[sims] Error Messages !!

[akitajewski]

We are running sims in our school i dont know why we bother with it so many errors worst program ever but the problem is

we keep on getting this reason 0 does anyone know what it mean please we are kind of confussed now

 

[ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE]

The above post was originally part of a different thread which got derailed into commentary on the wording of the original request for help and the wording of SIMS error messages.

 

It is included here for context only, if you are looking for help with the Reason 0 error the original thread is here http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/60050-sims-reason-0-a.html

Edited July 20, 2010 by vikpaw
Avoid confusion

[Guest jinnantonnix]

There's no excuse for error messages like this.

 

However, they do have comic value. Netpositive (a browser for BeOS) made error messages an art and expressed them in haikus. NetPositive error messages

 

My favourite is:

Errors have occurred.

We won't tell you where or why.

Lazy programmers.

 

and

 

The code was willing

It considered your request,

But the chips were weak.

 

A file that big?

It might be very useful

But now it is gone.

 

Login incorrect.

Only perfect spellers may

Enter this system.

Edited July 19, 2010 by jinnantonnix

[Sivadam]

We are running sims in our school i dont know why we bother with it so many errors worst program ever but the problem is we keep on getting this reason 0 does anyone know what it mean please we are kind of confussed now

 

One should not blame the software if one does not really understand how to set it up correctly ...........

Should one?

SIMS is a superb system! 22,000 schools cannot all be wrong!

[teejay]

One should not blame the software if one does not really understand how to set it up correctly ...........

Should one?

SIMS is a superb system! 22,000 schools cannot all be wrong!

 

If such a wonderful system then why are they too lazy to provide meaningfull error messages rather than 'Reason 0'?

 

Yes SIMS is a pretty good system, but the sun doesn't shine out of it's backside as you intimate and yes 22,000 schools 'can' be wrong:p

[creese]

If such a wonderful system then why are they too lazy to provide meaningfull error messages rather than 'Reason 0'?

 

Yes SIMS is a pretty good system, but the sun doesn't shine out of it's backside as you intimate and yes 22,000 schools 'can' be wrong:p

 

On pretty much every occassion Reason 0 means it cannot access the database, so how can it then provide anything more meaningful? Have the correct paths, access rights and make sure the SQL is running (pretty crucial this :-) ) and you won't get the error. If you get it on a regular basis, you're doing something very wrong.

[Sivadam]

On pretty much every occassion Reason 0 means it cannot access the database, so how can it then provide anything more meaningful? Have the correct paths, access rights and make sure the SQL is running (pretty crucial this :-) ) and you won't get the error. If you get it on a regular basis, you're doing something very wrong.

 

Well said Creese!

It was comments such that I highlighted that convinced me I should start contributing here in the first place.

I know that there are faults with SIMS - as there are with every other MIS no doubt. I prefer to direct my criticisms directly to the staff at Capita. They are more likely to listen to an informed voice rather than repond to, what used to be very frequent, adverse (and often untrue) statements on forums such as this!

 

Teejay - please clarify that to 21,999 schools can be wrong. I suspect that there would be very, very, very many of the other 21,999 that would argue with your statement tho'!

Edited July 19, 2010 by Sivadam

[creese]

Well said Creese!

It was comments such that I highlighted that convinced me I should start contributing here in the first place.

I know that there are faults with SIMS - as there are with every other MIS no doubt. I prefer to direct my criticisms directly to the staff at Capita. They are more likely to listen to an informed voice rather than repond to, what used to be very frequent, adverse (and often untrue) statements on forums such as this!

 

Teejay - please clarify that to 19,999 schools can be wrong. I suspect that there would be very, very, very many of the 19,999 that would argue with your statement tho'!

 

We have migrated over 100 schools in the last couple of weeks, 30+ to go. Changing the connect.ini and sims.ini are documented and pretty obviously necessary to make the thing work. A basic knowledge of the setup is necessary, as you say. If a PC has an IP of 127.0.0.1, does any expect it then to tell them why it is not connecting to the network, Capita's equivilant is reason 0 and equally as simple to fix.

