Adding groups members with a CSV file upload

What is it?

Typically, if you set up groups with the Custom assignment, you will need to manually find each student and assign them to a group. By using a CSV file, you can assign students to groups automatically.

What does it do?

If you are setting up groups with lots of students, and you have easy access to the students’ usernames, you may want to use a CSV file to add students to groups.

What should I know?

Before you follow this guide, make sure you know how to set up groups.

Step : Set up your group set in your module. You don’t need to add any students, but you will need to create and name the group set and add and name as many individual groups as you’ll need.

Step 2: Go back into the main Course Groups page, click on the three dot menu next to the group set you created in Step 1 and click Export from the menu.

Screenshot of the Group Sets page in Blackboard. There is an arrow pointing at the three dots menu for a group set, and another arrow pointing at the menu item under this for "Export".

Step 3: Select the option for Group sets only and then click on the button at the bottom of the screen for Export File.

Screenshot of the Export side panel with an arrow pointing at the option for "Group Sets Only". There is another arrow pointing at the button at the bottom for "Export".

Step 4: Be a bit patient, but after a few minutes click back into the Export side panel for this group set. This time, click on the tab at the top of the side panel for Export.

Step 5: Once this file has been generated, you’ll see it in this tab with the date and time it was created. Click on this link to download the file.

Step 6: Back in the Course Groups page, click on the three dots next to the group set and select Edit.

Step 7: In this window, click on the icon at the top of the screen for Import.

Screenshot of the group sets page with an arrow pointing at the "Import" icon.

Step 8: Go into the tab for Assign members and click on the link for Download members template.

Screenshot of the Import side panel. The "Assign members" tab is open and there is an arrow at this tab, and another at the link to download a template.

Step 9: Open the files for both the export file you created in Step 5 and the members template from Step 8.

Step 10: In the sample_groupmembers template file, delete the content from rows 2 down (the example users and groups) and re-save the file on your computer with a descriptive name (e.g. [ModuleCode]_[Groupsetname]_Import_Date).

Note: Make sure you re-save this as the same file type, CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv).

Step 11: From your export file, copy a group code from the first column, and paste it into the import CSV file in the first column.

Step 12: In the import CSV file, enter the usernames for the students you want in the first group in the second column with one username per row.

Step 13: In the import CSV file, copy the group code you added in Step 11 and paste down this column so that every row that has a username from Step 12 now also has a group code next to it.

Repeat steps 11-13 for each group you created and be sure to save when you’re done.

Note: You don’t need to fill in any other columns, only the Group Code and User Name columns are required.

Step 14: Back in the Course Groups page in your module, click on the three dots next to the group set and select Edit. In this window, click on the icon at the top of the screen for Import.

Step 15: Go into the tab for Assign members and click Upload file. From here, select the CSV file you created.

Step 16: Once the file has been added (you’ll see it listed in this side panel), click Upload at the bottom of the panel.

Step 17: That’s it! It could take some time for the import process to be completed, especially if you are adding a lot of students so be patient.

Updated on 06/04/2023

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