Lots of packages (CC3)

[synaesthesia]

Nice easy quick question for not a very quick problem..

Have been given 24 discs to package and distribute to a suite in a school.
(the Abacus range of software - Interactive Framework Planners + 2 resource discs per year (so 4 discs by 6 year groups - 24 discs!)

So, is there any really quick method of doing this other than build clean system, package one, reset profile & reset system to clean state, package next, etc etc.

Probably won't take a HUGE amount of time but only have half a day per week at the site.

Any tips greatly appreciated

[sparkeh]

If they have MSIs then it is quicker as you don't have to remake the whole package, you could use app wiz to RMify it add it to the package share, or create the folder structure youself and add the MSIs.

[synaesthesia]

Ah, they do have MSI's yes (they are Curriculum Choice badged).

Not used the app wiz to do that - there a little howto for that anywhere?

[sparkeh]

If you have a support contract you could look at NWS293701

It is dead easy though:

Run app wiz and choose to add an existing msi
It will prompt for location of msi
It then installs the app and procedes to add the msi plus the other required gubbins to the package area.
Allocate

EDIT:

(they are Curriculum Choice badged).

Ahh even easier than I posted above.
They come with an installer to add them straight to the server. Just run the Curriculum Choice CD on the server.

[PiqueABoo]

::stop::

If this is I-Planner, with ITR etc. then you don't need to make any packages. You can get some necessary client-side CC3 packages CD from the vendor, but the majority of this is an SQL DB, content for that DB and a bunch of Word/PDF/etc. docs that live on the server. You will need an Easiteach package though e.g. for Easiteach Reader.

Read the manuals and don't start on a server installation until you are 100% sure next week teacher's aren't going to say they want it on laptops they take home.

The bad news: The server install takes an age as well.

Just run the Curriculum Choice CD on the server.

Can tell you haven't ever installed this ;b

[GrumbleDook]

Ah, they do have MSI's yes (they are Curriculum Choice badged).

Not used the app wiz to do that - there a little howto for that anywhere?

And there was me thinking you were going to get some training on all this ;-)

[synaesthesia]

As I'd been "getting along fine" without any whatsoever (just making use of my colleagues minds and RM's knowledgebase) they decided it was more appropriate to throw me straight into CC4

Just the first time I've come across the CC software to package myself, and when it comes in a huge bulk like that thought it was best I got a little advice before making the mistakes

[sparkeh]

Can tell you haven't ever installed this ;b

If it is badged as Curriculum Choice then RM have created an installer to run on the server. This is different from a CC3 package from the vendor.

RM Curriculum Choice

edit: Confused though as Abacus does not appear on their list of Curriculum Choice software - are we talking at cross purposes here?

[PiqueABoo]

are we talking at cross purposes here?

Yes, but I've seen other people make the same mistake as the OP and I forget which is which every other month. Some of the Abacus CD cases have the now defunct Becta **Curriculum Online** logo on them.

Whatever, the Abacus stuff does have all the CC3 packages you need (if you can't find them call Heinemann support), but it's not a trivial installation until you've done it once.

[Michael]

I heard months and months ago that they were making a web based version of Abacus. Not sure where they are development wise but you could always ring and ask.

Reminds me a bit with Classroom Monitor. It also used to run on a SQL database within school, but now it's all web based. Support requests for this software have gone down dramatically which is great!

[sparkeh]

Some of the Abacus CD cases have the now defunct Becta **Curriculum Online** logo on them.

That explains it.