iceman Posted September 29, 2011 Posted September 29, 2011 In my work I export a report from SIMS to a repdef and then import it again at another institution. However, in the new institution I'd rather have the 'supplier' column of the report browse list show some sort of trading name instead of the real school name from where the report originated. I've seen some non school, generic names like this on our own reports so it must be possible. Anyone know how it can be done?
LosOjos Posted September 29, 2011 Posted September 29, 2011 the RptDef files seem to be encrypted; I imagine it's partly to stop this being done. It would theoretically be possible to create a report with a macro enabled output to send the report contents to an undisclosed location before the user was ever aware it had happened. Faking a legitimate and trustworthy source (e.g. Capita) would help hide the true intentions of such a report. Of course I might be totally wrong, but that's one good reason I can think of not to allow you to change the source field.
iceman Posted September 29, 2011 Author Posted September 29, 2011 Yes I thought is was encrypted when I had a look at it with a hex editor. I guess it picks up the name from the installation of sims. This is a shame as they are to be distibuted as part of an application package developed and distributed via a separate entity that is part of the school yet logically separate. The real school name is incidental and might even confuse the recipients as to the source. Ther's probably no way round it but I'll keep investigating.
creese Posted September 29, 2011 Posted September 29, 2011 If I understand correctly you want a name other than the person or school who created the report to show in the column of the reports list? If so, yes you can. I think there is a patch we use occasionally. I'm not in work, so if you want me to check PM me and I'll look in the morning.
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Why not just Re-save the Report with another Report Name. Your name will then be attached to it. Then delete the original! The receiving school could then do the same! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
creese Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Why not just Re-save the Report with another Report Name. Your name will then be attached to it. Then delete the original! The receiving school could then do the same! It's not that simple. I'm just searching for the utility now... EDIT: Found it and emailed to you. Edited September 30, 2011 by creese
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 It's not that simple. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Not sure what is preventing it then. It has always worked for me. I have loads of reports on our system that originated elsewhere. They are obviously 'simple' reports!
creese Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 Hmmmmmmmmmm. Not sure what is preventing it then. It has always worked for me. I have loads of reports on our system that originated elsewhere. They are obviously 'simple' reports! Create a report for 200 schools Simple: Open one report, save as imported to school Not simple: open report 200 times and save. Less simple: open 10 reports 200 times and save.
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Create a report for 200 schools Simple: Open one report, save as imported to school Not simple: open report 200 times and save. Less simple: open 10 reports 200 times and save. That is why I said the school could also do it! I have lots of reports that came in as Green Abbey because they were trial ones. They were then edited to suit the school and re-saved - obviously they now have my name on them! The originals were then deleted! My versions were then exported to my SIMSreports Folder so that I have a working copy in case they are broken by other users. I do the same with any Reports that I download from FileSharing on SupportNet! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
GeeHubb Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 Why not just Re-save the Report with another Report Name. Your name will then be attached to it. Then delete the original! The receiving school could then do the same! Presumably that will change the Report Owners name but not the Supplier and I'm guessing that it's the report Supplier's name that you're trying to change? I don't know that your method would do that Sivadam.
LosOjos Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 That is why I said the school could also do it! I have lots of reports that came in as Green Abbey because they were trial ones. They were then edited to suit the school and re-saved - obviously they now have my name on them! The originals were then deleted! My versions were then exported to my SIMSreports Folder so that I have a working copy in case they are broken by other users. I do the same with any Reports that I download from FileSharing on SupportNet! I think you're misunderstanding the request Mike, the OP wants to change the supplier name to his company's name - the reports he is producing in his school's SIMS database and therefore they have the school's name and not the company's name. He can't just re-save the reports, as that will still save them with the school's name attached. Anyway, I believe that @creese has solved the problem now
creese Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 It's a really simple utility that will change the 4th column in the list, Supplier. It is great for people who design reports, for future reference and advertising who created them. Saving in the destination school only changes the 3rd column, Owner
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) I think you're misunderstanding the request Mike, the OP wants to change the supplier name to his company's name - the reports he is producing in his school's SIMS database and therefore they have the school's name and not the company's name. He can't just re-save the reports, as that will still save them with the school's name attached. Anyway, I believe that @creese has solved the problem now I have just done just that for a Green Abbey Report I still had on the system Note the Name, Date, Author, Supplier etc etc! Simples! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
LosOjos Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 I have just done just that for a Green Abbey Report I still had on the system Note the Name, Date, Author, Supplier etc etc! [ATTACH=CONFIG]11492[/ATTACH] Simples! I'm assuming though that the OP doesn't have a separate database for his company as they are an off-shoot (but separate entity) of the school, hence he uses the school's database to create the reports with the school's name attached to it - it's not his own name he's worried about!
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) I'm assuming though that the OP doesn't have a separate database for his company as they are an off-shoot (but separate entity) of the school, hence he uses the school's database to create the reports with the school's name attached to it - it's not his own name he's worried about! But that is exactly why I said that the receiving school could do a re-save! Then again, I am not sure of the ethics of using a School's database if you are not a member of that school. And a legitimate support unit will have a copy of the database - even if it is just the Training databse. Not sure of the ethics of using that one either! Still, ethics aside, the process is really very, very simple. I have posted a number of reports on File Sharing and I would asume that schools using them have edited them and called them their own! I share them freely for others to use. I would assume that anybody else doing this would do it for the same reasons that I do - to help fellow SIMS Users! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
creese Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Me not having time to save and rename hundreds of reports... especially when myself and the OP are more than satisfied with the utility...will bow out of the discussion. Glad I could help. EDIT: BTW the utility was supplied by Capita, so presumably they felt a need for it. Edited September 30, 2011 by creese 1
GeeHubb Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 I have just done just that for a Green Abbey Report I still had on the system Note the Name, Date, Author, Supplier etc etc! [ATTACH=CONFIG]11492[/ATTACH] Simples! I stand corrected though. I didn't realise you could do that! That's one-all this week then Mike!
