Non-core contributed modules

Easy File Uploads - An adapted version of the Project Course Format

Details

  • Type: Improvement Improvement
  • Status: Open Open
  • Priority: Minor Minor
  • Resolution: Unresolved
  • Affects Version/s: 1.9.4
  • Fix Version/s: None
  • Component/s: Course format: Project
  • Labels:
    None
  • Database:
    MySQL
  • Affected Branches:
    MOODLE_19_STABLE

Description

This is an adapted version of the project format. Here are the changes I have made:

1. Simplified the functionality. Only the "add files and create links button" remains
2. Added a couple of line breaks so the edit directory name link is not confused with the edit summary button
3. Changed the way that a course looks in "show only one topic" view so that it matches the topic format.

I wanted to give our users an easier way of adding files to Moodle. As we felt the standard way of doing this in Moodle is confusing for users especially those with low IT skills.

We've had some really good feedback about this new method of adding files which is down to the excellent Project Course Format. I hope you find the stripped down version of this format as useful as our teachers have.

Important Notes:

When we trialled the Project Course Format we noticed a couple of points to be careful, especially when changing say from the topics format to the project format.

1. Directories : after changing to the project format, your links to files in each section will be moved into folders based on the number of the topic. This is a great bit of file management. HOWEVER: the project format will attempt to move any directories. It will update the links to new location (within the section folder) but will not actually move the folder. Which means you'll have to manually move the folder to the new location.

This is probably because you could have multiple links to the same folder on a course and it can't move it all the new locations. Its easy to fix, but caused us a lot of manual work when we changed most of our Moodle courses to the project format. Test it on a few courses with directories before you do do anything on mass would be my advice.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1.Unzip this package
2.Place the "project" folder into the course/format/ folder of your Moodle 1.9 program files
3.Place the "lang" folder and help files into the appropriate language folders of your moodledata directory
4.Go into a course where you have teacher or admin status. Click on "Course settings".
5.Change the course format to "project".
6.Turn "editing on" and you will see new icons appear.

Tested and working ok on Moodle versions: 1.9.4 & 1.9.5

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Activity

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Don Hinkelman added a comment -

Hi Mike, and thanks for all the improvements to the Project Course Format. Actually, for some reason, I never saw this until now, a whole year later. The issue is even assigned to me. The only issue in the Moodle Tracker assigned to me I believe.

Since then we have had a new version of the Project Course Format, and I am wondering if you have made other new versions to your Easy File Uploads adaptation. I am wondering how to proceed for Moodle 1.9.10 and 2.0? Do you have any suggestions.

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Don Hinkelman added a comment - Hi Mike, and thanks for all the improvements to the Project Course Format. Actually, for some reason, I never saw this until now, a whole year later. The issue is even assigned to me. The only issue in the Moodle Tracker assigned to me I believe. Since then we have had a new version of the Project Course Format, and I am wondering if you have made other new versions to your Easy File Uploads adaptation. I am wondering how to proceed for Moodle 1.9.10 and 2.0? Do you have any suggestions.
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Mike Wilson added a comment -

Hi Don,

The project format has gone down really well for us locally. Thanks again for creating it.I've demoed it at a couple of conferences in Hampshire and a lot of my regional Colleauges really like it. Not to mention staff at our College find it loads easier to use than the traditional file upload process.

I only made a few aestic changes to your code for the "Easy File Uploader" it's essentially the same code.

Changes were:
1.Commented out all buttons except the add files button
2.Added a text label to the button to draw attention to it
3.Echoed the moodle course name at the top of the course along with a small change to the language file "Course Outline For:"
4.Re-added the "Jump to" boxes from the Topics format. When you're in show only one topic view our students thought files were missing from the un-focussed sections.

The only thing I can't seem to change is that links to files are create by default to open in the same window where we'd like them to open in a new window by default. Can't for the life of me work out how to change this.

I think there's defnitely still a need for the Project Course Format in Moodle 2.0. Eventhough the interface for adding files is a greatly improved its still feels convelutted if only from a training point of view. I suppose one challenge is how the Project Course Format fits in with Category and Site file stores in Moodle 2.0.

I'd love to get the unit back-up and restore working for us too. The new QCF qualifications which are coming in, in the UK are based around flexible combination of units with assossiated credits to make up qualifications. This is instead of rigid traditional qualifications. The import / back-up section functionality you've written is perfect for the job of grabbing units from different courses and combining them to make qualifications.

Hope this helps you out. I'll uploaded the latest amendments I've made to your code and a screenshot of it in practise.

Chow for now,

Mike

Show
Mike Wilson added a comment - Hi Don, The project format has gone down really well for us locally. Thanks again for creating it.I've demoed it at a couple of conferences in Hampshire and a lot of my regional Colleauges really like it. Not to mention staff at our College find it loads easier to use than the traditional file upload process. I only made a few aestic changes to your code for the "Easy File Uploader" it's essentially the same code. Changes were: 1.Commented out all buttons except the add files button 2.Added a text label to the button to draw attention to it 3.Echoed the moodle course name at the top of the course along with a small change to the language file "Course Outline For:" 4.Re-added the "Jump to" boxes from the Topics format. When you're in show only one topic view our students thought files were missing from the un-focussed sections. The only thing I can't seem to change is that links to files are create by default to open in the same window where we'd like them to open in a new window by default. Can't for the life of me work out how to change this. I think there's defnitely still a need for the Project Course Format in Moodle 2.0. Eventhough the interface for adding files is a greatly improved its still feels convelutted if only from a training point of view. I suppose one challenge is how the Project Course Format fits in with Category and Site file stores in Moodle 2.0. I'd love to get the unit back-up and restore working for us too. The new QCF qualifications which are coming in, in the UK are based around flexible combination of units with assossiated credits to make up qualifications. This is instead of rigid traditional qualifications. The import / back-up section functionality you've written is perfect for the job of grabbing units from different courses and combining them to make qualifications. Hope this helps you out. I'll uploaded the latest amendments I've made to your code and a screenshot of it in practise. Chow for now, Mike
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Mike Wilson added a comment -

Latest edition of the easy file uploader (essentially project course format with some aestic tweaks)

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Mike Wilson added a comment - Latest edition of the easy file uploader (essentially project course format with some aestic tweaks)
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Mike Wilson added a comment -

Screenshot of changes in action

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Mike Wilson added a comment - Screenshot of changes in action

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    Updated:
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