How do I export and import content from UVACanvas WordPress sites?

WordPress sites are not included in the import process when copying content from one UVACanvas course to another.

You can manually export the content from a UVACanvas WordPress site. You can import the exported content into WordPress in another UVACanvas course.

Important: If your exported WordPress site includes links to files stored within the Files tool of the original UVACanvas course, students in the course where the WordPress site is imported will not be able to access those files automatically. You will need to edit each link within WordPress to point to the equivalent file in your new Canvas course.

Export Content.

Open the Canvas course with the desired content.

Screenshot of example courses on a Canvas Dashboard. A published course is outlined.

Navigate to the Canvas course that includes the WordPress site from which you would like to export content.

Tip: If your course does not display on your Dashboard, follow the steps to find it in How do I view all my Canvas courses? (opens new window).

Go to WordPress.

Screenshot of link in menu.

Select WordPress from the Course Navigation Menu.

Open the WordPress Dashboard.

Screenshot of site title and menu
  1. Hover your cursor over the site's title in the WordPress toolbar to reveal the drop-down menu or use the Tab key on your keyboard to navigate to the toolbar, then press Enter or Return to open it.
  2. Select Dashboard from the drop-down menu.

Select Export from the Tools menu.

Screenshot showing selection of tools from left-hand menu followed by export.
  1. Hover your cursor over the Tools option in the WordPress Dashboard, or use the Tab key on your keyboard to navigate to it.
  2. Select Export.

Export file.

Screenshot showing selection of all content followed by download export file.
  1. By default, All content will be selected for export.
  2. Select Download Export File. An xml file named with the WordPress site's title and date will be downloaded to your computer.

Note: To export only the Posts, Pages or Media from the site, select one of those options and enter the requested information such as Categories, Authors, Dates, and/or Status.

Import Content.

Open the Canvas course where the content will be imported.

Screenshot of example courses on a Canvas Dashboard. An unpublished course is outlined.

Navigate to the Canvas course that includes the WordPress site where you would like to import the content.

Tip: If your course does not display on your Dashboard, follow the steps to find it in How do I view all my Canvas courses? (opens new window).

Go to WordPress.

Screenshot of link in menu.

Select WordPress from the Course Navigation Menu.

Open the WordPress Dashboard.

Screenshot showing selection of site title followed by dashboard.
  1. Hover your cursor over the site's title in the WordPress toolbar to reveal the drop-down menu or use the Tab key on your keyboard to navigate to the toolbar, then press Enter or Return to open it.
  2. Select Dashboard from the drop-down menu.

Select Import from the Tools menu.

Screenshot showing selection of tools from left-hand menu followed by import.
  1. Hover your cursor over the Tools option in the WordPress Dashboard, or use the Tab key on your keyboard to navigate to it.
  2. Select Import.

Select Run Importer.  

Screenshot showing selection of run importer.

Select Run Importer on the Import page.  

Select Choose File.

Screenshot of selecting file and then the desired file from the compupter.
  1. On the Import WordPress page, select the Choose File button.
  2. Locate and select the exported xml file on your computer.
  3. Select Open.

Select Upload file and import.

Screenshot showing selection of upload file and import.

Select import options and Submit.

Screenshot showing import options including assigning post authors, download and import file attachments, and submit.
  1. Assign Authors (Optional): By default, the author of the content being imported will be the original owner. If desired, you may select a current member in your WordPress site as the author of the content from the "or assign posts to an existing user" menu. Note: If you do not assign posts to an existing user, the original author will be automatically added to your WordPress site.
  2. Import Attachments (Optional): Select the box beside Download and import file attachments to include in the import.
  3. Select Submit.        

View confirmation.

Screenshot confirming successful import of content.

Once the import has completed, a confirmation page will appear.  

Change the Home page of your WordPress site. (Optional)

By default, the sample page or a previously selected Home page will remain the Home page of your WordPress site. After the content has been imported, you can use one of the imported pages as the Home page.

Select Customize.

Screenshot of customize selection along the top of the Wordpress page.

On the WordPress toolbar, select Customize.

Select Homepage Settings.

Screenshot showing selection of Homepage Settings from the left-hand menu.

Select a new Homepage.

Screenshot showing selection of a static page and the desired homepage from a drop-down list.

To select one of the newly imported pages as the Homepage

  1. Select A static page.
  2. From the Homepage drop-down menu, select the page you want to use as your Homepage. 

Select Publish.

Screenshot showing the selection to publish the page.

Select Publish to save your changes.

For more information on customizing your WordPress site, see How do I edit a WordPress page? (opens new window) and How do I add Pages or Posts to a WordPress site? (opens new window).