Problem using the new manual section enrollments using a CSV upload

[NColeFisher]

Recently my campus notified Canvas admins and teachers that there was a new system for manual section enrollment where we could download a csv template, create sections then upload the csv to sort students into the chosen sections. 

In my program, we routinely sort hundreds of students into lots of different sections, so having his new feature will be a huge time saver!  Unfortunately, I can't seem to get it to work.  Has anyone else tried this and been successful? 

The directions we were given are pasted below:

Uploading a CSV with sections and enrollments

1. Go to the Course navigation menu and select Course Admin Tools. Select the Manual Section Enrollment tool. The Manual Section Enrollment window appears.
2. Select the Import CSV tab.
   

   (see attached image file)

3. Select the link to Download a pre-filled template. The downloaded file lists all the students in the course and leaves a column where you enter the Section Name.

   "Section Name","Email","Role","Emplid","Name"
   "","walte944@umn.edu","Student","0000001","Walteria, Patientia"
   "","dulut009@umn.edu","Student","0000002","Duluthopus, Cicero"
   "","crook140@crk.umn.edu","Student","0000004","Crookstone, Nona"

4. Enter the Section Name for each student. Add rows for TA, Non-Editing Instructor, or Undergraduate TA. Save as a CSV.

   "Section Name","Email","Role","Emplid","Name"
   "Maroon","walte944@umn.edu","Student","0000001","Walteria, Patientia"
   "Gold","dulut009@umn.edu","Student","0000002","Duluthopus, Cicero"
   "Gold","crook140@crk.umn.edu","Student","0000004","Crookstone, Nona"
   "Gold","roche197@umn.edu","TA","0000003","Rochestern, Marc"
   "Maroon","morr1652@umn.edu","TA","0000005","Morrist, Tre"

5. Upload the CSV to the Upload your Enrollments field. A progress bar appears. The process may take a few minutes while the tool validates the data and creates the sections and enrollments.

I can't seem to get the csv file to be recognized upon upload.  I have download the prefilled template (per step 3) and added my groups (per step 4), but when I try to upload it (per step 5), I get an error that says "Please upload a valid CSV file."  I even get the same error message trying to upload the template if I make no changes to it.

I don't think this is operator error, I have downloaded Canvas templates to build groups and that works fine.  I've downloaded Canvas templates to add grades and that works fine.  I think it has to be a problem with Canvas recognizing it's own template file as it is very clearly labeled as a csv file upon download.  I've even tried doing save as and clicking on the csv format, even though it is already formatted as a csv from the template download, to no avail. 

Has anyone else tried this and been successful?  If so can you let me know if there was anything particular you changed to make the template work?

Thanks!

Cole Fisher

[mzimmerman · Accepted solution]

Hi @NColeFisher ,

I think that the tool you're describing is a custom app that has been added to your school's Canvas.  There is no similar Manual Section Enrollment tool on our Canvas.

Do the sections that you are trying to add the students to already exist in the course?  Remember, "Groups" in Canvas are not the same as "Sections", so you need to look under "Settings" > "Sections" to get a list of sections in the course, or to create new sections (if instructors at your school have permission to add sections).

[NColeFisher]

Thank you for your thoughts. 

We definitely want sections not groups.  We use groups for a different purpose.

My understanding from the directions we were given was that using the csv upload method, Canvas would generate sections (not groups) automatically based on the information in the csv file.  However, when it didn't work I did try pre-generating sections via the settings menu, then tried to upload the csv to sort students into the established sections.  It didn't work, but I wasn't surprised as it seems like the csv file is being rejected out of hand.  So, whatever you have in the csv file or what sections you might have pre-set using the settings > sections feature doesn't seem to factor into the issue.

I did not know there was such a thing as Canvas institution-specific features.  Interesting, maybe I need to contact a different help network.

Thanks again!

[Gabriel33]

Indeed, it's possible to customize some Canvas behavior with outside tools.

From a quick search, one example of a tool that lets you submit course sections as a CSV file is this one: Create Sections - UMICH
But it may not be the only one, and your institution may be using another - so you would probably need to ask your institution's IT/Canvas support because even if someone here uses the tool I linked and can help with that specific one, you may be using another.

[NColeFisher]

Thank you Gabriel33.  Now that I understand this is probably an institutional customization, I realize my question/issue will probably not be able to be solved through this forum.  But I sincerely appreciate those who have responded!  Thank you.