When you use Word, PowerPoint, Keynote, Excel, PDF, or other software to create your syllabus, lecture notes and assignments it is important to not include special characters in the name of your file - especially if you plan to upload your course materials into Blackboard.

• Use only letters, numbers and underscores _ in filenames.
• Do NOT use spaces, commas, pound signs (#), question marks, equal signs, parentheses or any other special characters in your filenames.
• Don't use periods anywhere else in your filenames except before the extension.
• Mac users should include extensions on filename.

These conventions also apply to students uploading files into Blackboard via the Discussion Board, Assignment Manager and the Digital DropBox.