FAQ: Content
FAQ: ContentAll your course files are stored in the Manage Files area. Students cannot access your Manage Files area, however; you must create links on a Content Menu. You create and manage Content Menu links in the Manage Content areas, and you view the Content Menu in the View Content area.
Links on the Content Menu, which ICON calls Topics, are organized into folders called Content Modules. By default, ICON displays the word Unit before each Content Module name. For example:
Unit First Module Name
Topic 1 (file)
Topic 2 (file)
Topic 3 (external web page)
Unit Second Module Name
Topic 1 (file)
Topic 2 (file)
For an illustrated overview of how the Content tool works, see the Online Help section Posting Content Files in ICON – Overview.
That depends on how many files you’re planning to post.
If you’re posting only one file at a time, you can upload it from within the Manage Content area. ICON will create a link on the Content Menu and save the actual file in the Manage Files area. For instructions, see the Online Help section Uploading and Posting a Single File (“Topic”).
If you’re planning to post multiple files, you can upload them directly to your Manage Files area and then go to the Manage Content area and create the links on the Content Menu. This approach allows you to upload multiple files at once. It also allows you to create multiple links in the Content area with a single action. For instructions, see the Online Help section Uploading and Posting Multiple Files ("Topics").
Keep in mind that your files will not be available to students until you create a link in the Content Menu. For instructions, see Uploading and Posting Multiple Files ("Topics").
Important: If you plan to use custom javascript code in your html files, make sure that you have a backup copy of your files on your computer before opening them with ICON's built-in HTML editor. The editor will break and overwrite javascript code it does not understand.
If your course has many content files, you can make the Content area more user friendly by displaying the file links in the sidebar instead of in the main Content Menu. Not only will this save scrolling, but all the links for the module will be visible while the student is viewing files. For step-by-step instructions, see the Online Help section Adding and Formatting Content Modules
Yes. ICON requires that all links in the Content Menu (which students use to access files) be posted inside Content Modules. So even if you post only one file, you’ll need to start by creating a Content Module to put the link in. For instructions on creating a Content Module, see the Online Help section Adding and Formatting Content Modules.
Yes. Click Content in the NavBar and then click the 
Settings link at right. Make your changes and click Save.
If the filename is too long (more than 124 characters, counting the extension), or if there is a space at the beginning of the filename, or if the filename contains one of the following illegal characters, the file will not download from the Content Menu:
" * / : < > ? \ | ' & ; *
Other common reasons a file will not download:You can fix this problem easily by editing the filename:
Rename icon.For further assistance, call the ITS HelpDesk at 384-HELP.
You can post links to electronic library reserve materials in your course Content area. Upon request, selected reserve staff will add the files to your Manage Files area (which your students cannot see). Then you create links for students in your Content Menu.
For step-by-step instructions on allowing Reserve staff access and posting the links in the Content Menu, see the Online Help section Adding Library Reserve Materials.
Some instructors convert PPT files to Articulate because Articulate works better on the web. But students must have the Flash Player to view these files. Students who don’t have Flash Player can download it from http://adobe.com.
You can put RSS feed links in a Widget on your course homepage or on an HTML page in your Content Menu. For step-by-step instructions, see the Online Help section, Adding RSS Feeds.