Processing Mass Copy Daily Attendance

The Copy process type in the Mass Update Attendance utility enables you to copy existing attendance records to a new period. For example, if a group of students are absent during third period on October 5 due to a field trip, you can copy those absences to fourth period if the field trip runs late so the students are listed as absent for fourth period as well.

Scroll past the video to access the step-by-step instructions.

Before you begin

Audio Transcript

Students at your organization have a volleyball game today during period 7. However, the game is starting early. They were originally excused for period 7, but now need to extend the excused absence to include period 6. Let’s begin in the Attendance module and locate the Mass Update Attendance utility. In this example, we’ll be copying the attendance from period 7 to period 6, so we’ll select the appropriate Process Type. We’d like to include all students in this update, so we’ll leave the Student Selection Type as Range of Students. We could choose to filter by students or class by utilizing the corresponding filter options. The Source Attendance Period field indicates which period we’re copying from. We only want to update the attendance type, School Function, so let’s select this option. The volleyball game is scheduled for later today, so we’ll leave the Attendance Date field as is. We only want to extend the attendance type through period 6, so we’ll select 6 for the Attendance Periods to Copy To field. Let’s select Next. Here, we’ll see a preview of all the students whose records will be updated. Let’s run the process. We can then click Close to complete the process. Now that you’ve processed the Mass Update Attendance utility, you can be sure your students’ attendance is covered for their volleyball game.

Students at your organization have a volleyball game today during period 7. However, the game is starting early. They were originally excused for period 7, but now need to extend the excused absence to include period 6. Let’s begin in the Attendance module and locate the Mass Update Attendance utility. In this example, we’ll be copying the attendance from period 7 to period 6, so we’ll select the appropriate Process Type. We’d like to include all students in this update, so we’ll leave the Student Selection Type as Range of Students. We could choose to filter by students or class by utilizing the corresponding filter options. The Source Attendance Period field indicates which period we’re copying from. We only want to update the attendance type, School Function, so let’s select this option. The volleyball game is scheduled for later today, so we’ll leave the Attendance Date field as is. We only want to extend the attendance type through period 6, so we’ll select 6 for the Attendance Periods to Copy To field. Let’s select Next. Here, we’ll see a preview of all the students whose records will be updated. Let’s run the process. We can then click Close to complete the process. Now that you’ve processed the Mass Update Attendance utility, you can be sure your students’ attendance is covered for their volleyball game.



  1. Select Menu > Administrative Access > Attendance.
  2. Select Mass Update Attendance under Utilities.
    Expected Result

    You see the Mass Update Attendance screen.

  3. Complete the appropriate fields.
    Step Information

    Required fields are identified with an asterisk. You must complete required fields before you can save your work.

    1. Under the Attendance Details heading, select the Copy radio button for the Process Type.
      Expected Result

      The fields under the Class Filters heading change based on the Copy process type selection.

    2. Under the Selection Options heading, select the appropriate radio button for the Student Selection Type.
      Expected Result

      If you selected Range of Students, the Student Filters display. Continue to the next sub-step.

      If you selected Individual Students, the Select Students field displays. Skip to sub-step d.

