Import your content as items

• The import process creates one assignable item in the Item Library for each question/answer set in a file. For example, if an import file has one essay and two multiple choice questions, the tool creates three items in the library.
• Default imported item names — By default, item names are the name of the imported file, followed by a three-digit number (for example, filename-001 filename-002, and filename-003). If you import a file more than once, items have the same name in the library as those originally imported, but the originals are not overwritten.
• When you batch import your questions they're categorized as My Items in the Item Library. Only you can see these items unless you assign them. After you assign them, Section instructors with the Assignments privilege can see, copy, or edit them.
• Items you import are not automatically associated with a chapter, unless you assign all of the items to a single chapter. (See step 7 in the import items instructions below.) To assign chapters later, see Specify chapters and sections for your items.

Watch a video: Import custom content as a batch of questions

1. Create an RTF file that follows the import guidelines for supported characters, formats, symbols, styles, and images.

   You can import files that are 6 MB or less. If your file is larger, do one of the following.

   • Break it into several files and import each one separately.
   • Save the file in .zip format. If the ZIP file is less than 6 MB you can import it.
2. Correctly format your multiple choice questions, essay questions, and TestGen assessments for importing.
3. Select Instructor Tools then Item Library from the Modified Mastering course menu.

   For Mastering courses, select Item Library from the course menu.

4. Select Import Items (page bottom) next to "Can't find what you need?".
5. Select Browse and identify the .rtf file to import.
6. Choose Import.
   • For security reasons, some browsers display a message with "fakepath" and "filename.rtf" instead of the real path and file name: "Your file c:\fakepath\filename.rtf is being imported. Please wait."
   • The file should be imported correctly. This message does not indicate a problem.
7. When the import is complete, the system displays the number of items imported.

   If the import wasn't successful — Follow the suggestions displayed to correct any errors, check Troubleshooting importing issues, and import the file again.

8. Either associate all imported items with a single chapter or associate items with different chapters.
   
   • Associate items with a single chapter — Select a Chapter and Section, and select Save. Use this option when you want to assign all questions to the same chapter.
   • Associate items with multiple chapters — Select Done if you don't want to associate a chapter for some or all items or if you want to associate your items with different chapters later.

1. Select Instructor Tools then Item Library from the Modified Mastering course menu.

   For Mastering courses, select Item Library from the course menu.

2. If you didn't specify a chapter for the item, select No Chapter Specified for Chapter.

   If you did specify a chapter, select the chapter and then choose  My Items from the Item Type (any) content filter area.

   You cannot search for the imported items using the New content characteristic.

3. Select the item's title to view the item.
4. To revise an item, open it in the Simple Editor.

   For example, you can add or change characters or formats that the import process doesn't support.

• Check all expressions, equations, and symbols after importing.
  Whether these characters are imported correctly depends on the coding that your word processor used to produce them. You may have to open the item in the Simple Editor to add these characters after importing.
• You can change the order using the Simple Editor. First, edit the part or hint question, and then select the  lock icon for the list. (The import process does not randomize the order of multiple choice answers.)

You can associate a chapter and section for your items based on the book for the current course. This is most efficient if you have multiple items to include in the same chapter. When you select a chapter, the library shows both publisher items and items you imported, copied, or created for the selected chapter.

You can associate all items with a single chapter when importing, or later from the Item Library.

• To associate the same chapter and section for all items just imported, choose a chapter and section at the end of the import process.
• To associate different chapters and sections for items just imported, you can do this later from the Item Library. See Associate your items with chapters and sections.

Not all books have sections. You can only specify a section if the current course book in the Item Library has them.

Copying a course to a new edition results in the No Chapter Specified categorization for all My Items. After you search the Item Library by No Chapter Specified for My Items, you can select Edit Chapter/Section above any item title to associate it with the appropriate chapter or section in the new edition course.