The custom strings feature allows you to customize every aspect of the online application. This feature also allows you to define multiple language support and customize each language as necessary to fit your District's needs.
From the MySchoolApps homepage, click on Manage Custom Strings/Languages or click Setup at the top of the site window and select Custom Strings/Languages. From the District window, you may also select a activate a new language and edit strings.
| Editing Strings in Currently Active Languages |
|---|
| Activating and Customizing New Languages |
| Deactivating Langauges |
Editing Strings In Currently Active Languages
You may edit strings of active languages to suit the needs of your District.
String Navigation
In order to navigate the strings and associate them with the page they modify you can follow a few simple guidelines.
- Most strings are organized exactly as they appear in the online application. For example, to modify the string for the page 'Instructions' in the online application navigate to the string at the location 'Application | Instruction' in the custom strings tree.
- Some strings are shared across pages. Examples of these strings are the text on buttons (such as the 'Continue'/'Go Back'), Labels on form input screens (such as the 'name', 'gender' labels on the 'Add Student' page). The location of these shared strings is the 'Misc' top level custom string node.
Reserved Or Read-Only Custom Strings
Almost any part of the website can be customized by the District except for a very small handful of strings. These read-only strings cannot be modified because they contain information that should never be changed by the District. An example of this is the 'Terms of Use' string. This string defines the user agreement between HSS and the end user.
Use 2 Different Web Browsers When Setting Up Strings
A recommendation that can assist in setting up strings involves using 2 web browsers on the same computer. Use 1 browser to modify the string in the admin interface and use the other browser to see the results of the string on the online application itself. In order to use this technique you must use 2 different browsers - you cannot use the same browser with multiple tabs/windows.
In many situations you can use the URL that appears in the browser during the application process as a guide in locating the string in the custom string tree view. For instance, strings related to the pages for Student (URL: /StudentInfo/) are located in the 'StudentInfo' node in the custom string tree.
- Select a Language to modify. Then, click Edit.
- Custom Strings are broken down into hierarchical categories - Application, Household Member Info, Milestone, Misc, Privacy Act, Student Info, and Warning Check Message. Click on the correct category to review/edit.
- Select the string information you wish to modify and click Edit.
Click on Custom Text and modify the default text. You may wish to use the drop-down menu to enter data fields in the text field. You can also left-click and drag to highlight text and select to call attention to the selected item by clicking Bold or Highlight. When you are done, click Update.
Default Text
You may switch back to the default text at any time by clicking the Edit button. Then, select Use Default Text and click Update.
- Once you have saved changes, note that the string that contains custom strings is now highlighted red to indicate a change has occurred and the text appears in blue.
Activating and Customizing New Languages
By default, we provide content for English and Spanish. You can add additional languages by activating a new language and making customizations as needed to the new language.
Take Care When Activating New Languages
When you enable a new language, ALL of the default strings are in English. It is the District's responsibility to translate all strings in this language appropriately before activating your application for a new school year. Also, please take note that when you activate a new language it is live immediately. Due to this behavior, HSS recommends only activating new languages at the start of the new year and while still in Test Mode.
Language Activation Warning
Remember, activating a new language is immediate! The new language is immediately live on the website with only the English defaults until your District translates the language strings.
- From Setup, select Custom String/Langauages.
- Click Add New.
- Select the language you wish to appear and click Activate.
- The language will now appear in your list of active languages for your District. Click Edit enter translated text to the application settings/custom strings.
- Select the string information you wish to modify and click Edit.
Click on Custom Text to modify the default text. If custom text already exists, you may simply modify the custom text. You may wish to use the drop-down menu to enter data fields in the text field. You can also left-click and drag to highlight text and select to call attention to the selected item by clicking Bold or Highlight. When you are done, click Update.
Default Text
You may switch back to the default text at any time by clicking the Edit button. Then, select Use Default Text and click Update.
- Once you have saved changes, note that the string that contains custom strings is now highlighted red to indicate a change has occurred and the text appears in blue.
- Repeat the process for any additional languages you wish to activate for your District.
Deactivate Language
You can remove additional languages by activating a new language and making customizations as needed to the new language.
- From Setup, select Custom Strings/Languages.
- Select the language and click Deactivate.
- Read the confirmation statement and click Deactivate Language.