    3. Build the Student Filters if appropriate.
      Step Information
      This table is meant to be a reference for populating the Student standard filter. Any fields left blank populate all values. Entering information into the filter limits the results to those that match all of the criteria. If you wish to search for records that meet one set of criteria or a different set of criteria, you can add a new filter using the option at the bottom of the existing filter. This enables you to search for records that meet one of the filters' criteria. You can add up to 21 filters if needed.
      Field NameHow the Field WorksExample
      Student Processing ListsLimits the students who are included based on the selected processing lists.If you wish to include students from a processing list already filtered to only include the students on activity rosters for the spring and summer, you would enter that student processing list.
      Active Limits the students who are included in the filter based on their current enrollment status.If you wish to include students with an active enrollment status, select Yes from the drop-down list.
      Grad Year Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Grad Years. If you wish to include students within a single grad year, you would enter that grad year.
      Grade Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Grade Levels. If you wish to include students in grade 11 and grade 12, you would enter those grade levels.
      Student Type Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Student Types. If you wish to include students with a designation of Regular, you would enter that student type.
      GenderLimits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected genders.If you wish to include only female students, check the box to the left of F - Female.
      Gender Identity Limits the students who are included in the filter to the records with a certain Gender Identity code. If you wish to only include students who are not male or female, you would enter the gender identity or identities.
      Cross Entity Course Scheduling Limits the students who are included in the filter based on whether they take Courses at other Entities in addition to their current entity. If you wish to include students who have enrolled in a course or courses at an entity other than the current entity, select Yes from the drop-down list.
      Graduated Limits the students who are included in the filter based on graduation status. If you wish to only include students who have not graduated, select No from the drop-down list.
      School Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected schools.If you wish to include students from a single school, you would enter that school.
      Homeroom Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Homerooms. If you wish to include students in certain homerooms, you would enter those homerooms.
      AdvisorLimits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected advisors.If you wish to include students who have John Smith as an advisor, you would enter that name.
      CounselorLimits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected counselors.If you wish to include students who have John Smith as a counselor, you would enter that name.
      Activity Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Activities. If you wish to include students who play tennis, you would enter that activity.
      Calendar Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected calendars.If you wish to include students attached to a particular calendar, you would enter that calendar.
      Graduation Requirement Year Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Graduation Requirement Years. If you wish to include students within a particular range of graduation requirement years, enter the first year in the Low field and the last year in the High field.
      Default Entity Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected default Entity. If you wish to include students whose default entity is 101, you would enter entity 101.
      Student Number Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected student numbers.If you wish to include students with particular student numbers, you would enter those numbers.
      Last NameLimits the students who are included in the filter to the students whose last names fall between the low and high values entered. If you wish to only include students whose last names begin with the letter A through the letter F, enter A in the Low field and FZZZ in the High field.
      First NameLimits the students who are included in the filter to the students whose first names fall between the low and high values entered. If you wish to only include students whose first names begin with the letter G through the letter P, enter G in the Low field and PZZZ in the High field.
      Middle NameLimits the students who are included in the filter to the students whose middle names fall between the low and high values entered. If you wish to only include students whose middle names begin with the letter Q through the letter Z, enter Q in the Low field and ZZZZ in the High field.

      Method Of Instruction
      Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the selected Method of Instruction Offering codes.

      If you wish to include students attached to a particular method of instruction, you would enter that Method of Instruction Offering code.

      Primary Language

      Limits the students who are included in the filter based on their primary language of use.

      If you wish to view students with a particular primary language in order to provide translated messages, you would enter that language.

      Home Language

      Limits the students who are included in the filter based on the language used in their home.

      If you wish to view students with a particular home language in order to provide translated messages, you would enter that language.

      Students

      Limits the students who are included in the filter to the selected students.

      If you wish to include specific students, you would enter the appropriate student names.

      If you want to filter by other criteria, you can build the Advanced Filter.

      Skip to sub-step e.

    4. Enter one or more students in the Select Students field or click the Magnifying Glass icon to choose from the drop-down list.
      Step Information

      You can click outside of the selection box once you have made your selections.

    5. Under the Class Filters heading, build the Course Filters if appropriate.
      Step Information
      This table is meant to be a reference for populating the Course standard filter. Any fields left blank populate all values. Entering information into the filter limits the results to those that match all of the criteria. If you wish to search for records that meet one set of criteria or a different set of criteria, you can add a new filter using the option at the bottom of the existing filter. This enables you to search for records that meet one of the filters' criteria. You can add up to 21 filters if needed.
      Field NameHow the Field WorksExample
      School YearLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified school year.If you only wish to include courses that would be available for a specific school year for scheduling purposes, you would select that school year.
      Course Code Range Limits the Courses that are included in the filter to only Course codes that fall between the low and high values entered. If you only wish to include a specific course within a set range as opposed to all Course codes, you can enter the Course code in both the low and high fields.
      Course LengthLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Course Length. If you only wish to include courses that are offered as a semester as opposed to all course lengths, you would select Semester.
      ActiveLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that are Active, inactive, or includes both the active and inactive courses. If you only wish to include courses that are currently active for students to be scheduled into, you would select Yes.
      RequiredLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that are Required, not required, or includes both the required and the elective courses. If you only wish to include courses that are not required by the school and can be taken as an elective, you would select No.
      Keep AttendanceLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that Keep Attendance, do not keep attendance, or includes both courses that do and do not keep attendance. If you only wish to include courses that teachers can take attendance for, you would select Yes.
      Grade CourseLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that are Graded courses, not graded courses, or includes both graded and non-graded courses. If you only wish to include courses that can be graded, you would select Yes.
      Course TypeLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Course Type. If you only wish to include courses that are offered as special education classes, you would select Special Ed.
      DepartmentLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Department. If you only wish to include courses within the Math department as opposed to all departments, you would select Math.
      CategoryLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to regular, lunch, study hall, or transfer courses.If you only wish to include courses that have a curriculum and grading system in place, you would select R - Regular.
      HonorsLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that are Honors courses, non-honors courses, or includes both honors and non-honors courses. If you wish to include honors and non-honors courses, you would select Show all values.
      SubjectLimits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Subject. If you only wish to include courses that are offered for English and Art as opposed to all subjects, you would select English and Art.
      Exclude from Student Section Linking Limits the Courses that are included in the filter to only those that are Excluded from Student Section Linking, are not excluded from student section linking, or includes both courses that are and are not excluded from student section linking. If you only wish to include courses where the organization does not allow Sections of the course to be linked with another section on report cards and transcripts, you would select Yes.

