Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Narayanan Devarajan發表於
Number of replies: 9

Dear all,

We are in a process of importing courses from a third party system.  As much as we are exposed to that system, we understood it as a propitiatory system which does not follow any standard format.  All they have given us is a set of *.SQL files which created set of tables and pumped records in our MYSQL database.

We managed to get a fair understanding of their tables and devised the following approach:

  1. Write SQL queries to extract the courses (only courses) from their tables and insert into Moodle's appropriate table, there by empty courses are created in Moodle.
  2. Write SQL queries to extract the questions from their tables and dump in a XML format and manually import the XML through Moodle's user interface.  This will import the questions in to Moodle.
  3. Within Moodle's tables associate courses and questions either manually or through a query.

In this approach we do not know how to insert assets (image, audio and video files) into Moodle's tables. As far as we understood Moodle stores the files in moodledata\filedir using some hashing methods. So, without knowing how these hashes are generated it would not be possible for us to push the assets to this folder.

My questions in this scenario:

  1. Are there any better way to import courses, units/topics, questions and its assets into the Moodle system other than what we are planning?
  2. Our plan works only for questions without any assets. How can we proceed with the questions with assets?

I am aware that many members in this forum are volunteering their time and effort. With great respect to that I tried to submit my question with what ever details that might be needed. Just in case if it falls short of any such details, please seek clarification. 

Many thanks,

Narayanan

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In reply to Narayanan Devarajan

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由dawn alderson發表於

Hi 

Which third party system? Be good to know that.

D

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In reply to dawn alderson

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Narayanan Devarajan發表於

Thanks for attempting to help.

With the information that we are exposed it is called as  "Accessible Learning Platform".  That's all we know.


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In reply to Narayanan Devarajan

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Chris Wharton發表於

Hi Narayanan. Importing content from another LMS is always difficult. Usually it is recommended to re-create the courses manually in Moodle, taking the opportunity to improve the course content.

But I am a developer and like to do things the hard way too. I'd expect to create a bespoke conversion tool to migrate content between systems, so your approach looks good.

Maybe something like moosh will help with uploading assets? I haven't tried it myself. The Moodle file database appears very obtuse, but the idea is to use the Moodle file APIs to do any uploading. Look at the mdl_files table, and lib/filelib.php, to see the structure and how it relates to standard Moodle course content.

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In reply to Chris Wharton

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由dawn alderson發表於

Hey,

is this the platform? http://adenu.ia.uned.es/alpe/

Have been thinking about transference and LMSs.  Now, Bb have bfree software that can be downloaded for free, as it says 微笑 but not all stuff can be transferred across. So, when OP says:

 In this approach we do not know how to insert assets (image, audio and video files) into Moodle's tables

It might be that this is a commonality across the board whatever the kit involved when transferring from one space to another.

I remember transferring stuff or trying to with WebCT/Bb....and thinking back a very long time back....I just started again with the new interface...I mean admin is different, but for teachers, it doesn't harm to take ownership of your new site and make it unique for you/your practice and your learners, there is value in that, because you are working out the nav/accessibility and pedagogical nuances/implications on offer.  I suppose it is like driving a manual vs automatic car....each have their strengths....although some do prefer manual, I do, I own my own speed/pace and feel I have choices with the gear stick-when in the driving seat eh 微笑   

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In reply to dawn alderson

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Narayanan Devarajan發表於

Sorry Dawn Alederson, we are not even aware of that. All we are aware is the name and bunch of MYSQL tables from which we have to extract data and import into Moodle's tables. I wish I knew; but do not 傷心

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In reply to Chris Wharton

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Narayanan Devarajan發表於

Chris, many thanks for your pointers. Though a solution is not provided (that's a too much of expectation 微笑 ), your assurance that we are in the right track gives immense confidence and areas that you suggested us to explore will help. We will explore the Moodle file API and the Moosh plugin whether we can drive the importing of assets through command line.

Many thanks again, Have a great day.

Narayanan 


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In reply to Narayanan Devarajan

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由dawn alderson發表於

Hi,

OK. Let us unpick it then.  I know others might chip in too if I wander off in my thinking.

MYSQL database.  This is sounding like the issue in terms of: images, videos etc.

So, what specifically are you talking about when you refer to those assets please?  Microsoft kit (PP, Onedrive,etc)? Because I think there is an MMSQL-database too.  You don't need to have just the one DB with Moodle???

....Howard where are you! Am trying very very hard here!

OP....can we unpick it a bit more with you outlining specifics...I can't fill in those gaps at the mo.

D 

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In reply to Narayanan Devarajan

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由Floyd Saner發表於

Narayanan,

In my opinion you will waste a huge amount of time and effort trying to correctly transfer database contents from the proprietary system into Moodle. The Moodle file structure is only the beginning of issues you will encounter.

Since you seem to have access to all the course resources in the proprietary system, I suggest the following.  It is quite simple and can be done fairly quickly.

  1. Collect and collate all the resources for each course in the proprietary system. Place each collection of course resources in a separate directory/folder.
  2. Create a file system repository in Moodle in which each course has its own directory.  See https://docs.moodle.org/28/en/Repositories  and  https://docs.moodle.org/28/en/File_system_repository
  3. FTP all the proprietary resources to the Moodle repository created in Step 2.  You may want to zip each folder/directory before transferrring, or you may zip up the entire directory structure for all the courses.
  4. Create new blank courses in Moodle
  5. Open each Moodle course for editing and access the desired resources through the file picker and repository.

Actually, you may even be able to simplify step six by using Moodle's drag & drop feature for files, https://docs.moodle.org/28/en/Working_with_files

You can also enable text and link drag & drop for Moodle - Site adminsitration ... Development ... Experimental ... Experimental settings. Use Chrome as your browser and you should be OK.

By using the above method, all files will be correctly stored in moodledata, all links will be correct, and the courses should work fine.  You can use this as an opportunity to train teachers how to use Moodle, or you can hire data-entry staff to do the work at fairly low cost.

Floyd

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In reply to Floyd Saner

Re: Importing course content from another LMS - suggestion needed.

由dawn alderson發表於

I see, got it. Repository was my missing link, so it seems.

Floyd is it worth having that piece of information in one doc?  It is very useful to have that joined up in such a way, especially in just the one place.

D

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