[teejay]

On pretty much every occassion Reason 0 means it cannot access the database, so how can it then provide anything more meaningful? Have the correct paths, access rights and make sure the SQL is running (pretty crucial this :-) ) and you won't get the error. If you get it on a regular basis, you're doing something very wrong.

 

Erm, 'Cannot connect to database' would be slightly more usefull.

[creese]

Erm, 'Cannot connect to database' would be slightly more usefull.

 

Potato tomato

 

Edit: The actual words are: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 0. The first 3 words are a big clue.

Edited July 19, 2010 by creese

[teejay]

Well said Creese!

It was comments such that I highlighted that convinced me I should start contributing here in the first place.

I know that there are faults with SIMS - as there are with every other MIS no doubt. I prefer to direct my criticisms directly to the staff at Capita. They are more likely to listen to an informed voice rather than repond to, what used to be very frequent, adverse (and often untrue) statements on forums such as this!

 

Teejay - please clarify that to 19,999 schools can be wrong. I suspect that there would be very, very, very many of the 19,999 that would argue with your statement tho'!

 

So that's 2001 unsatisfied customers you admit to then?

Don't get me wrong, overall SIMS is a good program, what I am objecting to is your fanboy approach whenever anyone posts on here with obvious frustrations with SIMS and/or problems running it on their network.

[Sarconia]

SIMS is a superb system! 22,000 schools cannot all be wrong!

 

I don't really think they've ever had much other choice when it comes to the MIS market.

 

I prefer to direct my criticisms directly to the staff at Capita.

 

To which department I wonder...

[teejay]

Potato tomato

 

Edit: The actual words are: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 0. The first 3 words are a big clue.

 

And the first 3 words are the same whether Reason 0 or 999999, so no, it isn't a big clue.

[TronXP]

The "I pretend to take on board what your saying and then disregard any useful advice department"

[creese]

And the first 3 words are the same whether Reason 0 or 999999, so no, it isn't a big clue.

 

Sorry but you are wrong. Reason 0 means it cannot connect.

[creese]

There are 9 possible fixes for Reason 9. These are due to:

1. Incorrect setup of SQL

2. Incorrect connection file

3. Unfinished upgrade (indicated)

4. Incorrect setup of SQL

5. Insufficient disk space

6. Firewall

7. SQL not running

8. TCP/IP problems

9. SQL connection.

[localzuk]

Oh come on Sivadam. It is pretty apparrent by the volume of complaints on this site about SIMS.net that there are a good number of unhappy customers.

 

I will give SIMS.net credit when credit is due. It isn't a bad system, but the QA and overall finish to the product is relatively poor - things like column headings not reorganising a list, functions existing but not being at all visible or apparent to the untrained eye etc... An example - why is there a 'future' option when browsing pupils but this option doesn't include pre-admission pupils? Why does the batch import of photos segregate males and females for alphabetising? Why are some pre-admission tutor groups listed in red, and some (simply because they have the same name and person, but are in fact an entirely different group) are listed in black?

 

There is a long list of such irritations that get brought up on here regularly, yet you consistently jump to the conclusion that it is simply user error. User error is when a product is poorly designed. User error shouldn't exist, if a product is well designed.

[teejay]

Sorry but you are wrong. Reason 0 means it cannot connect.

 

From SupportNet:

KB72254: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 0

KB72431: SIMS Connection failed for login USERNAME reason 3

KB72234: SIMS Connection failed for Login UserName reason 2

KB72328: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 1

 

So no, you are wrong, you get the same error message with a different reason code depending on the connection failure. What I'm saying is something more informative than 0-9 or however many numbers they plan to go up to would be usefull.

Edited July 19, 2010 by teejay

[RingOfFlame]

One should not blame the software if one does not really understand how to set it up correctly ...........

Should one?

SIMS is a superb system! 22,000 schools cannot all be wrong!

 

Just because a product is used by 22,000 people does not mean it in any good. Windows ME / Vista anyone

[creese]

From SupportNet:

KB72254: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 0

KB72431: SIMS Connection failed for login USERNAME reason 3

KB72234: SIMS Connection failed for Login UserName reason 2

KB72328: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 1

 

So no, you are wrong.

