Initializing Reference Data

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Setup
25Live Fields vs SIS Data
Key LYNX Settings
Setting Up Translation Tables
Mapping Event Names, Categories, and Attributes
Best Practices for Optimizer Partitions and Preferences
Utilizing Meeting Patterns and Standard Schedules
At the Start of Each Term
Roll courses/exams over from previous term
Initialize reference data in LYNX (this article)
Using and Understanding Extract Sets
Tips for Import Extract Sets
Tips for Export Extract Sets
Create date exceptions
Test extract sets and import data into 25Live
Review errors and conflicts
Placing Classes Using Optimizer
Finalize bindings between sections
Review Best Practices for Optimizer Runs
Run the Optimizer to find placements
Tweak settings to improve your Optimizer results
Ongoing Throughout Term
Updates Throughout the Term
Ongoing Maintenance for LYNX
Finishing a Term
Final Exams
Tips For Final Exams in LYNX


"Reference data" is what LYNX calls all the miscellaneous information in your SIS that doesn't belong to a specific term code. For example:

  • Department codes
  • Facility IDs
  • Instructor names
  • Meeting pattern types
  • and more!

It's a good practice to manually refresh LYNX with this data before starting to schedule a new term if using Ethos or Workday.  That way, any new elements that were added to your SIS since the start of the last term will be synced. If you are using Banner, Colleague, or Campus Solutions, this is not required.

For more information, see Initializing Data in LYNX.

To Refresh Reference Data:

1. Navigate to the Initialization Page

In LYNX, click More > Utilities > SIS Data Initialization.

2. Run a Reference Data Initialization

Click the Initialize Reference Data button.

Initialize Reference Data buttonImage: Initialize Reference Data button 

A popup window will prompt you for a name. This is so you can identify the data import for troubleshooting later. We recommend giving it a name that matches the term you're about to start scheduling, like "Fall 2022".

Click Submit.

3. Wait for the Initialization to Complete

You will be taken to the initialization details screen, including a bar to track the initialization's progress. The bar will begin moving within 60 seconds as LYNX syncs with your SIS. Navigating away from this screen will not interrupt progress.

Image: Initialization complete 

Note: Initializing Course Section Data

When going through the initialization process for the first time, It's best to also initialize all course section data for all terms available in your SIS. 

This process is not needed for non-API versions of LYNX (Banner, Campus Solutions, Colleague, Universal), as those new terms will automatically initialize.

For additional information about different SIS/ERP versions, please see Initializing Data in LYNX.