Several years ago, we installed two plugins to allow submissions of PDF files and to allow markup of PDF files in the Moodle assignment tool. Since then, the core Moodle system has improved to include PDF uploading and markup which means that the plugins are no longer necessary. As such, we are retiring the PDF plugins.
This will have an impact on past course sites which used the plugins.
First, past student submissions and marked up feedback files will appear to have disappeared. We will retain the ability to retrieve these files if access is needed for 2 years, but beginning on May 25, 2016 instructors and students will no longer have immediate access to those files. Beginning in May 2018, the plugins will be completely uninstalled and will no longer be able to be retrieved.
Second, courses which utilized these plugins and courses copied from those courses may need to be updated in order to allow students to submit files.
PDF Submission Plugin
If you only have PDF submission plugin enabled, your settings will look like this.
After the update, the PDF submission option will no longer be available. To enable submissions, check the box beside File Submissions.
This will allow the student to submit files, including PDFs.
PDF Feedback Plugin
If you have PDF feedback plugin enabled, your settings will look like this.
This option will disappear, but you will still be able to mark up PDFs within Moodle.