Stopping students downloading files

[ian10]

Hi

Wondering if there is anyway to stop students downloading files.

So, when I upload a document into a page and set it to preview inline, it shows that little download arrow, I want to be able to remove that so they cant download the file.

Any clues, please...

[ian10 · Accepted solution]

Further update from the csteamapac...

Because this artifact is uploaded as a file the download button will appear regardless if it's an inline preview or not. Alternatively, opening it up as a cloud document provider i.e. google drive. onedrive etc (and control the viewing permissions from there) might be a easier alternative.

This conversation on the community also provided some context: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Question-Forum/How-to-remove-NEW-quot-Download-quot-Icon-l... 

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello @ian10 ...

I did a little bit of searching here in the Canvas Community, and I came across the following two topics that might have some ideas for you:

• Solved: Possible to show a doc. but prevent downloading - Instructure Community
• Solved: Hiding the document download link - Instructure Community

Not 100% sure that these topics will meet all your needs, but it might be a good start for you at least.  Hope it helps!

[ian10]

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply, but reading the post you refered to it looks like they are discussing Google Docs.

I have uploaded a PDF, but I want the to read it while they are on Canvas not to download it a read it later.

Thanks

[Ron_Bowman]

@ian10 @Chris_Hofer 

I did a quick google search on preventing an html url link from being downloaded.  From my favorite site (stackoverflow), here is one of the responses:

"As I said in my answer, if they can view it, they can download it. If it's transferred to their web browser, they can save it. There is simply no way around this. "

You might be able to make it harder on them by adding the following to the link

<a href="#" oncontextmenu="return false;"> Link </a>

 (just add the oncontextmenu part into the existing html code on the page.  I have not tried this - just something I found.

 Ron

[ian10]

Hi Ron

Thanks for that, tried it and it looks Like Canvas strip it out too.

[ian10 · Accepted solution]

Further update from the csteamapac...

Because this artifact is uploaded as a file the download button will appear regardless if it's an inline preview or not. Alternatively, opening it up as a cloud document provider i.e. google drive. onedrive etc (and control the viewing permissions from there) might be a easier alternative.

This conversation on the community also provided some context: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Question-Forum/How-to-remove-NEW-quot-Download-quot-Icon-l... 

[Ron_Bowman]

@ian10 

If you want to remove the download arrow, go into html mode on the page and remove the start of the link part:  it should look something like:

class="instructure_file_link instructure_scribd_file inline_disabled" title="HW_09.pdf"

I just tried the oncontextmenu part - Canvas strips that code out of the html.

so it looks like the answer to your question as far as I can tell is no way to prevent it.

Of course someone more skilled with html and Canvas may be able to help.  Unfortunately I do not see a way to prevent the download.

[JeffW · Accepted solution]

Hi @ian10,

It seems you are already aware but there is not an inherent way within Canvas to disable the ability to download embedded files. You seem to have found some alternative methods which seem to be the real solution in this caase.