SIMS FMS Manager upgrade

[cjohnsonuk]

The instructions we have been given are instructing us to install MS SQL Express for the Finance system on our SIMS Server. We have already installed SQL Server 2005 for the SIMS database so would like to minimise our management and processing overheads by installing SIMS finance onto a SQL server 2005 database, not an SQL Express database.

 

Is anyone else doing this?

 

Does anyone know if SIMS Finance will know the difference between its data stored on SQL Express or accessed vie SQL Server.

 

Our support says that we shoudl use express but we believe that is because thats what is says in their instructions rather than that is what is best practice.

 

Any comments?

 

ChrisJ

[Domino]

We've installed it on full 2005 no worries.

 

only problem we had was having to reboot the server before running the actual conversion, because dbattach had left a session open (which caused the coversion to fail....le sigh)

 

Apart from that, not a problem - running nicely now.

 

I suspect its just your support team assuming everyone's using express

[DMcCoy]

It should be fine. I'm using the full version for sims and just attached fms as a separate DB to it when asked.

[vikpaw]

but surely if your support team can't support you, then they are just a team.

even that is unlikely!

 

is this fms upgrade optional, i've not been told about it officially, only what i've heard through forums. it sounds like a good idea to get it onto sql.

 

my only problem is that we currently have a standalone installation for the sixth form consortium and it has to be kept segragated, though i'm hoping with sql that will be resolved.

[sahmeepee]

If you have 2 "companies" in FMS, one for the 6th form consortium and one for everything else, and you pick the relevant one using FMS database selector or by running a different FMS shortcut, then no - the FMS upgrade won't change that. It will move each database over to SQL individually.

 

The FMS upgrade will eventually become necessary I think as:

 

a) Capita stop supporting older versions including all the pre-SQL Server versions (i.e. 6.85 and older)

 

b) Your finance department can't keep up with new legislation, such as the Consistent Financial Reporting standards which are now with us. The old FMS versions will never have those features added AFAIK.

[cjohnsonuk]

We've been told its mandatory before 14th March so that the new functionaility in the new client will work will allow them to do the correct "returns".

[pete]

We've been told its mandatory before 14th March so that the new functionaility in the new client will work will allow them to do the correct "returns".

 

Could you expand a bit on that? As my day might start to get interesting .

[cjohnsonuk]

Domino

 

I would have assumed the same, that they thought everyone was using express, if it wasn't fo the fact that last november they had a project to move everyone on SIMS to full sql 2005 so that the latest client for attendance/assessment etc would work.

 

Chris

[cjohnsonuk]

Pete

 

All I've got is that its required to allow the finance team (LEA) to submit the year end returns to the DCFS.

[Domino]

Hmmm, tis strange then....a typo maybe? have you asked them?

 

Personally, as I say, We're full SQL 2005, as are most surrounding schools, and we've all done the FMS migration, without many issues.

 

Supportnet should have the requirements on it somewhere....

[vikpaw]

okay so today i find out that we don't need to migrate to sql until i august/september 2008, and it's up to local support to sort that out.

 

however, in the mean time, we have to have a new set of codes or something altered on our system by the end of march, before we can do anything for the new financial year. this again is in the hands of local support and yet i have heard nothing, though it is supposed to come parceled with the february upgrade, which has yet to be released to us.

 

i'm assuming the feb upgrade is still being tested....

 

as for the multiple instance issue:

If you have 2 "companies" in FMS, one for the 6th form consortium and one for everything else, and you pick the relevant one using FMS database selector or by running a different FMS shortcut, then no - the FMS upgrade won't change that. It will move each database over to SQL individually.

 

i was told that we couldn't have two fms databases on the same network, let alone the same server. i had to install a standalone copy on a desktop pc for that purpose. i'm not even supposed to connect it to the network on the off chance the data on the main school finance gets corrupted by the sixth form. i never truly believed it, but what choice do i have.

 

hopefully i can migrate the standalone and then not need to manually backup and upgrade that system!

Edited March 5, 2008 by vikpaw

[cjohnsonuk]

We've had the feb FMS released to us and have applied it.