Sivadam

Good job we don't use Chemsford then........! http://hgs.sheffield.digitalbrain.com/site/util/custom/editor/default/editor/images/smiley/msn/regular_smile.gif

Exactly right Matt! We have some very knowledgable staff here but we have to ensure that we have a comprehensive succession plan in place in the next couple of years! I ain't too far from moving into a life of 'leisure'. One of the main issues is getting somebody to take the timetabling role that I have held for over a quarter of a century. On at least two occasions now, I have managed to inservice senior staff into timetabling in general (inc Curriculum planning!) and then into the basics of NT6. Each of these staff then subsequently left the school to move to a higher management position in another school before they have even had chance to attempt putting a timetable together! I don't normally comment on questions about Capita and LA costs costs because they will be dependent on different criteria in each school/LA, but this is an easy one to answer! 'SIMS Guidance on Chargeable Fixes' is in the Sticky Items section on the SupportNet Homepage, as is the 'SIMS Customer Support Charter'.

Shame on you ................ !!!!! http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newforum/images/smiley36.gif

One actually wonders whether one would actually like another such post to appear before the Season of Goodwill ....... !!!! ......... or not! Red is far more 'Christmasy' than Green - especially as it's the wrong shade of Green!

Not even me ................. !!!!

Who said I wasn't serious ....... ??? http://support.capitaes.co.uk/newforum/images/smiley36.gif And I deliberately said MIS systems so that nobody could complain! It's all quiet on that front at the moment. I am in serious danger of losing my Red reputation again! It's Christmas shortly and more red would be most appropriate!

True! Maybe further faults should be built into the MIS systems in order to create more jobs for the unemployed!

Unfortunately one cannot legislate for those that do not provide the correct information in the first place. At least it only takes a few seconds to re-instate the Page setups. At one time you also lost the Font Settings, Table Settings etc. At least it doesn't do that anymore!

This issue has always been with us and continues to be so. Personally I ensure that the rtf works in the sense of delivering the data that I require. Formatting the page is the last operation I do.

The 'issue' is still there if you continue to edit templates as you/me/we may have always done. Us old timers often forget to check the new Handbooks when they are issued with each release. In this case I believe that following the Handbook instructions implicitly will enable you to edit reports without there being problems (both rtf and mailmerge). I concur with the advice re. exporting and saving SIMS Reports however. Then again ..............

And I thought that 'southerners' began at the Trent!

As regards costing, I would suggest that you contact Capita directly to get a quote for what your school actually requires. The actual cosats that you will pay will depend on which packages you want to buy into, the level of support that you require and the size of your school. You will have to pay an administration fee for the move to be made. Once you have such a quote then you can make a more informed decision. We opted for the cheapest level of support for the reasons I have stated above. What I did not say is that this also includes telephone and remote access support if/when we need it.

SLG is supposed to be compliant with the latest two version of SIMS.net but the reverse is not, theoretically, true. Since we installed SLG in October 2008, I have updated SIMS.net before SLG three times and have had no issues on either occasion. Thanks for the comments but being as you have both on the same version then I cannot guarantee that upgrading SIMS.net without upgrading SLG won't cause issues.

Perhaps you can help me re. a query? Have you get any issues with your current SLG due to your SIMS.net now being one release ahead of SIMS.net? We are also told that SLG must be upgraded before we upgrade SIMS.net. You will see from the SLG thread why I need this information. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

And what about this scenario:- The SIMS Discover Field Trial Licence etc was released to us Field Trial Schools today. Obviously, we have to upgrade to SIMS v7.136 first. And ...... I guess you can complete the last bit yourselves! The first SIMS Discover Conference call is scheduled for 6th December! Hopefully I will receive a swift response to the questioning email I have just sent to Capita SIMS UAT!

And Graham is one person who I would approach if I needed any extra help with SIMS!

