Popular Post PhilNeal Posted March 12, 2012 Popular Post Posted March 12, 2012 Dear Colleagues, We have decided to suspend the SIMS spring 2012 release following the discovery of two faults that are likely to affect schools. We aim to make a new version available by close of play Friday 16th March. The first issue affects state schools in England and Wales. There is a possibility that the incorrect “Fileset”, used in validation of the census, will be loaded. This occurs if SIMS was upgraded in the following circumstances: ISO image has been used; SOLUS2 has been used by a non-SIMS user account; SOLUS3 has been used. For those schools that have already taken and upgraded to the SIMS 2011 Autumn release, you can ensure that you are on the latest Filesets for the Spring Statutory Returns that you will be running by upgrading the Filesets from within the SIMS software. The second issue affects all schools in that when in an Assessment Marksheet a user clicks on a recently entered assessment result and then presses delete, the pupil row is deleted from the Marksheet rather than just the result. This is “cosmetic” and the row re-appears when the marksheet is closed and re-opened. However this is an issue likely to affect end users, if only by accident. I very much regret that the need to re-issue SIMS has occurred again and apologise for the convenience that this issue will cause. Please feel free to email me ([email protected]) if you want to discuss this further. 8
matt40k Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 I think I must be missing something, does this mean any schools set to upgrade will have the authorization revoked and will fail? The reason I ask is, umm, why are you removing it? The first issue affects state schools in England and Wales. There is a possibility that the incorrect “Fileset”, used in validation of the census, will be loaded. This occurs if SIMS was upgraded in the following circumstances: ISO image has been used; SOLUS2 has been used by a non-SIMS user account; SOLUS3 has been used. Point 2 has always been the case, the filesets can't not be import if you run the upgrade as 'SA', as you need to use a SIMS user to be able to import into SIMS DocStorage (DMS). Point 3 we were aware off and have raised with the SOLUS3 team about support of importing fileset, we're not too fussed because of point 2, we, like others either have a script that imports it after running solus, or we import it manually - it's part of our standard documentation for most LAs. The second issue affects all schools in that when in an Assessment Marksheet a user clicks on a recently entered assessment result and then presses delete, the pupil row is deleted from the Marksheet rather than just the result. This is “cosmetic” and the row re-appears when the marksheet is closed and re-opened. However this is an issue likely to affect end users, if only by accident. Yup, it was brought up here - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/91026-spring-2012-release-4.html#post800237 - Hannah posted it on SupportNet on the 2nd March. Sounds like an little application fix, not a re-release.
vikpaw Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Thanks @PhilNeal - much appreciate the prompt action and prefer a re-release than thought of fall back to Autumn or long wait for Summer. Not sure about the filesets issues, but i suspect @matt40k - not all LAs / establishments are as well prepared as you are.
PhilNeal Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Vik - you are right about Matt's state of preparedness.
Heebeejeebee Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 ... so how's the second issue fixed for those schools already on Sprng 2012? Patch? Wait for Summer? HBJB
vikpaw Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) ... so how's the second issue fixed for those schools already on Sprng 2012? Patch? Wait for Summer? HBJB It's sorted in the re-release on Friday. EDIT: At least that's how i read it. If it's being re-released, i hope it's going to be fixed not delayed until Summer. Edited March 13, 2012 by vikpaw shock + horror
SouthCoastSaint Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 We have a small number (29) of machines that we have not managed to deploy yet (Solus 3 has been deploying since Thursday am, and we still have some machines outstanding). Now we find we are unable to do this as the upgrade has been withdrawn. IT Technician is looking for a workaround as the teachers affected can't use Sims at mo.
Achandler Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 This is the second release ina row that has been pulled. Autumn 2011 was pulled to due to some issues, now Spring 2012. Can't wait till Summer 2012! I wonder why so many people refuse to upgrade SIMS until they absolutely have to.
fiza Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 I think I must be missing something, does this mean any schools set to upgrade will have the authorization revoked and will fail? The reason I ask is, umm, why are you removing it? Point 2 has always been the case, the filesets can't not be import if you run the upgrade as 'SA', as you need to use a SIMS user to be able to import into SIMS DocStorage (DMS). Point 3 we were aware off and have raised with the SOLUS3 team about support of importing fileset, we're not too fussed because of point 2, we, like others either have a script that imports it after running solus, or we import it manually - it's part of our standard documentation for most LAs. Yup, it was brought up here - [/color]http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/91026-spring-2012-release-4.html#post800237 - Hannah posted it on SupportNet on the 2nd March. Sounds like an little application fix, not a re-release. Should we NOT be running upgrades using the SA account? I was always told to use SA to run SOLUS2 and install the upgrades. Instructions here http://www.capitaess.co.uk/home/ESS_SOLUS2SpringMain2012.pdf mention the SA account specifically. Some clarification would really be appreciated.
RichardDennett Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 I still have not found a way around this yet.
