Learner Information Suite (LIS) v19.01 – Questions and Answers
FAQs
Question 1. Will the new LIS provide funding reports?
Question 2. Will the 2012/13 LIS still allow more than one XML format files to be combined?
Question 3. How is the LIS going to work with the DSAT reports?
Question 4. With LIS V19.01 beta we are having an issue when trying to merge two flat file ILRs through the LIS (SL & LR) where a single learner is enrolled on a learning aim on both funding streams and contains data within the L42a and L42b. When merging the ILR through the LIS an R49 error occurs due to no two Learner Fam records should have the same UKPRN. But this is the same learner (who would have the same information) in both the flat file ILRs when they merge. I believe the LIS should see the L42a and L42b match between flat file records and merge them. The R49 error should be changed to only occur if the L42a or L42b is different between the two learner records being merged, not when the information is the same.
Question 5. You said that in amalgamation, where more than one Current Status for employment, precedence is given to record with Employer ID etc. What if all records have these characteristics? - is the selection random, or is there another way of selecting, e.g. age of aim?
Question 6. Will the LIS reports be ready in time for the Release 1 of LIS?
Question 7. Do you have a step by step guide for flat files conversion to xml single ILR on LIS?
Question 8. Will the LIS reports contain any the sub contractor UKPRN - I have been advised that the PFR will be amended to include this but wondered if the LIS reports have as well?
Question 9. Does the conversion tool go from single file field to a flat file field. You only mentioned entering an L or A field to get the relating Single file field. How will this help to identify the relevant L or A field during LIS validation?
Question 10. Will the LIS V19.01 take longer to run than the previous version?
Question 11. I have already sent some data via LIS and have identified some errors can you confirm that I need to contact my software supplier if I can not work out how to clear the errors?
Question 12. Is there a limit on number of flat files that LIS can combine in one return?
Question 13. Will finance reports be available in LIS generated in .xls format for reconciliation and assisting calculating subcontractor payments for funding streams paid on profile not on actual?
Question 14. Should we download the beta version of the LIS 19.01 or wait for a final release?
Question 15. Will the LIS export use the new entity field names?
Question 16. We have never used LIS as we have previously used POL. The latest version I understand is a beta version. What type of additional support is being provided for providers like us as the presentation sort of assumed familiarity with LIS?
Question 17. How will the Data Service mitigate the risk of a provider submitting a B file but calling it an A file, thereby deleting all previous files?
Question 1. Will the new LIS provide funding reports?
Answer: Yes
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Question 2. Will the 2012/13 LIS still allow more than one XML format files to be combined?
Answer: Yes. It will not allow flat-files to be imported/amalgamated
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Question 3. How is the LIS going to work with the DSAT reports?
Answer: It will work the same way as it does for20 10/11 (i.e. using the LIS_EXP database).
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Question 4. With LIS V19.01 beta we are having an issue when trying to merge two flat file ILRs through the LIS (SL & LR) where a single learner is enrolled on a learning aim on both funding streams and contains data within the L42a and L42b. When merging the ILR through the LIS an R49 error occurs due to no two Learner Fam records should have the same UKPRN. But this is the same learner (who would have the same information) in both the flat file ILRs when they merge. I believe the LIS should see the L42a and L42b match between flat file records and merge them. The R49 error should be changed to only occur if the L42a or L42b is different between the two learner records being merged, not when the information is the same.
Answer: The UKPRN must be the same for all learners that are amalgmated. We cannot amalgamate learners from files that have different UKPRN’s (i.e. from different providers).
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Question 5. You said that in amalgamation, where more than one Current Status for employment, precedence is given to record with Employer ID etc. What if all records have these characteristics? - is the selection random, or is there another way of selecting, e.g. age of aim?
Answer: If the records are distinct (ie. have a different date status applies to) then all CES records are stored. It is only where there are two records for the same date both with a status of employed – one with an employer id and one without that the record with the employer id is used.
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Question 6. Will the LIS reports be ready in time for the Release 1 of LIS?
Answer: Yes, all reports will be available in Release 1 of LIS V19.01 with the exception of the YPLA Funding data credibility report. This report will be available four weeks after the go live date of LIS V19.01 as part of the LIS support release.
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Question 7. Do you have a step by step guide for flat files conversion to xml single ILR on LIS?
Answer: Not at this stage however the Data Service is working on providing support documentation for the release of LIS V19.01.
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Question 8. Will the LIS reports contain any the sub contractor UKPRN - I have been advised that the PFR will be amended to include this but wondered if the LIS reports have as well?
Answer: The validation error report contains the subcontractor UKPRN when it is exported
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Question 9. Does the conversion tool go from single file field to a flat file field. You only mentioned entering an L or A field to get the relating Single file field. How will this help to identify the relevant L or A field during LIS validation?
Answer: Yes it does also convert from the new short field names to the old L, A and H code’s. The information authority has published an interactive conversion tool to make cross-referencing the new element names and the old field numbers easier and quicker. This is in addition to the field mapping document that was published earlier in the year. The conversion tool can be downloaded from the ILR Specification, Business Rules and Appendices for 2011/12 page.
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Question 10. Will the LIS V19.01 take longer to run than the previous version?
Answer: Yes, LIS V19.01 will take longer to run due to added new functionality for converting and amalgamating files.
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Question 11. I have already sent some data via LIS and have identified some errors can you confirm that I need to contact my software supplier if I can not work out how to clear the errors?
Answer: Providers should speak to their software suppliers in the first instance, especially if you are experiencing an ‘X01’ error.
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Question 12. Is there a limit on number of flat files that LIS can combine in one return?
Answer: There is no limit on the number of flat files that LIS can combine in any one return. The limit applies to the number of learners and aims.
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Question 13. Will finance reports be available in LIS generated in .xls format for reconciliation and assisting calculating subcontractor payments for funding streams paid on profile not on actual?
Answer: All of the Report Manager reports can be exported as comma separated files that can be loaded into Excel.
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Question 14. Should we download the beta version of the LIS 19.01 or wait for a final release?
Answer: Yes, providers should download the latest beta available on the Data Service website to prepare their data, but wait for the release of the final LIS V19.01 to submit this data.
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Question 15. Will the LIS export use the new entity field names?
Answer: Yes.
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Question 16. We have never used LIS as we have previously used POL. The latest version I understand is a beta version. What type of additional support is being provided for providers like us as the presentation sort of assumed familiarity with LIS?
Answer: The Data Service will be publishing a quick user guide as well as guidance notes for the conversion and amalgamation part of the process.
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Question 17. How will the Data Service mitigate the risk of a provider submitting a B file but calling it an A file, thereby deleting all previous files?
Answer: It is the provider’s responsibility to ensure they are submitting the correct file type.
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