PhilNeal

Olcinm, you have summarised our position quite well but I will pick up on a few points. CTF is designed to move data from one school to another at change of key stage. SIF is designed to be used day in day out so the temporal issue is important. We do keep dates against most items names, address, assessment etc etc. It is easy for a non temporal system to receive data from SIMS but if data is coming into SIMS do we assume that the relevant date is today or do we drop it into suspense and ask the operator to enter it? A school’s data needs are different to the DCSF. The DCSF take snap shots of data for statistical purposes – it is not a working database. We need to show where a child’s address is now. Our pupil tracking system needs to assign a date to a reading test. In our view the temporal aspect is important and in any case that is how SIMS is designed and changing it is just not practical! We are working with Becta and the other suppliers to refine the SIF data model for the UK but it is not ready yet. For example a child’s attendance data is not sent as marks against a day, it is sent as the number of present marks in a period. Our central system needs to know exactly when a child was present. We are helping to define the assessment data needs in a second proof of concept. We do think that IMS is a much simpler and cheaper means of getting data from an MIS to a VLE and it is available in SIMS today at no extra cost. We are working with UniServity, Viglen, Granada, Fronter and RM to refine this solution. There are no per pupil charges and it is simple to set up. We do not understand the full cost of SIF and if you look at the Becta report on SIF by PWC I think that comes out. What will the pupil/year cost be that a school has to pay to transport the data? How much will it cost to administer – the proposed model envisages the LA running the ZIS server for all of its schools. Suppose every school has 5 separate applications that are linked by SIF – would that require an extra member of staff in the LA to manage the 1250 or so links? I could write a great deal more but I won’t!

I don't think there will be a fault here. Check that none of the other search critera have anything in them that makes it impossible to find.

.. and that is true but we completed the additional work earlier that we thought possible.

SIMS has to upgrade the workstation that you are on. It then updates the database - if that is successful it will then upgrade the remaining workstations. By the sound of it the database thought it had upgraded.

If its SIMS we record to dwelling level and attach all individuals at that dwelling to the same address. When you change an address you are asked if you are simply editing i.e. got it wrong or moving. If you move all people that live at that dwelling can be moved in a single go - if that is what you want.

Kiran - the Homepage timeline will have cover showing on the timeline.

This is too technical for me to answer so I'll have to ask someone and get back to you. We won't force the use of AD if that answers your question.

I have heard from a lot of sources that the fire service ignore any lists and search the building anyway.

There is a problem with disconnection - we thought it was caused by people trying to grap the files too soon. It is being fixed ASAP. We have also ordered higher band width which will be in place in Jan 08.

Sorry but none of these methods is reliable (if I understand things properly). Connections to the server are tranisent at the moment because we wanted to be sure that MSDE would be viable. During 2008 we will move to permanent connections which will then provide a reliable test.

Kiran, I'll get something posted on SupportNet that shows you some screens. Should be there within 24 hours.

TeddyKGB I don't know the answer but I think you'd get a faster response on SupportNet. We do have IMS links built into SIMS which can be used to update a VLE with class memberships, teachers etc. I know that some Moodle users have been working on a link but don't know how far they have got. The only thing that you need direct access to NOVA-T4 for now is Cover although .net does call some bits of T4 to print timetables.

DMcCoy this is unacceptable and I apologise. I have asked the service manager to investigate what is happening here. Nick it is not a recognised process to close a case and open a new one to make the stats look better. The process is to close a case if there is no response to a solution from you within 3 days. If you come back and say a solution hasn’t worked the case should be reopened and the clock still ticks. It would help us to help you if you complained to the service manager or me [email protected]. when things like this happen. We want to provide you with a good service.

Yes the SDK is a command line reporter. Klawd I'm happy to receive a PM or email from you to explain your concerns.

Our stance on this is that tapping directly into SIMS tables is that it invalidates our warranty. Basically if you hack into tables and you mess things up we will charge for putting it right. We provide the SDK which many people are happy with and we also support the use of our business objects. Your support unit would need to be involved if you take the BO route as they would need to support you.

Andy's suggestion is sound. Use the CTF export from the smaller school and bring it into SIMS in the larger school. Merging schools data is complex but we have produced a school merge routine that goes much further than a CTF and it is possible that your LA has already purchased this. It makes sense for them to do so as so many schools will be going through this over the next two years. If they haven't we could offer the merge as a service to you if you are interested.

I'm told you can place all patches into a single directory and do the backup once.

It is SIMS Learning Gateway and it has been available for around 2 years. The next generation ready for MOSS 2007 is just about there. Pricing varies according to who hosts it and how much you take up. Rather than plug things here please call our desk if you want more details.

Grommit, I will willingly investigate any complaint that you have if you would like to identify yourself to me.

SIMS does have a browser front end for teachers that is tested on a Mac.

I should ask on our forum - if they haven't heard of it, it doesn't exist!

This is caused by some redundant pre-August code for Teachers Desktop upgrades. It should have no effect on your use of SIMS. It may not be possible to fix this for November release but should be fine for December.

Adam the resource was incorrecty flagged and that is being corrected. We believe that you are not seeing SIMS.NET in the Solution Search because your account needs to be adjusted. Please contact our services desk to get that altered.

Adam - I will ask the support team to look at this tomorrow.

If SIMS is running slow then there is probably another cause. For example 300 full page reports will print in less then a minute and that involves grabbing data from attendance, assessment and gluing text together.