[SIMS] Export a SIMS .net timetable to a user's Exchange Callander

[Rawns]

Has anyone used/looked at using this before?

SIMS.net to Exchange - nb development

Are there any problems or issues that could arise from this?

If your still lingering around here @matt40k, maybe you can comment?

[FN-GM]

I looked at that but we use this for the job - SalamanderSoft Limited - Salamander Active Directory

[vikpaw]

Salamander does that? cool.
Will have to speak to @rpwillis - that could be useful.

[number34]

We use PARS for registration and there is an option for a user to export and import .ics files. I have also noticed that it synchronises with outlook and shows appointments etc on my PARS homepage.

[Max_Power]

Not looked at salamander for a couple of years, my how its moved on. Even a Capita partner!

Have to investigate that - ability to add all timetables (staff and students) to exchange would be most beneficial.

[matt40k]

I did get the code off @nickbro ages ago because someone else asked me about it - I didn't get very far as Craig was working on something - SIMS-Exchange Timetable Exporter | Weird & Wonderful IT

Quick look at it I think I could make a few tweaks to make it a bit easier for the end-user. Might give it a try later if I get some spare time.

[rpwillis]

Not looked at salamander for a couple of years, my how its moved on. Even a Capita partner!

Been a Capita partner for the entire life of the company!

[Max_Power]

Been a Capita partner for the entire life of the company!

Never knew that, and dont remember seeing it on the website back in 2007/08 when looking at the web parts for sharepoint. All good though.

[FN-GM]

Just thoguht i would add we are a very happy Salamander customer. Love the product and the service. When setting up any school network this will be one of the first things to go in!

Thanks

[vikpaw]

We use PARS for registration and there is an option for a user to export and import .ics files. I have also noticed that it synchronises with outlook and shows appointments etc on my PARS homepage.

There was another thread about that, but it only exported the calendar, unless things have changed. They do respond well to suggestions.

As for the timetable, it's fairly trivial to get out a list by staff member of subject, day and period, it's just a case of parsing that into a recurring appointment in a format outlook / exchange likes for import. The bit that doesn't come out easily is dates linked to the day/period as is recorded by applying the timetable.

This is accessed by SLG, Schoolcomms and i'm sure many other systems, but i don't see how it's easily accessible from the reporting engine. Without access to that, it makes processing two week timetables a pain, and also any changes then become a nightmare of manual edits. I suppose it's not too bad if you add an extra calendar, so you can just delete it and replace, but you'd lose any modifications to appointments / notes.

[rpwillis]

Never knew that, and dont remember seeing it on the website back in 2007/08 when looking at the web parts for sharepoint. All good though.

Quite possibly wasn't on there. You can probably tell I don't do much with the website.

[vikpaw]

@FN-GM - if the timetable changes, does it get updated in outlook, without getting messy?

[ful56_uk]

Like FN-GM we are a very happy salamander customer too and our staff love the outlook import, works really well without any messing around.

[FN-GM]

@FN-GM - if the timetable changes, does it get updated in outlook, without getting messy?

If the time table changes the old lessons are removed and replaced with new. It doesn't get messy at all.

[vikpaw]

Are they recurring lessons? I'd want the history to stay as it was but future appointments to change?
That's awesome if it does that