[sims] SIMS report issue

[mrbios]

I'm pretty sure i need to get more information about what the actual report is doing before i can describe this problem properly, but i thought i'd stick this up now before i leave work in case anyone has seen and fixed this before.

 

Running a particular sims report with macros in (like i say, not sure what those are doing yet) crashes excel (2013, up to date) every time without fail. However running this report under an administrative user works fine...

 

This is the error I'm seeing:

Faulting application name: excel.exe, version: 15.0.4841.1000, time stamp: 0x575fd18c
Faulting module name: mso.dll, version: 15.0.4841.1000, time stamp: 0x575fd646
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00af4501
Faulting process id: 0x1618
Faulting application start time: 0x01d1e2952b4ed544
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\excel.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Office15\mso.dll
Report Id: 6dfbfb78-4e88-11e6-b783-bc5ff46af59b

 

Any suggestions on that one? No active add-ins as far as i can tell, which was my first go to.

 

Need to try and find out more information tomorrow, but feel free to fire away and suggestions/questions in case there's any thing relevant that might work to fix it, or information worth me gathering.

[DE_admin]

Have you tried repairing your Office install?

[techyphil]

Same issue here. Not looked into it in great detail yet. Running a Sims report opens Excel and then crashes. Works fine on my PC just not some staff members. I searched EduGeek and somebody mentioned an issue with Smart Ink causing the problem. I think I'll be checking this on Monday.

[PhilNeal]

I wonder if this is what you are experiencing? https://myaccount.capita-cs.co.uk/Notifications/SIMS-Summer-2016-Report-Template-Fix/

[mrbios]

I wonder if this is what you are experiencing? https://myaccount.capita-cs.co.uk/Notifications/SIMS-Summer-2016-Report-Template-Fix/

 

I don't have a login to that, will make one now and check EDIT: damn needs to be "approved" can you share any details from within?

 

Have you tried repairing your Office install?

 

First thing we tried unfortunately, however the issue persists across any PC with the same software versions (and regardless of what level of office updates are installed)

Edited July 21, 2016 by mrbios

[PhilNeal]

It will take a day to get you onto MyAccount. See below for details!

 

What’s the issue?

When designing reports in SIMS .net | Reports | Design Reports and the user attaches a custom Excel Template with the extension .xlsm (Macro Enabled Workbook), when running the report, some users experience errors in Excel at run time. This can happen on the computer where the report is designed, a computer elsewhere on the same network or on a SIMS system where the report definition has been exported and subsequently imported.

 

How are we fixing this?

This fix is a front end workstation patch, not a database patch. The patch updates the PULSAR.exe and the ReportUserInterfaces.dll file on the SIMS workstation and you will also need to apply the same patch on the SIMS SQL Server as the ReportUserInterfaces.dll is also required in the SQL BINN directory.

 

There are two routes to fix this issue:

 

1) SOLUS3 - Apply the package SIMS Workstation Fix No.1 – SIMS Custom Report Template Fix (Patch 22028). This package contains a workstation fix. These notes do not cover how to use SOLUS3 or how to apply the fix via SOLUS3, please refer to the relevant SOLUS3 manuals and guidance.

 

2) Manual Database Upgrade and Workstation Fix (please allow 60 minutes for this to be available) – For schools where using SOLUS3 is not possible, we have provided a workstation fix that will need to be manually applied to any workstation where these reports are designed or run.

 

Will this be fixed be included in the Autumn 2016 release?

[mrbios]

That sounds like it could possibly be it. I've reproduced the same issue in Excel 2016 today as well as 2013.

 

Am i best off emailing my local sims support to have patch 22028 released to me on SOLUS? (Quite new to SOLUS so no sure what the process is here without a login to check for myself)

[PhilNeal]

Yes who ever provides support issues patches.

[mrbios]

Yes who ever provides support issues patches.

 

Just want to check something with you, you mention that it's a workstation fix, however i've requested patch 22028 and it's showing up as only needing to update the database, and the description of the patch is completely different too

 

EDIT: Patch description says: PRB13710 "This patch will resolve the issue of duplication of pupils while counting exclusions when generating school report"

[PhilNeal]

Sorry I'm out and about - please check with your support team.

Phil

[yasir152]

I've deployed this update yesterday on the advice of our SIMS support provicer using SOLUS3 but have found it has caused more issues as it tries to install both the Summer Update 2016 and this patch and fails to install. It then attempts try to reinstall on workstations and has been annoying for users as it kicks them out of SIMS. I've checked this morning and now the Patch is showing as withdrawn within the SOLUS3 console. Logged a call with the SIMS support provider and waiting for them to rectify this.

[lewisburgess]

We're experiencing the same issues with reports crashing Excel 2013 and 2016. I've got a call open with Capita. I have provided a lot of diagnostics, logs and the database. Still waiting to hear back.

 

As for the Workstation Patch 1 issue constantly reinstalling SIMS, again we had this problem too. Capita (after ignoring my 'Major' call for over 30 hours) emailed me this evening to say Patch 2 has been released. Limited testing but so far, better as far as reinstalling SIMS goes.

[TonyLockwood]

Please note that there is a new notification on MyAccount with an updated fix to this issue