The Course Link Checker allows Instructors to check the links to Content Collection items that have been added to a course. For example, if an item in the Content Collection is removed after the Instructor has created a link to the item in a course, the Course Link Checker will detect this and make the Instructor aware of the broken link. Depending on the situation, some broken links may be repaired; while others may not.
When a link to a Content Collection item is added to a course, All Course Users are given Read permission to this item in the Content Collection. When the Course Link Checker is run, the only permission that is checked is Read permission for All Course Users.
Instructors have the option of enabling or disabling the Course Link Checker for each of their courses. The tool is disabled by default when a course is created. The following steps explain how to enable the Course Link Checker:
Open the Control Panel for a Blackboard Learning System course.
Select Manage Tools under Course Tools.
Select Enable Blackboard Tools.
Select the check box under Available for Check CS Links and click Submit.
Note: The System Administrator may disable the Course Link Checker for the entire system. This tool will not be available within courses if it is disabled by the Administrator.
Items may be added to courses through the Add Content Collection option available in Content Areas, or through the third row action buttons available in the Text Box Editor. The Course Link Checker will detect any broken links that appear for content added through the Add Content Collection option.
The Course Link Checker will detect any broken links added to the following areas through the Text Box Editor:
Content Areas (for example, Course Documents, Course Information, and Assignments)
Announcements, Calendar Events and Tasks
Learning Units
Discussion Boards
Note: Links to Content Collection items added to Assessments (including Tests, Surveys and Questions Pools) are not checked by the Course Link Checker.
If links to Content Collection items are added to a course, it is important that the Course Link Checker is run on a periodic basis. This is especially true after a course is copied, restored or imported. Users with access to the items in the Content Collection may move and remove items, or modify the permissions on an item. These actions may impact the validity of a link to the item in a course.
For example, when a link to a Content Collection item is added to a course, all course users are automatically granted Read permission to the item in the Content Collection. If this permission is later removed by a user who has Manage permission to the item, selecting the link within the course will result in an error message.
Running the Course Link Checker is a very simple operation.
Open the Control Panel, and select Check CS Links under Course Tools.
Select Submit on the Course Link Checker page. This operation may take a few minutes to run; the length of the process depends on the number of links within a course.
Read the results and repair broken links
After the Course Link Checker is run, a results page will appear, explaining the status of each link to a Content Collection item. Some broken links may be fixed by the Instructor, while others may not.
Legend
Description and Resolution
Valid Link. These items are linked successfully and do not require any further action.
Repairable permissions error. All Course Users do not have Read permission to these Content Collection items. When a user attempts to access this link in a course, a ‘File Not Found’ error will appear. The Instructor has Manage permission to the items and can therefore repair these links. Select the check boxes next to these items and click Repair. The system will grant Read permission to these items to All Course Users.
Path not found. The items have been moved, removed or renamed within the Content Collection. The links are broken and the Instructor should remove them from the course. If the new locations or names of the items are known, new links may be created.
Permissions error. The links to the items are valid but All Course Users do not have Read permission to these Content Collection items. The Instructor does not have Manage permission to the items and cannot repair these links. The Instructor should remove these links from the course or contact a user with Manage permissions to these items to add the appropriate permission.