Speed Grader not displaying text files, such as program source code

[barrybrown]

Last spring Speed Grader started refusing to display text files that didn't have a .txt extension, such as C, Python, and Java program source code. At the time, Canvas "fixed" the issue and restored the ability to see and annotate such files.

Here's the Community discussion about this issue: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Question-Forum/Speed-Grader-not-allowing-annotations/m-p/6...

This fall, it appears that the problem has returned. I'm not able to see any of my students' program submissions. Being able to annotate such files is essential functionality for myself and untold number of other instructors. 

A possible workaround is to download the student's submission, turn it into a PDF, then upload it as a Speed Grader comment. However, this process won't let me annotate using Speed Grader's tools.

Please, Canvas, restore the ability to annotate non-txt text files!

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @barrybrown and @tfrankie,

If you are still experiencing the issue with SpeedGrader displaying code files, I'd encourage you to contact Canvas support to report it, as it doesn't seem this was affecting everyone.  Hopefully the problem is resolved now though!

-Chris

[tfrankie]

I am also noticing this problem again. If it isn't fixed soon, I'm going to have to start making screencasts to give effective feedback - writing line numbers with suggestions gets tedious to write and to read.

It seems like there are a large number of computer science instructors using Canvas - it would be nice if Canvas could upgrade the SpeedGrader doc viewer to show us line numbers for files that have programming extensions - and not create artificial page breaks, especially in the middle of a line of code!

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @tfrankie,

You could submit both of those things to the Canvas ideas area of the community for consideration by Instructure.  I'm not sure how technically feasible either of them are, so I can't guarantee the response would be positive (especially for the page breaks issue, as that may be a major change to how the document viewer works).

Hope this info helps!

-Chris

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @barrybrown and @tfrankie,

If you are still experiencing the issue with SpeedGrader displaying code files, I'd encourage you to contact Canvas support to report it, as it doesn't seem this was affecting everyone.  Hopefully the problem is resolved now though!

-Chris