---
title: "HR import default settings"
slug: "hr-import-default-settings"
tags: ["Totara Platform", "Site Administrator", "Reference"]
updated: 2025-05-01T12:25:04Z
published: 2025-05-01T12:25:04Z
canonical: "totara.help/hr-import-default-settings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# HR import default settings

The **Default settings** page (*Quick-access menu > HR import*) allows you to configure the default method of file access, notification recipients, and schedule for automatic data import used across each [HR import](/18/docs/what-is-hr-import) element.

Each [element](/18/docs/enable-hr-import-elements) can use the default settings, or you can [customise the settings for individual elements](/18/docs/configure-hr-import-element-settings).

| **Setting** | **Description** | **Notes** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elements using default settings | This area lists which elements (job assignment, organisation, position, user and/or competency) are using the default **File** settings. | - |
| File access | There are two options: - **Directory check:** This option allows you to specify a directory on the server to be checked for sync files automatically. - **Upload Files:** This option requires you to upload files via the **Upload sync files** page (*Quick-access menu > HR import > Sources*). Note that this option is enabled by default. | - |
| Files directory | When **Directory** **check** is selected for the **File access** setting, this option allows you to specify a directory on the server to be checked for sync files automatically. This option is not available when **Upload files** is selected. Each source file needs to be copied to a directory on the Totara server with the following file path and file names: - **Job assignment:** pathtottotara/csv/ready/jobassignment.csv - **Organisation:** pathtototara/csv/ready/org.csv - **Position:** pathtototara/csv/ready/pos.csv - **User:** pathtottotara/csv/ready/user.csv - **Competency**: pathtottotara/csv/ready/comp.csv | It's not possible to import more than one source file at a time for each source type. You need to include the full pathname of your Totara server in the **Files directory** via *Quick-access menu > HR import > General settings.* |
| (Notification) Elements using default settings | This area lists which elements are using the default **Notification** settings. | Cannot be edited here, for information purposes only. |
| Send notifications | There are two options: - **Errors:** If enabled (checked), a notification will be issued to specified users should any errors occur during the import - **Warnings:** If enabled (checked), a notification will be issued to specified users should any warnings occur during import | - |
| Email notifications to | Specify the email addresses of any users who should receive an error and/or warning notifications. By default, the email address of the main Site Administrator will be populated in this field. Additional email addresses may be specified, and should be separated by a comma. | Email notifications of warnings and errors for HR imports will only list the 50 most recent warnings and errors. To view all HR Import errors or warnings in your site go to *Quick-access menu > HR Import > HR Import Log.* |
| (Schedule) Elements using default settings | This area lists which elements are using the default **Schedule** settings. | Cannot be edited here, for information purposes only. |
| Scheduled HR importing | If enabled, the scheduled HR import cron task will import any CSV files that are available in the files directory (as specified in the **Files directory** field) when it's due to run. | - |
| Schedule (server time) | Here you can specify how often HR import should be checking the files directory and importing CSV files. The available options are: - **Daily:** When selected, it is possible to specify the hour that HR import checks the files directory for import each day. - **Weekly:** When selected, it is possible to specify the day of the week that HR import checks the files directory for import. - **Monthly:** When selected, it is possible to specify a date of the month that HR import checks the files directory for import. - **Every X hours:** When selected, it is possible to specify how often (in hours) HR import checks the files directory for import. - **Every X minutes:** When selected, it is possible to specify how often (in minutes) HR import checks the files directory for import. | - |

## Next steps

- [What is HR import?](/18/docs/what-is-hr-import)
- [Configure HR import default settings](/18/docs/configure-hr-import-default-settings)
- [Enable HR import elements](/18/docs/enable-hr-import-elements)
- [HR import element settings](/18/docs/hr-import-element-settings)[](/18/docs/export-hr-import-logs)

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