Canvas LMS

Overview

This node integrates with the Canvas LMS API to manage files within courses. Specifically, the "File" resource with the "Delete" operation allows users to delete a file from a specified course in Canvas LMS by providing the file's unique ID. This is useful for automating content management tasks such as removing outdated or incorrect files from courses.

Practical examples:

• Automatically deleting obsolete course materials after an update.
• Cleaning up unused files to maintain storage limits.
• Removing mistakenly uploaded files without manual intervention.

Properties

Output

The output JSON contains a data field which holds the response from the Canvas API after attempting to delete the file. Typically, this will confirm the deletion or provide details if the operation failed.

Example output structure:

{
  "data": {
    // Response data from Canvas API about the deleted file
  }
}

No binary data output is involved in this operation.

Dependencies

• Requires an API key credential for authenticating with the Canvas LMS API.
• The node expects the base URL and access token for the Canvas API to be configured in the credentials.
• Network connectivity to the Canvas LMS instance is necessary.

Troubleshooting

• Common issues:

  • Invalid or missing File ID: Ensure the File ID provided exists and is correct.
  • Insufficient permissions: The API key must have rights to delete files in the specified course.
  • Network or authentication errors: Verify API credentials and network access.

• Error messages:

  • "Error in "file" operation "delete": ..." indicates a failure during the delete request. Check the error message for specifics.
  • Authentication failures typically mean the API token is invalid or expired.
  • If the file does not exist, the API may return a 404 error.

To resolve errors:

• Double-check the File ID and course context.
• Confirm that the API key has appropriate permissions.
• Review network settings and retry.

Links and References

• Canvas LMS API Documentation - Files
• Canvas LMS API Authentication