[sims] Nova SQL update for a future date, enabling suture SIMS updating

[DamienTT]

Dear allA faculty have completely re-jigged themselves for the January term after staff leavers etc. This incorporates teacher changes, class swaps, class disbanding and amalgamation.I know I can set the start date for the Nova SQL update to take effect from 1st Jan. Will this then let me edit class populations from 1st Jan in SIMS? Eng classes have decreased from 5 to 4, that last class I need to amalgamate into the new 4.Some other classes won't exist any more, let's say 8x/Rd, (an intervention reading class). So I'm not building those blocks in nova and will delete eventually from the model. These students are instead going into one of the 4 English classes (that happen at the same time).Seeing as I'm not uploading the 8x/Rd into sims, where will the students show up in sims that 'used' to be in that class? Or should I not worry about that and just populate Eng from Curriculum by subject? I'm unsure where the students from the non-existent class will be!I'm not planning any more Nova updates until January, realising that this will cause issues. Or will update on present and future files.Many thanks in advanceDamien

[Ecclesbury]

I'm not sure I completely understand what you are asking but because SIMS timetable and academic management is all tied up with effective dates I don't think you will have any problems doing what you are trying to do.

 

A class or even a block can exist in the database between 2 specific dates and students can be put into this class only between certain date. Equally, students can be members of class between specific dates so that you can record a history of class changes.

 

If the model you need has been uploaded to be effective from January 1st then just open the curriculuum assingment by scheme (or student) and make sure you set the effective date range to be January 1st plus. Any student you then tag will remain in their current classes until January 1st and then automatically transfer into your new classes in the new year.

 

Hopefully I haven't got the wrong end of the stick. I presume you have just uploaded a maintenance dataset for a later date? You're not talking about temporal locks are you?

Edited December 12, 2014 by Ecclesbury

[DamienTT]

Thanks Eccesbury. It made (slightly) more sense when there was formatting, which when I posted stuck it all in 1 paragraph.I've effectively deleted lessons/blocks in NOVA that currently exist and have kids timetabled up to 19th Dec. I want to upload a new NOVA file (minus the classes) and I will date it from 1st Jan. I hope this won't delete the lessons beforehand, i.e now. Because these lessons won't exist any more, I was also wondering where the students that were in the class would be found in SIMS. So that I can allocate them into english (from the deleted Rd class) which I assume won't show up in SIMS?

[Ecclesbury]

Ah I see now.

 

I wouldn't want to go out on a limb and say it will definitely be fine, but I'm fairly sure that this will be OK. The blocks you are deleting will still exist in the database from the start of term until the date that you upload the changes so there shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure you don't accidentally upload from an earlier date or you will definitely lose those classes!

 

As this could have a significant impact I would either talk to your LA or Capita support first and get the green light from them, or at the very least take a backup out of hours and run a test to see if it works and restore the backup if it all goes wrong. Standard stuff so I'm sure you would anyway!

 

One caveat I would definitely mention is if you are using Partnership XChange for any reason, be very careful about this. Changing the model is a lot more dangerous if you are using PX.

[DamienTT]

Great, I was going to experiment this evening after making a backup.

 

If there isn't a 2 line space here I've no idea why this thread keeps deleting my formatting

[Linfit]

Provided you get the dates right when you do the import you should not have any issues with this. I am in the process of doing something very similar as a result of changes in our Maths dept.

Pupils will continue with their base band memberships even if there group memberships have changed - you will simply need to re-allocate those pupils to their new groups. You can do this as soon as the timetable has been transferred - again, just check the dates on the curriculum assignment screen are correct. Also, when you are done, remember to run the update Course memberships routine.

[DamienTT]

Thanks Linfit, I agree that the key to this is the correct updload date in Nova and then the correct term dates in curriculum assignment. Worryingly I have NEVER used the 'update course memberships routine'. Beforehand I've only swapped students out of one class and into another which seems to have worked without this update. Next year we are having a carousel which I've just read about updating course memberships. Other than that what is the course membership update for??

[DamienTT]

Lastly..... Should I move kids from one class to another now, using the existing classes (to empty the class that will no longer exist). Or should I wait and do it when I upload the new classes post dated to Jan?