LURITS uploads

Current status

LURITS is open for 2011 data. Please be sure that you're using the new LURITS POP Interface software, and remember to reset all sequence numbers back to 0 for your first upload of the year.

Overview

Requirements

In order to upload information to LURITS, you will need a copy of the LURITS POP software, which can be downloaded from our downloads page. The LURITS POP software transmits information to LURITS via the internet.

Preparation

Before uploading the first time, you must be registered with SITA as a Smart school. In order to register, send an e-mail to support@smartsoftware.co.za with your school's name and EMIS number.

Before the necessary files can be exported from Smart, the learners', parents' and staff's information must be completed and corrected according to SITA's requirements. Smart will check the database and report on missing or incorrect info.

Overview of the process

Each upload should proceed as follows:

  1. Check for news and instructions on this page
  2. Check that you're running the latest version of Smart Software
  3. Complete all required information as reported by the program
  4. Export the xml files from Smart Software
  5. Import the xml files using the LURITS POP Interface Manager
  6. Run the POP Interface Processor to transmit the files
  7. The next day, run the POP Interface Processor to retrieve feedback files
  8. Import the feedback files into Smart Software

LURITS POP software

The LURITS POP software can be downloaded here. It must be installed on a computer before it can be used. The installation will create two icons on the Desktop - a POP Interface Manager and a POP Interface Processor.

The Manager is used to import files into and export files out of the directories below. The Processor transmits files between those directories and SITA's servers.

The first time any files are imported with the Manager, it will ask you to "Select a drive/folder for the SA-SAMS interface installation". You should choose your C:\ drive - any other location may cause difficulties in finding the folder later. Be careful - this dialog box can easily be confused for the import dialog box.

The Manager creates the following folder hierarchy in the selected location:

  • \SASAMSInterface
    • \SASAMSInterfacePOP
      • \SASAMSInterfacePOPConfigurations
      • \SASAMSInterfacePOPFiles
        • \<your emis number>
          • \errors
          • \logs
          • \processed
          • \receiving
          • \sending
          • \sent
          • \updated

The Manager places imported files into the \sending folder, while the Processor transmits any files in \sending to SITA, after which it moves those files to \sent. If LURITS has feedback files for the school, the Processor will download them into \receiving. Every time the Processor is run, it will write a log file in \logs, and errors with uploads are written to \errors.

Exporting from Smart Software

When exporting from Smart, you can select any folder to export to, as long as you use the Manager to import each of the files produced. Alternatively, you can select C:\SASAMSInterface\SASAMSInterfacePOP\SASAMSInterfacePOPFiles\<your emis number>, in which case you don't need to import the files using the Manager. Smart will place the export files in a \sending folder in whatever location you choose. The files will have names like SmartSoftwareInterfaceFile_700123456_Tx13_20100312_0638.xml

Importing into the POP Interface

When importing with the Manager, select and import each of the files you exported from Smart. It is important that you select Live School and unselect Secure in the Manager.

Uploading to LURITS

To transmit with the Processor, simply run it. You will not see any confirmation of success or failure. After running the Processor, you can inspect the \logs folder. It should list each file transmitted, and may indicate transmission errors.

Downloading feedback

Allow the LURITS system at least 24 hours to process your files. It should produce feedback files to report on whether your upload was successful, as well as to return unique LURITS numbers for the learners and staff.

To download any feedback files, just run the Processor again. You can inspect the \logs folder for transmission details, and feedback files, if any, can be found in \receiving. If any errors were found in the files, an analysis will be placed in \errors folder.

If no feedback files are received within a week after uploading, please send a message to support@smartsoftware.co.za so that I can follow up with SITA.

Importing into Smart Software

To import feedback files into Smart, browse for C:\SASAMSInterface\SASAMSInterfacePOP\SASAMSInterfacePOPFiles\<your emis number>. The program will list feedback files, which you can view by double-clicking. To import the files, click on Process files.

If the feedback files show any errors, please contact support@smartsoftware.co.za so that I can follow up with SITA.

Sequence numbers

LURITS uses a system of sequence numbers to constrain uploads. A sequential number is associated with each type of export file, and for every upload the sequence number is incremented. The sequence number is decremented when an upload fails.

Smart attempts to maintain the correct sequence numbers, but the sequence may be broken in certain cases:

  • an export file is deleted, lost or not uploaded
  • the database is restored to a previous version
  • the sequence numbers are tampered with

The program allows the sequence numbers to be manually corrected, for these situations. The number recorded in Smart is the last exported number. It will be incremented when a file is exported again, so set it to one less than you want to export next time.

To determine what sequence number LURITS is expecting, you'll have to upload, wait, and find the success or failure message in the feedback files, if any.
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