When naming items in Blackboard Ultra—such as assignments, tests, groups, smart views, or files—it’s essential to use safe characters to ensure system stability and prevent errors. Following Blackboard’s naming conventions will help avoid issues with file uploads, grade center operations, and smart views.
Safe Characters for Naming Items
To prevent errors, use only the following characters when naming Blackboard items:
✅ Allowed Characters:
- Letters: A-Z, a-z
- Numbers: 0-9
- Dash:
-
- Underscore:
_
- Dot:
.
These characters are universally supported and ensure proper system functionality.
Characters to Avoid
Certain special characters can interfere with Blackboard’s functions, causing errors in file uploads, grade calculations, and system processes. Avoid using:
🚫 Restricted Characters:
# (hash)' (apostrophe)% (percent)& (ampersand)/ (slash)\ (backslash)" (quotation mark)< > (less than, greater than)
= (equals)! (exclamation mark)? (question mark)$ (dollar sign)@ (at sign)| (pipe){ } (brackets and braces)
Using these characters can lead to issues such as broken links, system errors, and problems with grade center calculations.
Best Practices for Naming Items in Blackboard
✔ Keep names simple and descriptive – e.g., “Week_3_Quiz” instead of “Quiz #3!”
✔ Use underscores instead of spaces – e.g., “Final_Project_Submission” instead of “Final Project Submission”
✔ Avoid long filenames – Some browsers or systems may have trouble handling excessively long names.
✔ Remind students to follow these naming conventions for their file uploads to prevent submission errors.
Why Follow These Naming Guidelines?
🔹 Prevents system errors – Special characters are often reserved for programming functions in URLs, HTML, and file management systems.
🔹 Ensures compatibility – Helps maintain a smooth experience for instructors and students across different browsers and operating systems.
🔹 Reduces technical issues – Avoids problems with file uploads, grade center functions, and automated processes.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that Blackboard Ultra functions smoothly and efficiently for both instructors and students.