SDB Tips and Hints

Screen Numbering

The numbering of SDB screens corresponds to the their functionality.

  • 100 screens: Registration related screens
  • 200 screens: Time schedule/ course information screens
  • 300 screems: Student record screens
  • 400 screens: Grades screens
  • 500 screens: Admissions screens
  • 600 screens: Administrative screens

Useful Screens

Use these screens to access commonly used functions in SDB:

  • SRF104: Departmental Registration
  • SRF325/330: Transfer Summary/Courses
  • SRF335: UW Degrees
  • SRF630: Hold Update
  • SRF203: Time Schedule Inquiry. This information is also found in the online Time Schedule.

How would you find…?

Consider the following scenario: Student leaves message requesting your assistance and only leaves his/her name with no phone, email or student number.

  • Question: How do you locate the student’s contact information? Answer: SRF500: LAST,FIRST
  • Question: Does the student authorize release of directory information? Answer: SRF305
  • Question: What is the student registered for in the current quarter and how did the student register for those classes? Answer: SRF120 and 100, 100A
  • Question: What is the student’s cumulative GPA? Answer: SRT310, 301
  • Question: How would you use SDB to find an instructor/TA for a course the student completed in a previous quarter. Answer: SRF120, 100 to find SLN of course) Use SRF204 by entering the SLN and the quarter/year.

SDB Screens Quick Lookup

Screen Manual

See the SDB Screen Manual  for images and detailed descriptions of each screen.

Quick Lookup

Search for SDB screen titles or numbers by entering in your search terms here:

Academic recordSRF301
Academic summarySRF310
ACT scoresSRF507
AddressesSRF305
Adds and drops, history SRF120,100A
Admission deficienciesSRF306, 506
Admission indexSRF306
Advanced math test scoresSRF507
AISRF306
Alumnus, child ofSRF505
AP creditSRF320
AP scoresSRF507
Applicant inquirySRF505
Applicant LocatorSRF500
Applicant prior schoolsSRF508
Appointment for registration (new st)SRF505
Area of knowledgeSRF204, 206
Arts deficiencySRF306, 506
Backdated drops, addsSRF120
Birth dateSRF305
Campus of admissionSRF506
Changes, futureSRF611
Chemistry placement test scoresSRF507
Child of alumnusSRF505
Class listSRF130
Class scheduleSRF100, 100A
Closed classesSRF203
Colleges, previousSRF325
Comments (registration restrictions)SRF204
Courses, transferSRF330
Credit, transferSRF325, 330
Credit-by-examinationSRF320
DARS requirement designationsSRF330
DARSSRF390
Declared majors/minorsSRF305
Deficiencies, admissionSRF306, 506
Degrees auditSRF390
Degrees earnedSRF335
Denied admission, reasonsSRF505
Denies (for closed courses)SRF203
Department registrationSRF104
Designating V, I, NW, W, CSRF330
Diagnostic testSRF305, 506
Directory release, yes or no, FERPASRF305
Drops and adds, history orSRF100A,120
Email addressSRF305
Emergency contactSRF305
English composition coursesSRF204, 206
ESL requirementSRF305, 506
Expiration of premajors extensionSRF310
Extended premajors, expirationSRF310
Extension creditSRF320
Fee paid (new student)SRF505
FERPA releaseSRF305
Final quarter attendedSRF305
Fine arts deficiencySRF306, 506
Foreign language in high schoolSRF306, 506
Foreign language test scoresSRF507
French placement test scoresSRF507
Future control field inquirySRF611
General education coursesSRf204, 206
German placement test scoresSRF507
GPASRF301, 310
GradesSRF301, 100A
Graduation petitions approvedSRF310
Graduation, degreesSRF335
High school backgroundSRF306, 506
Hold updateSRF630, 305
IB creditSRF320
InstructorSRF204
Intermediate algebra test scoresSRF507
International student informationSRF505
Japanese placement test scoresSRF507
Last quarter attendedSRF305, 500
Local addressSRF305
Major requested (by new student)SRF505
Major, change ofSRF611
Mathematics in high schoolSRF306, 506
Minors declaredSRF305
Math Lang Tests scoresSRF306, 506,507
Open coursesSRF203, 206
Orientation date (new student)SRF505
Over riding registration restrictionsSRF104
Permanent AddressSRF305
Phone numbersSRF305
Placement test scoresSRF507
Posting V, I, NW, W, CSRF330
Pre calculus test scoresSRF507
Premajors extension expirationSRF310
Pre-requisites, overridingSRF104
Previous collegesSRF325
Prior schools, transcripts receivedSRF508
ProfessorSRF204
Proficiency tests passedSRF506
Q/SR coursesSRf204, 206
Registration appointment (new std)SRF505
Registration holdSRF630
Registration restrictionsSRF204, 236
Registration transactionsSRF120, 100A
RegistrationSRF104
Release of information, yes/no FERPASRF305
Restrictions, registrationSRF204, 236
S/NS (grades in S/NS courses*)SRF100A
SAT scoresSRF507
Schedule of classesSRF100, 100A
Section statusSRF204
Space availableSRF203 F7
Spanish placement test scoresSRF507
Student dataSRF305
Student directory release FERPASRF305
Student locatorSRF500
Student numberSRF500
Summary, academicSRF310
Test scoresSRF507
Time schedule inquirySRF203 F7
TOEFL test scoresSRF306,506,507
Transactions, registrationSRF120
Transcript commentsSRF310
Transcript holdsSRF630
Transcripts summarySRF310
Transcripts receivedSRF508
TranscriptsSRF301
Transfer coursesSRF330
Transfer credits receivedSRF508
Transfer summarySRF325
Transfer X creditsSRF330
W coursesSRF204, 206
Withdrawal, annual dropSRF100, 100A
Withdrawn coursesSRF203