Sivadam Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) I still have not found a way around this yet. Snap! Phil, I can usually see the reason for withdrawing a Release. However! There should have been consideration for those that had already taken this release! No thought appears to have been given as to the effect on those of us in this position. We have finally begun to get SOLUS3 working as a result of deploying the Update on Friday and thanks to work by Ellis from the SupportDesk, who spent several hours with us yesterday in a remote session to sort out problems with our Workstations. Now I find that several laptops and number of workstations have not upgraded for a variety of reasons. We now have no way of fixing these this week because of the withdrawal of the Upgrade. Unfortunately, many of the laptops that need attention are those of the LT and they now have an 'incompatible database'. Had the problems with SIMS been major then I could understand a total withdrawal, but they are so minor that this should not have been done! We often have to download and Import the Filesets for various reasons - they are often upgraded after releases anyway and so this was not an issue! And the error in AM7 is almost non-existent. These SIMS issues pale into insignificance compared to the issues we now have re. SOLUS3 and SIMS Upgrades. I just hope we do not get our expected Ofsted Inspection before this is resolved! (Response sent by Email and posted on SupportNet) Edited March 13, 2012 by Sivadam
SouthCoastSaint Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Mike - agree totally. (Richard above is our IT expert here). Why on earth can't they put a huge warning not to take the release if you have not already done so, but leave it available in Solus 3 for those in our position?!
Sivadam Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Sally, I have posted on SupportNet how you get the Fileset - it's very simple!
vikpaw Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Due to the nature of how SIMS clients interact / update from the server, would it be useful if once an update is applied on the server and set for deployment it continues regardless, unless you intervene? So an update being revoked, doesn't stop the clients carrying on? At least SLG schools can still get access to SIMS via web. Incidentally, has anyone with SLG tested the assessment error there? I doubt it replicates.
matt40k Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 We have a small number (29) of machines that we have not managed to deploy yet (Solus 3 has been deploying since Thursday am, and we still have some machines outstanding). Now we find we are unable to do this as the upgrade has been withdrawn. IT Technician is looking for a workaround as the teachers affected can't use Sims at mo. Contact Capita, they've re-authorise it for you, they've done it for us
matt40k Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 @fiza - that's what we say too, do the upgrade as "SA" - the network manager doesn't need to have a login to SIMS then, then the data manager can do the rest - our document has the bit about importing the fileset, suprised it was missing from Capita's document, was excepting it after Importing the latest versions of SIMS .net reports Mmm... I think a note about manually import a fileset would be better then a release. The issue with Assessment could be done as an application patch, schools could then either update again, download the SIMSClientUpdateSetup.EXE and put it in the setups directory or if it's solus3, apply another package. Vik - you are right about Matt's state of preparedness. One for the PDR
Sivadam Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Contact Capita, they've re-authorise it for you, they've done it for us I asked that very question and was told that this is not possible!
Rawns Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 @fiza - that's what we say too, do the upgrade as "SA" - the network manager doesn't need to have a login to SIMS then, then the data manager can do the rest - our document has the bit about importing the fileset, suprised it was missing from Capita's document, was excepting it after Importing the latest versions of SIMS .net reports We run the upgrades in schools using the SA details and then we import the fileset into every school shortly after using CentraStage. Works a treat for us. Does an upgrade through SOLUS3 import the fileset? You have to provide the SA details in SOLUS3 when adding the SIMS database info, so wondering if it's not imported upgrading this way?
matt40k Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 No, SOLUS3 doesn't currently import fileset, I've asked and it's on the list, but I've not poke them too much for it as it isn't too bad a job. I did raise the issue that SA user can't import the fileset and was basically told it would be a security hole if it could, which actually, it would be so I agree with them.
Sivadam Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) I still have not found a way around this yet. Mike - agree totally. (Richard above is our IT expert here). Why on earth can't they put a huge warning not to take the release if you have not already done so, but leave it available in Solus 3 for those in our position?! I have received confirmation from Phil Neal that the original release can be re-issued to us. You should request the same from the Support Team. Thanks Phil. Edited March 13, 2012 by Sivadam
Sivadam Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 I would like to publicly thank Phil Neal and the Support Team at Bedford for the excellent support that we have been given in getting SOLUS3 working to deploy the re-issued Spring Release. All being well, deploying the updated release once it is available will now, hopefully, be seemless! I must add that most of our problems were caused, not by withdrawing the original release (inconvenient though it was!), but by a failure on our part to follow though with SOLUS3 for the past few upgrades.
Sivadam Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Hmmmmmm..... A further delay in releasing the Updated Spring Release due to another Support Case. One wonders if it is 'owt to do with mine ..........
matt40k Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 This is what happens when the release manager at Capita is allowed time off
Sivadam Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) It'll give our Staff a respite from deploying (or re-deploying) upgrades. An extra day to pursuade 'em all to get those laptops logged on to the network and leave 'em there ready for the appointed deployment time! A lot of 'em won't tho'! Did you get your SIMS Spreadsheet Timetable prints sorted Matt? Complicated innit? Edited March 16, 2012 by Sivadam
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