In the following situations, consult documentation from the support site instead of using the information on this page:

• Server array - a server array is the use of several servers. There will usually be a shared folder they use called the sharepoint.
• PowerSchool 6 custom page managment - PS 6 has a new feature that allows ASP customers to work with custom pages. It can also be used on a local install, but the pages and images are kept in a database rather than the folders mentioned below.

The Basics

The PowerSchool pages you access via the web are stored in the system folder in a subfolder labeled web_root. If you try to customize those pages, your changes will be overwritten whenever the server resets. When you enable customization, copies of the web_root folder and sub folders are created in a folder labeled the custom folder. If you want to customize an existing page in PowerSchool, put a copy of it in the custom folder that matches the name and location of the original system folder. PowerSchool will display it provided the location and name of the file are the same as the original. You can also create new pages and place them in the custom folders, but you'll need to create links to the pages for your users to see them.

The custom section also has an images folder, so any images you put in it that are named the same as those in the system section will be used. If you're using an image server, place your custom images in it's PowerSchool images folder. There is also a wildcard folder, so you can also copy over a wildcard file and customize it.

Creating the Custom Folders

Custom web pages are stored on the server in the following folder within the main PowerSchoolPro or PowerSchoolPremier folder - \data\custom\web_root. If you open the folder on your server and it's empty, you can do either one of the following to create the custom folders:

1 - Let PowerSchool create all the folders for you:

* Log into PowerSchool as an admin.
* Click on System, System Settings, Customization, Synchronize Custom web_root - this will create a folder and any subfolders in the \data\custom\web_root folder to match the entire folder structure of \system\server\resources\web_root

2 - Create the folders manually within the custom folder as needed. If you take that approach, be sure your folder and any sub folders are in the same location and spelled exactly the same at the folder appears in system folders.

Make sure Customization Enabled is checked on the system, system settings, customization page for your customizations to work. If you ever uncheck Customization Enabled, none of your custom pages, images, or wildcards will be used. To quit using just one page, image, or wildcard, just delete it from the custom folder and PowerSchool will use the original instead. If you delete a custom wildcard file, you must reset wildcards using the steps below. If you delete a custom student or faculty screen, you must run the Rebuild Custom Page Links special operation below.

Special Commands

Reset Wildcards - if you customize a wildcard file, the changes will not take effect until either the system resets or you go to System, System Settings, Customization, and click Submit.

Rebuild Custom Page Links - this command is mainly used to make custom screens appear but can be used at other times as well. Click on System, Special Operation, choose Rebuild Custom Page Links from the Operation drop down list and click on Submit (leave the Param and Code boxes blank - just choose Rebuild Custom Page Links and click on Submit)

The Reset Wildcards command resets customizations and can be used in place of the Rebuild Custom Page Links.

More information can be found at www.sisresources.com.