Banjo

You haven't said whether you are doing a backup restore using SQL or the.bdb files? My Advice, don't bother with the SQL restore route, use .bdb. If you are using .bdb files then scrap the current database on the new server and create a new one with the same users and permission as the last database. E.g. You'll need to create a user within the new instance of SQL that matches the owner of the old database (usually STUD_ADMIN)

You could try CLM and group call to solve the attendance problem. To write a report the teacher would need to login to a eportal write the report, and then that school exports the reports as a pdf to be uploaded to the other two schools doc storage. Not ideal, but a work around. Or you could just wait for Progresso

Just produce a CTF file from Sims (routines | data out | CTF) for all your pupils and import into Caspa. From what I remember when you install Caspa it asks you whether you are a Sims school or not and if you say 'no' it changes the options to allow you to import CTF files.

Yes its a pain, but then Capsa is buggy, don't get me started on how it converts (randomises) data from B-Squared into the assessment tables. We use CTF's to import the data into Caspa - much easier.

I'm led to believe that Progresso uses SQL reporting services. Unless your publishing your data straight to a web page then this might be the wrong avenue to explore.

From memory it's the very last step that can cause big time issues - it's a pretty innocuous step (can't remember it from the top of my head) but if you don't get it right it ignores the import rules that you have set up on where the data should go, and slaps the results in a shotgun fashion into the database!

You don't need a tool you can run a data import routine within Facility. Ideally the Excel sheet will contain three items; Student ID, Subject code and Target Level. You can then create an import routine that will take this data straight into the Template.

Use the nested 'if then else' to compare actual to target and you can colour code within this function. Helps if the gradesets for the aspects have a points value.

We looked at this some time ago to automate the production of the LA update file. It is possible (and so would automating an internal Facility backup .bdb) if Serco proublished the parameters to pass into the .dll file

2008, as Capita's support for 2003 ends next year.

3 days doesn't sound right. If the host server is fully patched it takes 30mins to install and configure SQL 5mins to copy and paste the Admin/docs folder from one sever to the next and create the connection file. 15mins to restore just the current academic year into SQL from a .bdb file 10mins to install a fresh copy of Eportal and copy n paste settings files across 10mins to Configure IIS 5 mins for a reboot Job done. Leave the rest of the Datasets restoring over night which takes a couple of hours depending on the size of the school Last job is to send out a new Admin shortcut pointing to the new server. I've done 50+ server build/migrations of Facility/Eportal and we do them in two hour slots.

You may have more than one connect.ini If you modded the network drive file, but the local connect.ini doesn't have a redirect then that's the issue. Check in the local programs files | sims folder for the connect.ini there

I think Vikpaw was referring to the top one, when he said they are no longer free to settings.

True, but the DfE number forms part of the pupils UPN. In this thread http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/79539-training-databases-end-nigh.html you said that the DfE/UPN's were being changed as they want to re use them. Just checked a pupil's UPN in the old training dataset and it's the same as the new database ?

The DfE numbers don't appear to have changed across the two databases

Were you told they are swapping DfE numbers out?

The benefit of swapping DfE numbers of a training database

Not sure of the benefit of doing this

Haven't you got the Capita supplied DfE unlock tool to change the number yourself?

Have they told you why?

See this thread for you answer: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/79539-training-databases-end-nigh.html

All very Hush Hush

Try running SQLApplication setup, from memory FMS has it's own dbattach, I think you may be using that one.

Also make sure you are working in NEXT academic year, otherwise you will have a nasty surprise in Sept!

It's built into the primary suite - slightly cut down version of what secondaries get but works a treat.