Reading xml files from the document server

[cathycolless]

The various XML documents (eg reports and bills) on the files system of our doc server are in a binary format.

The files have an .xml file extension but they have some kind of binary compression or encryption (I asssume).

 

Is there a tool I can use to convert these files back into XML ?

Anyone know what the binary format is ?

[bobsmith]

If these are produced by SIMS then aren't they just excel or word documents with a .xml extension?

[Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun]

They are all encrypted for security. If you purchase access tot he SIMS APIs you can write a program to interact with them and the Capita APIs will do the decryption for you. Some of them won't have started out as XML files so what is your end goal as there may already be a program out there that does what you want?

[cathycolless]

That's what I expected but unfortunately when you access them directly from the file share they are in an encrypted format. Word/Excel cannot read them directly..

[cathycolless]

what is your end goal as there may already be a program out there that does what you want?

My goal is to put the documents into our intranet for parents to access.

[Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun]

There are already programs out there for sharing reports with parents, like the SIMS Parent App.

If you are planning on doing it yourself. how are you handling security? E.g. if one parent has a court order against them, how do you prevent them seeing things on the internet related to the child they have the court order for?

[cathycolless]

At this level our parent portal infrastructure is already built and operational. Our portal has a big communications component and contain more than just SIMS information.

We want to add the School Report documents into our existing portal as an alternative to using the Parent App.

[Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun]

My suggestion would be to get the documents before they get uploaded to the DMS, both Assessment Manager Individual Reports and Profiles Reports will bulk export, so you can just dump them in a folder and use that for your portal.

[PhilNeal]

I know I would say this but is it wise to be building your own solution? However good you are in the GDPR world the cost of getting this wrong is crippling.