      If you want to filter by other criteria, you can build the Advanced Filter.

    6. Build the Section Filters if appropriate.
      Step Information
      This table is meant to be a reference for populating the Section standard filter. Any fields left blank populate all values. Entering information into the filter limits the results to those that match all of the criteria. If you wish to search for records that meet one set of criteria or a different set of criteria, you can add a new filter using the option at the bottom of the existing filter. This enables you to search for records that meet one of the filters' criteria. You can add up to 21 filters if needed.
      Field NameHow the Field WorksExample
      School YearLimits the Sections that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified school year. If you only wish to include course sections that would be available for a specific school year, you would select that school year.
      Bell Schedule GroupLimits the Sections that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Bell Schedule Group.If you only wish to include course sections that have the default bell schedule group attached, you would select Default.
      Section Code RangeLimits the Sections that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Section codes. If you only wish to view sections 1, 2, and 3 for a course to verify their set up is correct, you would enter 01 and 03 in the Low and High fields.
      Section LengthLimits the Sections that are included in the filter to only those that fall within the specified Section Length. If you only wish to include course sections that are offered as a semester as opposed to all section lengths, you would select Semester.
      Exclude from Student Section LinkingLimits the Sections that are included in the filter to those that meet the specified criteria for student section linking. If you only wish to include course sections that are excluded from student section linking, you would select Yes.

      If you want to filter by other criteria, you can build the Advanced Filter.

    7. Enter a Source Attendance Period or click the Down Arrow icon to choose from the drop-down list.
      Step Information

      This field is used to indicate the period of attendance you wish to use to copy to other periods. Any attendance entered in this period that meets the other ranges you set will be copied to the other periods you select below.

    8. Enter one or more Attendance Types or click the Magnifying Glass icon to choose from the drop-down list, if appropriate.
      Step Information

      For example, if you only wish to include the attendance types of Excused and Late, you would select those types. Leaving the field blank will include all values.

      You can click outside of the selection box once you have made your selections.

    9. Verify the Attendance Date or enter the correct date if necessary.
      Step Information

      This is the date for which you wish to copy attendance to additional periods. This defaults to the current date, but can be modified as needed.

    10. Under the Values to Use heading, enter one or more Attendance Periods to Copy To or click the Magnifying Glass icon to choose from the drop-down list, if appropriate.
      Step Information

      These are the periods where the source attendance will be copied to. Leaving the field blank will include all values.

      You can click outside of the selection box once you have made your selections.

    11. Click Next near the top left of the screen.
      Expected Result

      You see the students and their attendance records that will be updated.

    12. Under the Student Attendance Period Details heading, verify the Attendance Periods to Copy To is correct.
      Step Information

      This defaults to the attendance periods selected in the Attendance Periods to Copy To field and cannot be modified.

    13. Under the Students to be Copied heading, uncheck the box to the left of each student attendance record you want to exclude from being copied.
      Step Information

      All records are checked by default. For example, you might choose to exclude a student if you are copying records because a field trip ran late, but the student had to leave for an appointment.

      You can use the box at the top of the Select column to check or uncheck all records.

  4. Click Run Process near the top left of the screen.
    Expected Result

    You see the number of successful and failed records under the Records Counts heading. If there are any records that could not be copied, those records display under the Failed Records heading. Under the Errors heading, you see the corresponding error detail record indicating why the record failed to copy.

  5. Click Close near the top left of the screen.
    Expected Result

    You return to the screen you were previously on.

Result(s)

You have successfully run the Copy process type in the Mass Update Attendance utility.