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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 whichTips canfor saveUsing you

    ✅ What Bulk Actions aCan lot& Cannot ofDo:

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

    ✅

    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        outdated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

      Deleting

      But it doesn't support editing specific settings like:

        Due dates

        Cut-off dates

        Availability windows

        🔹 How to Use Bulk Actions

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

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

          right), choose

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

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

            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)

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

              in

              To exit, click the Administration“x” block

              Chooseor the DatesBulk option
              actions               button again (image.pnglse.atlassian.net

              ). Scroll

               to

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

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

              image.png

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

              actions:

              image.png

               

              🔧 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

                ✅ 2.Bonus: UseMass Actions Blockimage.png

                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

                  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

                  ✅

                  🔸 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).

                  ✅

                  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.

                    ✳️ 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

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

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

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