Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
The University of Washington recommends removing unused and duplicate files in Canvas regularly. In the context of accessibility, it's important because the iSchool and the University are using site-scanning accessibility checkers to track and report progress in our accessibility goals. These tools don't differentiate between files in use and not in use and therefore results don't necessary reflect the actually accessibility levels. Other reasons for cleaning up Canvas sites include the below.
Reduces the chance instructors will be addressing accessibility issues unnecessarily on unused content
Instructors spend less time sorting through clutter to update content.
Reduces the chance that students accidentally open an outdated syllabus, reading, or assignment.
Canvas courses have file storage quotas. Removing unused content frees up space for updated materials, multimedia, or future course development.
Fewer unnecessary files can improve page load times and reduce lag.
When reusing a course shell in future semesters, a clean site prevents old, irrelevant, or incorrect materials from being carried over.
Tools for Canvas Site Clean Up
Tools for Canvas Site Clean Up
TidyUP
TidyUP
All iSchool courses now have the TidyUP link on the course navigation as shown in the image to the right. (If for some reason you do not please see "How do I manage course navigation links." to learn how to enable it.)
This tool helps identify and remove unused files, empty folders, and outdated pages, leading to better organization, improved performance, and increased digital accessibility for students. The below link is an excellent resource from the UW College of Education about TidyUP and how to use it.
Working on Accessibility in Your Course? Start with TidyUp!
Tips to Help You Relax While Deleting Content
Put your mind at ease that there are multiple ways to back up your files and restore mistakenly deleted ones.
The method that uses the TidyUP tool for this is described in the link above.
If you have previous versions of the course, all the files still live there for five years, and can be accessed and imported if needed.
Before deleting anything, reate a backup of your course to your computer for a worst case scenario that can be re-uploaded into back into Canvas. How do I export a Canvas course?
Canvas Native Tools
Canvas Native Tools
Pages
The "Pages Index Page" in every Canvas site provides a list of all pages, publish status, last edit date, and checkmarks to select and bulk delete unwanted pages.
How do I use the Pages Index Page?
How do I delete pages in a course?
Files
Similarly, you can do the same with course files
How do I delete a file or folder in Files?
Tips to Help You Relax While Deleting Content
Put your mind at ease that there are multiple ways in Canvas to back up your files and restore mistakenly deleted ones.
Go to your course home page and add a forward slash and the text "undelete." (https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1865095/undelete)Canvas will populate a list of all deleted files with a "Restore" icon.
Before deleting anything, create a backup of your course to your computer for a worst case scenario that can be re-uploaded into back into Canvas. How do I export a Canvas course?
If you have previous versions of the course, all the files still live there for five years, and can be accessed and imported if needed!
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