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Overview:  How Atomic Search Respects Brightspace (D2L) Release Conditions

Atomic Search now more closely mirrors how Brightspace (D2L) controls student access to course content. Brightspace release conditions can be more complex than simple module dates, and different content types follow different visibility rules. This update ensures that Atomic Search results match what students can actually access in Brightspace. This article explains how Atomic Search evaluates release conditions for each Brightspace content type.

Overview of the New Behavior

Brightspace content can be accessed in multiple ways:

  • Through the Table of Contents (TOC)

  • Through direct links

  • Through other tools or modules

Because of this, not all content is truly restricted by module or topic dates. Atomic Search now evaluates each content type using the same rules Brightspace uses, instead of assuming everything is controlled by the TOC.

When release dates apply, Atomic Search always uses the most restrictive combination of dates to determine visibility.

 

How Atomic Search Determines Visibility

Most Restrictive Date Rule

When multiple release dates apply (for example, a module and a topic inside that module):

  • Start date: the latest start date is used

  • End date: the earliest end date is used

This matches Brightspace’s nested release behavior.

 

Content Type Breakdown

Modules and TOC-Based Content

The following content types follow module and topic release dates:

  • Modules

  • Pages (topics)

  • Files (TOC files only — not files from Manage Files)

  • External tools

  • URLs

How it works:

  • Both modules and topics can have release dates.

  • Modules can be nested inside other modules.

  • Atomic Search evaluates all applicable dates and applies the most restrictive set.

 

Announcements

  • Announcements do not appear in the Table of Contents.

  • They have their own release date system.

 

Atomic Search behavior:

  • Uses the announcement’s start and end dates directly.

  • Module or TOC dates do not apply.

 

Assignments

Assignments have both release dates and visibility rules.

Outside of the release date window, an assignment can be:

  1. Hidden

  2. Access restricted

  3. Submission restricted

Atomic Search behavior:

 

  • If an assignment is hidden or access restricted, Atomic Search respects the release dates.

  • If only submission is restricted, the assignment is still indexed (matching Brightspace behavior).

Checklists

  • Checklists do not have release dates in Brightspace.

Atomic Search behavior:

  • Always indexed and visible to students.

 

Discussions

Brightspace discussions have a multi-level structure:

  • Forums contain topics

  • Only topics are indexed

Release and visibility rules:

  • Both forums and topics can have release dates.

  • Both have the same visibility rules as assignments.

Atomic Search behavior:

 

  • Uses the same most restrictive date logic as modules and topics.

    • Hidden or access-restricted discussions respect release dates.

    • Submission-restricted dates do not restrict indexing.

      Applies assignment-style visibility rules:

Quizzes

Quizzes are always visible to students in Brightspace, even when:

  • Submissions are restricted

  • Content cannot yet be viewed

Atomic Search behavior:

  • Quizzes are always indexed.

  • No release dates are applied.

 

Surveys

  • Surveys have their own simple release date system, separate from the TOC.

Atomic Search behavior:

  • Uses the survey’s start and end dates directly.

 

What This Means for Instructors and Students

 

  • Search results now more accurately reflect what students can access in Brightspace.

  • Content that Brightspace allows students to find through direct navigation will also appear in Atomic Search.

  • Release conditions are applied consistently across tools, matching Brightspace’s native behavior.