How do I compress my files before sending as an email attachment or submitting to Canvas?
Answer
You may be asked to make sure that the files you submit to Canvas are less than 500MB. The instructions below describe how to compress your PDF and PPTX (PowerPoint) files.
Compressing PDF files
You can compress PDF files using Adobe Acrobat DC, which you have access to as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud package. To learn more about accessing the Adobe Creative Cloud package, please visit the student intranet. Contact IT if you have any problems accessing and installing Adobe Creative Cloud software.
To compress your PDF file:
- Open your file in Adobe Acrobat DC
- Select File>Save as Other>Reduced File Size PDF...
- Choose the Adobe Version Compatibility you prefer, bearing in mind that the 'Retain existing' option is the most compatible file
- Select OK
- Choose where you want to save your compressed file
- Rename your compressed file so that you don't overwrite the master file
- Select Save
Compressing pictures in a PowerPoint presentation
If you are working in PowerPoint, you can reduce the file size of your presentation by compressing pictures within your file. Please note, these instructions only work on the desktop version of PowerPoint. Instructions for downloading the desktop version of PowerPoint can be found on the student intranet.
To compress your pictures in your PowerPoint presentation:
- Save your presentation and give it a new file name so that your original file is preserved
- Select one of the pictures in your presentation
- Select Format>Compress pictures
- Choose whether you want to apply compression only to this picture or to all of the pictures in your file
- Choose whether you want to delete the cropped areas of pictures
- Choose the resolution you require bearing in mind that you may want to present high resolution images
- Save your file