Banjo

Was the SIMS db attached to SQL when you renamed the server? I've seen this cause problems in that past and I've had to hack host files to get all the workstations to connect.

Did you build the new server with the same name as the old, or did you build it and then rename it to the old name or is it completely different name ?

Look for a folder called SNOVA of the Sims server, it might be there. You can copy & paste it to the laptop and it will work. You will also need the licence.dat file to activate a new install. If you have annual maintenance for SIMS then Capita/yoursupport provider will send this file across (less than 30mb) its just a simple run and click/click install. If your using another MIS but were still using T6 for TT then your will need to get your cheque book out :-(

Easy fix - change the name from Field to 'Sports Day Cover on Field' The only other way of doing it is to TT the event and assign staff.

Don't panic you seem to have it covered. Just produce a simple checklist of the reports to run off SIMS if anyone asks. You won't get a FOI for individual data, but you may get somebody making a Subject Access Request (see below). When the new General Data Protection regulations come in force then the schools will need to update their data polices and may need to undertake privacy assessments - but that's a whole new ballgame. Information about children may be released to a person with parental responsibility. However, the best interests of the child will always be considered.This right of subject access means that parents/guardians/children may make a request under the Data Protection Act to any organisation processing their personal data.They can ask the organisation they think is holding, using or sharing their personal information to supply them with copies of both paper and computer records and related information.Organisations may charge a fee, there are special rules that apply to fees for paper based health records (the maximum fee is currently £50) and education records (a sliding scale from £1 to £50 depending on the number of pages provided). Even if a child is very young, data about them is still their personal data and does not belong to anyone else. It is the child who has a right of access to the information held about them.Before responding to a request for information held about a child, organisations should consider whether the child is mature enough to understand their rights. If the organisation is confident that the child can understand their rights, then it will respond to the child rather than the parent. What matters is that the child is able to understand (in broad terms) what it means to make a subject access request and how to interpret the information they receive as a result of doing so.

What version of Discover are you installing?

Within SQL what accounts do the services run on? SQL Server = LocalSystem ? SQL Server Agent = NT Authority/NetworkService ? SQL Server Browser = NT Authority/LocalService ?

If it were me I'd try installing another SQL Instance (even use Express using the Capita SQL installer and settings) and attach the SIMs db from using restore from a .bak. The run the Discover installers and try to link them together. Capita can get this to work offsite so it's either your SQL instance or a Windows setting.

If your talking about what I think your talking about can you set the default value? @GREED - If you can then its works better than mapping attendance.

Ouch!. I've done Facility to SIMS and getting the data out of Facility is pretty straight forward. Most of the reports are already available to use within the system or could be shared from other school who have gone through the process. Not sure this is the case with Progresso or cloud based MIS in general. You should have a 'project manager' from Capita to help with this conversion. Ask them for the name of any other school either going through this process or one that has very recently converted. Worth giving them a ring as they may be able to help and share their experience.

Good luck. Will the students attendance records be transfered by Capita or will they have to be typed in?

LOL> its part of the Room Booking feature - Sports Hall, Gym, Drama Theatre, Basement Manager.... :-)

You can have comments (from the bank) that are automatically triggered by a grade that’s entered into basement manager. If you collect the grades or have already collected them, these can be linked across to automatically produce some of the written report. Targets are best collected in assessment manager. Very easy to create a group for all CLA across the school.

My advice is to do a dry run. Once the session is started its locked down and major changes can't be made. Create one - and have a play yourself at putting stuff in for all the year groups/subjects. If your happy close it down and do a real one with the staff.

The last time we heard anything substantial was when Becta were around. The world has changed since then, we have MAT's, academy chains and CEO's being paid £400,000 per year. The spotlight has firmly moved away from LA's to these 'newcomers' and how they operate financially. LA's are 'Legacy' with a fast approaching end of support date :-)

Bham are in transition now. The LA have just dumped Capita as their IT and back-office service provider and schools in the LA don't have that solid relationship required with the LA to be 'directed' to buy any IT/MIS system they would reccomend. (words of the LA not mine)

That's why I'm expecting that the current SIMS licencing that LA's/schools/academies hold will carry over to the new version. That's sort of what Phil hinted at if you read between the lines of the previous posts. How much annual maintenance you have to pay and will there be a differential between versions will be an interesting question. Let's hope it's a flat price across both versions.

That's the current Capita model. Hefty fee upfront for licencing and then pay your annual maintenance fee. I'm going to assume that this will still be the same for SIMS 8 for schools moving back to SIMS from another platform - maybe Phil can confirm if their are 'one off' fee's for schools without a current SIMS 7 licence?

@PhilNeal> that’s good to know. Schools didn't pay extra in licencing to move to the .Net platform and away from 'STAR' many years ago. I can see the logic and precedent for not re licencing SIMS version 7 when upgrading incrementally to version 8. Smart move that will be welcomed by all, with the exception of the other ‘players’ in the market.

Best way is to self certificate. Advanced should give you a 'how to' on implementing this. From memory it was via a cmd prompt.

We use Attix5 (RBUSS) from Redstor and approved by Capita. Its a cloud backup with a plugin for SIMS/FMS/Discover live databases and also your Docstore, backup folder, CTF, Star folders etc. Any backup from Studio will have issues with logging in. It can be fixed with scripting but is a PITA. We have to DR several times a year and never had an issue.

@PhilNeal > So all the current schools using SIMS 7 can move to SIMS 8 at no extra licencing cost?

You might be able to login to SIMS with the sysman account - run the patch to reset the password if necessary. Once you’re in, all the staff accounts will be there, but you will need to regenerate their passwords and send them out.

That's a good point. Schools converts to SIMS -buy licence, new version is available year after, do you get a hefty discount or free within a grace period to move again.

All the SIMS users are in the SIMS database - Just opened up Wateredge in MSSQLStudio and Kevin Myles is in the SIMS db as EngWE2_MYLESK What I expect happened above is you didn't use the DBattach tool to attach the databases to the new instance. Just using MSSQLStudio it wont like one bit and you wont be able to login. You ideally need to use DBattach, either the .mdf file or restore the .bak file using these Capita tool(s).