Blackboard: Dealing with Duplicate Course Menu Links
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Duplicate Course Menu Links

When you perform a Course Copy or Export/Import into a new course shell, Blackboard copies all the items you have selected from the source course into the destination course. This is great, except Blackboard doesn't overwrite the Course Menu in the destination course. This means that you may see duplicate links in your new Course Menu.

Original course menu from the source course.	Menu from the destination course after the course was copied. Notice the multiple duplicate course menu items.

For example, you may notice that you have two Course Information links.  The one near the top may be empty, and the one further down the menu will have your content.  After carefully examining the duplicate links, you may simply delete the one without content. 

If you have two tool links (such as Discussion Board), you will find that they are identical. You may delete either one.

To delete a link from the menu, click the small chevron button to the right of the menu item and choose Delete.

Questions

How can I tell what I can safely remove?

If it is a tool, you can delete either instance.  Common "tools" on the course menu are Home Page, Announcements, Discussion Board, Send Email, and My Grades.

You must be careful with duplicate content links.  One link will have content and the other may not.  Check them both to make sure you are deleting the right one.  Common "content" areas are Syllabus, Course Information, Assignments, and Assessments.

Other duplicates are external web page links. Remove either instance. Common external links are My Email@dupage.edu, Blackboard Help and Library Resources

I'm confused about...

If you have questions, please contact the Help Desk, 630-942-4357.