adding sis_id to existing users

[Ben_Cohan]

I have about 50 users that were created manually which I now want to manage via SIS IMPORT.  I've added a SIS_ID (user_id) to each account manually (tedious) and am trying to suspend all 50 accounts using a csv upload.  However, when I upload the csv I see the system is attempting to create new accounts, not manage the existing ones, because I get the following for each user:

• attachment_420520230703-315655-rjc1ij.csv - An existing Canvas user with the SIS ID xxxxx has already claimed aaaa@bbbb.com's user_id requested login information, skipping

Problem is: how do I tell the system I am not requesting that it create a new account, but manage the existing one??

[mzimmerman · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ben_Cohan 

There are some fields there are "sticky" and won't be overwritten by the SIS import if they were edited via the GUI.  However, if the record (user) was originally created via the GUI, then I think you will need to check the "Override UI Changes" checkbox when importing in order to allow the SIS import to take ownership of the record:

[Chris_Hofer]

@Ben_Cohan ...

If you wanted to test out @mzimmerman's response, I'd suggest trying it out in your school's "test" environment first to make sure it works the way you want.  You wouldn't have to make the changes to 50 users in the "test" environment (maybe try 5 or 10 users), and then try @mzimmerman's suggestion there.  That way you aren't messing anything up in "production" before you try it out in "test".

How do I access the Canvas test environment as an admin?

[Ben_Cohan]

Will checking/enabling that box essentially change the process from trying to create new accounts to trying to update existing accounts?  I ask because the warning does not reference the inability of the import to change the existing user's information, but the inability to create a new user.

[chriscas]

I don't think that checkbox will be the answer for this issue in my experience.  I think what you should do is download an SIS export report from your root account, selecting the users CSV option, then filter down to your 50 students you're trying to suspend and change the status column there, then re-upload.  When I have run into this error in the past, it's been caused by the login being restricted to a certain provider in either Canvas or the CSV file (but not matching).  For the info to update, things need to match perfectly, otherwise Canvas will thing you're trying to create a new user/login, but be unable to as the sis_id is already in use.  By starting with the sis export report file, you'll be guaranteed to have all of the fields populated correctly.

Hope this makes a bit of sense and helps you out!

-Chris