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Auto Notices: Complete Setup Guide

How to set up, configure SFTP and direct API data sources, filter rows, and schedule automated attendance and data-driven notices in Edlio Mass Communication.

Auto Notices allow you to automatically send notifications to parents and students based on data. This can be used for attendance, discipline, bus route, etc. notices. This guide covers the complete setup process from configuration to scheduling. You must have an API and/or SFTP setup between the Communication Dashboard and your Student Information System.

💡 Direct SIS Attendance API vs. SFTP Requirements

• Direct SIS Attendance API: Supported for PowerSchool, Aeries, and Qmlativ (Skyward Qmlativ) via direct API integration.
• All Other SIS Providers (Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS 2.0, Aspen, FACTS, etc.): Must use an SFTP-based CSV data feed (scheduled automated daily export) to deliver attendance data for Auto Notices.

Accessing Auto Notices

Once your API connection and/or SFTP is complete, Auto Notices can be configured in Mass Communication > Auto Notices.

From the Auto Notices screen, you can view all existing auto notices and their status information including:

  • Name: The auto notice title

  • Last Status: Current status (Sent, etc.)

  • Last Sent Date: When the notice was last sent

  • Next Send Date: When it will send next (if scheduled)

Creating a New Auto Notice

Step 1: Initial Setup

  1. Click + New Auto Notice

  2. Complete the setup fields:

Auto Notice Name: Enter a descriptive name for your auto notice

Data Source: Choose your data source:

  • CSV: Use uploaded CSV file data delivered via SFTP (required for Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS 2.0, Aspen, and other SIS providers without direct attendance API integration)

  • SIS Attendance: Use direct Student Information System attendance integration (available for PowerSchool, Aeries, and Qmlativ API connections)

CSV Data Configuration: If you select CSV as your data source, you must have an automated SFTP setup between your Student Information System and Edlio's Communication Dashboard.

💡 Best-Practice Adoption Tip: Automated Daily SFTP Exports
For SIS platforms without a direct attendance API (such as Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS 2.0, Aspen, FACTS, and Synergy), schedule your SIS to generate and export an automated attendance CSV file once or twice daily directly to your assigned Edlio SFTP directory. Contact Data Integration at [email protected] to receive your district's SFTP credentials and server host details.

SFTP Attendance Feed Specifications

To ensure automated notices trigger reliably every day without manual intervention, adhere to these SFTP feed standards:

  • Consistent Filename: The daily exported CSV filename must match identically with the filename used when uploading the sample CSV in Step 1 (e.g. daily_attendance_export.csv). Do not append dynamic date stamps to the filename.

  • Identical Header Row: Column header names must match the sample file exactly. The system maps merge fields (e.g., {{student_first_name}}, {{period}}, {{attendance_code}}) directly from these column headers.

  • Export Schedule: Schedule your SIS export to complete at least 30 minutes before your Auto Notice's scheduled send time (configured in Step 4) so the latest attendance data is fully processed.

  • Required Columns: Every row must include a unique student identifier (Student ID or State ID), student name, attendance status code, and primary guardian contact details (phone number and/or email address).

You'll see a "CSV data" section that allows you to quickly configure the data source by uploading a sample of the CSV file that will be used for this auto notice. Click Upload CSV to upload your sample file, which helps the system understand your data structure and available fields. Be sure to upload a sample of what will be sent via SFTP moving forward. The filename and headers need to match identically with what you have uploaded when creating the Auto Notice.

*Keep in mind the column types will be available as insert fields to your email, text, and phone messages.

CSV Row Filtering

Auto Notices now support filtering CSV rows based on column values, eliminating the need to pre-process data files before upload. This allows you to upload complete data files and let Auto Notices handle the filtering automatically.

