[sims] Exporting Data from SQL to allow contractor to Set up Nova-T6

[Pyroman]

Heya,

 

I've been asked to export data from SIMS so that a contractor can set up Nova T6 on their laptop, get timetables set up and then import the data into our SIMS server. How is this done? They pointed me towards "Starting a New Curriculum Plan using Data from SQL" (pg14) in this manual http://simspublications.com/157982/assets/novagetstart.pdf but that doesn't explain how to export the data so it can be used on a laptop that doesn't have our SIMS database on it.

[Steven_Cleaver]

What about Nova satelite on the laptop for contractor.

[minimoo]

This strikes me as they might just be after a NovaT6 file.

 

SIMS: has new academic year in + students etc

NT6: has rooms / teachers / subjects in.

 

Contractor takes blank nt6 file, designs timetable and gives result back to school. Someone (either school or contractor) when at school ensures students are allocated to classes etc so that the timetable is complete and usable.

 

When i'm looking at starting new timetable etc, I tend to : Create new academic year in sims, setup pastoral promotion paths (for years at least), Run Nova-T6, Load Data Set containing current timetable, Select Data | Transfer Curriculum. At that point you make some decisions about what classes/structure to carry forwards from previous year. Then I export to options, sort out AS/GCSE choices, and import from options back into NT6. Personally, I'm thinking what's in NT6 somewhere around that point would be the sort of thing i'd expect the contractor to be picking up - i.e. decisions around what classes to run and what gets blocked against what are done. But then I'm thinking I would probably want to be involved during that process...

Edited June 2, 2015 by minimoo

[Pyroman]

This strikes me as they might just be after a NovaT6 file.

 

SIMS: has new academic year in + students etc

NT6: has rooms / teachers / subjects in.

 

Contractor takes blank nt6 file, designs timetable and gives result back to school. Someone (either school or contractor) when at school ensures students are allocated to classes etc so that the timetable is complete and usable.

 

When i'm looking at starting new timetable etc, I tend to : Create new academic year in sims, setup pastoral promotion paths (for years at least), Run Nova-T6, Load Data Set containing current timetable, Select Data | Transfer Curriculum. At that point you make some decisions about what classes/structure to carry forwards from previous year. Then I export to options, sort out AS/GCSE choices, and import from options back into NT6. Personally, I'm thinking what's in NT6 somewhere around that point would be the sort of thing i'd expect the contractor to be picking up - i.e. decisions around what classes to run and what gets blocked against what are done. But then I'm thinking I would probably want to be involved during that process...

 

That sounds about right. How do you export the NT6 file?

[minimoo]

NT6 files are normally stored @ s:\sims\snova\nt6\ - .spl files are the saves. the other files $spdb or similar i think are temporary backups/saves - so it's the .spl file you would want to sent to someone.

 

Probably worth finding out from contractor what they need/want. i.e. if you send them last years final file they might be able to load that and run the transfer curriculum tool themselves.

 

For example - NT6 stores a seperate list of staff to sims - I normally add new staff manually in NT6. ( I'm not sure if the Data->Refresh base data from sql will do this - as i've never actually used that button in my life that I recall ) . Who's job is it to make sure the list of staff is correct for instance

[vikpaw]

Refresh from SQL will update staff, rooms and subjects too i think. Plus will report on discrepancies so useful and easier to do it that way, then make any alterations.

I'd say do all the setup yourself on SIMS if you can, then start the process on Nt6 so you can give them that file. The guide on getting nova / sims ready for options probably covers all you require to do , combined with satellite setup if you need it, though by now you're probably starting to look at the full end of year processes anyway...