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TidyUP

How to Use TidyUP

In this session of EdTech Express, SJR State's Senior Instructional Design Technologist, Heather Jones, shows you how to use TidayUP. Recorded October 30, 2025

1. Add TidyUP to Your Course Menu

  1. Open your Canvas course.

  2. Go to Settings → Navigation.
  3. In the lower box (items not currently visible), find TidyUP.
  4. Drag it into the upper box (active navigation items).
  5. Click Save. TidyUP will now appear in your course navigation menu.

2. Run a Scan

  1. Click TidyUP on your course menu.
  2. Select Scan Course.
  3. The scan may take several minutes depending on how many files and pages your course has.
  4. Once finished, you’ll land on a results page showing Files, Folders, and Canvas Content tabs.

3. Review and Manage Files

  • The Files tab lists all files in your course’s Files area.
  • Columns show file name, where used, last updated, file size, and icons for edit (✏️) and delete (🗑️).
  • Hover over a file name to see a thumbnail (especially helpful for images).

Important:

  • Download your files before deleting.
    • Select up to 100 items per page.
    • Click Download Selected → a ZIP file will be saved to your computer.
  • Only files not currently in use show a trash can icon.
  • Use column headers to sort (e.g., by “Used In” to see unused items).

4. Protect Quiz or Question Bank Images

TidyUP cannot detect if a file (like an image) is used inside a quiz question bank.
To avoid deleting them:

  1. Click the pencil icon next to the file.
  2. Add a prefix such as QB_ to the filename.
  3. Click Save.
  4. Move all such files into a dedicated folder (for example, Question Bank Pics).

5. Manage Folders

  1. Go to the Folders tab.
  2. You’ll see all folders in your Files area, the number of files each contains, and whether it has subfolders.
  3. You can only delete empty folders (ones without subfolders).
  4. Use the pencil icon to edit a folder.
    • Check Ignore folder contents in future scans for your question bank folder.
    • This prevents those items from being flagged as unused later.

6. Review Canvas Content

  • The Canvas Content tab lists items like pages, assignments, discussions, and modules.
  • You’ll see icons, publish status, whether the item is in a module, and when it was last updated.
  • Only unused items display a delete icon.

Note:

  • Canvas content cannot be downloaded, but deleted items can be recovered.
    • Go to your course’s home page.
    • In the address bar, add /undelete to the end of the URL.
    • You’ll see a list of deleted items you can restore.

7. Use Scan History and Activity

At the top of the results page:

  • Home shows current results.
  • Activity lists all actions taken (what was deleted, renamed, etc.).
  • Scan History shows when scans were run and how many files/folders were found.

8. Final Notes

  • Always download your files before deleting anything.
  • Deleting unused files can significantly improve your course’s accessibility score since only active content remains.