[sims] SIMS AM7 Template Change resultset script

[vikpaw]

One thing that has always bugged me too is how awkward it is to switch between result sets, you have to either go in to each column individually and change it, or delete the lot and add them back in with the new result set: if you could highlight a range of them and update the result set in one go, that'd speed things up a hell of a lot.

 

I have a vbscript that with a bit of priming could change the resultset by a fixed amount in contiguous rows in the template setup, i.e. change all "y1 first term" to the resultset x above or below in the resultset list. it needs testing with each update as capita keep changing the tab order on a page, and it only works if the rows are of the same type, 'date entry' or 'data review' ... interested?

[Tyiell]

I have a vbscript that with a bit of priming could change the resultset by a fixed amount in contiguous rows in the template setup, i.e. change all "y1 first term" to the resultset x above or below in the resultset list. it needs testing with each update as capita keep changing the tab order on a page, and it only works if the rows are of the same type, 'date entry' or 'data review' ... interested?

 

YES!!!!

 

Can you email it to me? It sounds perfect, and well timed too - we have to make changes to the templates in a few weeks time...

Edited April 27, 2010 by Tyiell

[LosOjos]

I have a vbscript that with a bit of priming could change the resultset by a fixed amount in contiguous rows in the template setup, i.e. change all "y1 first term" to the resultset x above or below in the resultset list. it needs testing with each update as capita keep changing the tab order on a page, and it only works if the rows are of the same type, 'date entry' or 'data review' ... interested?

 

Sounds good, I'd definitely be willing to give it a go!

[Dancer]

I have a vbscript that with a bit of priming could change the resultset by a fixed amount in contiguous rows in the template setup, i.e. change all "y1 first term" to the resultset x above or below in the resultset list. it needs testing with each update as capita keep changing the tab order on a page, and it only works if the rows are of the same type, 'date entry' or 'data review' ... interested?

 

Not as sophiscated as Vik's but I export the tempalte then do a find and replace in notepad on a resultset external id.

This changes all of resutlset X to resultset Y

I find it easiest to clone the template and export the clone and only reimport the template node (not resultset node)

 

I did post in file sharing on supportnet (619) some excel VBA code that relatively quickly allows you to do many find and replaces on xml template to produce many templates.

i.e. able to create a tempalte template for one subject then use the vba to produce the same template but for many different subjects.

I'm no coder and its pretty simplistic but if is of use to any one please have a look.

 

Doesn't get round the main issue that creating/editing/maintianing templates (particularly with formulas in) is a slow and tedious process.

[vikpaw]

just lunching, then i'll test it out on 7.126 and release for beta testing

[vikpaw]

i'd hardly call sending keyboard commands to the screen sophisticated, however it is once working, quick and painless, and doesn't involve leaving SIMs.

 

I was right, the move from 7.122 to 7.126 did bring with it some minor changes, which i've accounted for, in fact it has improved the functionality of my script actually, so some beta testers would be welcome. i'm attaching both versions.

 

it uses vbscript to simulate commands to the SIMS screen, so it's just like you doing it yourself in SIMs just very fast. you may need to place the script on your desktop locally and have admin rights for it to work.

 

it's best not to have anything else open at the time either else it will take over whatever application has focus.

 

to prime the system, be logged into SIMS and open the template that needs editing, the cursor will be on the name box and in the column list the bottom row will be slightly coloured, which is how things need to be set up.

 

then just double click the script and fill in some options, you need to state how many rows from the bottom you want to start altering, how many rows to alter, what displacement for resultset e.g. next one in list, up 2, down 3, entered as just positive or negative integer, and lastly choose whether the block of rows are data or formula.

 

the big change this time is that both data entry and data review columns can be changed at the same time. or you can alter data entry by formula, but not a combo.

 

usual caveats apply, make a backup / clone of the marksheet first. this isn't authorised by capita. i am not responsible if it messes up your system and accidentally emails the head to say you skipped out to the pub for lunch during period 5 etc.

 

please feed back...

 

EDIT: going out of the office now, so might not catch any replies, but hope all goes well.

 

EDIT2: This version will only change data review columns or formula columns but will work on 7.126 and 7.128 see later post for fully working 7.128 version.

changeXresultsetsSIMS.zip

Edited May 18, 2010 by vikpaw
edit

[LosOjos]

Not working with 7.128 I'm afraid, they must have changed the layout again. Good idea though

[vikpaw]

did you try both? open up the file and you can modify, it's fairly straightforward to figure out.

otherwise, i've just finished downloading Spring v2 so will stick it on a VM and look

[Tyiell]

I'm stuggling to open it at the moment, but my machine is misbehaving at the moment - I'll test it today, once I have kicked it back into line

[vikpaw]

Sorry guys my mistake, the template i was testing on was modified and so i changed the script for no reason. the 7.126 script will work on 7.128 but will only change data review columns or formula columns.

 

i am just testing a new 7.128 with 3 variants on it, which will have the option to enter blank or 0 for Data Entry, 1 for Data Review and 2 or higher will alter Data Entry by Formula.

 

will post up shortly, sorry again.

vik

[vikpaw]

Here it is, please see previous post for conditions of use / caveats etc.

 

I really hope it works for you now.

