SFTP Syncs: How do I resolve SFTP sync status errors?

This article contains the following:
 1.  Overview
​ 2. Received export with no headers
​ 3. Received export with zero data
​ 4. Unknown Column Names
​ 5. Missing Required SFTP File

Overview

This article provides insight into the various sync status errors you might see from your Clever district dashboard > Sync page. Sync errors will typically prevent any future syncs from processing successfully until the error is addressed.

Received export with no headers

All five CSV files require column headers as listed in Clever’s SFTP Instructions. Uploading a CSV file without column headers will result in an error message like this: 

You can take the following steps to fix this error:

1. When exporting data directly from your Student Information System (SIS) or through an SQL query, double check that a header row is included in the export.
2. Headers must match Clever’s header names in the SFTP Instructions exactly.
3. If you’re having trouble exporting data from your SIS, please contact your SIS directly; Clever is unable to troubleshoot exporting data from your SIS and SQL for SFTP Syncs.

If you need help formatting your CSV files, see the following Help Center article: How do I format my CSV files?

Once your files include header rows according to Clever’s specified file format, upload all five files again. Your sync status should change once your data is processed.    

Received export with zero data

Clever requires all five CSV files in order to process your data upload. If one of your files is empty, you’ll see an error like this:

You can take the following steps to fix this error:

1. When exporting data directly from your SIS or through an SQL query, double check that all active schools, students, sections, teachers, and enrollments are exporting.
2. If you’re having trouble exporting data from your SIS, please contact your SIS directly; Clever is unable to troubleshoot exporting data from your SIS and SQL for SFTP Syncs.
3. If your semester or school year has recently changed, check that the correct term is selected to export.
4. For more helpful tips on semester and school year rollover click here
5. Once all five files include active data, upload all files to Clever again. Your sync status should change once your data processing completes.

 Unknown Column Names

Clever only recognizes column headers that exactly match those listed in our SFTP Instructions . If your file contains a header that Clever doesn’t recognize, you’ll see a similar error in your Dashboard:

To resolve this error:

• Check that all column header names in the identified file match those listed in the SFTP Instructions.
• You may need to revise the column names exporting from your SIS.

Bad Header Errors

Clever sometimes encounters unreadable headers and you’ll receive an error. This error usually occurs when the number of fields in the CSV header row is different from the number of fields in data rows.

Common causes of this issue are:

• Trailing commas
• Extra commas in field values

 For more information on troubleshooting CSV formatting errors see this article: How do I troubleshoot CSV formatting errors?

Missing Required SFTP File

Clever requires all 5 CSV files in each SFTP upload (schools.csv, students.csv, teachers.csv, sections.csv, and enrollments.csv). If you are missing one of these 5 files, you will receive this error in your Dashboard:

To resolve this error:

• Upload all 5 files to Clever in your next upload
• Because every sync overwrites the data currently in your Clever account, each file needs to contain the previous data that should remain in Clever, as well any desired changes.

 If you have any questions about sync errors, please reach out to Clever support! We are happy to help!