Overview
Setting label: Automatically set an alternative main Group (in create only)
Setting ID: Main_Groups_Auto_Set_An_Alternative_Main_Group
Location: Main Settings > General Settings > Student Form Registration tab, Educational Program Parameters group
What This Setting Does
This setting makes Classter automatically fill in the Alternative Main Group field when a new educational program registration is created for a _Student_, instead of requiring staff to select it manually. The automatic selection follows the rules configured in the related settings that define which _Group_ should be chosen.
Where It Is Used
Main Menu > Students > Students List > Create > Educational Program section, Alternative Main Group field.
Business Logic / Behavior
- When enabled, Classter automatically populates the Alternative Main Group field at the moment a new educational program registration is created.
- The automatically selected _Group_ is determined using the rules from the related first-active-Group settings, which look for the first active _Group_ in the period with a matching Grade/Stream and, depending on configuration, a matching Group type or Zone section.
- This automatic selection only happens during the creation of the educational program registration; it does not run again automatically if the record is edited later.
- When disabled, staff must select the Alternative Main Group manually, and Classter does not pre-fill it.
Example(s)
Alpha Institute enables this setting and has configured the first-active-Group rule to match by Grade, Stream, and Group type Support Group. On 2 September 2026, registrar Wendy O. creates a new educational program registration for _Student_ Noah B. in Grade 7, Stream A. Classter automatically sets his Alternative Main Group to Grade 7 Stream A Support Group, the first active Support Group matching his Grade and Stream, without Wendy selecting it herself.
When to Use
When to Enable
Enable this setting when the institution has a predictable, rule-based way of assigning an alternative Group and wants to save staff time by having Classter fill it in automatically on new registrations.
When to Disable
Disable this setting when the alternative Group assignment needs individual judgment for each _Student_ and should always be selected manually by staff.
Notes
Prerequisite: The Main Group option in the Enable Alternative assignments setting must be activated for the Alternative Main Group field to exist.
Related settings:
- Enable Alternative assignments (Enable_Alternative_Assignments_In_Student_Educational_Programs in Student Form Registration > Educational Program Parameters)
- The Alternative Group should be the first active found in the period with the same Grade/Stream of specific Group Types (Main_Groups_Group_Should_Be_The_First_Active_Of_Same_Grade_Stream_And_Type_Of in Student Form Registration > Educational Program Parameters)
- The Alternative Group should be the first active found in the period with the same Grade/Stream and a Group Zone section of (Main_Groups_Group_Should_Be_The_First_Active_Of_Same_Grade_Stream_And_Zone_Section_Of in Student Form Registration > Educational Program Parameters)
K-12 vs Higher Education: This setting behaves the same regardless of whether Enable Configuration for Higher Education is on or off.
