This quick-start guide explains how to download and print files from Blackboard.

Why download or print files?

Instructors often make files available to you using Blackboard, such as:

Some of these may also be provided on paper – but if you miss a lecture or lose your copy, you will have to print a copy of that document yourself.

You might also want to download and store a copy on your PC for future reference.

Downloading files to disk or your PC

If you want to download and save a copy of a file from Blackboard, you simply right-click on the link (i.e. point at the link and then click the right mouse button instead of the usual left mouse button).

A pop-up context menu appears. Left click on the Save Target As… option.

If you use Netscape rather than Internet Explorer, left click on the Save Link As… option.

Use the "Save As" dialogue box to specify the location and name of the file you want to download and save.

If you want to save the file to a CD, or jump-drive, use the drop-down 'drive' list to select the appropriate drive.

Printing files

If you want to print a file from Blackboard, you again right-click on the link.

A pop-up context menu appears. Left click on the Print Target… option.

This only works if you use Internet Explorer – so if you use Firefox or Netscape you will have to download the file, open it in another program, (such as Microsoft Word) and then print it the usual way.

Printing pages

If you want to print a page from Blackboard, you should right-click anywhere on the page’s text.

A pop-up context menu appears. Left click on the "Print" option.

In the Print dialogue box, make sure the correct printer is selected, then click the "Options" tab. Choose the "Only the selected frame" option and then click "Print" to print the page.

Again, this only works if you use Internet Explorer – so if you use Firefox or Netscape you will have to print the whole Web page (including Blackboard’s navigation buttons) using the "Print" option on the File menu.