Problem: When I upload my document to a Canvas assignment folder, the formatting changes. When my instructor views the document in the DocViewer in Canvas, it does not look the same as it does on my computer.
Solution: There are several reasons why this may be occurring. Most commonly, it is because the file source or format you are using is incompatible with Canvas.
Canvas's assignment folders can only accept certain types of files. To learn why types of files Canvas will accept, review their guidelines for what types of media and files can be submitted to an assignment folder.
Important: Canvas does not accept files created in Mac applications, such as documents from Pages or Keynote. Turnitin has similar restrictions.
Let's look at some specific situations where formatting may be shifting when an item is uploaded to Canvas.
A heavily graphic object, such as a PowerPoint or Google Slide with many images, non-standard fonts or fonts that were not embedded into the presentation, or other technical features (narration, video, etc.)
- Formatting may not convey with the uploaded file. The best solution is to save the object as a PDF and upload the PDF to the assignment folder.
- Why a PDF? A PDF preserves formatting because they are self-contained, saving all the information needed to display the document within the file itself. This includes fonts and color definitions, which are not always saved in other file formats.
- An instructor may be unable to hear narration or view embedded video. The best solution, in the case of a narrated slide deck is to export it from your slide deck program as a video.
- Why a video? A video file (.mp4) is playable in Canvas and preserves audio, music, transitions, animations, narration, and formatting. It effectively "plays" the slide deck for the viewer.
A Google Doc or Pages document's formatting changes when uploaded to a Canvas assignment folder.
While the ability to upload directly from Google Docs is nice ... it's problematic. There are known issues when uploading directly from Google Docs. That is because for the Google Doc to be viewable in Canvas, it has to be converted to a file format that Canvas understands. Canvas actually converts the file to Microsoft Word ... which can cause some mayhem in the formatting.
In the case of Pages, it is simply incompatible with the assignment folder.
What to do?
The best practice regarding Google Docs is to not submit directly via the Google Drive area in the assignment folder.
Instead, download the Google Doc as a PDF (File/Download/PDF Document.)
Then upload the PDF to the assignment folder.
- The document's formatting is preserved as a PDF.
- The assignment folder is happy to take a PDF.
- Turnitin works well with PDFs.
In the case of a Pages document, you can export it as a Word document or PDF, and then upload it to the assignment folder.
TLDR: Export as a PDF and upload it to the assignment folder.