Broken SIMS workstation - reinstall guide anybody?

[sakwoya]

Hi all

 

Just rebuilt one of the 'admin' workstations and loaded the following on in the stated order:

 

Win Xp Pro (SP3 slipstream disc)

.NET Framework

Microsoft Office 2003

Sims.net

 

Sims is throwing hissy fits when trying to run reports (reporting 'no table exists at that location' frequently plus other errors).

 

I'm going to wipe the machine and reinstall from scratch - has anybody any advice as to what order the software should go back in (I have an image for the machine but I was hoping to create image from this new install)

 

Graeme

[Edu-IT]

I'd have done it in the order you have done it. Have you tried reinstalling just SIMS?

[vikpaw]

just quickly as am on my way out.

 

the order seemed fined.

 

make sure it's the latest version of .net framework which i guess you have, though i think sims, can put that on for you anyway.

 

make sure the user that installs is an admin, and put admin users in at least the power users group. we used to be told to give full rights to the C drive, but at least the sims folders and windows temp is needed.

 

map the correct drive you need too, usually S drive and check connectivity to server. from the mapped drive:\sims\setups folder run simsinst.exe

 

that should do the trick. and most likely on first run you will have to choose the location for the connect.ini which should be on the mapped drive too. most likely after that, it will perform check all components and upgrade any files necessary.

 

if all that happening and you're getting an error after logging in to sims then it's bizarre.

 

does it work from another workstation? directly on the server? have you had problems on the server as if the problem is with reports there may be something wrong with the document storage?

 

do other parts of sims work, e.g. viewing student details.

 

someone else will have to take over assistance as i must get home.

 

good luck.

[bossman]

@sakwoya:

 

Don't mean to sound stupid or infere the same but do you have a printer installed to that workstation as you will know Sims requires that a default printer be installed for reports to run.

 

It probably is not this but just incase.

[sakwoya]

Hi

 

Printer installed, drives all mapped properly, I've reinstalled SIMS several times and just had another go at installing .NET.

The connect.ini is in the correct place on server and the local one is correct.

 

All other functions work other than reports.

 

Other SIMS workstations operate fine.

 

I think the error may lie with Office 2003 - reports generated for WORD will throw one error whilst those needing excel can't seem to find Excel and through another.

 

I've been uninstalling and reinstalling Office/Sims all day to no avail - this is really a little bit peeving :-(

 

I think I'll call it a day for now and redo the whole thing from scratch tomorrow

 

Grrrrrrr

 

Graeme

[siuko]

Have you tried running simsperm on the system?

 

I remember having issues with reports running due to permissions on the computers.

[bossman]

@sakwoya:

 

Have you got permissions for running macros set in your office excel?

Every account running will probably have to allow running Macros in their profile, have you tried this?

[bossman]

@sakwoya:

 

Just found this article

 

KB88482 - No table at this location - SIMS .net Reporting

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Created 14/05/2009

Last Updated 18/11/2009

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Affected Products SIMS .net Reporting

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Notes SIMS .net Reporting

 

 

No table at this location when designing a report

There is no table in the document

Start index cannot be larger than length of string when running a report

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Advice To resolve the problem, please run Windows updates on the workstation and apply all the updates that are available.

 

Hope this helps

[superfletch]

@sakwoya

 

Just curious whether Bossmans KB sorted it out?

 

@Bossman -

 

Isn't the default/installed printer thing just FMS not SIMS?

 

 

 

Stuff to try:

 

Detect and repair within the Office apps that SIMS outputs to and are causing you trouble.

Try to run a number of other reports (predefined and school generated).

Re-import your predefined reports and try the last idea again.

Try the same user accounts (consider both SIMS and Windows User accounts here) on another PC that you know is okay and also try getting another user account (same approach) to test on the PC that seems to be generating this problem.

 

Questions:

 

Does testing the Server Connection to the Document Server Work?

Is it just school created reports or are predefined ones affected. (If it's just school ones it could be a temp sims report directory / SIMS User profile problem).

Edited January 20, 2010 by superfletch
Crap spelling & add info

[Cache]

Doubt it'll make any difference, but there's a SIMS .Net Infrastructure update package you could try installing as well, download available here: Capita Education Support Services (about half way down, dated 15/05/08).

 

Was told you don't have to install it, but includes .net 3 or 3.5 (can't remember which) and some additional fonts and other items which SIMS uses.

 

Others probably have a better idea about how to solve it then me though.

[glennda]

there is also sims.ini the c:\windows or C:\windows\system32 have to have permission to that aswell

 

Toby

[sakwoya]

Hi all

 

Spent ages on this but decided to cut my losses and went back to the start;

 

Formatted drive C: NTFS full format

Load Windows XP

Add .net 3.5 SP1

Load Office 2003

Map SIMS folder on server as network drive S:

Install SIMS

Restart PC

 

We're off and running - SIMS running , reports running - all smooth

 

No idea what went wrong yesterday

 

Bossmans KB entry did list another error that was being thrown yesterday so there is some relevance there possibly.

 

I am still bemused as everything today was installed as yesterday but today it worked - grrrrr.

 

Thanks for all the advice

 

Graeme