Add new users to a local development instance of canvas

[dnmilne]

Hi there, 

I have followed this guide to set up a local instance of Canvas for development.

The purpose of this was to do integration testing for an LTI tool, so I need to be able to log in with different types of users and check that the tool is working correctly. How do I do that?

I can add new people to canvas, but how do they log in? They don't have a password, and the "forgot password" functionality relies on email, which the local instance doesn't support. 

Is there a script or something I can call to add new test users?

[melodyc_lam · Accepted solution]

@dnmilne I'm not familiar with local instances of Canvas but if the Instructure-hosted Canvas instances are the same as spinning up your own instance of Canvas, you will need to create a login for the user. Just creating the user account won't let them log into Canvas.

For reference, you can use this endpoint to create the actual user through the API, and this API endpoint to create a login for a user and provide the user a password.

From there, you'll want to use the /login/canvas endpoint to log into Canvas through the local instance (or however the local instance presents the login screen.)

Hope this helps!

[melodyc_lam · Accepted solution]

@dnmilne I'm not familiar with local instances of Canvas but if the Instructure-hosted Canvas instances are the same as spinning up your own instance of Canvas, you will need to create a login for the user. Just creating the user account won't let them log into Canvas.

For reference, you can use this endpoint to create the actual user through the API, and this API endpoint to create a login for a user and provide the user a password.

From there, you'll want to use the /login/canvas endpoint to log into Canvas through the local instance (or however the local instance presents the login screen.)

Hope this helps!

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @dnmilne,

Like @melodyc_lam, I do not have experience with self-hosted instances of Canvas but I do create Canvas user accounts (and their logins) by using CSV files that I upload as SIS imports from the Canvas GUI.

You might find How do I format CSV text files for uploading SIS data into a Canvas account? - Instructure Community... and  How do I import SIS data to a Canvas account? - Instructure Community - 98  to be helpful.

-Doug

[dnmilne]

Perfect, thank you both!