LosOjos Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 But that is exactly why I said that the receiving school could do a re-save! Then again, I am not sure of the ethics of using a School's database if you are not a member of that school. And a legitimate support unit will have a copy of the database - even if it is just the Training databse. Not sure of the ethics of using that one either! Still, ethics aside, the process is really very, very simple. I have posted a number of reports on File Sharing and I would asume that schools using them have edited them and called them their own! I share them freely for others to use. I would assume that anybody else doing this would do it for the same reasons that I do - to help fellow SIMS Users! Mike - sometimes SIMS doesn't do everything we want it to. Fact. It's not a criticism, as I said in my first reply I can understand the logic, but it's at a point now where you either are missing the point (you're method DOES NOT achieve what the OP asked for) or you are doing your usual thing of showing un-swaying loyalty to SIMS (despite nobody actually criticising it). Either way - I'm out.
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) ...... you either are missing the point (you're method DOES NOT achieve what the OP asked for) or you are doing your usual thing of showing un-swaying loyalty to SIMS (despite nobody actually criticising it). Sorry to pursue the point but the OP said he imports it again at the receiving school after exporting it from the providing school! In my work I export a report from SIMS to a repdef and then import it again at another institution. However, in the new institution I'd rather have the 'supplier' column of the report browse list show some sort of trading name instead of the real school name from where the report originated. I've seen some non school, generic names like this on our own reports so it must be possible. Anyone know how it can be done? That is exactly why my method will work for the OP! I have no reason to defend anybody or anything when I have answered a direct query so simply! Had this query been on SupportNet, I would have answered it quickly, probably got a 'Thank you' from the person posing the query, and the thread would then have no doubt been finished! Wot a pity that does not work here! No disrespect to others is intended by this comment! Creese's comments and solution are equally vaild as well, especially for the different scenario he describes! But my response answers the original query very well! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
LosOjos Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 Creese's comments and solution are equally vaild as well, especially for the different scenario he describes! But my response answers the original query very well! in the new institution I'd rather have the 'supplier' column of the report browse list show some sort of trading name instead of the real school name Your solution would simply show the school's name who's databse the original report came from, or if done at the receiving end, change it to the receiving school's name. At no point would it show a trading name as the OP requested. I don't mean to appear rude Mike and I'm sure your help and input is appreciated, but at times you're like a dog with a bone and I really do believe you are missing the point as your solution just doesn't do what the OP asked! Anyway, this is entirely a pointless thread now, as it was solved about 10 messages ago behind the scenes by @creese!
creese Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 "I'd rather have the 'supplier' column of the report browse list show some sort of trading name instead of the real school name from where the report originated." A 3rd party name as supplier was what was asked for, the utility I sent @iceman has given him exactly what he wanted. Simple. ... but I bet the argument will run into next week
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Your solution would simply show the school's name who's databse the original report came from, or if done at the receiving end, change it to the receiving school's name. At no point would it show a trading name as the OP requested. I don't mean to appear rude Mike and I'm sure your help and input is appreciated, but at times you're like a dog with a bone and I really do believe you are missing the point as your solution just doesn't do what the OP asked! Anyway, this is entirely a pointless thread now, as it was solved about 10 messages ago behind the scenes by @creese ! I know exactly what my solution would show! That is why it was phrased in the way that it was - with a question! I know it would not have shown a trading name but it was an excellent workround to the solution that was posed! The OP said he would rather it be a Trading name than another school! Hence, it appeared that the main issue was the confusion that could be created by another school's name being attached to the report! My solution very adequately sorts that issue! Maybe I should just stop trying to be helpful again if users just wish to criticise! I'll just wait and, once again, just counteract any incorrect statements that users may make! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
LosOjos Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 I know exactly what my solution would show! That is why it was phrased in the way that it was - with a question! I know it would not have shown a trading name but it was an excellent workround to the solution that was posed! It appeared that the main issue was the confusion that could be created by another school's name being attached to the report! My solution very adequately sorts that issue! Maybe I should just stop trying to be helpful again if users just wish to criticise! I'll just wait and, once again, just counteract any incorrect statements that users may make! Calm down Mike, have a cup of tea, and re-read the thread, my reply's, @creese's reply, and your final previous response. Or let me put it this way - giving someone a torch when they asked for a match may not solve their problem.
Sivadam Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Calm down Mike, have a cup of tea, and re-read the thread, my reply's, @creese 's reply, and your final previous response.Or let me put it this way - giving someone a torch when they asked for a matchN may not solve their problem.You need to re-read my last post as it was edited before your response!And..... Nobody has responded re my ethics post. Surely somebody who is licensed to use SIMS with a Tradename has to have access to that organisation's SIMS. And please do not aim any more personal and insulting comments at myself! Edited September 30, 2011 by Sivadam
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