Hi there,
Platform: Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP8
Problem: Our DBA has installed the building block for Check Course Links but it doesn't appear to be doing what we expected. When we click on Packages and Utilities>Check Course Links it takes us to a "Broken Links" page instead of "Check Course Links". When we then click on OK it does show "deleted files or those with broken paths". However looking at other University guides for Check Course Link we should be presented with a page that shows "Valid Links, Repairable permissions error, Path not found, Permissions error" We do not see this page.
As we have the Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP8 installation we wondered if the full functionality of Check Course Link was only available to those with Content Management.
This would be a really useful tool during migration from WebCT CE8.
thanks in advance
Ali
Alison
Ali,
What building block did you install, exactly?
"Packages and Utilities> Check Course Links" is a built-in tool in 9.1 (SP4 and above, I think) that checks for broken links to files in the Course Files area. It does not require you to install a building block. On my SP8 server, it takes you to a "Broken links" screen. See the help at http://help.blackboard.com/instructor/Content/_instructor_content/instructor_links_course_check.htm?SearchType=Stem . The results page does not look exactly like the help seems to describe, but if I create a link to a file in Course Files and then delete the file, I do get a message about the deleted file under "Check Course Links".
The "Link Checker" building block adds a "Link Checker" tool under Course Tools, which looks for broken external links. Is that the building block that you installed?
Mike
HI there,
Our DBA has confirmed he downloaded "Link Checker" and we are happy that this tool works as it should.
Our issue is with the Check Course Links tool. We have looked at this link and that's how we know our Check Course Links is different plus the url link below references "Blackboard Content Collection" in their pdf guide. Perhaps the legend and the options on the results page only appears for those who have content management.
http://hermes.uwl.ac.uk/vle_staff_support/uploaded_docs/blackboard/course_content_link_checker.pdf
When we run Check Course Links we don't get the results page with the Legend. We are trying to test various scenarios with this tool using the "what course areas are checked?" Deleting a file test did show up but nothing else.
The document you linked to (and the help document I linked to earlier) is specifically describing to the way the tool works with Content Management. Since instructors can link to files in other courses or the content collection with Content Management, the tool reports on a broader range of status and potential problems.
In both my SP7 HF1 and SP8 servers without Content Management, I only get reports about deleted/missing files on a "Broken Links" page.