Enter the full path to the batch file. |
|
<delimiter> |
One of the following: · 1 -- identifies comma (,) as the delimiter. · 2 – identifies semicolon (;) as the delimiter. · 3 – identifies TAB as the delimiter. |
|
<operation> |
One of the following: · Import · Export · Restore · Archive |
|
<virtual_hostname> |
The name of the virtual installation that the tool will run against. If there are no Virtual Installations, or if this argument is not given, the tool will run against the default Virtual Installation. |