 

Your point?

 

The thread is about reason 0, which has 9 possible fixes ALL which stop the client connecting, so no I'm not. 1, 2 and 3 are for a different thread with different solutions. Diverting to other errors are no help to the OP whatsoever.

[teejay]

Your point?

 

The thread is about reason 0, which has 9 possible fixes ALL which stop the client connecting, so no I'm not. 1, 2 and 3 are for a different thread with different solutions. Diverting to other errors are no help to the OP whatsoever.

 

Please re-read your previous posts, first claiming that the first 3 words show the error, which it doesn't and then you claimed there was only a reason 0 for connection failure, when there are loads or reason codes for connection errors, all of which have different solutions.

[creese]

Please re-read your previous posts, first claiming that the first 3 words show the error, which it doesn't and then you claimed there was only a reason 0 for connection failure, when there are loads or reason codes for connection errors, all of which have different solutions.

 

I give up, I'm glad you are not at the end of my phone.

 

Cannot connect = cannot connect. Simple. I'm sorry i cannot put it in any other language for you. Reason 0 = cannot connect. I never claimed it said why but I did say how could it say wahy as it was unable to connect to find out why. Round and round we go, where we stop no one knows.

 

I love reason 0 it takes 2 minutes to solve. I'll now bang my head on the desk as some people are just argueing for the sake of it. The thread is about Reason 0. The thread has been answered.

[localzuk]

Potato tomato

 

Edit: The actual words are: SIMS Connection failed for Login USERNAME reason 0. The first 3 words are a big clue.

 

Creese, you said the above. ie. making out that 'SIMS Connection failed' explains what reason 0 means. Teejay is pointing out that 'SIMS Connection failed' is also used in other error codes, so the wording is not as useful as it could be.

 

To the average user, that error message means nothing. Much like 'Memory fault' errors in Windows, or segfaults in Linux. I think what people are trying to say is that error messages should be human readable, and mean something, rather than being pretty generic - having one error code for 9 possible problems is a little vague to say the least.

[creese]

Perhaps reading the whole of my posts would make more sense i.e. If the client cannot access the server/database how???? can it tell you why it can't?

 

The thread is referencing Reason 0. This has a list of reason which are accessible via Supportnet or local support. Anyone who has been working on either for more than a week will be fully up to date with this error. As I have listed, there are 9 possible reasons, all bar one are due to incorrect setup of a worstation. It is nothing to do with printing, and if you have migrated to should have read where it says 'edit the connect & sims.inis.

[Sivadam]

So that's 2001 unsatisfied customers you admit to then?

Don't get me wrong, overall SIMS is a good program, what I am objecting to is your fanboy approach whenever anyone posts on here with obvious frustrations with SIMS and/or problems running it on their network.

 

Sorry but just to correct you and others that may think on the same lines. What I object to is a post that states (about SIMS) "i dont know why we bother with it so many errors worst program ever" when it is patently obvious the real issue is with how the system has been set up. There is no point blaming software that is not being used efficiently!

 

Yes, we all have problems but there are ways of explaining these that do not criticise the software that may elicit more of a helpful response. As users of SupportNet will appreciate!

 

Thanks teejay - I have now amended my earlier post to contain the correct number 21,999! Typing the wrong number kinda led to the post losing it's impact!

 

And contributors should be aware that I will continue to challenge anybody who attacks SIMS for no good reason. I will also agree with those that bring up real issues and, as many SIMS users know, I report such issues quite regularly to Capita Staff.

Edited July 19, 2010 by Sivadam

[garrysaddington]

Sorry but just to correct you and others that may think on the same lines. What I object to is a post that states (about SIMS) "i dont know why we bother with it so many errors worst program ever" when it is patently obvious the real issue is with how the system has been set up.

 

Wouldn't there be a case therefore for the software to be far more user friendly in its set up, so that not only the 'experts' can get it right. Software that needs the services of 'experts' to set up and maintain and costs as much as SIMS is not in my estimation good software, and that goes for any software not just that used in schools. If ERP software in the business environment generated as many problems as SIMS seems to do then it would not survive very long!