Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Launcher

A simple script to automatically launch a Blackboard Collaborate Ultra session. Zero clicks and zero interaction required.

View Demo Video

Example_1.mp4

Motivation

Launching Blackboard Collaborate Ultra takes nearly 10 clicks: 3 to login, 1 to open the class, 3 to launch Collaborate, and then 2 to close the annoying “Check Your Microphone/Webcam” screens. This tool reduces that to 0 clicks and requires zero interaction, so it can be automatically launched at class time via cron or the “Task Scheduler.”

Installation

You will require python3 (≥ 3.8), Firefox, and geckodriver. This script has been tested on Windows and Linux, but it should work on macOS as well.

1. Install Firefox and python3.
2. Place geckodriver somewhere in your PATH, or add its location to the config file.
3. Run: pip3 install -r requirements.txt
4. That’s it!

Note

I have used this script for an entire semester with zero issues; however, it is heavily reliant on the exact structure of the Blackboard website, which may change at any time. Nevertheless, I can confirm that this script is fully functional as of April 2021. If anything changes to make this script stop working, feel free to raise an issue or submit a PR.

Usage

Script

usage: blackboard_collaborate.py [-h] [-c CONFIG] class_name

A simple script to automatically launch a Blackboard Collaborate Ultra session.

positional arguments:
  class_name            The name of the class to launch, as specified in the config file.

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -c CONFIG, --config CONFIG
                        The configuration file to use. Defaults to “./blackboard_collaborate.ini”.

See https://github.com/gucci-on-fleek/Blackboard-Collaborate-Launcher for full documentation.

Config File

[General]                                 # Place global settings in the [General]
                                          # Section. They will be applied to all classes.

base_url        = https://bb.example.edu  # The base Blackboard URL. (Required) 
                                          # You must include “https://” or “http://”

username        = john.smith              # Your Blackboard Username. (Required)

password        = SuperSecretPassword     # Your Blackboard Password. (Required)

hide_ui         = False                   # Hide the UI of the browser so that only 
                                          # Blackboard Collaborate is visible. (Optional)

raspberry_pi    = False                   # Enable hardware acceleration of videos on
                                          # the Raspberry Pi. (Optional)

profile_picture = C:\image.png            # A path to the profile picture to use in
                                          # Blackboard Collaborate. (Optional)

driver_path     = C:\geckodriver.exe      # The path to geckodriver. (Optional)

[ClassOne]                                # The class name. You can have unlimited  
                                          # classes; just give each its own [section]. 

course_id       = _12345_6                # The Course’s ID. Found in the query string
                                          # in the Blackboard URL. (Required)
                                        
launch_button   = Math 101 - Course Room  # The text found in the button used to
                                          # open the class. (Required)

[Biology]                                 # Launch this with
                                          # “blackboard_collaborate.py Biology”.

cOuRsE_iD       = _98765_4                # All keys are case-insensitive.
launch_button   = Biology 300 - Lecture
hide_ui         = True                    # You can override any setting from [General].

Licence

Unless otherwise stated, all files are licensed under the Mozilla Public Licence, version 2.0 or later.