Importing Custom Data in Professional Learning

Professional developlemt administrators can upload custom data imports for mass credit management. Once you create templates in the importer, you can reuse the same template with matched column headers for future uploads. 

Using the Import Custom Data feature does not create a new course in Course Management. Instead, it imports credits in bulk, which appear in the system as an outside credit request. To view the imported credits, view the staff portfolio.

Accessing the Import Custom Data Feature

Select Settings from the main menu and then select Import External Data.

Creating a Template

On the Import Custom Data screen, select Create Template and then follow the prompts in the Template Editor to build your template.

Step 1: Define your import template

1. Enter the name of your template.

2. Select Choose File to upload your CSV file with data.

3. Locate the file on your computer.

4. Select the Upload button.

5. Once the name of the file appears next to Choose File, select the Next button.

6. After selecting next, a list of the potential schema (data matches) appears on this page. Click Next again to address matching column headers with data.

Step 2: Match course and user columns

1. Use the drop-down menus to match required data fields to columns in your uploaded file. The Next button will not be active until all columns are matched.

2. Click Next when columns are matched.

Step 3: Match credit columns

1. Select the column of data to match the Credit Type that represents the credit type to be awarded.

2. Select the checkboxes next to the specific credit type(s) to be awarded in the upload. You can award multiple credit types at the same time.

3. Click Next when this step is complete.

Step 4: Final step

1. The system validates imported data files. Select Yes to validate and click Finish.

The completed template is stored in your list of Existing Templates. It can be re-applied to another importer with similar fields. Use the Template Editor to create as many templates as needed.

Tips for Creating Your Template

• The comma delimited file (CSV) must contain the following columns:

  • Course Title

  • Start Date

  • End Date (If the end date is unmatched, it will be set the same as the start date.)

  • User Email

  • Credit Type

• If your CSV file has more columns than the above-listed minimum, the process still runs. 

• The Credit Type column must list the value of the credit in hours.

• If a course has more than one credit and the credit value is the same, you can connect the column to more than one credit type.

• If a course has multiple credit types with different credit values, each column must be listed separately with the credit value included.

Below is an example spreadsheet of how the CSV file provides credits to multiple users participating in multiple courses with different types of credits awarded.

Column A is the title of the course.

Column B is the Start and End date of the course.

Column C is the User Email and identifies who will receive credit.

Columns D-G are the Credit Types in Strive.

• The header of the columns is the actual credit type.

• The cells in columns D-G reflect the number of credit hours awarded for each credit type.

Note: If a user has not gained credit, the appropriate column must have a 0 in the field. Empty credit fields cause an error when importing. 

Uploading a New Import Using a Template

Step 1: Select the template name from Existing Templates.

Step 2: Select the Import New File button.

Step 3: Select the file to upload.

Step 4: Select Upload.

Step 5: Select Next. You do not have to verify column data again using an existing template.

Removing a File and Associated Data

Step 1: Select the template name from Existing Templates.

Step 2: Select the file you want to delete from Data Files list. 

Step 3: Select the Delete File & Data button to remove the file.