Switch from another system

Bring your families, students, classes, enrollments and balances over from your old studio software.

Getting started3 min read

You don't have to type everything in again. FrontRow can import the exports from your old software and turn them into families, students, classes, rooms and enrollments, along with opening balances. You check a practice run before anything is saved, and you can undo an import afterwards.

Only owners and admins can import.

Systems you can import from#

  • Jackrabbit
  • iClassPro
  • The Studio Director
  • DanceWorks
  • Dance Studio Manager
  • Studio Pro
  • Sawyer
  • Any other system, using a spreadsheet

Not sure which system a file came from? Choose Detect automatically and FrontRow will usually work it out from the column names.

Start an import#

You can import during setup (step 3, Bring your schedule over) or any time afterwards:

  1. Open Studio settings with the gear icon in the top bar.
  2. Choose the Import & export tab.
  3. Under Import from another system, select Import data.

Import your files#

  1. Under Old system, choose where your data is coming from.
  2. Follow the Export from checklist. It tells you which reports to download from your old system and where to find them.
  3. Under Upload your exports, add all your files at once: families, students, classes, enrollments and balances. Spreadsheet files (CSV) and Excel files work, up to 20 MB each.
  4. Select Upload and map columns.
  5. Check how each column in your file matches up to FrontRow. Most are matched for you. If asked, choose the term the classes belong to.
  6. Select Check the import.

Good to know: Never include card numbers in your files. FrontRow won't accept them. Families add their own card or bank account in the family portal when you ask them.

Review before you import#

FrontRow shows you exactly what will happen before anything is saved:

  • What this import does lists what will be added and updated.
  • Problems found lists Errors (which you need to fix before importing) and Warnings (worth a look, but they won't stop you).
  • Dry run shows the exact numbers from a practice run. Nothing has been saved yet.

If something looks wrong, select Change the mapping and adjust. When you're happy, select Import, then confirm.

Importing doesn't invite or charge anyone. Families only hear from you when you choose to contact them.

Import again later#

You don't have to get every file right the first time. Import again from the same system and FrontRow matches what's already there and only applies the changes. An empty cell in a new file never clears something you already have.

Undo an import#

On a finished import, select Roll back under Undo this import. This removes what the import added and restores anything it changed. If you've imported from the same system more than once, roll back the newest import first. You can also find past imports in Import history.

Would you rather we did it?#

During setup, select Hand it off on the import step and tell us which system you use and what you can export. The FrontRow team will reply by email. Nothing is imported until you approve it.

Related articles