How to create a student Tab file
Arbor is not SIF-enabled, which means the school must manually create and submit a file for the pupils and members of staff to ICT Solutions.
Once the file has been created in Arbor and uploaded via AnyComms, the account generation service is automatic, so you can easily provide the required data in tab file format and receive the processed information with account credentials within a few hours.
Note: submitting the files affiliates the pupil or staff member with your school
Affiliation keeps the email accounts “live”, we therefore advise schools to send in an up-to-date TAB file, with Pupil and Staff details at least once per calendar month or when there is a change; new staff member, someone leaves etc.
Note: TAB files should always contain a full list of all pupils and staff who currently require Google NSIX accounts at your school
How to create the report in Arbor (1st time only)
Navigate to School > Custom Report Writer
Click on Create New Report
Click on Create New Report
In the Report title area type in the report name using the following format – XXXX_pupils, where XXXX refers to your 4-digit DfE number.
Choose Students in the Who or what is this report about? area
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Next.
In the Date Range area select the drop-down menu and choose Today
Then click on Next.
If there is an entry in the Added Columns area, please remove using the rubbish bin icon.
In the Search for a column area type in blank and click on the magnifying glass
Scroll to the bottom of the screen and drag and drop the Blank Column into the Added Columns area.
A new pop-up window will appear – in the Column label area type in your 4-digit DfE Number – we have used 0000 as our DfE Number
Click on Save when complete.
From the left-hand column, select the required Data Items by dragging and dropping them into the Added Columns window.
It is important that the columns are in the correct order:
Blank Column – rename to DfE Number
First Name
Legal Last Name
Blank Column
Blank Column
Blank Column
Blank Column
Blank Column
Blank Column
Date of Birth
UPN
Year group(s)
Blank Column
Blank Column
Enrolment Mode
When complete click on the Preview columns and continue button
When you are happy with the columns click on Continue to column sorting
Click on Save and continue.
Click on Next on the next 2 screens.
Click on View Report
How to run the report in Arbor
Navigate to School > Custom Report Writer
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the hyperlink of the report you wish to run.
How to download and change the report to a TAB file
When the report has been run in Arbor you can download it by clicking on the Download drop-down menu and then selecting CSV
The file will automatically go to your download folder.
Open the CSV file by double clicking on it, it will open in Excel (this is normal)
In Cell 1A you should have your 4-digit DfE Number, click and drag the corner of the cell down the column to easily replicate the number against all Staff names.
Important: Failure to insert the DFE number will result in a loss of access to the NSIX email accounts as soon as the file is uploaded, as the system will not be able to identify which school the person is affiliated with
Click on File and Save As
From the Save as type dropdown, select Text (Tab delimited)
If the file name is not in the correct format change it to XXXX_Pupils, where XXXX is your DfE Number
Click on Save
Select the cross top right to close Excel.
Click on Don’t Save if a message appears.
Navigate to the folder you have placed the file in.
Right click and rename the file name to xxxx_Pupils.tab (Your 4-digit DfE number)
View our guidance on how to send TAB files to ICT Solutions