About ThinkCentral Template Files

The ThinkCentral (TC) import file is a comma separated values (CSV) file created using a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft’s Excel®. For field-level detailed instructions, see ThinkCentral Import Template File Details.

Student accounts, teacher accounts, and class data can all be imported using a single file. Keep in mind, however, that the data and data fields vary for each role (student, teacher, class). For this reason, you may find it easier to separate each role into individual files—for example, one file for teacher accounts, one for student accounts, and one for class data.

➔ Click to download the ThinkCentral template files.

Note: If your organization uses multiple platforms—Ed, the HMH Learning Platform; ThinkCentral (TC); and/or Holt McDougal Online (HMO)—you must use the same template-type for all platform imports—either OneRoster, SFF, or Traditional (TC and HMO). It is not acceptable to mix the import template types in your imports by using the SFF template for one platform and then using the Traditional template for another platform. Only OneRoster and SFF can support Ed.

Required Fields

● Required fields must be populated.

● Fields that are not required may remain empty, but even empty fields must be retained using commas. Do not use a space for an empty field.

● HMH recommends that quoted identifiers be used around all headers and fields.

Note: Unless you turn off the email notification setting in the ThinkCentral platform, newly added teachers receive an automated email containing their log in usernames. See TC-Edit District Configuration Settings for details.

File Requirements

The files that you prepare and submit must be:

● saved as CSV (comma delimited) files

● compressed into a zipped file containing one (and only one) CSV import file and named according to zip file naming rules shown below.

Note: Import Management allows for only one CSV file within a zipped ThinkCentral import file. If you prepare more than one import file for ThinkCentral, each individual CSV file must be compressed into a separate zipped file prior to upload. HMH recommends that each zipped file have a unique name to ensure a successful upload.

The following rules apply to the zipped import file name:

– Valid values: alphanumeric (A–Z, a–z, 0–9), dashes ( - ), underscores ( _ )

– Must not contain special characters (except dashes and underscores)

– For SFTP site file submissions (automated imports), spaces are not allowed (Import Management accepts zipped files with spaces, but the SFTP site does not.)