Bulk Actions/Mass Actions

Summary

ThereUsing areBulk waysActions in Moodle 4.5 streamlines tasks like reorganizing, hiding, or recycling content across your courses. Here’s how to bulkuse updateBulk Actions (Bulk Edit Mode) assignmentin datesMoodle 4.5 to efficiently manage multiple activities, resources, or sections within a course.

This Guide Will Help You to:

• Learn what Bulk Actions can and othercannot settingsdo.
• How to Use Bulk Actions
• Bonus: Mass Actions Block 
• See It in Moodle,Action
which
• Tips canfor saveUsing
you

✅ What Bulk Actions aCan lot& Cannot ofDo:

time. Here are the best options depending on your version and access level:

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✅

The 1.Bulk UseActions the "Dates" Report Plugin (Highly Recommended)

This pluginfeature is built specificallygreat for whatthings you're describing.like:

• WhatArchive itor does:repurpose content quickly Allowsby youhiding/showing toor seeduplicating andmultiple edit all availability and due dates across your course in a single table.items.

• WhatMove you can edit:content Openinto date,a duemore date,logical cutoffstructure date,or expecteddifferent completion.sections en masse.

• HowTidy toup useby it:

  deleting
  outdated
  1. or

     Gounused toitems yourin course.a single operation.

  2. InDuplicating

  3. Deleting

But it doesn't support editing specific settings like:

• Due dates

• Cut-off dates

• Availability windows

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🔹 How to Use Bulk Actions

1. Navigate to your course page and turn editing on using the geartoggle iconin menuthe top right.

2. Click the new “Bulk actions” button located just below the Edit Mode toggle (toplse.atlassian.net).

   right),
choose

3. Once activated, More...checkboxes appear next to each section, activity, and resource.

4. Select Reportsthe >items Datesyou wish to edit—across sections or within a single section (lse.atlassian.net, CCA Portal).

5. • FilterChange by activity typeAvailability (e.g., Assignments).hide/show)

   • EditDuplicate dates directly in the list.items

Move items to a different location or section

Example

Delete

selected items (lse.atlassian.net, CCA Portal)



1. Click onan action (e.g. "Hide", "Move"), confirm if prompted, and Moodle processes the Reportschanges.

   in

2. To exit, click the Administration“x” block

3. Chooseor the DatesBulk option
   actions button again (lse.atlassian.net
   
   
).
4. Scroll

    to

   A sticky toolbar appears at the bottom (and sometimes top) of the page

5. Clicklisting onavailable the assignments where you want to change the dates
6. Use the arrows to navigate through the dates

Aw Snap! Tried logging in as admin, as Lperry-teacher, Ldriskel as Manager But received the following error message each time:

actions:

 

🔧 If you don’t see “Dates” in Reports, your Moodle admin might need to install or enable the plugin:

• Plugin page: https://moodle.org/plugins/report_editdates

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✅ 2.Bonus: UseMass Actions Block

Clarkson Moodle also uses the “CourseMass Reset”Actions ToolBlock, (forIt shiftingoffers datesa betweenmore semesters)persistent

Ifinterface yourcompared course structure staysto the same,toolbar this(lse.atlassian.net, letsCCA you bulk-shift all relevant dates at once.

• Steps:Portal).

  1. GoAdd toit via the CourseBlock administrationdrawer >on Reset.the right side of your Moodle page.

  2. ScrollAdd toa theblock → “Mass "Date adjustment"Actions” section.

  3. Use "Shiftit allinstead dates"to byenable abulk specifiedediting, numberselect ofitems, days.and apply the same actions

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Ah🎥 SnapSee again!It Therein is no option for Date adjustment section or Shift all dates 
Action

Here’s

⚠️a Bequick careful—thisdemo shiftsshowing allhow datesto (including quizzes, forums, etc.)activate and mayuse affectBulk more(Mass) than intended.Actions:

Make Bulk Changes with the Mass Actions Block in Moodle

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✅

🔸 3. Use CSV Upload for Assignments (Advanced/Admin)

You can export assignment settings, update them in Excel, then re-upload.

Tips

• ThisBulk requiresedit adminsupports ormultiple manager-levelselections accessacross sections—no need to edit items one by one.

• Duplications of more than 5 items run in background tasks—Moodle notifies you once done (lse.atlassian.net, orCCA a plugin like Upload assignmentsPortal).

• GoodSections formust powerbe usersduplicated orindividually if doingvia the samethree-dot taskmenu—not acrossthrough manybulk courses.mode (docs.moodle.org).

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✅

Seek 4.Further Use a Backup + Restore Template with Relative Dates

Assistance

If
For you're reusing the same course every term:

• When backing up your course, choose “Include activity completion” and use relative dates.

• When restoring, set the new start date of the course—Moodle recalculates all relative due dates accordingly.

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✳️ Summary: Best Choice for You

Goal	Best Option
Quickly edit all dates across a course	Dates Report plugin
Shift all dates from last semester	Course Reset: Shift dates
Reuse course each semester with auto-adjust	Backup/Restore with relative dates

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Created withadditional assistance fromplease ChatGPT.contact, Clarkson OIT Help Desk;

Online: Get Help
Email: helpdesk@clarkson.edu
Call: 315-268-HELP (x4357)