When to Use Row Filtering

Row filtering is perfect for:

  • Sending only to specific lunch status values (e.g., only "P" status)

  • Excluding rows with empty or specific column values

  • Filtering by custom data fields without external processing

  • Targeting subsets of data based on business rules

Configuring Row Filters

After uploading your CSV sample, you can set up row filtering:

  1. Enable filtering: Check the "Conditionally include or exclude rows from this data source" checkbox

  2. Set your filter logic:

    • First dropdown: Choose "Exclude" or "Include only"

    • Second dropdown: Select "Any" (match any condition) or "All" (match all conditions)

  3. Configure filter conditions:

    • Column: Select the CSV column to filter on

    • Operator: Choose from:

      • Is one of

      • Is none of

      • Has any value

      • Is empty

      • Contains

      • Does not contain

      • Starts with

      • Ends with

    • Values: Enter the values to match against

  4. Add multiple conditions: You can create multiple filter rules that work together based on your "Any" or "All" selection

Row Filtering Examples

Example 1: Filter by Lunch Status If you have a "Lunch Status" column with values like E, F, P, R and only want to send to people with "P" status:

  • Enable row filtering

  • Select "Include only"

  • Choose "Lunch Status" column

  • Select "Is one of"

  • Enter "P"

Example 2: Exclude Empty Values To exclude rows where a field is empty:

  • Enable row filtering

  • Select "Exclude"

  • Choose your column

  • Select "Is empty"

Example 3: Multiple Conditions To send to students with status "Active" OR grade "5":

  • Enable row filtering

  • Select "Include only"

  • Choose "Any" (match any condition)

  • Add condition: Status column "Is one of" "Active"

  • Add condition: Grade column "Is one of" "5"
    ​

Step 2: Configure Channels

Default Language: Select the primary language for your communications

Communication Channels: Choose from:

  • Email

  • Text (SMS)

  • Voice

Step 3: Compose Your Message

Email Configuration

From Field: Choose which email address the auto notice will be sent from

Subject Line: Create your email subject using merge fields. Available merge fields include:


​


​
​Message Body: Compose your email message using the same merge fields available for the subject line:

Note: The message field is required and will show a character count as you type.

Text and Voice Messages

Configure similar message content for text and voice channels using the same merge fields.

Text

Voice

Step 4: Schedule Your Auto Notice

Repeat Settings:

  • Repeat At: Set specific times for the auto notice to run

  • Timezone: Times are displayed in your organization's timezone

  • Repeat On: Choose recurring schedule options or select "Doesn't repeat" for one-time notices

Important: All times are displayed in the organization's timezone (example: Central Europe Standard Time).

Managing Auto Notices

From the main Auto Notices screen, you can perform several actions on existing auto notices:

Available Actions

Send Now: Manually trigger the auto notice immediately

Reports: View delivery reports and statistics for the auto notice

Edit: Modify any aspect of the auto notice configuration

Delete: Remove the auto notice entirely

Status Monitoring

The Auto Notices dashboard provides real-time status information:

  • Last Status: Shows whether the notice was successfully sent

  • Last Sent Date: Displays the most recent send date and time

  • Next Send Date: Shows when the notice is scheduled to send next (displays "-" if not scheduled)

Best Practices

Message Content

  • Use merge fields to personalize messages with student and recipient names

  • Include text fields in your message for clarity

  • Keep messages concise but informative

  • Test your messages before scheduling

Scheduling

  • Consider your organization's timezone when setting send times

  • Schedule notices during appropriate hours when recipients are likely to check messages

  • Use recurring schedules for ongoing attendance monitoring

Communication Channels

  • Email is best for detailed information and record-keeping

  • Text messages work well for immediate, urgent notifications

  • Voice calls can be effective for critical attendance issues

  • Consider your audience's preferred communication methods

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • Messages not sending: Check that recipients have valid contact information

  • Wrong timezone: Verify organization timezone settings

  • Missing merge field data: Ensure attendance data includes all required fields

  • Delivery failures: Review recipient contact information and communication channel settings

Data Requirements

  • Ensure your data source (CSV or SIS) contains all necessary fields for merge fields

  • Verify attendance status codes match your system's configuration if using the SIS Attendance plug-in (available for PowerSchool, Aeries, and Qmlativ)

  • For all other SIS platforms (Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS 2.0, Aspen, etc.), verify automated daily CSV exports to SFTP contain up-to-date attendance records and valid recipient phone/email data

  • Check that recipient contact information is current and properly formatted

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