The Other Contacts module is a specialised address book for managing individuals who are not primary parents, staff, or learners but still require communication from the school. This includes sports coaches, extra-mural tutors, contractors, or creditors.

My School > Other Contacts

How do I add and manage contacts?

1. Click Add to create a new contact.

2. Complete the compulsory fields: Title, Name, Surname, Gender, Language, and Mobile or Email.

3. Assign a Reference (e.g. "Accountant" or "Hockey Coach") and click Save.

4. To edit a contact, click on the contact name, click Edit, update the profile, and click Save.

5. To delete a contact, click on the contact, click Delete, and confirm with OK.

How do I bulk import contacts?

1. Click the Template file link in Other Contacts to download the Excel import template.

2. Prepare your data: leave Entity ID blank for new contacts, use digits only for country codes (e.g. 27, not +27), and include at least one contact method.

3. Upload the file. Tick Unlink existing channels to reset channel assignments, or Clear records to replace the current list entirely.

4. Click Import. You will be redirected to the Import Queue to monitor progress.

Using the import queue

Monitor progress via My School > Other Contacts > View Import Queue. Unprocessed records can be imported by clicking Process Valid. Check the Reason column for import errors such as invalid ID numbers.

How do I communicate with other contacts?

Multi-platform messaging

Go to My School > Communication > Send a message > Multi-platform Communication and select Other Contacts as your target audience to send bulk updates.

Direct messages on d6 Connect

1. Go to My School > Communication > Send a message > d6 Connect news item.

2. Click New Message > Recipients, select Direct Message, and choose Other Contacts in the "For" field.

Channel assignment

To organise contacts into groups, go to Communication Channels > Own Channels, click Add Channel, tick the Other Contacts box, and move selected individuals to the right-hand column.

Frequently asked questions

How do I invite other contacts to use the d6 Connect app?

Go to My School > Communication > Communication Setup > d6 App Setup > Takeup and use the Roll-out Launch System. If the contact has an ID number that matches their staff profile, they will be invited alongside unregistered parents.

Can I export this list for external use?

Yes, if you have Excel Export rights, click the Export button on the Other Contacts page to generate a spreadsheet.

Why are my CSV contacts not importing correctly?

Check your field delimiter (usually a comma or semicolon) and enclosure character (usually double quotes). If names like "van der Merwe" are split into multiple columns, ensure they are enclosed in quotes.

Why is the export button not visible?

The Export button is only visible to users with specific administrative permissions, in compliance with POPIA/GDPR data privacy regulations.

Do staff members need to be added to Other Contacts?

Yes, staff members must be added to Other Contacts to view school content on the d6 Connect app. A small mobile phone icon next to a name indicates the contact is registered on the app.