Data Options

Section Meeting End Dates

This setting dictates how the section end dates are populated.  Sometimes the term end date is preferred as a default date instead of the section dates.

 

The options are:

 

•Import from SIS
 
This setting indicates that the date will be provided in the file.
 

•Set to End Date of Term
 
This setting indicates that the date should always be set to the term end data.

Section Import Filters

During section import, various other related data elements are created and/or updated.  The section import filters define how the system should handle these other elements upon subsequent imports.  These settings are mostly useful for re-import refinements.  The default mode is to import new records and update existing records.

 

For each of the applicable record types, the options are:

 

•Import new and update existing
 
This option will allow new records to be added, and will also update changes to any existing records.
 

•Only import new
 
This option will only allow new records to be inserted, but ignores changes to existing records.
 

•Do not import
 
This option will ignore these data elements completely during import.  You should not use this option initially, as these records need to be established.

 

The above options can be set for each of the following record types:

 

•Subjects

•Courses

•DeliveryMethods

•CourseDeliveryMethods (delivery method association at the course level)

•Sections

•MeetingTypes

•SectionMeetings

•CourseMeetingTypes (meeting type association at the course level)

•Crosslists

•SectionMeetingInstructors

•Instructors_ContactInformation_Instructor  (this is for contact information at the instructor level)

•Instructors_ContactInformation_People  (NOTE:  this is for contact information at the master people record associated with the instructor.  updates to existing records is not an option due to data architecture issues - the record could be shared and/or have been merged)

Multiple Section Import Definition Handling

The "SISKey" is the ID field that links a SIS record to an Astra record.  A potential conflict is created if duplicate SISKeys are encountered during import.  These settings define how the system should behave when duplicates are found.

 

For each of the applicable record types, the options are:

 

•Halt with Error
 
This option will stop the import and log the error if duplicate SISKeys are encountered.
 

•Ignore
 
This option will ignore the duplicate SISKeys, allowing all records to be imported.  Only one of the records can be written, so the last record processed will be the one recorded. (last in wins)

 

The above options can be set for each of the following record types:

 

•Subjects

•Courses

•DeliveryMethods

•CourseDeliveryMethods

•Sections

•MeetingTypes

•SectionMeetings

•CourseMeetingTypes

•Instructors_ContactInformation_Instructor

•Instructors_ContactInformation_People

System Settings

There are a number of system settings that define the overall behaviors for section import.  These settings generally determine the overall policy desired by the institution. The settings listed here are found in the System Settings area of the Setup Tab in Astra Schedule.

 

See the System Settings Catalog for a description of each of the settings.
 
The options include:

 

•DeleteAstraSectionsNotInImportSet
 
Set to true or false.

 

•DeleteAstraMeetingsNotInImportSet
 
Set to true or false.

 

•DeleteCanceledSections
 
Set to true or false.

 

•DoNotImportRoomAssignments
 
Set to true or false.

 

•DoNotOverwriteAstraRoomAssignments
 
Set to true or false.

 

•DropRoomAssignmentsOnMeetingPatternChange
 
Set to true or false.

 

•IncompleteSectionsImportPolicy
 
Set to import, skip, or delete.
 

•IncompleteSectionMeetingsImportPolicy
 
Set to import, skip, or delete.
 

•SectionEnrollmentPolicy
 
Set to UseSection, UseSectionMeeting, or AsImported

Text File Settings

These settings define the location of the text import file as well as the path to the map file that defines how the system should interpret the import file.

 

•Input File
 
Use the browse button to select the location of the import file.  When the job is performed, the system will upload a copy of the file to the server.
 
NOTE:  This is one-time copy, and the import is performed from the uploaded version, not the remote file.
 

•TextSectionImportMapFile
 
This setting merely displays the system setting path to the map file.  This defaults to the example file, and should be customized by each institution during implementation.  The path must be edited in the System Settings area of the Setup Tab in Astra Schedule.

 

 

See Schedule a Job for more information on running the import job.