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Exporting and Importing Learning Modules
Introduction
WebCTs Help for: Exporting Learning Module, German Version, French Version
WebCTs Help for: Importing Learning Module, German Version, French Version.
This page provides you with a step by step instruction to the exporting or importing of Learning Modules into templates or sections. Further information especially about difficulties resulting from re-importing can be found in Part 4, Chapter 22, Sect: "Exporting and Importing Learning Modules" in the Designers and Instructors Reference, Vista 4 p. 351 (pdf, 2.3 MB). Get UN & PW at edutech Vista Support.
This procedure comes in handy, when you are in the middle of the semester and would like to add new files to your template. Since sections that have been derived from a template can only show corrections on the text level. Any major additions of files in the template will not automatically appear in the section. In this case you might want to create a new Learning Module in your template and export it. This exported file can than be imported in any of your sections.
Note: Imported Learning Modules are not linked to the original Learning Module and will not be update when the original is edited.
Exporting Learning Modules
When you export a learning module using the "Export" tool, a zip file is created. The zip file, called the content package, contains XML files, XML schema files, and any content files. The content package also contains manifest files (imsmanifest.xml) which contain information about the organization of the content package.
When you export a learning module, any quizzes, surveys, self-tests, questions, and content files it contains are also exported. Any content files and assessments linked to the learning module's action menu are preserved. The learning module's settings and any linked files are also included with the content package. Any other components will not be exported.
Note: You can also export assessments (quizzes, surveys, and self-tests) and individual questions from the Questions Database tool, but not the Glossary.
- Select Learning Module in the left menu bar to navigate to the Learning Modules screen.
- Locate the one you want to export and check the box next to it.
- To export multiple learning modules:
- Next to each learning module you want to export, select the check box.
- Than click the "Export" icon. A window appears asking you specify a name for your content package.
- A pop-up window appears allowing you to select the Learning Context where you want to save the export file.
- Enter a name for your content package and click OK. The File Browser pop-up window appears.
- Navigate to the folder where you want to store the content package,
- Indicate the name of the export file and click Save. A progress bar will help you wait until the procedure is finished.
- When the export is complete you can return to the homepage with Return.
- In the File Manager you can now find export-zip file in the location you specified. Is now ready to be exported. If you are going to transfer it to another Vista installation for import, you must download the zip file from File Manager to your computer first.
Note: Vista's export-function does not always export all objects which are referenced by links in pages in the Learning Module. In this case an error message draws your attention to that fact. As a work-around solution you can enter such neglected objects in hidden form directly into the Learning Module. This forces the export-procedure to include them and when you import the export-zip into another Vista-course, the Learning Module will be complete.
Importing Learning Modules
With the "Content Import" Tool from the "Designer Tool" bar you can import Learning Modules that have been exported with the Vista "Content Export" Tool. Imported learning modules (also Content Modules steaming from a Campus Edition) are automatically added to the Learning Module tool. You can import learning modules that contain quizzes, surveys, self-tests, questions, and any content files. Any content files and assessments linked to the learning module's action menu are also preserved. The learning module's settings and any linked files are also included in the content package.
Note: Learning modules you want to import must be contained in an archive file with a .zip extension.
- Navigate to the Manage Course screen. Under Designer Tools, click Manage Course. The Manage Course screen appears.
- Click Import. The Content Browser pop-up window appears.
- Locate and select the export-zip file containing the content you want to import.
- Finish the procedure with OK. The Content Import in Progress screen appears, listing details of the import in progress.
- Come back with Return.
- The imported Learning Module can now be found in the Learning Modules Screen.

