Gradebook Action Menu
You can export scores from the Gradebook and download them to your computer as a CSV file.
Notes about CSV files:
- Some columns that appear in the CSV file are read-only columns calculated by rules or percentages set in Canvas. Any changes made to these columns will be ignored when you re-upload the file to your course.
- For assignment group columns, changes made to assignment scores will automatically be included in the assignment group calculation in the Gradebook.
- The Total Score displayed in the Gradebook reflects each student's score at the time of viewing, taking into account whether the instructor has hidden assignment scores, assignment due dates, etc. The CSV download includes read-only columns for current and final scores. Current score reflects the total while ignoring unsubmitted assignments, and the final score counts unsubmitted assignments as zero. Assignments with hidden scores are unposted grades and shown in separate columns for unposted current score and unposted final score, respectively.
- If a student has submitted an assignment multiple times, the CSV file only accounts for the most recent submission.
- Concluded and inactive enrollments are not included in the CSV file unless their respective option, Show Concluded Enrollments or Show Inactive Enrollments, is enabled in the Gradebook Settings menu.
- Complete/incomplete assignments are shown as full or no credit (e.g. for a 10-point assignment, 10 or 0).
- If you have the Final Grade Override option enabled in your course, the Gradebook export will include the override grade. Changes to the Final Grade Override display in the import confirmation page.
- Gradebook export files automatically save to your user files in an Unfiled folder.
- If you have set manual grade posting policies for specific assignments, those assignments will display the posting policy in the CSV file. However, the grade posting policy cannot be modified via the CSV file.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Grades link.
2. Click the Actions menu, then click the Export link.
When the export is completed, Canvas will download the CSV file automatically to your computer.
If you navigate away from the page during the export, the CSV file will appear as a previous download in the Actions menu so it can be downloaded again. The Gradebook will show the date and time you requested the export.
If you made changes to the Gradebook after exporting a file and want to export a new file, click the Export link again.
Notes:
- Gradebook export files include the date and time of the download to differentiate between multiple exports. The export filename format is YYYY-MM-DDTHHMM, followed by the course name.
- Gradebook export files automatically save to your user files in an Unfiled folder.
Edit Scores
Edit the scores in Microsoft Excel. Make sure to save the file as a CSV file type.
Once you have made changes, you can upload it to your course.
View Read-Only Columns
The CSV download includes read-only columns displaying current and final scores. These columns display for each assignment group in a course and for final course grades.
- Current Points: Reflects points for graded assignments
- Final Points: Reflects points for all assignments
- Current Score: Reflects scores for graded, posted assignments
- Unposted Current Score: Reflects scores for graded assignments and includes hidden assignments
- Final Score: Reflects overall score including unsubmitted assignments as zero but excluding hidden assignments
- Unposted Final Score: Reflects total score, including unsubmitted assignments as zero and hidden assignments
- Current Grade: Reflects course grade based on graded, posted assignments
- Unposted Current Grade: Reflects course grade based on graded assignments, including hidden assignments but excluding unsubmitted assignments
- Final Grade: Reflects overall course grade including unsubmitted assignments as zero but excluding hidden assignments
- Unposted Final Grade: Reflects overall course grade, including unsubmitted assignments as zero and hidden assignments
You can use a CSV file to upload changes to the Gradebook. You can upload information for existing assignments, or you can also use a CSV file to create new assignments in the Gradebook. New assignments will automatically be published in your course. If you do not know how to save a file in a CSV format, please check the documentation for the program you are using to create your Gradebook changes (e.g., Excel).
If you don't want to create a new CSV file, you can always download the CSV from Canvas, change it, and re-upload the same file and the changes you made will appear in Canvas once you re-upload the CSV file.
If you create a column for a new assignment, Canvas will ask how you want to import the assignment. New assignments upload with the following settings:
- Assignment Group: Assignments
- Submission Type: No submission
- Due date for: Everyone
Notes:
- The Gradebook CSV file downloads complete/incomplete assignments as full or no credit (e.g. for a 10-point assignment, 10 or 0). Scores with full or partial credit upload as a complete assignment; scores with zero upload as an incomplete assignment.
- CSV file uploads can create assignments and update grades; they cannot update any other area of the Gradebook, such as assignment status, comments, or grade posting policies.
- Letter Grade and GPA Scale assignments do not support any entries that are not part of the assignment's grading scheme.
- All changes made to non-read-only columns are included in the upload. However, read-only columns are automatically ignored in the upload.
- An upload will not recognize assignments named Current Score, Current Points, Final Score, Final Points, or Final Grade.
- To upload changes to the Gradebook with student or assignment names containing special characters, please ensure the file is saved as a UTF-8 CSV.
- CSV file uploads ignore reserved column names as well as hidden and deleted custom columns. Reserved column names include Student, ID, SIS User ID, SIS Login ID, Section, Integration ID, and Root Account.
View Example CSV File
For new files, save the file as Grades-Course_Name.csv.
Required columns and order
- Student Name
- Student ID
- SIS User ID (only required if you use SIS)
- SIS Login ID (only required if you use SIS)
- Section
- Assignment (this can be for an existing assignment or a new assignment; retain IDs for existing assignments)
1. In Course Navigation, click the Grades link.
2. Click the Actions menu and then click the Import button.
3. Click the Choose File or Browse button (depending on your browser).
4. Locate the CSV file [1] then click the Open button [2].
5. Click the Upload Data button.
If you add a new column to the CSV file and then upload the file, Canvas will ask you what you want to do with the new column. In the drop-down menu, choose the A new assignment option [1]. Then assign the number of points possible [2]. Click the Continue button [3].
Notes:
- New assignments created via a CSV file upload are automatically published and maintain the course posting policy.
6. Review the changes made to your Gradebook [1].
If you upload assignments with no grade changes, they will be hidden from the upload.
Click the Save Changes button [2].
View the updated data in the Gradebook.