---
title: "Gateway to Prep"
slug: "gateway-to-prep"
updated: 2026-03-26T20:49:26Z
published: 2026-03-26T20:49:26Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Gateway to Prep

**Gateway to Prep**is an online platform that streamlines the application process for private boarding and day schools. It serves as a centralized hub where students can manage their applications to multiple schools simultaneously.

Gateway to Prep has an automated process that generates application data and associated documents to a SFTP server. The Slate automated process retrieves the files daily and they are then imported using standard source formats in Slate.

## Step 1: Creating a Gateway ID field

Go to **Database → Fields**. If your institution already receives data from Gateway to Prep, you likely have an **application-scoped field representing the Gateway to Prep ID**here. If you find this field, move on to [step 2](/v1/docs/gateway-to-prep#step-2-adding-the-gateway-to-prep-source-formats).

If you don’t have this field:

1. Select **New Field.**
2. Configure the following settings:
  - **Status:**Active
  - **Scope Category:**Records
  - **Scope:**Application
  - **ID:**`gatewaytoprep_id`
  - **Name:**Gateway to Prep ID
  - **Folder:**Keep fields organized by placing them in a folder. To create a new folder, select **Other**and enter a name.
  - **Category:**Select or create an optional field category.
  - **Field Type:**Free Text
  - **Unique for Merging:**Value contains a unique ID which identifies a single record for merging.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-8FRK831K.png)
3. Select **Save**.
4. Select the link in the sidebar to force refresh the fields cache.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(633).png)

## Step 2: Adding the Gateway to Prep source formats

You must add two source formats to your database:

- GatewayToPrepCandidateProfile
- GatewayToPrepMaterials

### The GatewayToPrepCandidateProfile source format

To add the **GatewayToPrepCandidateProfile**source format:

1. Go to **Database**→ **Source Format Library**.
2. Enter GatewayToPrepCandidateProfile in the search bar.
3. Select **Add**.

> [!CAUTION]
> **🔔**Do not change the source format’s **name**or **format settings**. Notes and internal name can be edited.

You cannot map fields until you receive or manually upload a file from ApplicationsOnline.

### The GatewayToPrepMaterials source format

To add the **GatewayToPrepMaterials** source format:

1. Go to **Database**→ **Source Format Library**.
2. Enter `GatewayToPrepMaterials`in the search bar.
3. Select **Add**.

ApplicationsOnline generates PDF files associated with the applications delivered in the data files.

These files are associated with Slate records using unique IDs that come in through the GatewaytoPrepCandidateProfile source format. You must configure these records as Slate materials.

## Step 3: Remapping the Gateway to Prep Source Formats

### GatewaytoPrepCandidateProfile

Once a data file has been received, the remap of the source format can be completed.

To map the application-scoped unique ID created in [step 1](/v1/docs/gateway-to-prep#step-1-creating-a-gateway-id-field):

1. Go to **Database → Source Formats**.
2. Select **GatewaytoPrepCandidateProfile**.
3. Select **Edit Mappings**.
4. Map the `A_ID` source field to the app-scoped Gateway to Prep ID created earlier.
5. Set the Destination to**Application Fields / App: Other – Gateway to Prep ID**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(689).png)
6. Select **Save**.
7. Review the additional field value mappings and add/update the mappings as necessary.
8. Review Field Fusions, Prompt Value Mappings and Static Mappings to update/add additional mappings.

> [!WARNING]
> 📝 To create application records when the GatewaytoPrepCandidate source format is processed, you must map an **App: Round**.

### GatewaytoPrepMaterials

The GatewaytoPrep Materials Source Format does not contain data points to map. This source format is only used as a translation table to match incoming document types with material types in Slate.

## Step 4: Setting up value mappings

Specify the material destination value in Slate for the types of GatewaytoPrep PDFs.

Set up your GatewaytoPrep materials in a one-to-one relationship with a distinct material type in Slate. The GatewaytoPrep materials are mapped to a Person/Application scoped material in Slate.

1. Go to **Prompt Value Mappings** page.
2. Map the Material Source Format to the Slate material type that should be used to store each of the Gateway to Prep document types.
3. Select **Material.**
4. For each Gateway to Prep document type, select the Slate material type as which you want to store the document type. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(691).png)
5. Select **Save**.

> [!WARNING]
> 📝 Only document types that have been mapped to a valid Slate material type will be imported.

PDFs associated with unmapped document types will remain in the SFTP directory until they are mapped (and imported) or purged.

## Step 5: Testing the GatewaytoPrep source format

To test importing application data:

1. Complete the **remap configurations** in your production environment.
2. [Refresh your test environment](/v1/docs/test-environments).
3. Activate the source format’s **remap settings** in the **test environment**.
4. Confirm that the behavior of the import matches what you expect.

Repeat as necessary until you are satisfied with the configuration of the remap settings.

## Step 6: Activating the source format

Once you’ve finished testing remap configurations, you can activate the source format in your production database:

1. Go to the **GatewaytoPrepCandidateProfile**source format.
2. Select **Edit**.
3. Set the **Remap Active** flag to **Active**.
4. Select **Save**.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-GM9ZFYTJ.png)

Data for existing files uploaded on or after the *Remap As Of Date*that are *Awaiting Import are*imported using the remap settings you’ve configured.