Feature Wiki

Information about planned and released features

Tabs

Export Preconditions set between Objects in Containers

Page Overview

[Hide]

Is part of Improving Exports of Course and Groups

1 Initial Problem

In education time and ressources are critical factors. Preparing attractive adaptive courses with preconditions requires a lot of work. Disseminating adaptive course templates is an efficient approach. 

  • Offering simple workflows like importing and reusing templates of adaptive courses is very important to ensure uptake of adaptability.  
  • Adaptive course adress educational problems like a heterogenous knowledge distribution in the student body because of non-traditional students.

Currently the XML-Export omits important parts of a course or group: Preconditions set between objects in the course or group are linked to the original objects once exported. Someone needs to re-set all of them. 

The re-working of an exported/imported course or group leads to frustation and "not using" adaptive courses.  

Following an Precondition Export (workflow example) e.g. to adress different types of learners (AS IT IS NOW).  If you want to structure your learning content according to different paths, groups or contents, it is essential to use preconditions. Following steps and problems will demonstrate the creation and actual workaround:

  • There is an introducing content page, it links to a Test object A. 
  • User works through Test A. He/ She fails or passed the test.   [by ending test, he / she is automatically forewarded by "Weiterleitungs-Link" to main-view Container-object course/group/"bin" ]
    • Upon failing he / she is presented with Test B. 
    • Upon passing testee will be presented Content C/Test C.    
  • Test B may carry more preconditions.  [...]

The educator wants to e.g. give his course-structure to a colleague:

  • He / She exports the course and downloads his XML-file (.zip)
  • He / She imports the XML and opens the imported course. Now he / she has to edit: all preconditions are lost, he/she must compare existing preconditions and re-configure learning progress, and the preconditions itself. This maybe very well a few dozens of entries.

2 Conceptual Summary

Preconditions of objects within containers must be exported:

  • When an object included in a course- or group-export has a precondition, and the trigger-object of that precondition is also included, the precondition with its settings is exported, and rebuilt after import.
  • If the trigger-object of a precondition is not included in the export, the precondition is skipped.

3 User Interface Modifications

3.1 List of Affected Views

No changes.

3.2 User Interface Details

No changes.

3.3 New User Interface Concepts

No changes.

3.4 Accessibility Implications

No changes.

4 Additional Information

4.1 Involved Authorities

If this request is related to multiple components, please list both authorities for all related components.

4.2 Technical Aspects

-

4.3 Privacy

No privacy implications.

4.4 Security

No foreseeable security implications.

4.5 Contact

Person to be contacted in case of questions about the feature or for funding offers:  Simon Yadel (ILIAS.nrw / MIau.nrw), Tödt, Alexandra [atoedt]

4.6 Funding

Funding status and funding parties are listed in the block 'Status of Feature' in the right column of this page.

If you are interested to give funding for this feature, please get into contact with the person mentioned above as 'Contact'.

5 Discussion

Weber, Jens [jens.weber], 9.10.2025: In section 2 above it is stated that "the precondition with its settings is exported" if and "[w]hen an object included in a course- or group-export has a precondition, and the trigger-object of that precondition is also included" (my emphasis). 
To me it would seem very desirable to have this extension of the export feature, if possible, not only for courses and groups but for all container objects, i.e. also folder and categories. Not all adaptive settings are necessarily implemented in a course or group.

Schmitz, Tim [tschmitz], 13 OCT 2025: Thanks for the feedback, I change the article to refer to containers in general.

JourFixe, ILIAS [jourfixe], 13 OCT 2025: We highly appreciate this suggestion and accept the feature for trunk. A few clarifications:

  • The responsible component for the export of preconditions is container not object.
  • Availability related information is not exported.
  • The feature request is related to all containers, not only to courses and groups (title of FR will be changed).

Schmitz, Tim [tschmitz], 13 OCT 2025: I changed the title of the article to better reflect its content.

6 Implementation

Feature has been implemented by {Please add related profile link of this person}

6.1 Description and Screenshots

{ Description of the final implementation and screenshots if possible. }

6.2 Test Cases

Test cases completed at {date} by {user}

  • {Test case number linked to Testrail} : {test case title}

6.3 Privacy

Information in privacy.md of component: updated at {date} by {user} | no change required

6.4 Approval

Approved at {date} by {user}.

Last edited: 13. Oct 2025, 17:54, Schmitz, Tim [tschmitz]