How to add a PDF to a lesson depends on which course builder you are using. In the New Course Builder, PDFs are added as content blocks and display as scrollable content within the lesson. In the Classic Course Builder, PDF is its own lesson type.
How to Add a PDF in the New Course Builder
In the New Course Builder, PDFs are added as content blocks and display as scrollable content within the lesson.
- From the content menu, select PDF.
- Under the Upload file tab, drag and drop your PDF file, or browse and select a file from your device. Alternatively, switch to the Browse library tab to select a file from the Asset Library. Supported file types: .pdf (max file size 25MB).
- To replace a PDF, hover over it, select Replace, then follow the steps above.
By default, PDFs are not downloadable in the New Course Builder. To make the file downloadable, hover over the PDF and toggle on Allow downloads.
Any PDF files you upload to the New Course Builder from your computer will be automatically saved in the Asset Library.
Any changes you make while working in the New Course Builder are saved automatically, so there’s no need to manually save your progress.
You can see the status of your changes at the top of the course builder, where a message displays when your work was last saved (for example, “Last saved 2 minutes ago”). This helps you quickly confirm that your updates have been captured as you build and edit your course.
How to Add a PDF Lesson in the Classic Course Builder
In the Classic Course Builder, PDF is its own lesson type. The PDF displays directly within the Course Player. To add the PDF
- From your Admin Dashboard, select Products.
- Select Courses.
- Select the course you want to edit by clicking on the course card image.
- In the course's Curriculum, select + Add lesson.
- Select PDF.
- Enter a lesson name under Lesson Title.
- In the Uploaded PDF file block, select Browse Asset Library to locate the desired file in your Asset Library.
- If the file does not yet exist in the Asset Library, select the Upload assets option.
- Select the checkbox next to the file you want to add to the Downloads block.
- Select Add assets.
- Select Save lesson.
By default, PDFs are downloadable in the Classic Course Builder. To disable downloads for this lesson, uncheck Make this PDF content downloadable.
Important Considerations
- PDF files are limited to 25MB to ensure the best viewing experience for students on slower connections or mobile devices.
- For longer PDFs such as ebooks, a good practice is to break the content into smaller files organized by lesson or chapter rather than uploading one large document. Compressing files before uploading using a tool like smallpdf.com can also help with load times.
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- Learn more: Previewing Your Course as a Student