The support I need almost always refers to new functionality that has been introduced and is, in my view, not operating as intended. Invariably, my Support Cases are quickly moved up to escalation as they are 'real issues'. The software is repaired or enhanced so that my issue is resolved via a Site Specific Patch, or all schools that use SIMS benefit as a result of the release of Global Patches or Fixes included in future upgrades. There are a couple of such fixes included in the Release Notes for SIMS v7.136. I do not need to use SIMS Support re. normal use of the Software because I am obviously here and can inservice our staff in the functionality that we require. This includes much of the new functionality included in new releases, as I will have normally already tested it at UAT. Hence my comments in my original post! It is also why I suggested that competence in the software was important before moving to SIMS Support! In my case 'support' is obviously a different concept to 'support' that others are referring to. Any gaps in my knowledge of SIMS are quickly filled by use of SupportNet 'Solution Search' or via the SupportNet Forums. I do not normally 'need' a support desk to do this!

Thank you Debby. You have highlighted the main reason that I prefer to in-service staff myself. That and the fact that they are training on real data and also using the software as tailored to this establishment!

Ah but I like it to be done correctly! No offence but I would only ever trust myself or Capita Trainees to do that!

The main issues that arise re. Templates are usually associated with Mail Merge Reports. If the instructions are followed correctly as per the Reporting Handbook - Page 39, 'Editing the Report Mail Merge Document' then issues should not arise. So, please regard this as an addendum to my statement above!

This school did exactly what you are suggesting a few years ago. I would not recommend this unless you are absolutely certain that somebody in the school has a complete understanding of all aspects of SIMS and that somebody also has a complete understanding of the Technical side re. installations, networking etc etc. This could, obviously, be the same person but I have yet to meet anybody working in a school who could claim to be that proficient. We moved because, at that time, the LA did not support all aspects of SIMS and we were using SIMS Products that we had bought into directly with Capita and were obviously supported by them, such as Learning Gateway. We were also involved in Field Trials such as Cover7, which again were supported by Capita. It made perfect sense to have all our support with the same support team. We have never regretted the move and the support we have had, direct from Capita, has been nothing short of excellent. That is not to say that we have had preferential treatment! Because I can log all cases directly on to SupportNet, I can explain in detail what the issue is, what I have attempted to do to the resolve the situation and any workarounds that I may have sorted out. Trying to do this via a 3rd party support team is often not that successful as, sometimes, the gist of the information can get accidently corrupted as it is passes through the intermediary. The move also, I believe, benefitted Capita to some extent as we are now heavily involved in Field Trial Testing, UAT, Software consultation etc. etc. because they also respect the expertise that we have in the school. Having said all this, I reiterate - unless you are fully proficient in all aspects of SIMS then I would not recommend you to take this step. I have said the same to some other staff in Sheffield Schools who have asked me the same question. Your knowledge of, and expertise in, SIMS needs to be equivalent or, preferably, greater than that of the current Support Team!

Chance would be a fine thing. With school budgets as they are we have all on trying to train up the staff that we currently have. It has been agreed that out admin team is under-strength but we simply cannot afford to appoint anybody else! So .............. ............... we manage!

Just open the Report in Design View and then do a 'Save As .......' The new report will then be 'owned' by you!

This issue was a real headache when we first provisioned SLG in September 2008. We had many parents who did not return their data check sheet at the time. And it was sent out in different ways - both by post and by the pupils themselves. The data check sheet was accompanied by a letter explaining the consequences of errors in our Contacts due to non-return of said datacheck sheet. At least one letter that I sent re. SLG User Names went to the wrong address due a house move that we knew nothing about. Fortunately we discovered this quite quickly and, thankfully, there was no issue with the particular parent. We did have a record of how many times we had contacted this parent - including a phone call that also failed to illicit the correct information (they were too busy to discuss on the phone - and they 'would' return the data check sheet!)

It is my opinion as well! And I am completely open about that! I have constantly stated that I am posting here for exactly that reason! I naively think that there are now fewer posts that attack the software for no apparant or for misconceived reasons than there were previously! Actually I had quite a good reputatio at first and it only moved into the red when posts that I suspected of being mailicious appeared! The support that I got outside the forums at that time was astounding! Having lost all the red aquares that obtained at the time I have since moved back into the green! I wonder how long it will last! Ha! Ha! - too late - I am Red again! I have got my reputation back! End of thread again for me - unless of course somebody comes back at me!