How to Test Lead Application MPFs on Your Live Site

In order to test Lead Application MPFs, you must simulate being either a parent of a prospective student (i.e. a Lead) or the student (Lead) themselves depending on how you plan to use the form (if you plan to have parents of leads fill out application forms, you must simulate being a parent of a lead, if you plan to have leads fill it out themselves directly, you must simulate being a lead). This means you need to create a fake lead. While in most circumstances we advise never to add fake records to your 'Live' database and recommend only doing so on your 'Testing' database (i.e., the free sandbox we offer you) this is the one exception to that rule because it is much easier to work on and test these forms on your 'Live' database (it will also save you a lot of time). As long as you clean up the fake records after testing, you'll be fine: this is a low-risk endeavor.

PRO TIP! If you already have an application ready to test, click here to skip to step #2, adding a test lead.
If you already have an application and a test lead set up click here to skip to step #3, sending an online application.

1. NOTE: Before you can test an application form, you must not only create one, but you must assign it to a program in your Lead Enrollment Configuration. If you are unfamiliar with the Lead Enrollment Configuration, review the help documentation by clicking here: Setting up the Leads Tool. Once you are familiar with the Lead Enrollment Configuration, assign your new application form in the Application Settings for one of your programs in a Lead Enrollment Configuration as shown below. 
   PRO TIP! Remember to take note of the academic year and the program that you assign the application form to so that when you create a new lead to test the form, you select this academic year and program for the lead.
   
   

   
   Adding a Test Lead
   
   

2. Now we need to create a fake lead to test. You will have two options for this. The first is to fill out your inquiry form and the second option is to manually add a lead via the quick add lead page. Many schools will want to fill out their inquiry form for this as it allows you to become more familiar with your inquiry form as well as to create public inquiry alert emails but both options work great.
   
   
   • To add a new lead via your inquiry form. Use your link to your inquiry form and fill it out accordingly. Click here for a reminder on Help Finding your Inquiry Form URL.
     
     
   • To manually add a lead, go to Admissions/Leads > Quick Add Lead and fill out the form that is launched. The illustrations below highlight the important fields you need to fill out. Make sure you select the academic year and program that you assigned the application form to in the lead enrollment configuration. When you get to the fields where you enter parent/guardian information, select Existing Person, and enter yourself:
     
     
     
     
     

3. Sending an Online Application

   To send an online application to the portal you can either manually send the application or simply change your test lead to the Application phase.
   • To manually create the application, edit your test lead and from the Inquiry & Application tab > select the option Click Here to SEnd Online Application.
     
     
     
     
   • The other option will be to change the status of your lead from the Inquiry Phase to the Application Phase.
     
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4. Now it is almost time to go and play with the form itself. But first, let's make sure that the portal is set up to display these forms. Go to System > Settings > Portal Setup and look for the Admissions - Portal Tab and click on it to expand it:
   • If the Admissions - Portal Tab and the Admissions > My Inquiries & Applications sub-tab are both already active, just take note of the name listed in the Display Title in Portal field and then skip to the next step (by default, the name in that field is Admissions, but your school may have changed this to something else.
   • If either tab is currently inactive, you must activate it.
     • For the Admissions - Portal Tab click the Show in Portal box, give a name to the tab in the Display Title in Portal field and then hit the Save button right beneath it.
     • For the Admissions > My Inquiries & Applications sub-tab just click the Show in Portal box, and then hit the Save button right beneath it :
       
5. Go to your portal and locate the Admissions tab (remember, the name may be changed). Now, go down to the sub-tab titled My Inquiries & Applications and look for the record featuring your fake lead and click the Add Application link. If prompted to Claim the form, go ahead and do so.
   PRO TIP! Click here for full instructions on How to Fill out an Application in the Portal.
   
   
   
6. Finally, you will be viewing the Lead Application MPF and you are now able to test it. 
   PRO TIP! You may keep this page open on your browser and open up a second tab on your browser where you can go back to the Lead Application MPF settings in the BigSIS admin to make adjustments. The form in the portal updates in real-time so you can always go back to the first tab in your browser and refresh it to see and test any additional changes you have made to the Lead Application MPF.
   
   
7. IMPORTANT: Remember to DELETE any trace of this test. Deleting the test requires deleting the fake lead to reduce data clutter from your database (we don't recommend storing bad or fake data in there permanently alongside your real data).
   • You will want to start by using the Submitted/Pending Applications table to delete the application(s) you have created: Deleting Applications from the Submitted/Pending Applications Table. 
   • Next, go to Admissions/Leads > Leads to locate the fake lead record and delete it: