So... I just tried the SIMS October 06 release

[pete]

Downloaded from capita on the test box. It's currently done the "I will truncate filenames while patching setup files and then refuse to recognise the truncated filenames and fail when installing the next patch" 2 times now and the "I will show you a generic error along the lines of 'it's failed' without providing more info" once.

Anyone else tried it?

[j17sparky]

lmao Dont you love SIMS - haha

Sorry, no help like but...

[nsherin]

Got that joy (or more likely torture) to endure tomorrow morning when I run the upgrade at our place.

[mark]

There's a bug that your staff will be unable to login if there are conflicts on the timetable. And sims will crash out if trying to register the corrupt accounts class. Some people have set up thier systems to puposely have a teacher with 2 classes or the other way around and come unstuck. Say sports lessons where you have a member of staff for each sex, and you mix the groups, or kids who will spend odd days with the DSU.

A patch is imminent, ...but just so that you're aware.

[richard]

Well just read the stuff sent out by our county support people which said if if won't benefit you then don't install it. So you know what I'm going to do

[apeo]

There's a bug that your staff will be unable to login if there are conflicts on the timetable. And sims will crash out if trying to register the corrupt accounts class. Some people have set up thier systems to puposely have a teacher with 2 classes or the other way around and come unstuck. Say sports lessons where you have a member of staff for each sex, and you mix the groups, or kids who will spend odd days with the DSU.

A patch is imminent, ...but just so that you're aware.

Hmmm we are having a problem here in lessonmonitor with shared groups (ie one class 2 teachers with members assigned to on of the teachers) and was informed that the October Upgrade will fix it. If i have read it right, the upgrade will actually make it worse so i think I'll have to hold off on the upgrade for now....

[bossman]

I patched back in the summer hols when a patch was available, only problem i had was Sims not recognising two week timetable. Capita took just two days to sort and e-mailed me the patch. Now everything working fine and to cap it all i have been told that i won't need to put the latest upgrade on as i patched earlier. Well done Capita and thank you for your speedy solution to our problem.
You either like Sims or you don't but when someone is trying to provide a one stop solution for everybody they are bound to hit problems with so many schools wanting everything tailored to their way of working.

[PhilNeal]

Pete your description of file names becoming truncated is not normal. I have looked up symptoms in our knowledge base but can't find any that match. I seem to remember that this is caused by the anti-virus software but I can't be sure. Your local support team should raise a case for you so that it can be investigated.

[pete]

Pete your description of file names becoming truncated is not normal. I have looked up symptoms in our knowledge base but can't find any that match. I seem to remember that this is caused by the anti-virus software but I can't be sure. Your local support team should raise a case for you so that it can be investigated.

Cheers Phil,
I am our local support team . I checked the KB and didn't find any clues - Antivirus is McAfee 8, which has pulled weird things before, so very possible. I'll test it with the av disabled and if that doesn't give me useful results I'll raise a support request with Capita tomorrow.

[Jake]

Anyone know if the shared groups issue is resolved now? We are getting pestering emails from our LEA that we havent installed the october update yet. We were holding off because we have classes with 2 teachers etc

[PhilNeal]

I don't know about that particular issue but I would wait until the November release due around 6th. This is one that has to be installed as it contains the latest requirements for Census.

Generally I would not install unless there is something that you need. There will be one of those types of release 3 times a year to deal with changing regulations. You may also want to install because there is a specific fix or new application version.

[Jake]

Thanks, we will continue to hold off on the october release then. Is there anyway we can get some kind of written official "advisory" to not install october and wait til november, as our local sims support team (portsmouth city council) are insisting via email that we install october.

[PhilNeal]

I wouldn't like to interfere with your local support team's advice - there may be reasons that they need the Oct release to be installed. SupportNet details the nature of each release which should give you a good idea about whether you need it or not.

[Jake]

From what I have read its not something we need, and from the reports we will encounter the 2 class/teacher issue which mark alluded to earlier in the thread. However if we must install it and suffer the problems mark mentioned then I guess we have little choice but to do so.

[NetworkGeezer]

I don't know about that particular issue but I would wait until the November release due around 6th. This is one that has to be installed as it contains the latest requirements for Census.

Generally I would not install unless there is something that you need. There will be one of those types of release 3 times a year to deal with changing regulations. You may also want to install because there is a specific fix or new application version.

Hi Phil,

I thought the October release was the mandatory one. It appears to have all the extra fields for pupil classes and recon, post 16+ levels, staff recon, IT hardware survey etc.