[Unistats] Centrelink file checking

[Nick Booth]

Hello folks

I assume that by now you will have had time to digest Centrelink's data 
specs for 2002, including the rather startling news that Centrelink will 
not provide software for data checking. This greatly alarmed me, as I can 
recall the student data collections in 1987 and 1988, when CTEC did not 
provide any checking software: there was endless to-and-fro about errors 
(including some that showed up at CTEC, but not at my CAE!)

So UTS has prepared a simple program that will allow us to check our files 
before we send them to Centrelink, and also do a couple of other useful 
things. The software does not resemble DETYAPAC, and does not build a large 
and useless Access database. It has four functions.

1.  Setup: Allows entry of institution code, data directory, and submission.

2.  Add header and trailer records: Needed at UTS, as it is much easier to 
meet the changed specs on a PC than it would be on our ancient student 
records system.

3.  Check files: Information on errors found is written to a text file.

4.  Encrypt and zip: Saves messing around with WinZip.

The whole process takes around 5 minutes when run against a UTS 2001 
Centrelink submission. Of course, fixing the errors could take a lot longer.

There is some thought that Centrelink may distribute this software as an 
interim measure until they can get "proper" software written. If not, UTS 
will probably make it available, perhaps for a modest fee. If you would 
like to be kept informed of developments, drop me an e-mail.

If you don't handle the Centrelink files at your uni, perhaps you could 
pass this message on to the lucky person who has that responsibility.


Nick Booth
Senior Policy and Project Consultant
Technology Systems and Information Unit
University of Technology, Sydney.
Phone + 61 2 9514 2162.   Fax + 61 2 9514 1272.
CRICOS Number: 00099F