Course directory website update 20/08/2021

This was published a couple of days ago but doesn't mention may changes to the file spec.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-data-upload-facility-on-publish-to-the-course-directory

Hi Graham, 

That's interesting, I had not seen that.  How did you find this news bulletin?  

I do receive periodic emails from the course directory, but the last such email was received by me on 6th July reminding me to update our course listings for the new academic year.  This email made no mention whatsoever of any changes to the website. 

I have been told by the course directory support team that from Friday, the new batch file will differ from the current one in the following ways:  

1) Two columns have been removed:  Advanced learner option and Adult education budget 
2) Several columns have their names changed.  The old names will fail import validation
3) One new column added for Your venue Reference.  All venues must have a unique ID number and the ID number must be shown in the batch file as well as the venue name.  
4) Special characters will be allowed in the file

Hi Peter

I have created a web shortcut that has the filter for ESFA docs applied:

https://www.gov.uk/search/all?order=updated-newest&organisations%5B%5D=education-and-skills-funding-agency&page=1&public_timestamp%5Bfrom%5D=&public_timestamp%5Bto%5D=

Thanks for the details of the file spec changes.

Thanks Graham. 

I seem to remember that there used to be a subscription service for ESFA news bulletins, but now I think about it, I don't ever get any news from the ESFA except in the weekly Update.  And I do not recall reading anything in the weekly Update about this change to the course directory.  

Peter