The Assignment tool in Blackboard contains an Item Download feature, which allows instructors to download all student submissions to your computer in a ZIP file.

AssignmentItemDownloadError

In some cases, the error message is caused by a faulty file submitted by the student. Please check to see that none of the file names contain odd characters such as %. If so, resetting the assignment and asking the student to resubmit the assignment may clear up the error message.

In other cases, there is a possibility that there is an issue with this feature which is converting spaces in Assignment titles to plus (+) signs in the ZIP filename (example: Draft+1+Essay.zip). Blackboard cannot parse special characters like plus signs, so attempting to download the ZIP file will result in an error.

As of February 17, 2009, we are still looking into the problem. Until then, here is a workaround:

Rename your assignment to remove the space:

1. In the Control Panel, go to the Content Area where your assignment is located.
2. Click the Modify button to the right of the assignment.
3. Remove the space from the assignment Name and click Submit.
4. Follow the Item Download instructions.

For more details on this bug, check out TLT Blackboard Support Blog (although note that the first workaround listed does not work for our server).

Problem: When I try to view a specific forum within the discussion board, I get the following message: “There are no accessible items or items that match the search criteria to display.” It’s as if all of the postings for the specific forum have disappeared.

Possible Solution: Try going to the Tree View (Top, right once inside the forum) and Expand All (bottom, left of the same page). This would usually show all of the posts and take away that “no accessible items” message.

Sample scenario: “I copied the discussion board questions from my summer site.  I now want to change the due dates, but am getting this message: The connection for the gradebook has been lost. It must be redefined in Modify Forum. For reference, the Error ID is 3e5b88fc-2c8c-4bd6-a634-2b135a9f700a.”

This problem usually occurs when a particular forum is marked for grading but the “Gradebook Items and Settings” was not checked during a Course Copy. If you have any items linked to the Gradebook, be sure to select “Gradebook Items and Settings.”

To fix this, there are a few options including deleting all of the Discussion Forums and then using the Course Copy tool again (selecting only “Discussion Board,” Gradebook Items and Settings, and if you have any tests, “Tests, Surveys and Tools”). However, you may need to remove duplicate Gradebook items afterwards. The cleanest way to fix this is for the Bb System Administrator to delete the site, create a new one, and then the instructor uses the Course Copy tool again – but this time be sure to select everything in the Course Copy tool.

Contact ITC Blackboard Support Staff

This problem may have been caused by copying and pasting content with hidden font. This may be rectified by formatting through copying the content back into Word or a web-editor (whichever was used to create the content). Once inside the other program, clear the formatting completely (in Word you can do this in the top toolbar). Unfortunately, this will clear the colors, etc. used as well, but it should bring everything back within the screen view. Instead of pasting the content back into the same Blackboard item, remove the previous one and create a new item for the Syllabus.

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