{"id":698,"date":"2018-12-04T15:39:33","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T15:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-students\/?p=698"},"modified":"2025-09-09T15:24:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T14:24:38","slug":"reducing-file-size-for-online-submission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-students\/reducing-file-size-for-online-submission\/","title":{"rendered":"Reducing file size for online submission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

This guide describes how to reduce the size of a file for electronic submission, especially if you are submitting to a Turnitin assignment<\/strong><\/a> or uploading a large file to a Blackboard Assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turnitin has a maximum file size limit of 100MB<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are producing a long assignment that includes images and diagrams<\/strong>, it may be necessary to reduce the file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackboard has a limit of 250MB<\/strong> for standard Office File types (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel), but it is still good practice to avoid submitting very large files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The smaller your file, the less time it will take to upload, and the less chance there is that your Internet connection will be lost, or other errors occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide describes how to reduce file size if you are using Microsoft Office Word, using either a Windows PC or Apple MAC computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always use a copy of your original file<\/strong> when making changes to your assignment\u2019s file size.\nCheck the quality of the images and diagrams in your file<\/strong> after you have reduced the size, to make sure they are still clear.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Uploading Videos including PowerPoint with audio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You cannot upload videos directly to Blackboard<\/strong>. If you are required to submit a video, you will need to upload it to YuJa, then submit a link to Blackboard<\/strong> – see How to submit a video to a Blackboard assignment<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PowerPoint presentations with audio<\/strong> or video should be saved as a video file<\/strong> (MP4) and uploaded to YuJa<\/strong>. Read the Tips when making video files for assessment guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When can my file size be reduced?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
The file size of a document can be reduced by compressing the images<\/strong> contained in it. Images contained in documents often have a higher resolution than is necessary for viewing on screen or for printing out on A4 paper and these images have a large file size. The file size<\/strong> of these images can be reduced without affecting the quality<\/strong> of the image you see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Windows PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to tell the size of your file
When you have the file open, click on File > Info<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the right hand column under Properties<\/strong>, the file Size<\/strong> is displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Screenshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Important\nYou will see the file size shown in either KB (Kilobytes) or MB (Megabytes).\n\n1024 KB = 1 MB\n \n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Reduce the size of a Word file<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When saving your Word file, there is an option to reduce the size of all of the images in your file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click File > Save As<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Screenshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In the Save as<\/strong> dialogue box, click the Tools<\/strong> menu beside the Save<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the drop down menu, select Compress Pictures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Screenshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In the pop-up box that appears, choose a Target output<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n