SEN software Dyslexia screener

[tosca925]

Does anyone have this on any machines? When the pupils try to use it by adding a user-name for them selves it will not let them. If logged on as admin user then it works.

 

Now the pupils have no access to the c:\ drive, so i have given access to the temp folder and the c:\program files\software folder and it still does not work.

 

Any ideas /suggestions?

[GL_Guy]

The application will only work if the initial person logging into the workstation has local admin rights. It will not work any other way unfortunately.

 

It was not designed to be run by restrictive accounts.

[MkII]

from the FAQ:

 

"Using a shortcut to the Dyslexia Screener, users can link to the Dyslexia Screener over the network so information does not need to be saved on the user’s computer."

 

Does that help?

 

http://www.nfer-nelson.co.uk/education/resources/dyslexia_screener/technical_support.asp?css=1

[GL_Guy]

Mark,

 

Trust Me - I wrote the installation guide which appear in the latest manuals:

 

Installation

 

Before installing the Screener, it is necessary to understand that the software will not run if the profile of the initial person logging into the workstation does not have local administrative privileges. This application was only envisaged and designed to run within a controlled environment, and you are best advised to seek advice from the person responsible for the system or network before installation.

 

There are three installation methods available, but in each instance it is necessary for the application to be locally installed on each workstation to be used.

 

1. On a single workstation

Single installation allows the screening of students one at a time, and is the default installation procedure.

 

2. On more than one workstation

Student information will be stored and held separately, but it is possible to create group reports.

 

3. From a single workstation across a network*

Not to be confused with a server installation, this method allows a multiple testing environment but is dependant on the capacity of your network and will only work if drives are mapped.

 

Installation Procedure

In each of the above instances, the following procedure (Single Workstation Installation) must be performed.

[MkII]

Right - why didn't you say so!

 

Do you know the developer then? Or is that you too!? - can non admin functionality be added?

[GL_Guy]

Development is based in Chiswick, but support is based in Manchester (until the New Year).

 

Unfortunately, non admin functionality cannot be added as it would take a rewrite. When originally developed, it was only envisaged that it would run in a monitored environment, 1 on 1 between SENCO or teacher and student. It will run on a network, but not from a server, and we only ever tested it on 5 workstations at once. I know that some establishments require that it be installed on a whole suite and test a class at a time, but it was never intended to be run that way.

 

I can post my installation guide if it will help anyone...

[Kyle]

Here is how we got round it

 

We found that the software needs to right to around 5 folders on the c:drive. One of these is the C:\windows folder. So we could not enable this for all users. We have two small suites used just for SEN and when they use this software they are monitored by staff.

 

SO, we set up a user with account details of Dyslexia and password *****. We tie down the log on time of this account all the time, unless the SEN dept tell us when they want to do testing, we then only give it an hour slot to log on. They kids log on to network with this account and the member of staff adds the user through the software and then the kid does the test, The staff then pull the report off at the end. The user Dyslexia is given write permission to the folders in question by us through a GPO.

 

It all works well snow for us but is not an ideal set up but we just needed to get them up and running.

[MkII]

Thanks GL_Guy

 

None of our machines are off network. All need to make use of network resources. We'd have to do the same as Kyle above.

 

We have no other software that needs to be run that way, and we have some 'old' stuff.

[GL_Guy]

The permissions issues surrounding this app are mainly to do with writing temp files and such in order to generate the reports etc.

 

I know it's a bit long, but here's the latest installation guide:

 

I hope it helps

 

Installation

 

Before installing the Screener, it is necessary to understand that the software will not run if the profile of the initial person logging into the workstation does not have local administrative privileges. This application was only envisaged and designed to run within a controlled environment, and you are best advised to seek advice from the person responsible for the system or network before installation.

 

There are three installation methods available, but in each instance it is necessary for the application to be locally installed on each workstation to be used.

 

1. On a single workstation

Single installation allows the screening of students one at a time, and is the default installation procedure.

 

2. On more than one workstation

Student information will be stored and held separately, but it is possible to create group reports.

 

3. From a single workstation across a network*

Not to be confused with a server installation, this method allows a multiple testing environment but is dependant on the capacity of your network and will only work if drives are mapped.

 

Installation Procedure

In each of the above instances, the following procedure (Single Workstation Installation) must be performed.

