Import Templates
If you often import the same fields of data, you can create a template so that you don't have to define the import parameters and field import map every time you perform an import.
For example, if you often import an update from the school nurse with immunization information, create a template that includes the fields and format for immunization-related fields.
Database Extensions and Import Templates
You can specify any database extension fields on the template.
- Delimiters occurring in the data are not escaped (for example, fields are delimited by tabs, but one field contains tabs) and can cause problems when importing. Data can be wrapped with double quotes to lessen the issue, but there is still data (ex. double quote + tab + double quote) that can cause the same problems.
- Boolean values will be case insensitive, "true/false" or "t/f" or 1/0.
Add an Import Template
Create an import template to use each time you import the same data into your PowerSchool system.
Note: The Templates for Importing page is now also accessible via Start > System > Page and Data Management > Templates for Importing.
- On the start page, choose Special Functions under Functions in the main menu.
- Click Importing & Exporting.
- Click Templates for Importing.
- Click New.
Use the following table to enter information in the fields:
Field
Description
Name of this template
Enter a name for the template.
Import into this table
Choose the Students, Courses, or Teachers table from the pop-up menu.
Note: If Courses does not appear in the pop-up menu, then the district may only allow new courses to be created at the district office. For more information, see Edit Course Settings.
Delimited or fixed-length?
Choose Delimited or Fixed-field length for the data format from the pop-up menu.
Field delimiter
If you chose Delimited, choose which delimiter to use to separate the fields in the exported data from the pop-up menu:
- Tab
- Comma
- Other: Enter the type of field delimiter in the adjacent field.
End-of-line (record) delimiter
Choose one of the following to determine how the records are separated in the files you import using this template from the pop-up menu:
- CR: Carriage return
- CRLF: Carriage return/line feed
- LF: Line feed
- Other: Enter the type of end-of-line delimiter in the adjacent field, such as a semicolon.
Update Mode
Select the checkbox if you want the data in the file you import to update any fields with existing data. Otherwise, deselect the checkbox.
Columns
Create a map to determine into which PowerSchool fields each field of information in the import file is saved. Enter the fields in the order they appear in the import file.
If you chose Fixed-field length, indicate the width of each column (in characters) and the field name. To separate the number and field name, enter <tab>. For example, if the first column in your fixed-width file contains the student's phone number, enter 12<tab>home_phone.
If you chose Delimited, enter each field name and press RETURN (Mac) or ENTER (Windows).
If you are adding columns for database extensions, enter the extension field name using the format [extension name].[fieldname].
- Click Submit.
Edit an Import Template
Edit an import template to use each time you import the same data into your PowerSchool system.
Note: The Templates for Importing page is now also accessible via Start > System > Page and Data Management > Templates for Importing.
- On the start page, choose Special Functions under Functions in the main menu.
- Click Importing & Exporting.
- Click Templates for Importing.
- Click the name of the template you want to edit.
- Edit the information as needed.
- Click Submit.
Delete an Import Template
Delete import templates when they are no longer needed to conserve space on your system and minimize the possibility of confusion with the templates that are still used.
Note: The Templates for Importing page is now also accessible via Start > System > Page and Data Management > Templates for Importing.
- On the start page, choose Special Functions under Functions in the main menu.
- Click Importing & Exporting.
- Click Templates for Importing.
- Click the name of the template you want to delete.
- Click Delete.
- Click Confirm Delete.
Import Using a Template
When importing data using a template, you match the data with the fields defined in the template. To complete this procedure, you need a data file saved to a local or network location and an import template. For more information about creating an import template, see Add an Import Template.
Note: The Import Using Template page is now also accessible via Start > System > Page and Data Management > Import Using Template.
- On the start page, choose Special Functions under Functions in the main menu.
- Click Importing & Exporting.
- Click Import Using Template.
- Choose the Import template to use.
- Either enter the data file path and name in the field or click Browse... to select the data file.
- Click Submit.
- Verify that the data correlates to the fields from the template. If it doesn't, click the link to modify the template. For more information, see
Edit an Import Template. Otherwise, click Import.
Export a Template
Export a template used for importing data to save a backup copy of the template. Though you can view and modify the exported template using an application such as a Web browser, the exported template can also be sent to a system outside of your PowerSchool system.
Note: The Templates for Importing page is now also accessible via Start > System > Page and Data Management > Templates for Importing.
- On the start page, choose Special Functions under Functions in the main menu.
- Click Importing & Exporting.
- Click Templates for Importing.
- Click the name of the template to be exported in the Template Name column.
- Click Export this template. T
- Select Save File As... or Save this file to disk. T
- Select a file location.
- Click Save.