This article explains how to configure a Source Format in Slate to receive lead data from CollegeVine via automated SFTP uploads. These settings ensure your system ingests the data consistently and securely, matching records accurately without duplications.
Step 1: Create a new source format
Navigate to Database > Source Formats and click New Source Format. Use the following settings and explanations:
Setting | Recommended Value | Why we suggest it |
Format |
| CollegeVine sends lead files as CSVs. |
Type |
| This supports regular incremental imports—ideal for weekly or monthly updates. |
Remap |
| Remapping will be turned on later after your receive your first file. |
Scope |
| This format targets Person records, which are the basis for lead records in Slate. |
Dataset |
| Supports matching or creating both Person and Application-level data. |
Unsafe |
| Required to allow full updates and record creation. Safe mode would restrict updates. |
Hide |
| Prevents interaction records from cluttering the student timeline—these files are operational, not engagement. |
Disable Queue |
| This controls whether imports use the queue. Optional depending on your automation setup. |
Update-Only |
| Enables creation of new records, not just updates—critical for ingesting new leads from CollegeVine. |
Dedupe |
| Reduces duplicate records by requiring a strong match across multiple identifying fields. This ensures clean data and avoids multiple records for the same student. |
Step 2: Add format definition
Now switch to the Format Definition tab. Here, you'll tell Slate how to interpret the CSV structure. Use the default XML snippet for CSV files with headers:
<layout b="," h="1" t=""" />
Element | Explanation |
| The file is comma-separated. |
| The first row of the file contains headers. |
| Fields are wrapped in double quotes. |
This layout matches the formatting used in CollegeVine’s automated exports.
Step 3: Configure import automation
Go to the Import Automation tab to define the file path and SFTP server that Slate will monitor for new uploads from CollegeVine.
Setting | Value |
Import Path/Mask |
|
Import Remote Server |
|
Note: Replace <username> with the CollegeVine-provided SFTP username from your setup instructions. Do not include the arrows!
This setup tells Slate to regularly check the specified SFTP server and directory (from_collegevine/) for new CSV files and import them automatically using the source format rules you just defined.
If you need more assistance, please reach out to your CollegeVine partnerships team.