 

Before installation commences, please ensure that you have your licence key.

 

1. Place the Screener disk into the CD-ROM drive of your workstation. After a few moments, and if you have the autorun feature enabled, the installation will begin automatically.

 

Please note, on slower workstations, there can be a considerable pause between the insertion of the disk, and the autorun feature beginning.

 

If nothing happens after a minute or so, you know that the autorun feature is disabled. If this is the case, you will need to browse to your CD-ROM drive. One method is to open ‘my computer’ by double clicking the icon on the Windows desktop. Double click the icon for your CD-ROM drive, and then double click the file named ‘setup’ to begin the installation.

 

2.First you will need to ‘Choose Destination Location’, that is choose the destination folder the Screener will be installed to on the workstation. By default it is installed to C:\Program Files\Dyslexia Screener. This option is changeable by clicking the ‘Browse’ button. This opens the ‘Select directory to install Dyslexia Screener’ window. Browse to select the directory* where you wish to install the Screener.

 

3. Within this window there is also the option to ‘Select Components’. Please ensure that all three boxes are ticked.

 

4. Click ‘Install’.

 

5. You will see a window that prompts you to read the licence agreement, which is also supplied within the packaging for this application, and must be read before installation takes place.

 

6. Once you have read the licence agreement, click ‘Agree’ to continue with the installation. Clicking ‘Disagree’ will terminate the installation of this application at this point.

 

7. The next screen contains copyright information for the product.

 

8. Click ‘Next’. This stage may take a few moments

 

9. You must enter the organisation name, expiry date and licence key exactly as provided by NferNelson otherwise the licence key will not work. Each licence key is only valid for the organisation for which it was created, and is non-transferrable. Should your licence key not work, please contact NferNelson directly on 0845 602 1937 and select Option 1 for NferNelson products.

 

10. Click the ‘Submit’ button.

 

11. Once the installation has completed, you will get the ‘Installation Complete’ message. Please click ‘OK’.

 

12. A window will be open onscreen with shortcuts to the three components installed:

a. ‘Dyslexia Screener’ – The application

b. ‘Uninstall Dyslexia Screener’ – Completely removes the application from your screener.

c. ‘User Guide’ – This contains this chapter of the manual, ‘Using the Screener’.

 

It is now possible to customise your installation method to one that closest represents your desired operating environment as stated previously in this section.

 

Option 2 – On more than one workstation

 

Please note, that after completing installation on each of the workstations, the administrator will need to create a username and password for each test-taker to be screened on each workstation.

 

The difference in option 2 is that, once testing is finished, the administrator needs to collate the results using the method below.

 

1. In order to export the results, go to each workstation and insert a floppy disk or pen drive.

2. Log into the screener as ‘admin’.

3. In the ‘User List’ window, select the user whose results you wish to save.

4. Click the ‘export’ button, which will open the ‘Export Results’ window. From here, you can browse to the floppy drive or select the appropriate drive letter for your pen drive.

5. Click ‘Export’ to export the results. Please note that, in each instance, the file name is automatically named ‘user-results.drd’ and saving multiple results to the same location is only possible if the file is renamed e.g. user-results1.drd, user-results2.drd etc. Failure to rename multiple exports to the same location will result in the existing file being overwritten.

6. Once repeated on each workstation that has results, log into the administrator’s workstation, log into the screener as ‘Admin’ and insert the floppy or pen drive.

7. Click on the ‘Import’ button, then browse to the location of the saved files on your floppy or pen drive and highlight a file to import.

8. An import window displays messages about the import. Click ‘OK’ to close this window.

9. Once the results have been imported, they will appear on the user list.

 

Option 3 – From a central workstation across a network

 

If this product is to be utilised using this method, than a mapped drive letter is required. Please liase with your network administrator for more information if necessary. This installation method assumes that installation has taken place on the workstations that test-takers will be using, and should only be performed after this has been completed.

 

1. Follow the same installation method for a single workstation. Please consider carefully where to install the application on the central workstation, as test-takers will need to have full control to this directory.

2. After installation on the central workstation, share the installation folder and give full control to everyone.

3. From each workstation, map a drive to the share you have just created.

4. Double click on the file ‘CreateNewShortcut’. This will open the ‘Short-Cut Creation’ Window which requests confirmation that this is the correct location.

