LISS Integration

Overview - LISS integration

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LISS is an interoperability standard designed for K-12 schools, to connect Timetable applications (and potentially other applications) to Student Information Systems / School Admin Systems.

This allows programs such as Tes Timetable (previously EdVal) and Timetabling Solutions to send data directly to Schoolbox.

When used with the Schoolbox Connector, LISS is able to provide all the data that otherwise would have been provided via CSV imports for Timetable Structure, Timetable and Enrolments.
NOTE: The LISS processor relies on specific data sets sent to Schoolbox in a very specific order. Schoolbox stores all the data sets (Daily Data, Bell Times, Classes, etc.), and when the SUDS Importer runs, it processes the LISS data at the end of the import. This means your current configuration for how often SUDS data is processed will also control how often your LISS data is processed in Schoolbox. 

When used with other connectors in Schoolbox such as Synergetic, TASS etc., LISS is able to provide calendar events to Schoolbox.

Configuration

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Configuring Schoolbox

As a superuser, go to: Admin > Settings > External DB

Here you will find three (3) relevant configuration options:

  • External Liss Username
  • External Liss Password
  • External Liss Schoolcode

You must set the above configuration options to match the exact values that you configure within your LISS application. 

Schoolbox LISS Example URL: https://your.schoolbox.domain.edu/api/liss.php

NOTES

  • You'll see a dedicated table on the SUDS page with details about the data Schoolbox received for any given method. For example, Daily
    Data, Bell Times, Classes, etc.
     
  • As Schoolbox processes LISS data as part of the SUDS Import, it no longer matters when you send the data to Schoolbox or in which order. This means that you can simply select all the relevant methods and send it all at once (instead of sending the data one method at a time). 
     
  • LISS data is processed at the end of a SUDS import, so when you manually perform a SUDS sync it will also process the LISS data at the end.
     
  • Schoolbox supports multiple sources. This means that when you add ?source=uniquename to the push URL, Schoolbox can differentiate the different LISS sources.
     

Important note regarding timetables: Before you sync your timetable into Schoolbox via LISS, please contact Schoolbox Support to ensure that the start date and start day for your Timetable is set correctly within Schoolbox.

After you sync your timetable, if your timetable is showing but has the wrong day please contact Schoolbox Support to alter this for you.

Troubleshooting

Schoolbox maintains extensive LISS logs from each sync/import run. These are usually located in the Schoolbox data store as: cache/logs/liss.log

 

Configuring Edval

Within Edval, you will need to select 'schoolbox' from the sync options. You will be presented with a screen similar to below.

Please ensure the Username, Password, and School code fields match what you set in the equivalent fields within Schoolbox above. The URL needs to be your Schoolbox URL with '/api/liss.php' on the end.

NOTE: Edval will send class codes with dots replaced with spaces. E.g.: '9MAT.1' will appear in Schoolbox as '9MAT 1'

Supported LISS Calls

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Schoolbox has recently updated its approach to LISS to better support the variability in School timetables.

Schoolbox uses XMLRPC with LISS and not JSONRPC.

Calls

LISS CallSupported?Notes
liss.getRoomsNo 
liss.getHelloYesConnection test required for Authentication
liss.publishStudentsNo 
liss.publishTeachersNo 
liss.publishCalendarNo 
liss.publishRoomsNo 
liss.publishStudentsNo 
liss.publishBellTimesYesProvide the period names and times for classes on the cyclic timetable
liss.publishClassesYesRequired to get a full list of classes even if they are not on the timetable
liss.publishClassMembershipsYesRequired for management of Class enrolments in some contexts. 
liss.publishTimetableYesAdds a cyclic timetable 
liss.publishDailyDataYesAdds to schedule-based timetable and daily org overrides (Duties, Substitutions)