Why is it hard to share SCORM packages by email?
A short note fits in an email. An instructional video does not. A SCORM package combines the video, audio, and course pages in one ZIP. That file can be hundreds of MB, sometimes several GB. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook’s limit is about 20 MB.
Splitting the package into parts prevents the learning management system from using it properly. The system looks for the course manifest file inside the package. If a part is missing, the course will not open. Compressing the video separately also makes the instructional content harder to see.
The file the organization uploads should be the package exported by your course authoring tool.
| Method | What happens | Suitable for uploading the course? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Attachments over 20–25 MB will not send | No |
| Splitting the ZIP | The course manifest may be missing | No |
| Compressing the video | The instructional video becomes blurry | Risky for the final course |
| Shared drive | Requires an account; package files may get mixed up | Use with care |
| SendGB link | ZIP stays intact; video is not compressed | Suitable for handoff |
The example above is a module handoff: a SCORM package, preview video, participation notes, exam questions, and instructor notes. The video transfer guide explains how to share course videos.
Extracting the package vs. sending it intact
A learning management system is where an organization makes its courses available. We are not that system. We do not enroll students. We do not record who completed the course, their grade, or the time they spent. The organization uploads the package there.
We do not extract your existing ZIP. Its pages, audio, and video stay intact. If you extract the ZIP and upload the files individually, downloading them together creates a different package. It may not have the SCORM structure your learning management system expects. Create the package in your course authoring tool. Send that ZIP.
| Extracted folder | SCORM ZIP sent intact | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Viewing individual files | Uploading to a learning management system |
| Manifest file | In the folder | Inside the ZIP |
| Downloading everything | Creates a new package | Downloads your ZIP |
| 500 files | Small individual files may exceed the limit | A ZIP counts as one file |
| What we do | We do not build the ZIP | We do not extract the ZIP |
Include the preview video and PDF notes in the same transfer. PDFs can be opened on the download page. See the PDF transfer guide for a separate explanation. The ZIP cannot be opened.
What should you include in a course handoff?
A missing part leaves the course incomplete. If the exam questions are outside the package, add them to the folder too.
| File | Purpose | If missing |
|---|---|---|
| SCORM ZIP | Package uploaded to the learning management system | The course cannot be installed |
| Preview video | Instructional content to watch without extracting the package | Only the ZIP is downloaded |
| Participation notes | Summary for the instructor to read | Information is shared only verbally |
| Exam questions | The organization’s own exam | We do not track scores |
| Instructor notes | Explain what each file is | The order gets mixed up |
When the recipient downloads the entire transfer, these files are downloaded together. We do not extract the ZIP’s contents. The ZIP transfer guide explains how to send a SCORM ZIP file. If you want to send a folder, see the folder transfer guide. A ZIP is the better choice for SCORM.
Add a password for an unpublished course. Send the password separately from the link.
Is 5 GB enough for a course?
5 GB is often enough for a single module. It may not be enough for a series lasting hours. The limit is based on total size and file count, not the number of courses. We do not guarantee how many will fit.
| What you are sending | Typical size or use | Which option is enough? |
|---|---|---|
| Text and short notes | Often a few MB | Free, no sign-up, available for up to 90 days |
| Single module video | Hundreds of MB | Free |
| SCORM package and preview copy | May be 1–3 GB | Free if it fits |
| Long course series | May be tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| Archive over 500 GB | One-time transfer | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It supports 2,500 files and includes 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. It suits organizations that frequently transfer e-learning course files.
SendGB Exceed requires no membership. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. You can send 2,500 files. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. It is enough for an occasional, very large course series.
If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. If the same person downloads again, you will not receive another email. The notification does not confirm that the download finished. It does not mean the course was watched.
How to send
- 1
Add the package
Add the ZIP file exported by your course authoring tool to the upload box. You can include a preview video and notes in the same transfer. The free limit is 5 GB in total. A ZIP counts as one file.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to the organization or instructor, or copy and paste it into a message. Add a password for an unpublished course. Send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads the package
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. The ZIP cannot be opened on the download page. MP4 and PDF files can be viewed. The recipient uploads the package to their own learning management system. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- We do not extract the SCORM ZIP. Its internal structure stays intact.
- Course videos are not compressed or converted to another format.
- Videos, notes, and exam files go in the same transfer.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when someone starts downloading.
What we don’t do
- We are not a learning management system. We do not upload courses to it, track grades, or record exam scores.
- We do not extract and repackage ZIP files. Hundreds of files uploaded separately will not form the package your learning management system expects.
- The ZIP cannot be opened on the download page. Videos and PDFs can be viewed.
- Free transfers have a 500-file limit. Send the package as a ZIP.
Frequently asked questions
Will sending a SCORM package damage it?
We do not extract or recompress your existing ZIP. The file your learning management system imports is the package exported by your course authoring tool. You upload that package. We do not install the course in the system.
Can I send the folder without creating a ZIP?
The files will transfer. Downloading them together will not produce a SCORM package ready to upload to a learning management system. The course manifest file must be at the root of the package. Your course authoring tool sets this up. If you upload hundreds of small files individually, the free 500-file limit applies. A ZIP counts as one file.
Will the video be compressed?
No. We do not re-encode the course video. Its resolution stays the same. You create the preview copy yourself. MP4 files can be opened on the download page. The ZIP cannot.
Can I include notes and an exam?
Yes, if you add them to the same transfer. We do not write the participation notes or exam questions. PDFs can be opened on the download page. We do not track exam scores.
Can I see student progress?
No. We do not record who completed the course, their grade, or the time they spent. That is the learning management system’s job. If you enter your email address, we only notify you once when downloading starts.
How do I get around Gmail’s 25 MB limit?
Do not attach the package to the email. Even a short video exceeds this limit. Create a transfer and paste the short link into your message. The file is not included in the message.
Does the recipient need an account or software?
Not to download. No account is needed to download. Uploading the package requires the organization’s own learning management system. Opening the course there is not our job. Someone who only wants to watch the video can download the MP4.
Why are SCORM packages so large?
Because of instructional videos, embedded audio, and images. A short text-based course stays small. One module’s video can be hundreds of MB, and a series can be several GB. We do not guarantee how many will fit. Free transfers allow 5 GB and 500 files. A ZIP counts as one file.
Will I be notified when the recipient starts downloading?
Yes, if you enter your email address. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. The notification tells you that downloading has started. It does not confirm that the entire file was downloaded. It does not mean the course was watched.
Which option should I choose if 5 GB is not enough?
A single module often fits within 5 GB. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. A long course series needs SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 2,500 files, 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. For a single handoff over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership, €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer, 2,500 files, and a single-use code valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days.
Send a download link, not an email attachment
One module may fit within 5 GB. You can send a long course series up to 500 GB with SendGB Extra, or up to 1 TB in a single transfer with SendGB Exceed.
Start sending