 

There are a few things that need tweaking but i just want to make sure it works ok. During testing i found it's quite easy to use working down the list in small numbers doing little batches of different types of column without starting on the bottom row each time.

 

To do this, once the script has run, click the link for 1.Basic and it resets the page back to how the script likes it, but with the start point being just after the last change, so you can start with 255 rows up, or whatever the total number of rows is, and then say change 10, let it move down, then do the next 10. Probably completely useless in practise, but it worked for me during testing, as i knew exactly how many columns and of which type were in my template.

 

EDIT Usual caveats apply, make a backup / clone of the marksheet first. this isn't authorised by capita. i am not responsible if it messes up your system and accidentally emails the head to say you skipped out to the pub for lunch during period 5 etc.

This version does not work for SLG enabled schools and a minor edit to the script is needed.

changeXresultsets7128.zip

Edited May 18, 2010 by vikpaw
add caveats

[LosOjos]

I'm trying to use it but I'm getting quite confused.

 

I have a template as such:

Target - Result 1
Estimate - Result 2
Estimate - Result 3
Data Entry - Result 4 ---
Data Entry - Result 4    |
Data Entry - Result 4    |
Data Entry - Result 4    |--- I want to change this range to (for example) 'Result 5'
Data Entry - Result 4    |
Data Entry - Result 4    |
Data Entry - Result 4    |
Data Entry - Result 4 ---

 

So I click on the name of the last aspect, then I run the script with the options:

Rows to move up = 7

Columns to change = 8

Displacement = 1

Data type = 0

 

What happens is that I see SIMS briefly open the group selector, then it opens up a marksheet in the template and changes the date: I must be doing something wrong!

[LosOjos]

Also, the 'Cancel' button doesn't work, the script just continues the same as if you press the 'OK' button

[vikpaw]

Seems okay, but make sure after clicking name of aspect i.e. clicking on the row in the list you then click on the link for 1.Basic, to make sure your cursor is in the first most entry box.

The displacement, will move 1 up the list so if you created your resultsets methodically, the example would change it to Result 3.

Hope that helps.

[vikpaw]

the cancel button, is just there because i'm using the prompt, i'll have to have a look if i can set it to not appear, or better still actually "break" the script.

it's very rough and ready for my use, i only recently started putting in the loops and prompts otherwise i just edit the script each time i need it.

sorry.

[vikpaw]

i have to go cook now, but let me know how you get on, i'll check in later, and split the thread then too as we are way off topic now.

i can add some pauses in the script if that helps so it can be stepped through, or if you open it up in textpad/notepad, you can try following through it yourself, which is what i do for troubleshooting e.g. first step is thirteen tabs to bottom row in list, next up arrow 10 times....etc.

[LosOjos]

Thanks and no need for the apology, it's not your fault I can't get your script running on my machine! I think we must be set up a little differently, when I have time I'll go through the script and see where it's going wrong for me. Thanks for your help

[vikpaw]

any joy yet?

[LosOjos]

Hi Vikpaw,

 

I haven't had a chance to look at this in the past few days, but I sat down just to work through it properly and got it working quite easily

 

The problem was it wasn't correctly selecting the first column, it needed to 'TAB' once more, so I changed that and now it works.

 

My theory is that it's because we are using the learning gateway, and therefore have a tick box for this: if you don't then that would explain why you don't need that extra 'TAB'

[vikpaw]

So glad to hear it works for you

 

This is with the latest version now right? so you can change all 3 types of column?

 

We do have learning gateway, at least it's paid for, but not implemented so possibly i am missing a check box. Is it one that toggles whether or not the column appears on the gateway or something like that...?

 

I should add a variable for that too.

 

Anyway, good news, hopefully it can save you some time.

[LosOjos]

It's a check box in the heading section of the template to set whether the marksheets within that template are available on the gateway or not, although I ought to research it a little more as I know teachers can access their marksheets regardless of whether that box is ticked or not (anyway, that's going off topic...)

 

But yes, it works fine now I've added an extra tab in, so thanks for sharing! it's saved me a lot of time already, I only wish I'd though of it myself!

[vikpaw]

I've been doing it for years, since AM6, which was much better at receiving keyboard commands, my first script merely held down the spacebar, allowing me to move rows in template up or down, after bulk adding them.

[MACIT]

Hi Vikpaw,

 

being playing with this script a little and have to say despite my efforts i am unable to get it working. It gets as far as the result set selection, which it does but seems to stick before the update button is pressed.

 

Looking at your script its basically the

 

ws.SendKeys "+{TAB}"

 

That seems to be incorrect in my configuration as it gets stuck on the "hidden" check box, If i try to change the command to a fixed number of tabs it gets stuck on the next column

 

 

Any ideas?

 

Sims version 7.128, trying to update a template with only data entry in itusing variables 34,35,4,0 passed to script

 

Any help greatly appreciated and nice work by the way for coming up with this that (if i can make it work) will save me hours of work!

 

regards

 

Naz

[LosOjos]

Hopefully Vikpaw won't mind me chipping in, but before it worked for me, I had to change the first line that sent 'TAB' keys to make it reach the right column, want to try it?

changeXresultsets7128v2.vbs

[MACIT]

No luck with that sorry, i get to right column and it opens and changes the result set but it does not quite reach the update button before going to next column.