How do I add and display more information about a file or folder in Resources or File Drop?

If you have permission to edit items (e.g., files, folders, or links) in Resources or File Drop, you may add any of the following to your items:

  • Display Name: The Display Name is the text of the link to an item in Resources or File Drop. Editing the Display Name can make it easier for site participants to know what they will be accessing when they open a file or web page from a URL.
  • Description: When an item has a Description, a blue i icon (Item description) will appear to the right of the item's link in Resources or File Drop. Site participants can select the icon to read the description.
  • Copyright Status and Alert: Select a Copyright Status for a file and enable the Copyright Alert to require site participants to agree to the terms of the file's copyright restrictions before they can access it.

Go to Resources or File Drop.

Select Resources or File Drop from the tool menu in your site.

Select Actions, then Edit Details.

  1. To the right of the file, folder, or link, select the Actions menu.
  2. Select Edit Details.

Note: On mobile devices or small screens, the Actions menu displays as a down arrow icon.

Add the desired information.

Edit the Display Name.

By default, the Display Name for a file or link is the file's name or URL of the link. Editing the Display Name to make it clear what site participants will access when they select the link is recommended for accessibility.

Pictured above is an example where a file name, Grace-AspectsofFatherhood.pdf, is being replaced with the Display Name Philip Grace - Aspects of Fatherhood article.

Tip: Display Names can include text or special characters that would not work well in file or folder names. For more information, see recommended naming conventions for files and folders.

Add a Description to a file or folder.

On the Edit Details screen, enter (or paste) a description of the file or folder in the Description box.

Tip: Some instructors use file descriptions to add comments in response to student submissions in File Drop.

You can indicate the Copyright Status of a file in Resources and add a Copyright Alert to it.  If enabled, the Copyright Alert pops up when participants click on the file to access it. They must Agree to the terms of the copyright restriction to view the file.

Select the appropriate Copyright Status from the drop-down menu.

Note: If you are not sure which Copyright Status to select, you can find helpful information in the UVA Library's Copyright Resources website (opens new window).

To make the copyright warning display when site participants open the file, check the box to Display copyright alert and require acknowledgement when accessed by others.

At the bottom of the page, select Update.

View Item description.

Select the Item description (letter i) icon.

When a Copyright Alert has been added to a file, the copyright symbol, ©, will display to the right of the file's Display Name in Resources or File Drop.

Attempt to access the file.

When you select the name of the file to download or open it, a Copyright Restriction Download Warning will open in a new internet browser tab or window (depending on your browser settings).

Review and agree to Download Warning.

Read the copyright restriction, then select I Agree to access the file.

If you do not agree to abide by the copyright restriction, select Cancel to exit without opening the file.