Export and Packaging Manager

Background

The final stage in the process of creating a Learning Design Unit of Learning (UoL) is to export it as an IMS Content Package zip file. The final UoL consists of a zip file containing the following files:

  1. An XML file named imsmanifest.xml. This is an XML representation of the UoL saved according to the IMS Content Packaging and Learning Design specifications.
  2. All files that are contained in the "content" folder and any sub-folders (see File Manager).

The Export and Packaging Manager can produce the correct imsmanifest.xml file and package the content files for you. To open the Export and Packaging Manager, select the "Export" tab on the Learning Design Editor.


The Learning Design Export and Packaging Manager showing "Go!" status

 

Checking the Unit of Learning

The first stage is to check that the UoL is correct and that nothing is missing.

Click the "Check" button in the Checklist section. A full set of green ticks means that everything is OK! If there is a problem, one or more red crosses will show with a brief message indicating the problem.


The Checklist showing two problems with the UoL

You will need to go to the relevant section in the Editor to correct any problems. Once any problems have been corrected, check the UoL again by clicking on the the "Check" button in the "Checklist" section.

 

Checking the Resources

The second stage is to parse the UoL's referenced files for file dependencies.

This stage is done so that the final imsmanifest.xml file contains the correct <resource> and <file> tags in accordance with the IMS Content Package specification. It is performed at the last stage just in case any content files have been edited. This would affect file dependencies such as links to images or other html files.

Click the "Refresh" button in the Check Resources section to parse the files.


The Resources have now been parsed for any file dependencies

The default type for a Resource is set to "webcontent". If you wish to change this to "imsldcontent", for example, select the Resource and click on the "Type..." button. A dialog window will open allowing you to edit the Resource type.

 

Export the Package

The final stage is to Export the package.

Click on the "Browse..." button in the Export section to select a file name and location for the final zip file. If no file extension is specified a default extension of .zip is automatically appended to the file name.

Finally, click on the "Export" hyperlink in the Export section. You're done!


The Export section

 

See also:

Reload Learning Design Editor - The Process
Reload Learning Design Editor Concepts