Import Sixth Form applicants basic data in to SIMS

[jmkirk]

Hi

New to this forum.

I am developing a Sixth Form on-line application system and in house admin tool. At present admin staff type all the basic details into SIMS of all applicants at the start of the admission cycle. Has anyone had experience of and/or succeeded in bulk import of this data into SIMS.

 

Thanks for any input/responses.

 

Martin

[BrownShoes]

Martin,

Nope - not aware that this is possible at the moment. A private college I worked at purchased some very expensive scanners for this purpose and then we waited for the necessary software to arrive...

[CAM]

SIMS uses CTF files to import data. See if the previous school is able to supply one via the S2S website.

[bobsmith]

they also offer a webform data capture and import facility - see the SIMS Independent sales people for it.

 

A neighbouring state school is using it succesfully.

[daaahhnuh]

Hi,

 

I've just written an online admissions portal for this exact purpose. SIMS has an XML import routine for applications. I suggest you use it, as it does a lot of things under the hood as applicants and their contacts need checking for duplicates (all of which it handles). It's aimed at the Independent market, but it will work with SIMS for normal state schools (we are) and you can get a licence for it.

 

https://www.capita-independent.co.uk/products/sims-registration-admissions-independent-schools/import-applications-and-enquiries

 

Our portal goes a little further, by providing live tracking of applications - the applicant can login and see where they are in the process, as well as sending automated emails, etc. This uses a .net Web API I wrote, which sits on top of the SIMS Business Objects. May seem like overkill, but we use it for other purposes than this. You could use the CommandReporter tool if you need to extract data in a similar fashion. Feel free to PM me, if you want any advice.

[CAM]

Hi,

 

I've just written an online admissions portal for this exact purpose. SIMS has an XML import routine for applications. I suggest you use it, as it does a lot of things under the hood as applicants and their contacts need checking for duplicates (all of which it handles). It's aimed at the Independent market, but it will work with SIMS for normal state schools (we are) and you can get a licence for it.

 

https://www.capita-independent.co.uk/products/sims-registration-admissions-independent-schools/import-applications-and-enquiries

 

Our portal goes a little further, by providing live tracking of applications - the applicant can login and see where they are in the process, as well as sending automated emails, etc. This uses a .net Web API I wrote, which sits on top of the SIMS Business Objects. May seem like overkill, but we use it for other purposes than this. You could use the CommandReporter tool if you need to extract data in a similar fashion. Feel free to PM me, if you want any advice.

 

How does this kit work? Does it generate a CTF file for applications when they click submit?

[daaahhnuh]

How does this kit work? Does it generate a CTF file for applications when they click submit?

 

Not a CTF file... But similar as they are both XML files. The full XML schema is available in the Capita documentation for admissions (Capita Doc Ref: SS_RAIS7170/HBK/160616/DB - Pg 72 onward). We still receive CTFs from the feeder schools post admissions and they are merged.

[nickjelly]

I'm interested to know how the output of a web application submission is mapped to the Capita XML schema. I take it the files that do that aren't included in that sample kit.