SIMS font size

[David44]

We have a number of users who choose to change the font size in Control Panel> Display from from "Smaller 100% (default)" to "Medium - 125%". This seems to have mixed results in SIMS, some fonts getting larger as expected but some actually getting smaller. Has anyone else seen this issue and what have you done about it? Short of enabling magnifier or purchasing massive monitors for people, I can't see that there is a solution. I raised it with Capita about a year ago and got their usual helpful response, they refused to put it in writing that it was not possible to increase the font size in SIMS.

[matt40k]

I appreciate SIMS really should support scaling, but it's a legacy software package, which they are in the process of rewriting, it can't come as a shock it doesn't work correctly. At the end of the day, it's less then £120 for a 28" monitor. If your school aren't willing to invest in a large monitor, that's pretty stupid. Not only does it make the staff feel undervalued but it doesn't make business sense - loss productivity costs over the life of a monitor - which is at least a min of 3 years - you only need to stop someone on min wage going off sick for 2 days and you've covered the cost.

[Arthur]

I can't see that there is a solution.

In Windows 10 it's possible to fix font scaling issues by overriding the high DPI scaling behaviour for the relevant EXE. I have had the same issue with SIMS and some new school laptops with high-res screens* where the default recommended scaling is 125%, 150% or 200%.

 

 

I can't remember which setting I chose, but I can check tomorrow.

 

* Usually 14" screens with resolutions of 1920x1080 or 2560x1440.

 

it's a legacy software package, which they are in the process of rewriting

Are Capita also rewriting the Windows app in addition to releasing a web-based version of SIMS?

 

If so, that's good.

Edited September 17, 2018 by Arthur

[matt40k]

Are Capita also rewriting the Windows app in addition to releasing a web-based version of SIMS?

 

If so, that's good.

SIMS 8 is a whole new MIS written from the ground up, it isn't a web based version of SIMS - pretty sure you've made a lot of people at Capita cry.

[FishCustard]

SIMS 8 is a whole new MIS written from the ground up, it isn't a web based version of SIMS - pretty sure you've made a lot of people at Capita cry.

... then why does it have the same name with an incremented version number? If they want it to be treated as a separate thing, give it a separate name.

[matt40k]

... then why does it have the same name with an incremented version number? If they want it to be treated as a separate thing, give it a separate name.

 

...cause that would mean every school would need to re-tender...

 

Technical terms, semver, its just a major version, just gloss over the fact the only similarities code wise is.... well it’s still written in c#

[FishCustard]

...cause that would mean every school would need to re-tender...

Hmm, fair enough there. Just don't be surprised when people are confused by it being a start-from-scratch rebuild rather than a web-based version of 7.x.

[CAM]

Well, the initial releases of SIMS were DOS based and they look considerably different to today's offering.

[matt40k]

Yup, SOLUS, System Manager, Options....

 

....Then you've got Windows 3.11, 95, Vista, 10...

[FishCustard]

Well, the initial releases of SIMS were DOS based and they look considerably different to today's offering.

Haha point taken.

[CAM]

Yup, SOLUS, System Manager, Options....

 

....Then you've got Windows 3.11, 95, Vista, 10...

 

Some modules still look like they are from the 3.11 era. Hello Options.

[matt40k]

Doesn't Options have a sexy new online portal thing now?

[CAM]

I tried Options Offer and it fed back into options anyway. Also we don't have an online portal!

 

But back on topic, SIMS does seem to have issues with DPI settings. Menus go really strange on anything higher than 100% with radio buttons becoming huge with jagged edges and text misaligned.