Creating Flat ASCII Files and

Uploading Records
Training Developed by the QA
Program Team
Training Objectives

Identify Population to Upload

into the ISIR Analysis Tool for
07-08

Create and Upload a Flat

ASCII file to bring records
into the ISIR Analysis Tool

Review ISIR Analysis Tool

Calendar of Activities
Have you heard?

Preparation
is
everything
Population to Analyze

• A Sample of Records that Met Your Institutional

Criteria
Prepare Flat File of Verified
Records
111221234MA0105Y 1. SSN
111331235LA0204 2. First Two letters of the
last name (CAPS)
111441236EV0106Y 3. Initial Transaction
4. Paid on Transaction
5. Y (to indicate the record
met your verification
criteria) or blank space
Length: 16 Character
Field
Creating Flat ASCII Files

File with BOTH transactions

File with only ONE transaction

File with NO transactions

File With BOTH Introduce the
Transactions New Policy
and Procedure
Flat ASCII File Assessment
Upload Your Data
Build/Rebuild
Build/Rebuild
File With BOTH Transactions
Random Sample
No Random Sample
Locate Your Flat ASCII File
Upload File
ISIR Data Confirmation
Data Validation
Data Validation Confirmation
Current Status
File With Only ONE Transaction

Initial Paid-On
Transactions Transactions
Locate Your Flat ASCII File
Don’t Forget …
File with NO Transactions

Create a flat
file with just
SSN and First
two letters of
the last name

No blank spaces needed at the end of file

Length: 11 Character Field
File With NO Transactions
Auto Load Initial

• Step 1:
Prepare and
Upload Paid-On
Transactions
into the tool.

Step 2:
Use Auto Load
Initial feature
to bring in the
initial
transactions
Auto Load Paid-On

Step 1:
Prepare and
Upload Initial
Transactions
into the tool.

Step 2:
Use Auto Load
Paid-On feature
to bring in the
Paid - On
transactions
Don’t Forget …
Institutional Verification Flag
Resources Available for Creating
Flat ASCII Files

• EDE Express
• Note Pad
• Excel
• Text Pad

• www.Ifap.ed.gov/qahome/guidance.html
Select: Chapter 1- Getting Started with the ISIR
Analysis Tool
2007-08 Timeline of Activities
for the ISIR Analysis Tool

February 2007 2008 Version of IA Tool on the Web

is available

March – September Begin implementing your verification

selection criteria & complete verifying
your applicants
October Prepare flat file, upload data;

November, December, Analyze Data; FSA collects school data;

January Notify QA Rep. of institutional verification
criteria
What We Have Learned

Preparation Needed For

Creating Flat ASCII Files

•How To Create and Upload

a Flat ASCII File

ISIR Analysis Tool Calendar of

Activities
QA Regional Representatives
Regions 1, 2, and 5 – Holly Langer-Evans – (617) 289-0136
Holly.Langer-Evans@ed.gov

Regions 3, 4, 6 and 7 – Anne Tuccillo – (202) 377-4378

Anne.Tuccillo@ed.gov

Regions 8, 9, and 10 – Michael Cagle – (206) 615-2586

Michael.Cagle@ed.gov
Training Available on QA Website

• QA Requirements for 2007-2008

• Getting Started in the QA Program
• What's New with the ISIR Analysis Tool for 2007 -
2008
• Creating Flat ASCII Files
• Maximize User-Specified Fields 2007 - 2008
• Making the Most of your Analysis
Questions