Automated SIMS Data Extraction to Web-based System

[Liam-FD]

Hi,

 

I'm hoping that there are some SIMS experts here able to help me with a solution for extracting data. I have created a PHP/MySQl based software and for this have been using pupil data from SIMS. To date I have been handed CSV files with the information that I need from the school I have been working with, that is then inserted into the database of my system, however to prepare the software for commercial sale I want to develop an easier setup and link between SIMS and my software.

 

From what I understand there is a link between the VLE system 'Frog' and schools SIMS setup (when new pupils are recieved they are automatically transferred over to Frog that night etc). I want to be able to create a similar sort of link to make setup at academic year starts, new pupil additions etc more simpler.

 

My software is, alike Frog, hosted offsite and as aforementioned written in PHP. Is anyone able to point to documentation to see how I might be able to achieve something like this? Is it possible for a web-based system to query internal SIMS servers (I do not really know all that much about SIMS!)?

 

I've seen in other threads about extracting data through Windows to an XML file and then using it like this but I am hoping there is perhaps an easier way through a PHP/SQL connection to grab this data.

 

Any information, guidance or directions for what I need to get my hands on would be very much appreciated!

[pcstru]

The supported way is to use their command line reporter to run a defined report and have the results spat out to a file which you can then use. A step up from that would be to buy into their 3rd party tools and support which I believe gives you access to some kind of API - not sure if that is usable directly from PHP but it is what many companies use to interface to SIMS. The totally unsupported and 'bad' way would be to access the database directly. That has the potential to cause problems with performance and potentially data security, as well as platform changes blowing any assumptions you might make out of the water every release, so I'd be very wary of going down that road!

[lwalshaw]

check this out Edulink Integrator – Extract Real-time data from SIMS might have what you are looking for

 

Lucy

[Liam-FD]

The supported way is to use their command line reporter to run a defined report and have the results spat out to a file which you can then use. A step up from that would be to buy into their 3rd party tools and support which I believe gives you access to some kind of API - not sure if that is usable directly from PHP but it is what many companies use to interface to SIMS. The totally unsupported and 'bad' way would be to access the database directly. That has the potential to cause problems with performance and potentially data security, as well as platform changes blowing any assumptions you might make out of the water every release, so I'd be very wary of going down that road!

 

Brilliant, I'll look into the 3rd party tools and see what that entails. Definitely want to avoid querying database directly!

 

check this out Edulink Integrator – Extract Real-time data from SIMS might have what you are looking for

 

Lucy

 

This looks interesting, have you used this yourself? Could be a viable solution!

[Edu-IT]

Another common one is Groupcall Xporter.

 

Groupcall xporter | MIS Data Exporter

[enjay]

We have quite a few systems doing this, some use Groupcall Xporter but more use their own app (which sits on the server or PC with SIMS and has a Scheduled Task to run the SIMS report, encrypt it and upload it). Groupcall was quite fiddly to set up (we didn't actually do it, the third-party did it for us) but once set up, the other apps link in to it quite nicely and adding new reports for new systems is as simple as double-clicking a setup.exe

 

For commercial purposes, I would keep the CSV option as well. This covers non-SIMS schools and also those who would feel happier doing it themselves than providing you with a login to SIMS and trusting you're encrypting the data appropriately.

[Overnetdata_Tim]

Hi,

 

I'm hoping that there are some SIMS experts here able to help me with a solution for extracting data. I have created a PHP/MySQl based software and for this have been using pupil data from SIMS. To date I have been handed CSV files with the information that I need from the school I have been working with, that is then inserted into the database of my system, however to prepare the software for commercial sale I want to develop an easier setup and link between SIMS and my software.

 

From what I understand there is a link between the VLE system 'Frog' and schools SIMS setup (when new pupils are recieved they are automatically transferred over to Frog that night etc). I want to be able to create a similar sort of link to make setup at academic year starts, new pupil additions etc more simpler.

 

My software is, alike Frog, hosted offsite and as aforementioned written in PHP. Is anyone able to point to documentation to see how I might be able to achieve something like this? Is it possible for a web-based system to query internal SIMS servers (I do not really know all that much about SIMS!)?

 

I've seen in other threads about extracting data through Windows to an XML file and then using it like this but I am hoping there is perhaps an easier way through a PHP/SQL connection to grab this data.

 

Any information, guidance or directions for what I need to get my hands on would be very much appreciated!

 

Hi Liam, Edulink Integrator is one of Overnet Data's products. Please feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to discuss.

[GREED]

Groupcall was quite fiddly to set up (we didn't actually do it, the third-party did it for us)

 

Really? It shouldn't be.. Should be few clicks enter MIS credentials done.

[Edu-IT]

Really? It shouldn't be.. Should be few clicks enter MIS credentials done.

That was my experience. Plus, if multiple products use it, it's very easy to add in the additional 'reports' and means there's only one install to manage.

[enjay]

Really? It shouldn't be.. Should be few clicks enter MIS credentials done.

 

It took them longer than just a few clicks, but they were also setting up Emerge at the same time, so maybe Xporter was easy and Emerge was the complex part...

[webman]

I remember seeing this recently: Assembly

 

Assembly is a secure, cloud-based platform that connects to your school’s Management Information System and extracts key elements of your school’s data.