The Canvas Data Importer (CDI) allows you to pull data into the Course Evaluations imports directly from Canvas. This can be a great resource for many institutions, however, we highly recommend that the Course Evaluations data comes from the Student Information System (SIS) as this is a more direct path of data. 

The CDI is used to access your course, faculty, student and enrollment data in Canvas. CSV files can be automatically uploaded to Course Evaluations, or downloaded and saved, for manual import.  

 

Enabling Canvas Importer 

  • Submit a support case, requesting to have the Canvas Data Importer enabled for your institution, via this form.


  • Once enabled, open the Canvas Data Importer from the Imports menu under Get Data

 

  • In another tab or window log into your Canvas instance.
  • In Canvas, click the Admin link on left side navigation bar and then select the root account.
  • Click the Developer Keys link in the secondary left side menu 
    Note - Make sure the Account tab is selected 

 

 

 

  • Click + Developer Key button 
  • Select API key from the drop-down menu 
  • Fill out following fields: 
    • Key Name (A way to identify importer application) 
    • Owner Email 
    • Redirect URI (this can be found on the Canvas Importer page in Course Evaluations)  

 

 

 

  • Optional - Click Enforce scopes (This will restrict access to only the data Course Evaluations requires) 
  • Optional - Allow Include Parameters (enabling can improve performance) 

 

 


  • Select the following developer key scopes then click Save
     
Accounts

url:GET|/api/v1/accounts 

url:GET|/api/v1/accounts/:id 

url:GET|/api/v1/accounts/:account_id/courses
url:GET|/api/v1/accounts/:account_id/sub_accounts

Courses

url:GET|/api/v1/courses

url:GET|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/users

Enrollment Terms

url:GET|/api/v1/accounts/:account_id/terms 
url:GET|/api/v1/accounts/:account_id/terms/:id

Enrollments url:GET|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/enrollments 
url:GET|/api/v1/sections/:section_id/enrollments
Sections url:GET|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/sections 


  • Be sure to set the Developer Key State ON once you are back in the list
  • Return to the window where the Canvas Data Importer is open.
  • Fill in the Canvas Connection Form 
    • App Id – Number can be found under Details column of new developer key in Canvas, copy and paste to Course Evaluations 
    • App Key - Click show Key, found under Details column of new developer key in Canvas, copy and paste to Course Evaluations 
    • Enter campus’s Canvas URL (eg campuslabs.instructure.com) 
    • Save and continue 


  • The page will redirect you to Canvas to confirm access to this application.
  • Once you have confirmed access in Canvas, the Importer will be ready to use 

 

 

  • If you do not get a green checkmark, confirm you have entered the correct Canvas details

  • Course Evaluations
    • Check that the Canvas AppId is copied and pasted in its entirety
    • Check that the App Key is copied and pasted in its entirety
  • Canvas
    • Check the redirect URI – this can be found on the importer page in Course Evaluations
    • Check the Developer Key has been enabled
    • If an error persists, please contact Support via this form.

 

Editing the Developer Key 

  • Developer key can be edited by clicking edit button on Canvas Importer page  

 

 

Using Canvas Importer 

 

  • Open Canvas Data Importer  

 

 

Note: Check Canvas Connection and Details have been verified. If they have not, please refer to Enabling Canvas Importer 

 

 

  • Select term from drop-down menu 
  • Optional – Select Use custom account level for course departments 
  • Optional – Select import files to Course Evaluations upon generation 
  • Click Build CSV files 

 

Note: 

  • If files will be sent to Course Evaluations for import upon generation, click refresh link to check status. 
  • If files will be imported manually, once they are built they can be downloaded and imported to Course Evaluations. 


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