Skip to content
English
Visit edly.io
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How to Embed PDF in Course?

Overview

Embedding a PDF allows learners to read documents, such as textbook chapters, lab manuals, or grading rubrics, directly within the course flow in the LMS. Instead of forcing students to download a file and open it in a separate application, the native PDF component loads an interactive, scrollable document viewer directly inside the course unit page.

Tip: Ensure you are logged into Open edX Studio before proceeding.

Step 1: Upload the PDF Asset to Studio

Before you can display a document on a course page, you must host the file within your course run's centralized directory.

Procedures:

  1. Open your course run dashboard in Studio.
  2. Expand the Content menu in the top navigation bar and select Files & Uploads.
  3. Click the Upload New File button, or drag and drop your target PDF file directly onto the dashboard upload zone.
  4. Once the upload completes, locate the file in your directory list.
  5. Under the Copy URLs or action column, click the Studio URL button. This saves the relative internal path (formatted like /static/Filename.pdf) to your clipboard.

Step 2: Add the PDF Component to a Unit

Next, navigate to the specific structural outline location where the embedded document viewer should appear.

Procedures:

  1. Return to your Course Outline page under the Content menu.
  2. Enter the specific Unit page where you want to embed the resource.
  3. Scroll down to the Add New Component tray at the bottom of the workspace.
  4. Click the green Problem tile.
  5. Within the problem selection menu bar that expands, click the Advanced tab.
  6. Select PDF from the options grid. A blank PDF container block will load immediately onto your unit layout page canvas.

Step 3: Configure and Link the PDF Viewer

The final step maps the embedded player block to the file path you generated in Step 1.

Procedures:

  1. Locate your newly added PDF component block on the unit canvas and click Edit.
  2. In the configuration modal window, find the primary source text field (often labeled Studio URL or File Path).
  3. Paste the internal relative link you copied from the asset directory (e.g., /static/Syllabus_v2.pdf).
  4. Give the component a clear learner-facing Display Name (e.g., Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 Document).
  5. Click Save or Register to lock in your changes.
  6. Click the Publish button in the right-hand unit status sidebar to push the changes live to the LMS.

Learner Experience in the LMS

When an enrolled student navigates to this unit page within the Learning Management System (LMS) player, the platform extracts your static file and loads it into an interactive frame. Learners are presented with an inline document layout allowing them to scroll through pages, zoom in or out, print, or click a secondary download link to keep a copy on their personal machines without navigating away from the course layout.