[sims] SIMS Examination Organiser Module error

[swiftysw1]

We are Using Summer 2012... Worked fine with spring 2012..

 

SIMS Examination Organiser Module error

 

When I go to Focus | Examinations in Sims, we get the following error

 

SIMS Examination Organiser Module

 

Error - validation Automation Error

 

I have followed the following instructions; And it is still the same??

 

1. Run a Windows Update on the affected machine via Internet Explorer - Tools | Windows Update

 

2. Uninstall SIMS Infrastructure via Add/Remove Programs

 

 

 

3. Install SIMS Infrastructure by running e.g. S:\SIMS\SETUPS\SimsInfrastructureSetup.exe

 

4. Locate the SIMS .net folder and rename this to SIMSold.

 

5. Run SIMSApplicationSetup.exe

 

Any ideas please... Sims are very slow to respond...

[synaesthesia]

Call them and shout at them. It's exam results time. Had a problem ourselves and they were quick. Although it was our guys that sorted it, not them

[Achandler]

I rung about an exams issue at 8am this morning and still haven't had a call back.

 

The usual standard of support from Capita.

[Rozzer]

I hit that problem today. Just ran software updates and reinstalled sims application setup and sims infastructure. Odd issue...

 

Ross

[swiftysw1]

@Rozzer Did it sort your problem?? If so I still try it again.

[Sivadam]

It seems very strange that you have not found these issues before today. Surely somebody has been logging into EO for the past few days/weeks to ensure it works ok!

Capita Support will be snowed under with Cases today, as they normally are. And most of that will be fielding questions about issues caused by the Exam Boards with faulty results files. A good example of that is on the SupportNet Forum re. ONAT results!

[swiftysw1]

@Sivadam My job entails looking after my MIS system (As a whole) - We have 80 users. All of which have their own job to do.. Shorley I cannot babysit every user..?? and know all their jobs too..

 

Si

[Sivadam]

Sorry swiftysw1 - it was not aimed at you specifically. I empathise with you on this!

If nobody had used EO here in the recent past, then I would be asking some very pertinent questions to the Exams Officer and maybe to senior other staff as well.

[DMcCoy]

Exams organiser doesn't update properly when using the simsperm.bat even while the rest of sims.net updates for a non machine administrator. The only way to fix is for the user to be an administrator on the machine so the upgrades work, or to reinstall sims.net on the machines that need EO used each time it updates.

 

It's been like that for years.

 

Edit: It may be fixed with Solus 3 deployment running as system

[swiftysw1]

No; I have logged in as admin and am using solus3 too ;(

[Gatt]

Ah this old chestnut!!

I remember it well (anyone else - think back 2 years ago!! )

 

the only solution I have found was to delete the SIM.net folder and reinstall it..

 

I'm amazed it hasn't been fixed yet!

 

Actually wait - no I'm not as we are talking about Capita here!!

Edited August 15, 2012 by Gatt

[Rozzer]

@Rozzer Did it sort your problem?? If so I still try it again.

 

Yep sorted my problem out.

 

Ross

[swiftysw1]

@Rozzer Not mine ;(

[Ashm]

As DMcCoy touched on, we have the same issue if a standard domain user runs the upgrade and then tries to run the Exam Organiser module. Reinstalling SIMS as an administrator user solves the issue for us.

[swiftysw1]

@Ashm How do u reinstall? What process?

[Gatt]

Unless it's changed since I last used it (2 years ago!) then its usually just a case of deleting the SIMS.net folder

Then rerunning the SIMS installer - as an administrator! (SIMSINST?)

[synaesthesia]

Ours seems OK - forgot to run simsperm.bat (or my modified version for win7) on the two exam peoples machines today so they had a paddy when SIMS tried to install "Summer Update Take 4 (We Will Get It Right One Day)". Did a global GPO for the permissions instead and all seems well.

[Ashm]

@Ashm How do u reinstall? What process?

Log into the computer as an admin user and then run SIMSAplicationSetup.exe (usually located in S:\SIMS\Setups) normally fixes the issue. As Gatt says you could run the SIMSINST installer to reinstall everything.

 

We're using SOLUS 2 by the way, I'm not sure if this process would work if you're using SOLUS 3.

[ihaveaproblem]

I had the same problem.

Fix for me was,

 

1) Uninstall Sims Disover.

2) Uninstall Sims.net by deleteing the contents in Program Files

3) Restart

4) Install Sims.Net logged in as domain admin

5) Test Exams Module ( Was working now )

6) Install Sims Discover.

[synaesthesia]

Log into the computer as an admin user and then run SIMSAplicationSetup.exe (usually located in S:\SIMS\Setups) normally fixes the issue. As Gatt says you could run the SIMSINST installer to reinstall everything.

 

We're using SOLUS 2 by the way, I'm not sure if this process would work if you're using SOLUS 3.

 

For note it wouldn't as it doesn't use those same programs from the SETUPS directory. Bit of a pain as there's no longer a handy workaround for those odd few machines that just wouldn't install/update otherwise

[t4ll1f3r]

@swiftysw1 have you tried switching it off and back on again.

Sorry Si it had to be said!

[PhilNeal]

@Achandler - did you get a call back? If not please drop me a note and I will investigate. I note your comments "the usual standard..." It would be helpful to have other examples so that I can investigate those too.

Thanks

Phil Neal, Managing Director, Capita SIMS

[Achandler]

Nope no callback.

 

Luckily I found I could print reports if logged in as a domain admin on the server... so I have everything we need for tomorrow.

 

I don't mean to be rude but I find almost all problems that I report that aren't an instant fix result in waiting a while for a call back (I have waited for 2 weeks once and had even forgot I had phoned up! That was something to do with a document store), and usually in that time you have found your own work around. I'll just wait to see if they phone back tomorrow, not that is of any use because I don't want to print out copies of the pupils results tomorrow, and you can't delay results day.

 

On a good note the phone was answered suprisingly quickly, I assume Capita have employed more staff to deal with download day problems, so that was good and probably would have been good for simple issues.

 

I don't want to bad mouth Capita support anyway it is just disapointing when on a crucial day the support isn't there, it should also be noted that as of the end of August we will be moving away from SIMS so then I can moan about our new MIS provider not calling back when it is crucial instead

[PhilNeal]

@Achandler thanks for letting me know. I'll still look into this as although we've had a few difficulties with our case management system I was under the impression that things were under control.

[Achandler]

This morning I have received a note in my pigeon hole. Capita tried to contact me and left a message at 10.15am, so it appears that they did try to look into my case. They just ignored the fact I gave them my mobile number after I explicitly told them the switchboard was turned off and it would be the only way to contact me...