Custom Data

Custom Data is a feature in PowerFAIDS that allows you to create your own student record fields. This feature is typically used when you need to store information on the student record that is specific to your institution's procedures but not included as a data field delivered with PowerFAIDS. For example, you might need a data field on the student record for "Dorm Name" because Food & Housing costs vary depending on the dormitory in which a student lives. You could then create a custom data field that stores this information in the student record, and then use it in a custom process to calculate the Room & Board cost of attendance category.

Custom processes are just one area of the PowerFAIDS Cloud system in which you can use custom data fields. Other ways you can use custom data include using the custom data field in a custom process target, inserting the custom data field into a communication using float-in fields, and including it as a data element in a custom report.

There are five types of custom data fields you can create:

• Code Lookup – This field type contains a list of acceptable data input values (codes) you define. Once you have created the code lookup field in the Create Custom Data Field window, you will then define each code and its corresponding description in the Field Aliases page.
• Date – This field type contains calendar dates in the MM/DD/YYYY format.
• Decimal – This field type contains numeric data, including positive numbers and negative numbers.
• Integer – This field type contains numeric data, including whole positive numbers and whole negative numbers, or null values. You can also use custom integer fields to store the results of calculations using the custom process target feature.
• String – This field type contains free-form alphanumeric data, including special characters, letters, or numbers.

All custom data fields also accept blank values if the data does not apply for a particular student. For numeric fields, a blank value is treated differently than a value of 0.

Creating Custom Data Fields

Custom Data fields can be viewed or created from System Administration > Student Record Fields.

There are two parts to creating custom data fields: creating a custom data field in the Field Aliases page and then, organizing how it is displayed in the appropriate Custom Data View page.