Only certain file types can be uploaded into Halo | Learn. This restriction exists to ensure that your instructors can properly view your submitted assignments. If you receive a Skipped unsupported file format error in Halo, when attempting to upload your assignment, you may be uploading an unsupported file type.
Halo supports most Microsoft 365 files and should be the software of choice throughout your degree program. If you don't already have Microsoft 365 apps, check out our guide on how to get it for free using your GCU email.
A common Microsoft 365 file that is not supported is the Microsoft Publisher file type. To resolve this invalid file type error, you can either zip the file or save the file as a different type. If you need assistance zipping the file, check out the article How to Zip and Un-Zip Your Files. Alternatively, follow the steps below if you prefer to save as the file as a different file type instead:
- Start by choosing the File tab at the top of your document and select Save As.
- Choose a destination folder for the file and the Save As dialog box will open.
- From the Save As dialog box, click the drop-down menu for Save as type and for this example, select PDF.
- Once selected, click Save.
- This will create a new PDF file under the same name that can be uploaded into the LMS.
This error may occur when using Microsoft Word templates (.dot/.dotx) and occasionally when using the Word 97-2003 Document (.doc) file type, but the process to resolve the issue is nearly the same. The only difference from the example above is to save the file as a Word document (.docx) instead of a PDF.
Supported File Types
Here is a list of supported file types for Halo | Learn. File types not listed here will generate a Skipped unsupported file format. Please note that the file types that are acceptable for submission in Halo differ from the file types that are acceptable for submission to LopesWrite. Asterisks in the table below indicate supported file types for LopesWrite.
| .doc/docx* | .pptx/.ppt* | .xls/.xlsx* |
| .document | .txt* | .jpg |
| .jpeg | .bmp | .png/.PNG |
| .gif | .tiff | .ppm |
| .pgm | .pbm | .pnm |
| .wav | .aiff | .mp3 |
| .wma | .m4a | .m4p |
| .3gp | .mp4 | .3g2 |
| .asf | .avi | .flv |
| .mov | .mpeg | .rm |
| .swf | .wmv | .sav |
| .spv | .zip | .dotx |
| .m | .mpp | .form |
| .spreadsheet | .pdf* | .adg |
| .adv | .aep/.aepx | .agr |
| .alc | .alp | .als |
| .ams | .amxd | .as |
| .asc | .asd | .ask |
| .asm | .asvx | .bakx |
| .celtx | .clp | .csv |
| .cxscript | .drp | .dwg |
| .eps | .fadein | .fan |
| .fdx | .fxt | .f3d |
| .f3z | .h | .ino |
| .lib | .lsn | .md/.markdown |
| .mat | .mex | .mid |
| .mlapp | .mlx | .mod |
| .ms14 | .mtr | .musx |
| .mx1 | .mx2 | .mx3 |
| .mx4 | .mx5 | .mx11 |
| .mx12 | .mx18 | .mx20 |
| .mx22 | .pbm | .presentation |
| .prproj | .qtff | .rtf |
| .sesx | .sheet | .sldasm |
| .slddrw | .sldprt | .slx |
| .smpx | .sps | .stl |
| .sv | .svg | .trk |
| .vi | .vsd | .vwx |
| .xml | .yaml |
If your file fails to upload and you receive a Maximum file size is 40MB error, it’s likely that the file size is too large. Students are limited to 40 MB file sizes when uploading to Halo. We recommend checking out the Compressing your File(s) to Upload to the Halo | Learn article for assistance with reducing the file size below 40 MB.
You may also receive an error message File name too long or contains special characters if the assignment title includes unacceptable characters, if your file name includes special characters or if the file extension is capitalized. See (Halo | Learn) Submitting Assignments for more information.