[acs] Timetable from CMIS API

[nathj]

Hi folks,

 

I'm currently working on a major project to launch Blackboard in our schools. Part of this project involves taking data from CMIS and loading it into Blackboard.

 

There's not actually that much data involved - Students, Staff, Parents, Courses and all the relationships these contain. The tricky part is time table details.

 

I need to be able to produce a simple flat file for the timetable import process in Blackboard and I am planning on using the CMIS API for this. Using the SOAP UI plug-in in Eclipse I can see the methods exist however when I come to writing code to use the API I can't figure out where to get it from. It's a bit of puzzler. I can see that the most suitable approach for me is to get the timetable information for a student or staff member as I get their details.

 

I was wondering if anyone had used this method yet and if they would be kind enough to share some insights with me.

 

Many thanks

Nathan

[powdarrmonkey]

CMIS has an API? o_O

 

If you really mean API and not database, please tell me how and I will write things for it.

[john]

There is ways of APIing with Serco, Fronter have an API Plugin that goes via Eportal to get access to data for uploading to the VLE system.

[nathj]

Hi there,

 

CMIS does have an API but you have to buy it at a cost of £500 per install that you wish to use it on. Once you have that available to you there are a number of things you can do with it in terms of extracting data and writing certain (limited) data back to the system.

 

There is a support site and reasonable documentation - it's certainly easier than figuring out their crazy database.

 

Cheers

Nathan

[powdarrmonkey]

Ah, I was afraid of that. Oh well.

[powdarrmonkey]

Dragging this back from the depths, does anybody know if the CMIS/Facility API is available to schools for a reduced or zero rate, or if there's an equivalent of SIMS' command reporter?

[pauljonze]

I have something to get session groups, times, rooms etc. in SQL you could have - contact me I'll send a copy

[powdarrmonkey]

Thanks but I'm specifically after the Serco-endorsed API.

[michael2k6]

To my knowledge, this doesn't exist at the moment. If you want to be certain the people to contact are our sales guys.

 

Mic @ Serco

[workteam123]

I have something to get session groups, times, rooms etc. in SQL you could have - contact me I'll send a copy

 

Hi Paul - can I have a copy please.

 

Thanks

 

Gary

[WilliamNB]

CMIS's database is actually not all that complex. I wrote an app that pulls timetable data from the DB and writes it to Exchange 2003 mailboxes as appointments. Additionally, it has a web component that can display students' timetables in a web page, and even convert that data to a QR Code, so students can scan it with their camera phones.

 

With CMIS I will say one thing: NEVER write back to the DB, unless using a method OK'd by Serco.

[nathj]

Is there any chance I could get a copy of that code? It could be really helpful with a project I have coming up.

 

Thanks

Nathan

[victory2009]

CMIS's database is actually not all that complex. I wrote an app that pulls timetable data from the DB and writes it to Exchange 2003 mailboxes as appointments. Additionally, it has a web component that can display students' timetables in a web page, and even convert that data to a QR Code, so students can scan it with their camera phones.

 

With CMIS I will say one thing: NEVER write back to the DB, unless using a method OK'd by Serco.

 

It would be great to get a copy of the code if at all possible?

[NotSoFast]

+1 for a copy of that code! That would be great. :-)

[jamesss]

CMIS's database is actually not all that complex. I wrote an app that pulls timetable data from the DB and writes it to Exchange 2003 mailboxes as appointments. Additionally, it has a web component that can display students' timetables in a web page, and even convert that data to a QR Code, so students can scan it with their camera phones.

 

With CMIS I will say one thing: NEVER write back to the DB, unless using a method OK'd by Serco.

 

 

Hiya, could I have a copy of your code please? It would be really useful for a project I'm currently working on. My email address is jamess /AT/ rainford /DOT/ org /DOT/ uk.

 

Cheers

[loksmb]

HI Nathan,

 

I am a CMIS user and am planning to do some work around its API. Can you point me in the direction of its documentation please.

[agibson]

Hi

 

Did anyone find out how to export the timetable for importing in to Exchange? I really would like to do this automatically for our staff.

 

Thanks

 

Andy