Display a File in a Canvas Page

Last updated on April 3, 2024

In an online course, you’ll often encounter situations where you need to share files with students, such as PDFs, Word documents, Powerpoints, or Excel spreadsheets. In these situations, you can display the file in a page in Canvas and include text before it to establish context, such as directions for its use or an explanation of its relevance to the course. This is better than simply adding the file to a module directly since it improves student understanding of why the file is being presented and what it’s for. However, if practical, it is recommended that you simply copy and paste information from the file directly into the page for maximum compatibility with various devices and accessibility software. See our Copy a File into a Canvas Page tutorial for more information.

Directions

1. Log-in to Canvas.
2. Select the Course you would like to work in.
3. Click Modules in the left-hand course navigation menu. 
4. Locate the Module you would like to add a page containing a file to.
5. Click the + icon in the top right-hand corner of the module.
6. Select Page from the drop-down menu.
7. Select Create Page at the top of the list of pages.
8. Enter a Title for the page.
9. Click the Page you just created at the bottom of the module.
10. Click Edit in the top right-hand corner.
11. Enter any Text you would like to appear before the file.
    • For example, you could include instructions on what to do with the file, a citation for where you got the file, or your own commentary on the content.
12. Move your Cursor to where you want the file to appear.
13. Click Insert in the toolbar just below the title.
14. Hover over Document.
15. Click Upload Document.
16. Click the Upload File box.
17. Locate the File saved on your computer.
18. Double-click the File.
19. Click Submit in the bottom right-hand corner.
    • The file will now appear as a hyperlink on the page and there are some additional steps to turn on the in-page preview.
20. Click the File Link.
21. Click Link Options.
22. Click Preview In Line.
23. Click Expand Preview by Default.
24. Click Done in the bottom right-hand corner.
25. Click Save and Publish in the bottom right-hand corner when you are done editing the page.