---
title: "Scribbles"
slug: "scribbles"
updated: 2026-04-07T20:22:59Z
published: 2026-04-07T20:22:59Z
---

> ## 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.

# Scribbles

You can configure your Slate database to automatically receive and import academic credentials from [Scribbles Software](https://www.scribsoft.com/scriborder).

> [!NOTE]
> 💭 Questions about this integration? Reach out to the Scribbles [Client Support Team](https://www.scribsoft.com/scribbles-software-contact).

## Step 1: Adding the Scribbles source format

The **Scribbles source format**in Slate extracts the contents of the ZIP file sent from Scribbles and uses an **index file**to assign new materials to the appropriate records and material types.

To configure the Scribbles source format:

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

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Add%20Scribbles%20source%20format.png)
4. Select **Add**in the dialog
5. In the popup, select **Add.**
6. In the system dialogue, select **OK.**
7. Confirm the browser dialog to add the source format. You are redirected to the Scribbles source format overview page.
8. Select **Edit**.
9. Change the Update Only setting to **Update Only**.
  - This prevents the source format from creating new records if a matching record cannot be found.
  - New documents are still be created and are available for manual processing in Batch Acquire.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Scribbles source format - update only.png)
10. Select **Save**.

#### Confirm the `incoming/scribbles` directory exists

With the source format added, active, and configured, it’s ready to accept an SFTP sweep. This happens about every 15 minutes.

When the SFTP sweep occurs, the `/incoming/scribbles` directory is automatically created in your database.

This directory **must exist**before Scribbles is able to connect. To confirm the directory exists:

1. Go to **Database →** **SFTP Explorer.**
2. Select `incoming`.
3. Look for `scribbles` in the list.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Incoming - Scribbles.png)
4. If you don’t see it in the list, check again in 15 minutes.
5. If you still don’t see the directory, navigate to **Database**and select**Run Force Process Pickup.**

## Step 2: Configuring the Scribbles user account

The **Scribbles user account**is a service account used in the Scribbles Configuration section below.

It allows Scribbles to drop off files to your `/incoming/scribbles` SFTP directory.

To configure the Scribbles user account:

1. Go to **Database → Slate Template Library (legacy tool).**
2. Select **refresh the Slate Template Library** at the top of the page. A browser dialog appears.
3. Confirm the browser dialog.
4. Under the Users heading, locate the Scribbles Service Account and select **Add**. A popup appears.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Scribbles service account.png)
5. Select **Add.**
6. From the main navigation, select **Database.**
7. Under Users & Access, select **User Permissions**.
8. From the list of active users, select **Service Account, Scribbles**.
9. Select **Edit User**. The Scribbles Service Account popup appears.
10. Select the **Roles** tab.
11. Under Permissions (Exclusive), select **SFTP Access** if it isn’t already selected.
12. Under SFTP Access, select **Reset Password**. A browser dialog appears.
13. Enter `RESET` in the browser dialog and select **OK.**A password is generated: this is the server password that you will provide to Scribbles.
14. Copy the password and paste it into a secure location, like a password manager.

> [!WARNING]
> 📝 Once you select **Save**, this password will not appear again. Select **Reset Password**to generate a new password.
15. Still in the SFTP Access section, copy the entire **Username** value. Paste it alongside the password you copied earlier.
16. Select **Save** to save the generated password.

This username is part of the server address that you will provide to Scribbles to configure the SFTP connection.

> [!CAUTION]
> 🔔 Do not change any other settings for the user account. These settings are required for Scribbles to successfully connect to Slate.

## Step 3: Contacting Scribbles to continue configuration

Next, [contact Scribbles](https://www.scribsoft.com/scribbles-software-contact) to set up the SFTP connection and submission of data to Slate. You will need to provide the username and password from the previous section.

Return to this document when you’ve completed the steps described by your Scribbles contact.

## Step 4: Configuring remap settings

Remap settings tell the source format how to process the data in uploaded files.

Once you have received at least one file from Scribbles, you can confirm and customize the **remap settings**in the Scribbles source format.

📖**Further reading:**[Field mappings](/docs/upload-dataset-stages#field-mappings)

To configure the source format remap settings:

1. Go to **Database → Source Formats.**
2. From the list, select **Scribbles**.
3. Select **Edit Mappings**.
4. In the Field Mappings section, confirm and customize destination field settings as needed, with the following exceptions:

> [!CAUTION]
> 🔔 Do not change the following mappings:
> 
> 1. **Material** **Filename:** Tells Slate which document in the .zip file is related to which row in the index file
> 2. **Material** **Code:** Tells Slate which material type the document should be assigned to
5. Select **Prompt Value Mappings.**
6. Provide the value mappings for any unmapped values, including those for the **Material Code** destination.

## Step 5: Activating remap settings

Once you have finished customizing the remap settings, turn on the import for automatic processing using the following steps:

1. Go to **Database → Source Formats.**
2. From the list, select **Scribbles**.
3. Select **Edit.**
4. Set the **Remap Active** flag to **Active**.
5. Select **Save**.

## Frequently asked questions

#### Why are we seeing documents go to Batch Acquire?

Documents are sent to Batch Acquire for the following reasons:

- The Scribbles Source Format is configured not to create new records (via the *Update Only*setting), and an existing matching record could not be found in Slate.
- Not enough data was included in the index file to match onto an existing record or create a new record.
- The document's filename was not included in the index file.
- The index file did not contain a document type or the document type sent in the index file was not mapped to a material type in Slate.

#### I forgot to map a document type, and now there are several documents in Batch Acquire. Is there a way to assign these documents in batch?

Yes:

1. After you map the document type that was not mapped before, run **Retroactive Refresh**. Any material in **Batch Acquire** from the selected sources will be eligible for the refresh.
2. If the Slate material type that you selected is school-scoped, you will need to select the school destinations for the refresh in addition to the **Material Filename** and **Material Code** destinations. Otherwise, only the material destinations need to be selected.