Upload larger files for research and teaching
To share your files with the participants of your event, there are numerous internal UHH solutions: You can upload the files yourself in the learning platforms AGORA and OpenOLAT or make them available on Lecture2Go or the attachment uploader and grant your students access.
Upload limit on AGORA and OpenOLAT
In AGORA, files can in principle be uploaded ad libitum in a room: There is no upper capacity limit for the total amount of material uploaded in a room. In February 2021, the RRZ increased the upload limit for individual files on AGORA to 500 MB so that teachers can make their teaching units available asynchronously.
In OpenOlat, the upload limit for individual files is 512 MB.
In addition, individual files up to 512 MB in size can be uploaded to the course storage folder. The course storage folder (includes all materials uploaded in the course) has a total capacity of 1.5 GB. Individual course elements can have a maximum size of 512 MB. Further details on the OpenOlat upload limits can be found in the following screenshot:
Upload on Lecture2Go
On Lecture2Go you can upload video and sound files that are theoretically unlimited in size. You only need to be connected via the UHH network or the VPN client, which is why the upload speed may mean a limitation on the file size. It is possible to block the download and “publish” the videos or sound files unlisted, i.e. only make them available to users who have the access link. There are instructions for this procedure on the homepage of the e-learning portal (in german).
Attachment uploader
In the attachment uploader, you can upload files with a maximum size of 700 MB. After a successful upload, you will receive a link that you can share with your students or colleagues. The files are available for one year via this link. This allows you, for example, to share PowerPoint files that are too large for AGORA or OpenOLAT. To use the attachment uploader (in german) you only need your UHH user ID (B identifier).
Reduce video size with VLC
The size of video files, for example PowerPoint recordings or film clips that you want to share in the seminar, can be easily reduced. For example, use the VLC player, which is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux and is often pre-installed. Go to File (Windows) or File (MacOS) and “Convert/Stream”. Select your video file there (“Open medium”) and select “Select profile” on “Customise...”. There you can slightly reduce the video quality, for example by deviating from the 1080p standard and switching to 720p. This reduces the number of pixels, but everything remains very well visible, whereas the file size may be drastically reduced. To do this, enter 720 for “Width”. The other values are automatically changed based on the original file. Save the setting by clicking on “Apply” and select a destination and file name for the edited file. Click on “Save” to start the conversion process, which may take some time depending on the system you are using. However, you can easily save this time with a faster upload and help your participants who sometimes have slow internet connections.
Sharing a PowerPoint presentation
In order to comply with the upload limits in OpenOLAT, AGORA or MS Teams (see above), it can be useful to upload PowerPoint presentations in smaller sections of only a few slides. Another advantage is that students will find a portioning when listening that is more in line with their attention span - experience has shown that studying a presentation set to music is more strenuous than the usual classroom lecture.
Ideally, you can take this into account right from the conception of your lecture or its setting to music or, if necessary, implement it after saving by first duplicating the finished file and then deleting the first slides in one version and the last slides in the other.
Working with externals
UHHShare
For academic collaborations, you may want to share large amounts of data (e.g. video or audio material) with external parties who do not have access to Lecture2Go or other university tools. You can use the UHHShare (in german) service for this purpose.
Currently, individual files of up to 50GB can be uploaded (as of 11.2021). Further information on UHHShare can be found on the RRZ website.
Grant Folder Sharing
To create a shared work environment on UHHShare, you create a folder for which you then give one or more other people a folder share. This is done in the form of an invitation link. You can find out how this works in the quick guide below.
- Log in to UHHShare (in german) UHHShare with your user ID.
- In the bar on the left edge of the screen, switch to the “My files” section. (Fig. 1, a)
- Now find the folder you want to share or create a new one using the “plus folder” icon at the top right. (Fig. 1, b)
- Now move your mouse pointer over the folder so that a menu appears at the right edge of the line and click on the item “Release” there. (Fig. 1, c)
Fig. 1 - Now a new dialogue opens where you can manage the settings for sharing. First of all, click on “Can show” (Fig. 2, d) to determine which powers your staff members have and select the role “Contributor”.
- Then enter the e-mail addresses of your employees for whom you want to share the folder and separate them only with a comma - no spaces. (Fig. 2, e)
- (optional) Enter another message as desired.
- Confirm your entries with “Save”. Your employees will receive an email from UHHShare asking them to create an external account so that they can access your folder. They will then find the folder in the section “Shared with me”, selectable from the bar on the left side of the screen, after “My files”.
Abb. 2
Tip
Uploading larger files by students
Since students do not have the same authorizations and tools as university employees, you will find corresponding instructions for your students in the “Digital Kickstart for Students”.