Course Backups

Although UBC IT makes regular backups in case of system emergencies, it is strongly recommended that instructors make their own regular backups of their courses and download copies to their computers, especially after any major course updates.

Note: A WebCT backup .ZIP file can only be read by WebCT. You cannot unzip the course to recover a particular file.

• Backing Up a Course 

• Downloading a Backup 

• Uploading a Backup

• Restoring a Backup

• Deleting a Backup

Backing Up a Course

• Login to WebCT and select the course that you want to backup. 

• Click Control Panel.

• Click Manage Course.

• Click Create backup.

• Enter a description for the backup file and click Create. 

Note: You are limited to one backup at any time on the server. If you have an existing backup, you will need to delete it before making a new one (see Deleting a Backup below).

• Click Continue.

Note that the date of the backup is automatically added to the backup filename.

Your backup is now saved on the WebCT server.  Note that you are limited to only one backup at any time on the server.

** CMS strongly recommends that you download a copy of the backup to your own computer. **

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Downloading a Backup

• Login to WebCT and select the appropriate course.

• Click Control Panel.

• Click Manage Course.

• Click Backup Course.

• Select the backup filename to be downloaded from the list on the left.

• Click Download from the right action menu.

• Save the backup file to your hard drive.
   
   

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Uploading a Backup

• Login to WebCT and select the course to upload the backup into.

• Click Control Panel.

• Click Manage Course.

• Click Backup Course.

• Click Upload Backup.

• Click Browse and locate the backup file to be restored.

• Click the backup file and click Open.

• Click Upload.

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Restoring a Backup

WARNING! Restoring a backup will wipe out any data already in the course.  Be very certain that you really want to clear all existing data and replace course content with the backup file, as there is no way to reverse the process.

• Login to WebCT and select the course with the backup to be restored.

• Click Control Panel.

• Click Manage Course.

• Click Backup Course.

• Select the backup filename to be restored from the list on the left.

• Click Reset Course. 

This restores course content into the course, while also clearing any old student data which might cause conflicts.

• Click OK to confirm restoring the backup.

IMPORTANT: Be very certain that you really want to clear all existing data and replace the course content with the backup file, as there is no way to reverse the process.

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Deleting a Backup

You are limited to one backup at any time on the server. If you have an existing backup, you will need to delete it before making a new one.

• Click Control Panel.

• Click Manage Course.

• Click Backup Course to view the backup you currently have on the WebCT server.

• Select the backup to be deleted.

• Click Delete.

• Click OK.

IMPORTANT: Be certain that you want to delete the backup. Once it is deleted, there is no way to recover it.

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