Import Items > Importing items into the Surpass Platform

Importing items into the Surpass Platform

The Surpass Publisher can be used to import items into the Surpass Platform from an XLSX file. Currently, only Multiple Choice question types can be imported into Surpass.

This article explains how to import items into the Surpass Platform from the Surpass Publisher.

In this section

1. Navigate to Import Items

Select Import Items from the Surpass Publisher menu.

2. Select a destination subject

Select the subject you want to import items into from the Destination Subject drop-down menu. The available subjects are those for which you have any permissions.

3. Choose whether to create item list with items

If you want to additionally create an item list from the imported items, select the Create Item List with Items checkbox.

4. Upload your import file

Select […] to choose a file, which must be an XLSX or ZIP file (containing media). Total file size cannot exceed 500MB.

Creating your spreadsheet

Spreadsheets must adhere to a strict format if they are to be imported into Surpass successfully. Select Template XLSX to get a pre-formatted empty spreadsheet.

The spreadsheet contains different sheets for different question types, and details each column’s content requirements.

Expand the following section for information on how to input data in an import spreadsheet.

TIP: Add more columns if required for question text stem boxes, answer options, custom tag groups, or tools.

Column	Description
Item Name MANDATORY	The name of the item.
Question Text 1 – 5 MANDATORY	Question text or instructions to candidates.
Answer Option A – Z MANDATORY	The answer options for the question.
Answer Option A – Z Label OPTIONAL	The answer options’ labels.
Answer Option A – Z Rationale OPTIONAL	The answer options’ rationales.
Correct Answer Option OPTIONAL	The correct answer option. This is the letter in the column header, for example ‘`B`‘ for Answer Option B.
Randomise Options OPTIONAL	Determines whether the answer options are randomised in delivery. Defaults to `true` if omitted.
Show Rationale OPTIONAL	Determines whether rationale is displayed. Defaults to `false` if omitted.
Total Mark OPTIONAL	The total number of marks available for the question. Defaults to `1` if omitted.
Media OPTIONAL	The name and file extension of any media attached to the item. The file(s) must be in the ZIP.
Source Material OPTIONAL	The name and file extension of any source materials attached to the item’s first question stem. The file(s) must be in the ZIP.
Tags_Unit OPTIONAL	Any tag values in the default tag group, ‘Unit’.
Tags_Learning Outcomes OPTIONAL	Any tag values in the default tag group, ‘Learning Outcomes’.
Tags_Keywords OPTIONAL	Any tag values in the default tag group, ‘Keywords’.
Tags_CustomTagGroup OPTIONAL	Any tag values in the specified custom tag group. Replace ‘CustomTagGroup’ in the column header with the tag group’s name. Add further columns for each custom tag group.
Folder OPTIONAL	The folder the item is to be contained in.
Item Purpose OPTIONAL	The purpose of the item. Acceptable values are `Summative`, `Formative`, and `Unspecified`. Defaults to `Unpsecified` if omitted.
Seed Usage Count OPTIONAL	The item’s seed usage count.
Seed P Value OPTIONAL	The item’s seed p value.
tool_toolType OPTIONAL	To add a tool, edit the column header using the following format: `tool_{toolType}`, where `{toolType}` is one of `basicCalculator`, `scientificCalculator`, `caliper`, `protractor`, or `notepad`. Enter the tool’s label in the corresponding cell. To import a tool without a label, enter `""`.

5. Select Import

Select Import.

The Pre-Import Checks dialog provides a summary of your import file and confirms whether it is valid for import.

Select Import to import all items that passed the pre-import checks.

The Importing Items… dialog details the progress of your import.

Your successfully published items are imported into the specified subject, at Draft status, in a folder with the following naming convention: {filename}.{filetype} DD/MM/YYYY MM:SS (date and time format is localised).