Navigating SDB

Getting Around in SDB

Important Key Commands

  1. Outside Enter : Use the Enter key on the keypad to accept changes.
  2. Inside Enter: Moves cursor to the next field/row.
  3. Home button: Moves cursor to top of screen
  4. Tab: Moves the cursor to the next field that allows changes to be made.
  5. Shift + Tab: Allows you to go back to previous fields/rows.
  6. Page Up/Page Down: Use to go forward and backward through screens you have viewed

Function Keys

These function keys come pre-programmed into Keynes. You don’t have to home first or clear anything

  • F1: SRF500 Student/Applicant Locator
  • F4: SRF203 Time Schedule Inquiry
  • F6: General Education Course Inquiry
  • F7: SR204 Section Status Inquiry

Navigation Tips

  • After you have filled in the requested information on an SDB screen, you must press the key that sends the information. On most computers, the send key is the <Enter> key on the 10-key pad.
  • Although you can use lower case letters when you log on and within some of the screens, there are many places where you must use upper case letters. Therefore, it is recommended that you turn on your CAPS LOCK key before you start using any of the administrative systems.
  • Most keyboards have a Home key that takes the cursor to the home position (the upper left corner of the screen.) On many Macintosh computer, the Apple key acts as the Home key.
  • If you can’t remember the designators for a particular screen, HOME, type in HELPSI and SEND. This will give you a list of screens. Your access level may or may not include all the screens listed.
  • TAB will move you forward through the fields; SHIFT-TAB will move your cursor back through the fields.
  • SRT (T for Transfer): To access a different screen for the same student, use SRT instead of SRF.
  • To put Keynes on hold,  HOME and type in .MENU (and spacebar if there are still letters from the previous text) and SEND. Keynes will not time out from here. You can come back to it anytime, enter SDB and SEND, and you are off and running without having to log in again. CAUTION: don’t leave you computer unattended when you have Keynes active or on hold, and remember to exit Keynes when you leave for the day. You are responsible for any information that is accessed, changed or updated with your code.
  • If you are typing over old text you usually don’t have to remove all the old letters; most screens will ignore anything that comes after a spacebar.

About SDB (Keynes)

About the Student Database (Keynes)

The UW Student Data Base (SDB), also known as Keynes, is a university-wide system for managing student records and student data. As a Staff or Faculty member at the UW you might need some form of SDB access as part of your daily duties. This site provides information on obtaining access, attending SDB workshops, and online learning resources for you to utilize.

Follow these steps if you are new to SDB:

  1. Request Access
  2. Attend training session with the Office of the Registrar.
  3. Review learning resources
  4. Give us your feedback. Let us know what learning resources you need and how we can improve our training.
Trouble logging in? Contact the IT Service Center at 206-221-5000 option 5 

Requesting Access

Download, print and submit the appropriate form for your role:

Responsibilities for your Access

Do not let anyone use your SDB access. If someone needs access to SDB to complete their job duties, they need to apply for an account in their own name. Their access level will be determined by their job requirements and their position. If there are student helpers in your area who need access to help staff, they may be given view only access with no update capabilities.

Confidentiality and FERPA

When accessing SDB please remember to follow FERPA guidelines.Please consider the following:

  1. Directory Information: Before you give out any directory information, check the students SRF305 screen to see if the student has requested that directory information not be released. If so, all you can say is I have no information about that student.
  2. Do Not Release: (1) anything about grades, and (2) the students class schedule.
  3. Double-check: If you are not sure what to do, or if the caller is insistent, forward the call to the graduations and Academic Records Office, 206-543-1803.

SDB Training for Staff and Faculty

Contact the Office of the Registrar at sdb-training@uw.edu to arrange training and for any access questions.

Learning Resources

In addition to attending a live training we encourage you to utilize these online resources.

Other resources