Merge student files

This option is usually used when you want to combine all your student files into one single file - ready for either review by the head or final printing.

Selecting 'Merge student file(s)' will first display a dialog explaining the importance of the student reference numbers.

Elementary reports will then ask you if you would like to change the filename of the current file by appending "_merged" to it.  This will help prevent you accidentally overwriting your original report.

A file dialog will appear, choose the file or files you wish to merge with the current one.

You can choose multiple files by keeping the CTRL (control) key held down while selecting the files.

After the merge has taken place you will be asked if you would like to merge more files, this is handy if you have the student files in different folders or different memory sticks.

Click 'No' when you want to finish merging files.

The merge system uses the student reference number to recognise students, if two files have students with the same reference number then it assumes it is the same student and it will then attempt to merge the reports for the student together.  This allows schools to have multiple teachers teaching different (or even the same) subjects to each student.  Lines that start with an asterisk (usually targets) are separated from both and placed at the end of each subject.

If a student has two teachers teaching them the same subject then the Undo system has copies of all three variations of reports (the merged report and both teachers separated) - click undo / redo to swap between them.