Importing items from a vendor

Importing items from a vendor

Vendor Import is used to import SSMC (Single Selection Multiple Choice) items into Pro! using an XML (VIIF) file.

Import file format:

Below is a table with the elements and attributes of an XML file, and their descriptions.

XML Import File – Elements
Parent Element	Element	Attribute	Description
itemimportset			General information for import process
		Batch	Descriptive text for user to distinguish the process. NOTE: this text can be provided as the Order Number for Vendor Import transaction in Pro!
		Section	Full name of section into which the item(s) should be imported
		Publishdate	This is a place holder for Date and Time that the file was generated. NOTE: User can override the Date and Time.
Itemimportset	exampassage		General information for the passage
		Name	Passage name; unique identifier in alphanumeric format
		Author	Passage author
Exampassage	passageinformation		Container element for passage information
Passageinformation	Content		Container element for Passage Content
		CDATA	The text for the Passage
	Description		Passage description; this is shown in the passage detail but is not a candidate-facing field
Passageinformation	referencenotes		Container element for each reference note NOTE: This is optional for import. If there are no references for the passage, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
Referencenotes	referencenote		Supporting information for the passage
Passageinformation	Classifications		Passage Classification NOTE: A value is not required for import. The Classifications that the passages are assigned to must already exist in the Pro! system in order for the items to be imported and for the assignment to be successful. Please see Section 1.1 for additional details.
		Setname	Classification Set Name
		Level1	Code for level 1. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is a required value for import if a setname is provided.
		Level2	Code for level 2. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 2, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level3	Code for level 3. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 3, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level4	Code for level 4. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 4, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level5	Code for level 5. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 5, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
Itemimportset	examitem		General information for the item
		Mastercode	An external system id. NOTE: A value is required for import and the datatype can be alphanumeric.
		Itemauthor	The author of the item. Author can be someone who does or does not already exist in the system. The author name provided will still get associated with the item. NOTE: An author is required for import and datatype must be text.
		Itemtype	A value of “SSMC” is required for import.
		itemStatus	The following statuses are acceptable for Vendor Import: Raw Incomplete Pending Ready For Pretest Pretest Item Review Operational Rejected Retired Resting NOTE: Status is optional for import. If a status is not provided then leave this element blank by not providing a value and the item will import, into a “Raw” status.
		Approvals	The following approvals can be set via Vendor Import: Format Test Developer Editor Fairness Internal SME Committee Media Approved NOTE: This is optional for import. If there are no approvals for an item, then leave this element blank by not providing a value and the item will import without any approvals set.
		optionlockmode	Set to “1”
Examitem	iteminformation		Container element for item information
		numOfKeys	Set to number of keys for the item. Valid values are 1 through 5 for SSMC items.
		formatType	Set to “HTML”
Iteminformation	externalitemdata		Container element for item data
		Encoding	Set to “TEXT”
		CDATA	Text for the external item data. If none, leave blank
Iteminformation	Passagename		Name of the passage to which this item is associated. For standalone items, leave this field blank
iteminformation	Stem		Container element for Stem
		encoding	Set to “TEXT”.
		CDATA	The text for the item Stem
iteminformation	Options		Container element for the item options
Options	Option		Container element for each option
		Key	Valid values are A through E for SSMC items
		encoding	Set to “TEXT”.
		CDATA	The text for the option
iteminformation	Stemrationale		Rationale information for the Stem NOTE: This is optional for import. If there is no stem rationale for the item, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		encoding	Set to “TEXT”.
		CDATA	The text for the item stem rationale
iteminformation	optionsRationale		Container element for each option rationale
optionsRationale	optionRationale		Rationale information for each option
		Key	Valid values are A through E for SSMC items
		encoding	Set to “TEXT”
		CDATA	The text for item option rationale
iteminformation	Key		Valid values are A through E for SSMC
iteminformation	Comment		Container element for comments. Any information provided here regarding the item will be added to the Comments field. NOTE: This is optional for import. If there are no comments for the item, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
iteminformation	Keywords		Keyword(s) associated to the item
iteminformation	referencenotes		Container element for each reference note NOTE: This is optional for import. If there are no references for the item, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
referencenotes	referencenote		Supporting information for the item
Iteminformation	Classifications		Container element for the classification/content area assignments for an item
Classifications	Classification		Classification NOTE: A value is required for import. More than one Classification designation may be specified per item. The Classifications that the items are assigned to must already exist in the Pro! system in order for the items to be imported and for the assignment to be successful.
		Setname	Classification Set Name
		Level1	Code for level 1. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is a required value for import if a setname is provided.
		Level2	Code for level 2. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 2, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level3	Code for level 3. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 3, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level4	Code for level 4. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 4, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
		Level5	Code for level 5. The data type is dependent on the “Data Type” set for that level in Pro! NOTE: This is optional for import. If the assigned classification doesn’t contain level 5, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
Iteminformation	Estdifficulty		Valid values are Low, Medium, and High NOTE: This is optional for import. If the item hasn’t yet been assigned a difficulty, then leave this element blank by not providing a value.
Iteminformation	Language		Set to “ENGLISH”

To import items from a vendor:

1. In the Workflow menu, click Common Item Operations > Vendor Item Import List:

2. When the Vendor Import List screen appears (shown below), click the Import Item Content button to open the Item Vendor Import dialog box:

3. Select a Vendor from the dropdown list.

4. Enter an Order No. for the import.

5. Click the Browse button to find (on your local or network drive) and select the .xml or .viif file to import.

6. Click the Import button to initiate the import. When the import is complete, click the Results link for the imported file (shown below). A Vendor Import window will appear, showing the results of the import.