Typing in a paper register
Copy a paper register into Palmgrade one page at a time, in a grid that checks each row as you go and works offline.
Updated November 9, 2026
When your students exist only on paper, Students → Type From Paper is quicker than adding them one by one. A class of about 40 takes around 20 minutes.
Steps
- Choose the Class on this page: the class the register page belongs to.
- Type one row per student, surname first, as registers are written: admission number, surname, first name, middle name, sex, date of birth, and the parent or guardian's name and phone.
- Each row is checked when you leave it. A tick means it's ready. A red mark shows what to fix on the line underneath.
- Press Save (or Ctrl+S). The button counts the ready rows, for example Save 38 students. They are added; rows that need fixing stay on the page.
- Choose the next class, or carry on with the next page.
Moving around
- Tab moves across a row and on to the next row. Enter or ↓ moves down a column, Shift+Enter or ↑ up.
- Rows copied from Excel or Google Sheets can be pasted straight in, starting at the cell you're in. If they're wider than the grid, a message says how many cells didn't fit.
- Columns adds address, state of origin, LGA, place of birth, religion and enrolment date. Your choice is remembered on this device.
Nothing is lost
What you type is kept on this device as you go, through a reload, a closed browser or signing out. Each class keeps its own page; the class list marks a class with an unsaved page. Another person on the same device doesn't see it.
Offline
Type From Paper works fully offline. Saving keeps the page on this device and adds it when the connection returns. If the school refuses a row then (for example, the class was deleted), it comes back to the grid with the reason.
What the marks mean
- Possibly already added as …: a student with the same class and name already exists, and the row has no admission number. Tick Add anyway only if it really is a different child.
- A date refused: dates are read day first (12/03/2014 is 12 March), and can't be in the future.
- Some rows weren't added: the reason is under each row. Fix it and save again.
- A page is waiting for a class that no longer exists: you saved a page while offline, and someone deleted its class before it was sent, so none of it was added. Choose the class those pupils belong in and press Move Rows. They appear on that class's page, ready to check and save.
Photos, documents, health details and a second guardian are added from the student's profile.