Getting Started with Strata Apps
Welcome
Before you begin, make sure you are able to access Strata Apps. You may also want to familiarize yourself with key terms that are used often within Strata Apps so that it will be easier to understand the rest of this guide as well as some of the technical aspects of the system.
If your district's Strata Apps license does not include paper applications, then skip the "scan" section of this guide.
Strata Apps workflow
The Strata Apps system can be used for processing paper and online meal applications, although there is a slight difference in the procedures for the two application mediums.
Paper applications
- Document preparation - Take the time to inspect the condition of each received application (stains or tears, ink color, missing information, etc.) before attempting to scan.
- Scan - Next, the applications are scanned in uniform batches.
- AutoProcess - From there, the batches are automatically sent to have the handwriting analyzed and interpreted using ICR technology.
- Validate - After the applications have completed AutoProcess, you will need to review the results and make corrections as necessary in the Validation module.
- Export - After the applications have been validated, the export functions outputs the data to be received by your Point-of-Sale (POS) system.
- Export Verify - After the POS receives the data, Strata Apps does a final check to ensure that student data was transferred successfully.
- Admin - Applications that require further attention (such as needing clarification from a parent or guardian) are placed into a Hold queue that can be accessed from Application Management under the Admin module. Suspect or missing information can be corrected from here and then that application will be exported.
Online applications
- Application submission - A parent or guardian submits an application through your district's online application site.
- Validate - You will need to confirm that the student(s) on the application is a student in your district in the Validation module.
- Export - After the applications have been validated, the export functions outputs the data to be received by your Point-of-Sale (POS) system.
- Export Verify - After the POS imports the data, Strata Apps does a final check to ensure that student data was transferred successfully.
- Admin - Applications that require further attention (such as needing clarification from a parent or guardian) are placed into a Hold queue that can be accessed from Application Management under the Admin module. Suspect or missing information can be corrected from here and then that application will be exported.
Scan
If your district's Strata Apps license includes paper applications, then you will have access to the Strata Apps Scan module. You will want to exercise proper scanning procedure in order to get the best results from your Strata Apps system.
Document preparation
Your scanning process will go smoothly and efficiently if you ensure that your scanner is ready to scan and that you do the proper prep work for the paper applications.
Scanning applications and documents
Now that your documents are ready to be scanned, learn how to actually scan them!
- How to scan and save a batch of applications (tutorial video included)
Validation
Validation is one of the most important steps in the Strata Apps system. Even if you do not have paper applications in your Strata Apps license and opted for online applications only, Validation is still a necessary and vital function. Your applications will not export to your Point of Sale without first completing Validation.
Validating applications
Before you begin validating, you should take a brief look at the Validation module interface and features.
Learn how to validate your scanned and online applications so that they can be sent to your POS to have their eligibility determined.
- How to validate applications (tutorial video included)
Strata Apps Administrator Guide
At least one Strata Apps user at a district — the Strata Apps administrator — should be familiar with some of the behind-the-scenes workings of Strata Apps and how to adjust specific settings within the system to allow for complete customization of features. These settings and features include tasks and rules for processing applications, user management, POS integration settings, and more.
To access the Admin module, simply click on the 'Admin' button in the top right menu bar OR on the 'Admin' pane on the home page.
System Rollover
The system rollover function must be conducted at the end of each school year before you can start processing applications for a new school year.
Control Panel
The Strata Apps Control Panel oversees most of the inner workings of the system. It is divided into two sections: Settings and Utilities.
Settings
Upon entering the Strata Apps Control Panel, you will find numerous different options in the 'Settings' section that can be adjusted to customize how the system processes applications. Some of the options are completely up to a district's processing preferences, while the other options are essential and must be set correctly for Strata Apps to run as intended.
Utilities
The Utilities section of the control panel contains a series of features that have their own interface inside the Strata Apps system. Clicking each button in this section opens up a small window in the Strata Apps interface that can be used to complete a task or commit a change to the system.
Online Wizard
If your district has a Strata Apps license for processing online meal applications, then you will have access to this feature. The Strata Apps Online Wizard is used to customize your online meal application site. You will need to use this tool to enable or disable the site, customize site verbiage, and control how the site behaves depending on what information has been entered by an applicant.
Strata Apps software support
Image One Corporation is committed to providing the best possible technical support for Strata Apps and all of our products. Software support is offered on an annual service contract basis. You can submit software support requests to support@imageone.zohodesk.com or call 1-800-956-9000 option 2. This will allow your case to be properly logged and resolved as soon as possible. You can also visit support.image-1.com and submit your issue directly to the Strata Apps support queue.
Cases are routed based on availability.
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