5. If this is not the location of the screener, click ’No’ and it will give you the option to browse to the location of the installation. Please note, that you should browse to the location of the central workstation installation.

6. If this is the correct location, then click ‘Yes’. A message box will appear once the short-cuts are created. Click ‘OK’.

Please note, that it may be necessary for the account logging into test-taking workstations to have a mapped drive letter directed to the Dyslexia Screener installation folder on the central workstation.

 

If anyone would prefer this to be mailed to them in Word format, my mail address is [email protected]

[Kyle]

I would only hope that you are planning on doing something about this with hte next release. I doubt very much whether there are many schools who are running standalone computers now they'll probarbly be all networked. The files it need to write to is just no go now on computers. There si now way we can allow these files to be written to ona network situation. If we give all students acccess it would be a nightmare. TO give individual SEN students access would be a administrational nightmare so this is why we set up a individual user.

 

Thanks for trying to help any how.

[GL_Guy]

If you gave all students the ability to run this programme then you would not be using it the way it was intended to be used. It was not designed to be run "en masse", and it was not designed to be run as a "money generation" tool by schools that may or may not receive additional funding from their respective LEA's depending on the number of children successfully screened for Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.

 

It was purposely designed not to be run from restrictive accounts.

 

It was designed to be run 1 on 1 in a monitored environment between SENCO and student, so the SENCO needs to have local admin on the workstation to be used, and the SENCO needs to be the initial logon on that workstation.

 

Although I understand that the teaching environment has changed in recent years, you must understand that it was written at a time when most schools and colleges did not even have a network, never mind group policy.

 

At this time, there are no plans to modernise it, but I am of the opinion that future revisions may include either a proper network installation method, or it may even be totally replaced by an online, subscription-based version instead.

[MkII]

We try not to make any user admin of their local machine - just to prevent damage. It's just very poor security, and of course the way MS Windows was designed.

[tosca925]

I would not trust any of our SENCO/SEN staff logged on any computer as admin, whether thay stay onthe pc while the kid is there or not.

[Guest Guest]

I would not trust any of our SENCO/SEN staff logged on any computer as admin, whether thay stay onthe pc while the kid is there or not.

 

Same here.

 

I cant understand anyone ever making any software thats not usable on networks never mind educational software. Pure idiocy imho

[plexer]

SENCO needs to have local admin on the workstation to be used, and the SENCO needs to be the initial logon on that workstation.

 

I have to concur with the thoughts above I would not want this to be the case either.

 

Just because this software was originally designed like doesn't mean that we should have to put up with rubbish software installs.

 

Ben

[SimpleSi]

I was just wondering if a solution might be to run it in a virtual machine?

 

regards

 

Simon

[jpyeates]

Kyle are you able to post the folders that you had to allow permissions for. I have tried to detect them but am still having a little trouble. We have just bought this and are struggling with the install

[Mr.Ben]

Just my 2p's worth

 

The excuse 'It was not intended to be used over a network' is completely unacceptable. I work in a special school where this product is used very frequently by all members of Staff and Students.

 

When you have 120+ PC's to administer there is absolutely no way that they will have local admin access!

[martyn]

Argh,

 

We too have this software and the same problem of non-admin accounts running it.

Does anyone have the list of folders that need write permissions?

 

Cheers

 

Martyn.

[glennda]

Argh,

 

We too have this software and the same problem of non-admin accounts running it.

Does anyone have the list of folders that need write permissions?

 

Cheers

 

Martyn.

 

I believe there is now a newer version that you can upgrade to that is entirely web-based and hosted at there end.

[martyn]

Yes I was told about the web version yesterday when I phoned their support dept.

It's a shame that the CD version was only sold to our SENCO last month

 

I'm trying making the teacher who will run it a local admin on her PC and see if that allows her to run it.

 

Martyn.

[mavhc]

Software written by people who'd only read "how to program for windows 3.1", and then the source code is lost/the guy who wrote it leaves, and companies just continue to sell it without fixing what really are simple problems if you have the source code.

[caffrey]

I've installed this recently on a server using a hidden $ share with full access rights to the folder by staff - seems to be working ok for them, however the reporting is a bit borked,

when creating the PDF it doesnt automatically open up in acrobat - had to create a shortcut to it on All Users desktop unless theres something i don't know...