Automatically create new columns when importing Gradebook?

[jb2483929]

I am transferring grades from another LMS into some Canvas courses. I downloaded both gradebooks as csv and copied columns from the other LMS csv into the Canvas csv file. When I go to import into Canvas gradebook, I get the Canvas page asking about each new column (see Upload New Data in instructor guide). Is there any way to avoid this and just automatically have it create the new columns? The course has about 50 columns and I need to do this for about 60 courses. Or other ideas? Thanks!

[Jeff_F · Accepted solution]

Hello @jb2483929 -  my understanding is that within Canvas, adding new grade columns is part of the create assignment process. If we would be able to create columns via csv file upload I would be concerned about how these created columns are not associated with assignments. That is an issue as the assignment grades would not be included in assignment groups, which is how the grade weighting is defined and the course grade is determined. And student enrollments is also a factor. To transition grades all the enrollments would need to be recreated in the Canvas courses.

Thinking back to when we transitioned to Canvas, we finished all active courses in the prior LMS. We also exported gradebooks for courses completed in the past two years from the prior LMS to csv. We did not recreate completed courses into Canvas. 

But you may have a hard requirement to recreate all these assignments and enrollments and to copy the grades over. Canvas does have an API that can help with this. https://canvas.instructure.com/doc/api/  I recommend discussing with your IT team. 

All the best, Jeff