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The Canvas integration connects directly to your Canvas instance via API, letting you browse and select course content to add to your Assistant’s knowledge base. Unlike Import Course Export, which requires you to download and upload a course export file, this integration pulls content from Canvas with no file handling on your end. You can sync updates daily or weekly to keep your Assistant current as your course evolves.
Before you can import from Canvas, a Workspace admin must set up the Canvas API integration. If you don’t see the option to add from Canvas, ask your admin to follow the Canvas API Setup guide.

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How It Works

1

Open the Knowledge Tab

Hover over your Assistant, click the three dots, select Settings, then navigate to the Knowledge tab.
2

Add from Canvas

Click + Add knowledge, then select Add from Canvas. If this is your first time, you’ll be redirected to Canvas to authorize access.
Nectir keeps your Canvas authorization active for as long as possible. In some cases, you may need to reauthorize.
3

Select a Course

After authorizing, you’ll see a list of Canvas courses you have access to. Select the course you want to import content from.
Only courses where you have a Teacher role or higher are shown. Admins can see any course they have access to.
4

Choose Content to Import

Select which content categories to import (files, pages, assignments, discussions, announcements, quizzes). Categories are selected by default — deselect anything you don’t want to import.
Unsupported file formats are clearly marked and cannot be imported.
5

Import

Click Add to knowledge to begin importing the selected content. Files are processed and added to your Assistant’s knowledge base automatically.
Once processing completes, your imported content appears in the Knowledge table grouped under the Canvas course name.

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Supported Content Types

The Canvas API integration supports importing the following content types from your courses:
Content TypeWhat Gets Imported
FilesDocuments, images, and other files uploaded to your Canvas course
PagesWiki pages and their full content
AssignmentsAssignment descriptions and instructions
DiscussionsDiscussion topic prompts and descriptions
AnnouncementsCourse announcements and their content
QuizzesQuiz questions, answer choices, and descriptions
All content is imported as read-only. Nectir never modifies or deletes anything in your Canvas course.

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Keeping Content Up to Date

As your course content evolves in Canvas, there are two ways to keep your Assistant’s knowledge base in sync.

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Manual Sync

Check for updates at any time:
  1. Open the Knowledge tab in your Assistant’s settings
  2. Find your Canvas course in the Knowledge table
  3. Click Check updates to scan for new or modified content
  4. Review the changes and confirm which updates to apply

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Automatic Sync

Turn on automatic sync to have Nectir check for content changes on a schedule:
  1. Open the Canvas course in the Knowledge table
  2. Toggle automatic sync on
  3. Choose your sync frequency: daily or weekly
Nectir checks for changes on your chosen schedule and updates only the content that has changed.
Automatic sync and manual Check updates work independently. You can use Check updates at any time, even with automatic sync turned on.

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Troubleshooting

The Canvas API integration must be configured at the Workspace level before instructors can import content. Ask your Workspace admin to set up the connection using the Canvas API Setup guide.
  • Verify you have a Teacher role or higher in at least one Canvas course
  • Check that your Canvas account is active and not restricted
  • If the issue persists, contact support@nectir.io
Files in unsupported formats cannot be imported. Convert them to a supported file type in Canvas, then try importing again.
  • Check your internet connection
  • If the issue persists, contact support@nectir.io with details about the course and content types you’re importing

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Next Steps

Knowledge Scope

Configure the boundaries of information your Assistant can access

Assistant Prompt

Set the directions that shape your Assistant’s behavior