Canvas Release Notes – 8/5/2017

Posted on Posted in Bug Fix, New Feature, New Tool, Updates

The August 5th, 2017 release notes introduces several new features and bug fixes. If you would like to learn more about the items listed, please continue reading below. You can view the full release notes here:

2017-08-05 New Feature Screencast from Canvas LMS on Vimeo.

Assignments

Late and Missing Status Labels

The submission details page, student Grades page, and SpeedGrader display labels for missing submissions. Additionally, areas that already displayed labels for late assignments have been updated to reflect the same styling. Assignments cannot be identified as both missing and late. If an assignment has not been submitted by the due date, the assignment is identified as missing. If the assignment is submitted after the due date, the assignment is identified as late.

Submission Details Page

In the submission details page, the label for a late assignment has been updated to reflect the same styling.

Assignment Submission Details Page in Canvas with Late and Missing Status Labels

Student Grades Page

The student Grades page includes a new Status column that displays the labels for late and missing assignments.

Student Grades in Canvas with Late and Missing Status Labels

SpeedGrader

In SpeedGrader, late assignments include a label with updated styling but also still includes the current styling with the text, which will be removed in a future release. However, if an assignment is re-submitted, the submission information retains the existing styling only.

SpeedGrader examples of late and missing labels

Other Updates

Languages

Icelandic

Icelandic (Íslenska) has been added as an available language in Canvas.

ext. Canvas code has been updated to retain absolute Canvas URLs when added in the Rich Content Editor.

Fixed Bug

Accessibility

Assignments

The tooltip for Multiple Dates displays every time a user views the link. Additionally, local and course due dates are read by screen readers.

Conversations

When a user archives a conversation, the action includes a confirmation alert read by screen readers.

Course Import

Closed caption files included in videos are retained in course copies.

Course Navigation

Course navigation links are read to screen readers with the same name as displayed visually in the navigation menu.

Course Settings

In the App tab, app names can be read by screen readers. Additionally, the lock icon identifies which app has been locked by an admin.

When high contrast is enabled, Course Settings links are underlined by default.

Dashboard

Canvas displays unstyled browser-native scrollbars. If the preference in the browser has not been disabled, scrollbars display on demand when a user starts to scroll.

Developer Keys

The icons for each developer key do not display as faded except for the hover state. Additionally, the Add Developer Key link has been changed to a button for consistency throughout Canvas.

Grading

In the grading periods search field, the notification for the number of results does not interrupt other alerts in the page.

If a name is not provided for a grading period, an error message is read by screen readers.

Quizzes

Thumbnail images are displayed for recorded and uploaded media comments. Additionally, media comments can be expanded to a viewable size.

In question banks, the icons for each question bank do not display as faded except for the hover state. Additionally, the View Bookmarked Banks button has been changed to the See My Bookmarked Banks button.

Assignments

Student Overrides with Identical Due Dates

When an assignment is being edited, all student overrides within the assignment display in the Assigned To section.

Explanation: When an assignment included multiple student overrides with the same due date, the student names could be hidden when editing the assignment. Canvas code has been updated to always show students assigned to the assignment even with identical due dates.

Calendar

Group Editing Options

Students cannot view editing options for group appointments.

Explanation: When the new scheduler is enabled, students enrolled in a group appointment were able to view editing options for the group, though attempting to edit the group generated an unauthorized error. Canvas code has been updated to correct Scheduler permissions and hide group editing buttons to students.

Past Scheduler Appointments

Students cannot reschedule past Scheduler appointments.

Explanation: When the new scheduler is enabled, students were able to reschedule appointments in the past to future appointments. Canvas code has been updated to remove the Reschedule button for an appointments in the past.

Course Import

Course Card Images

Importing a common cartridge package into a course multiple times does not affect the course card image.

Explanation: When a common cartridge package was copied into a course multiple times, if the course included a course card image, the image would be removed from the course. Canvas code has been updated to not delete identical existing files and retain course card images when re-importing the course.

Graded Discussion Until Date

The Discussions index page only displays Until Dates for graded discussions that include an Until Date.

Explanation: When a graded discussion included an Until Date, but the date was later removed, the Discussions page continued to display the Until Date. Canvas code has been updated to only display Until Dates for graded discussions that include an Until Date.

Files

Document Previews

Canvas defines content type to display previews in DocViewer.

Explanation: When specific text-based documents were uploaded to Canvas via assignment submission or conversation attachment, the content type was defined as an application and would not preview in DocViewer. This behavior did not affect documents uploaded to Canvas via files or discussion attachments. Canvas code has been updated to include content type in uploaded documents.

Locked Media Files

Media files can only be previewed if the files are unlocked to students.

Explanation: When a locked media file was embedded in an assignment, discussion, or quiz, the media file was still able to be previewed by students. Canvas code has been updated to include a no-preview parameter to media files and only display previews when they are not locked.

Reports

Trust Account Enrollments in Provisioning and SIS Export Reports

Provisioning and SIS Export reports show user enrollments associated with trust accounts.

Explanation: When the provisioning and SIS export reports were generated for an account, user enrollments did not display for enrollments in trust accounts. Canvas code has been updated to support enrollments in trust accounts.

Rich Content Editor

Absolute URLs

Absolute Canvas URLs are retained in the Rich Content Editor.

Explanation: When an absolute Canvas URL is added to the Rich Content Editor, saving the page updates the URL to the current course context. Canvas code has been updated to retain absolute Canvas URLs when added in the Rich Content Editor.

 


Next release schedule

  • Beta release and notes: August 14
  • Production release notes: August 21
  • Production release and documentation: August 26