Creation/Management of Custom Import Test Types

For an overview, please read the main article on Custom Data Importers.

The main components of custom data file importing are:

1. Creation/management of a Custom Import Test Type (this article)
2. Data File Management
3. File importing
4. Data viewing

Each different "type" of assessment must have a corresponding Test Type. For example, in order to display data files for Assessment Type A, you will need to create "Assessment A Test type".

Creating a Test Type

To create a Test Type, perform the following steps within the Create a Test Type Wizard:

1. Navigate to the Assessments tab in Aware, then select Add a Test Type.
2. Enter the title, then select Custom Import Tests. 

Test Type Configuration Options

Within this view, you have the ability to determine the following options:

• Allow teachers to view this test
• Show test data on the student information Tests tab
• Enable summarization on the Analyze tab

 Managing File Extensions

File Extension Codes connect the data file to Aware. In order for Aware to display custom data, you will need to define exactly what is in the data file, and how it should be displayed. These File Extension Field codes are specific to your test type.

The following File Extension Fields are already built in to Aware. You do not need to create an Extension Code to display this data:

• Raw Score
• Percent Score
• Date Tested
• Campus ID
• Student State ID
• Student Local ID
• Student First Name
• Student Last Name
• Student DOB
• Test Staff ID

Building File Extensions

Your file extensions will help Aware read what is in the data file. The order in which you create the file extensions does not matter. 

• There are 4 parts to building a file extension (all parts are separated by the pipe character "|"). 
• Only use the “|” to separate components; do not put a pipe after the last value.

Please use the following format when building Extension Codes: 

Field Name|Field Type|Poss=1;2;3|StudentExt|QuickviewExt 

1. Field Name              

• Required field
• Must be the same as the column header in the data file
• Can not be duplicated (exact field name can only exist for each test type one time)
• Can not be one of the Field Type names (Integer, Decimal, text, Percent, FieldCode)
• Can not be a Built-in Field Name

2. Field type (Integer, Decimal, text, Percent, FieldCode)              

• Required field
• Must be one of the following: Integer, Decimal, text, Percent, FieldCode

Integer: Whole numbers, can be summarized

Decimal: Decimal values, can be summarized

Text: Can not be summarized

Percent: Value is treated the same as an integer, can be summarized

Field Code: Value will be one of a set of expected values, can be summarized

Because Field Codes have a set of expected values, we define these with the Poss=1;2;3 section.

3. Field Code Possibilities (ONLY Required for Field Code)

• The prefix "poss=" tells the software these are the possibilities
• The semicolon separated values are the possible values
• Cannot have the following characters: <  > /  “ ‘ ,  &
• The order of the possibilities in the code dictates the order they will show in the view headers.

• Examples:
  • A performance rubric Extension with possible Field Codes “Limited”, “Developing”, and “Masters”
    • → Poss=Limited;Developing;Masters
  • A performance level Extension with possible Field Codes “No” and “Yes”
    • → Poss=No;Yes
  • A custom demographic Extension with possible Field Codes “NA”, “Tier 1”, “Tier 2”, and “Tier 3”
    • → Poss=NA;Tier 1;Tier 2;Tier 3

4. StudentExt - OPTIONAL

• If included, this will indicate that this field’s data will appear in each student’s Test and Scores tab of their Student Profile.
• If excluded, each student’s Test and Scores tab in their Student Profile will not have the Custom Test
• If no Date Tested is provided in the import file, the data in fields using the StudentExt option will not appear on the Test and Scores page in the student profile. It will appear if the "show all scores" option is selected on the Test and Scores page with or without a Date Tested provided. 

5. QuickviewExt - OPTIONAL

• If included, this will allow the columns created as part of the import to appear in the default view when the test type is selected in the Analyze Tab. 
• If excluded, the default view will that will open when the test type is selected in the Analyze Tab will be the standard "Student Scores" view and will not contain the columns created as part of the import. A custom view will have to be built using instructions from the section titled Data viewing.

Future changes

• Extensions can be deleted if NO DATA have been imported for them
• Some components of Extensions can be edited
  • This will update the Field Names in Aware views
  • Future files will require the new Field Names
  • Anything can be made into Text
  • Percent can be changed to Number (but not vice versa)
  • Basically, a Field Type can be made more open but not more restrictive
• Be sure to Save after making changes!

Other management items to consider-

• Performance Levels
• Options to be used at the Campus or District level