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Create a Small File Size

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To ensure resources in your Learn.UQ course are easily accessible to students with low-bandwidth internet connections it is important that there file sizes are small. For more information refer to Understanding Download Speeds guide.

File sizes of resources can be reduced by optimising images they contain and by splitting the resources into multiple files. Items can be used to link multiple files to your Learn.UQ course. (Refer to the Add an Item guide).

Reduce Word document file size

  1. Open the Word document.
  2. Click on any image in the document.

image selected in word doc

  1. Click on Picture Tools then click on Compress Pictures.

picture tools option selected, compress pictures icon selected

  1. Uncheck the Apply only to this picture checkbox.
  2. Uncheck the Delete cropped areas of picture checkbox.

Note: All images in the document will be optmised to reduce the file size of the document.

  1. Select the required radio button.

Note: Not all options in the Resolution section can be selected.

  1. Click on the OK button.

compression options unchecked, radio button from resolution section selected, ok button selected

  1. Save the Word document.
  2. Upload the Word document to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. (Refer to the Add an Item guide). 

Tip: The file size of large documents can be further reduced by splitting the document into two or more parts before linking them to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. 

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Converting a Word document to a PDF file

  1. Complete Steps 1 to 7 in the Reduce Word document file size section.
  2. Click on File.

file button selected

  1. Click on Save as Adobe PDF.

save as adobe pdf option selected

  1. Save the file.
  2. Upload the PDF file to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. (Refer to the Add an Item guide). 
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Reduce PDF file size

    Existing PDF file

    1. Open the PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Pro.

    ​Note:  You can install Adobe Acrobat Pro on any UQ-owned computer. (Refer to the Self-installing software on UQ owned computer ITS guide).

    1. Click on File.
    2. Select Save as Other from the drop-down list.
    3. Select Reduced Size PDF from the list.

    file option selected, save as other selected, reduced size pdf selected

    1. Click on the OK button.

    ok button selected

    1. Save the PDF.
    2. Upload the PDF file to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. (Refer to the Add an Item guide). 

    Tip: The file size of PDFs can be further reduced by splitting the PDF into two or more parts before linking them to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. 

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    Splitting a PDF document into multiple files

    Note: The following steps' images may appear different to your version of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

    1. Open the PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Pro.

    ​Note:  You can install Adobe Acrobat Pro on any UQ-owned computer. (Refer to the Self-installing software on UQ owned computer ITS guide).

    1. Click on Tools.
    2. Click on Organize Pages.

    tools option selected, organize pages selected

    1. Click on Split.
    2. Set criteria for dividing your file.

    Tip: The best option to select is Number of pages.

    split option selected, split by textfield selected

    1. Click on Output Options.
    2. Select the appropriate radio button for the setting Target Folder.
    3. Select the appropriate radio button for the setting File Labeling.
    4. Check the appropriate checkboxes.
    5. Click on the OK button.

    output options selected, radio button the same folder selected at start radio button selected, radio button add label and number after original name radio button selected, all checkboxes checked, ok button selected

    1. Click on the Split button.
    2. When the confirmation appears, click on the OK button.

    split button selected, ok button selected in confirmation box

     

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      Reduce PowerPoint file size

      Tip: The file size of large documents can be further reduced by splitting the document into two or more parts and linking them to Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site.

      1. Paste the image in the PowerPoint slide.
      2. Click on the image.

      image selected

      1. Click on Picture Tools then click on Compress Pictures.

      picture tools option selected, compress pictures icon selected

      1. Uncheck the Apply only to this picture checkbox.
      2. Uncheck the Delete cropped areas of picture checkbox.

      Note: All images in the document will be optmised to reduce the file size of the document.

      1. Select the required radio button.

      Note: Not all options in the Resolution section can be selected.

      1. Click on the OK button.

      compression option checkboxes unchecked, radio button from resolution section selected, ok button selected

      1. Save the PowerPoint slide.
      2. Upload the Word document to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. (Refer to the Add an Item guide). 

      Tip: The file size of PowerPoints can be further reduced by splitting the PowerPoint into two or more parts before linking them to your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site. 

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      Reduce an image file size

      Graphic design software such as Paint, Paintbrush and Adobe Photoshop can be used to reduce the file size of images. Another easy option is to use the functionality available in Microsoft Word to compress images and therefore reduce the file size.

      1. Open a blank Word document.
      2. Click on the Insert tab and select Pictures.

      insert pictures

      1. Choose the images you want to compress on your computer and click on the Insert button. 
      2. Click on any of the images.

      image selected in word doc

      1. Click on the Picture Tools tab and select Compress Pictures.

      picture tools option selected, compress pictures icon selected

      1. Uncheck the Apply only to this picture checkbox.
      2. Uncheck the Delete cropped areas of picture checkbox.

      Note: All images in the document will be optmised to reduce their file size.

      1. Select the Email (96 ppi) minimise document size for sharing radio button.
      2. Click on the OK button.

      compression options unchecked, radio button from resolution section selected, ok button selected

      1. Right-click on any image and select Save as Picture... from the dropdown list.

      save as picture

      1. Choose a location on your computer and click on the Save button. 
      2. Repeat Steps 10 and 11 for all the images in the Word document. 
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