software that needs all pupil info inputting

[chrbb]

Long winded subject title but, does anyone use software that needs all pupil data extracting from school management software? One of the two schools I work in has 4 programs that involve a trip to the school office, on your knees to the secretary for different information in four different formats. Then a return to the school office because the secretary hasn't got the hang of it. It's a nightmare! Does anyone else input this sort of data as part of their technician jobs and then have to try to explain how to use the software having read the same manual that the user can read?

[GrumbleDook]

oooohhhh yes.

Because we use SIMS I have god-like control and just end up doing it myself, or talking through the relevant person how to create a report ... get them to save that report and then just ask them to generate it when needed (if the report is for someone else)

[CyberNerd]

Users reading user manuals ?!?

I'll have to remember that one

[SteveT]

What`s a manual???? 8O

[danIT]

We also have 'god-like' access to CMIS, we have a few web based things that need student data regularly, like SAM learning, school report writer, etc. Its not straight forward but usually once youve found one way of doing it its easily adapted to find other data for different sources.

[chrbb]

I have to go on bended knee to get data, and whatever program the data is intended for I have to fiddle with the csv or text file to make it work. I've tried standing with her reading the instructions and leaving the instructions for her, but the data is still never in the right format which then leaves you doubting your own ability!

[plexer]

I have to go on bended knee to get data.

Thats just ridiculous some of the people that run these systems act as if it's there own pesonal data and how dare you ask for it.

I don't actually have a login for our MIS so always have to get someone else to run the report I want but it's no problem.

Ben

[Geoff]

The data protection act works both ways. You can beat them to death with it for being too restrictive.

[broc]

Our Data & Admin systems manager was only to glad to give me full SIMS access rights; it means I can run the SOLUS upgrades for her and install patches. Useful if I need to extract data too, for example setting up accounts for incoming year 7 students.

[plexer]

We're moving to Phoenix e1 so that will be the end of us having to apply updates

Ben