• I cannot open files posted on Blackboard. How can I access them?
• How do I turn on my Visual Text Box Editor?
• If you are working with Microsoft Office 2007, please be aware of the following issues.

I cannot open files posted on Blackboard. How can I access them?

Notes:

• Files posted/uploaded to Blackboard cannot contain special characters (e.g. #, &, @, etc.) or spaces in the filename. For example, a file named "Paper # 1.doc" will generate an error message in Blackboard. If you suspect that you cannot open files in Blackboard because your instructor has uploaded a file that has special characters and/or spaces in it, please inform your instructor and ask them to check on this.
• Make sure uploaded files contain the three-letter extension at the end of the filename (e.g. .doc, .pdf, .xls, .ppt, .gif, .jpg).

Blackboard allows instructors to post content in an array of file types. In order for students to view a file posted in Blackboard, however, the student must have the appropriate application or browser plug-in. For example, for students to view a Microsoft Word document on Blackboard, he/she must have either the Microsoft Word application on the computer or have the Microsoft Word Viewer (free downloadable program).

Students can download free applications/plug-ins to access files in these formats:

• Adobe Reader for viewing .pdf files (Windows & Mac)
• Apple Quicktime (Windows | Mac)
• Microsoft Media Player (Windows | Mac)
• Microsoft Excel Viewer (Windows)
• Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer (Windows)
• Microsoft Word Viewer (Windows | Mac)
• RealPlayer (Windows & Mac - click on "RealPlayer - Free")

How do I turn on my Visual Text Box Editor?

• Log in to Blackboard.
• Click on "Personal Information" on the left side of "My Blackboard Desktop."
• Click on the "Set Visual Text Box Editor Options" link.
• Under "Manage Visual Text Box Editor," select "Available."
• Click on "Submit."

If you are working with Microsoft Office 2007, please be aware of the following issues.

When uploading Microsoft Office 2007 Documents on Bb please make sure that they are compatible with previous versions of MS Office.

When saving MS Office documents, please save them as MS Office 97-2003 files (97-2003 compatible files will have the *.doc, *.xls, *.ppt, etc. extensions, whereas MS Office 2007 files have the *.docx, *.xlsx, *pptx, etc. extensions). We recommend that you take the steps below in order for your documents to be compatible with computers that do not have MS Office 2007 installed on them. Please make 97-2003 format the default by doing the following:

• Click on the Save button in your document.
• "Save As" window will open.
• Click on Tools (lower left corner) and select "Save Options".
• Next to "Save files in this format:" from the drop-down menu select the option that has the "97-2003" compatibility option (i.e. *.doc, *.xls, *.ppt).
• Click "OK".