garrysaddington

When you generate the timetable it outputs a .csv file which *should* be enough to import. However, I don't know SIMS so someone else may be able to provide the import spec.

You could also try FET (Free Evolutionary timetabler) and not pay a penny. - FET - Free Timetabling Software

Blog article or advert for E1?

Can you provide a link to where this news can be read or have you heard it by word of mouth. Any further information would be much appreciated.

Not what you should be doing, what your MIS supplier should be doing, there is a separate document for schools. This is the other doc. Management Information Systems (MIS) and pupil tracking: Users' guidance

Do you mean like your MIS supplier should have already been doing, without making schools do the work. See the link below (from 2008). Management Information Systems (MIS) and pupil tracking: Developers' guidance What is the point of collecting all the data in a MIS to then have to export it somewhere else to do something useful with it. Why not have a spreadsheet open in the staffroom to collect the data and cut out the MIS? Then ask for a reduction in annual fees for your MIS.

The following document describes the need for security of MIS data: http://schools.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/remote_access.pdf It seems that even classroom access can be regarded as remote and therefore requires two factor authentication.

I don't know how much I can say without getting pulled again. So I'll just say that our product is fully supported on any recent Linux distribution.

Yes we did, got 500 of them at about £3 each from Ebay. Replaced them with HP dedicated thin clients in the end though. However, the problems with Linux were amply illustrated at Skegness, because when I left to work full time on ScholarPack, instead of looking for a Linux sysadmin, they took the path of least resistance (but massive cost) and reverted to MS. Amusing really as we had all up to date software - 2009 versions when I left, and they went back to Win 2000:(. Still that's life.

I think that it was more to do with politics than with practicality if I remember correctly, although you may be able to put me straight on this? I ran a whole school Linux network at Skegness for 6 years and it was more than practical, and it worked reliably all the time.

Agreed, but the core MIS is not web based.

If you read the very first mandatory point in this document it seems to suggest that SIMS should not be used, as you can't access it using web protocols.

We already have a common basic data set and a common transfer file (XML ) and web standards like XML-RPC and AJAX, can someone explain to me why any system that needs access to data in a MIS could not just request an automated ctf output from the MIS to extract the data that has changed since the last output - ie. new students? It could then automatically import said data. If the need is to write back, then the opposite could happen. Or am I being stupid? What about this:attached

Not using any MS software would bring even greater savings;)

So that other companies can't get the information to interface without paying Capita as a partner?

Try 'Liquid XML Studio' Download XML Editor, XSD Editor, XML Code Generator, XML Compression | Liquid Technologies They used to do a community free edition which is what I use, not sure if they still do. However, found it very useful. Also Oxygen is good if you buy it. Jedit seems to do everything and it is free.

This seems to be an entrenched view in the MS world - if you use open source then you won't get any support -more FUD. This is plainly completely wrong, and needs putting straight and is probably an insult on all the companies out there selling support for OS software. If you want free support get on mailing lists or IRC and speak with the developers directly, no helpdesks there. If you can pay then I'm sure Sun would sell you support for it's Java platform, Red Hat for its enterprise OS .......

OH dear! only MS can make good software then? Are you aware that the majority of "mission critical" web applications use free software? It seems that only UK schools and their suppliers live in legacy land;)

Not sure what all the fuss about upgrading is about, and I understand about MySQL and the advantages it gives. My company uses Postgresql and upgrades are just a matter of dump the old data and import into new shiny database server, job done, no cost! However, with most modern MIS (all?) so closely tied to MS you never know what the incentives there are to stick with them or indeed the costs of moving away.

Programme correctly so that there are at the most one or two places where the code needs changing would be a good start, not requiring rewrites of whole modules. I am slightly perturbed at the insistance that the DCSF are unreasonably requiring complicated rewrites when in reality it is over - complicated programming that is more than likely causing the problem. However, if it makes a good excuse then use it..........?

The point I was trying to make was how difficult it is to get any information about these systems without going direct to the companies. No demos/free trials or prices readily available. You have to go to the comany and then get hassled by sales people. I don't know why it had to descend into a pointless discussion about the analogies I had used. Vikpaw had the right idea and provided constrctive comments. Perhaps those on the list who know these systems could take the advice.

Yes I agree. In such a closed/secretive market why show people what you do and how you do it. I hope the Becta review does more that the original 2005 publication to change the situation. Some day perhaps a company will come along to innovate and hopefully cause a market dislocation?

Usually the item/software is given for free to testers. I would think that anyone writing for the technical section of any PC magazine would be more than qualified and probably slightly concerned at your assertions. There are also magazines aimed specifically at the education market. The MIS market in 2005 was estimated by BECTA to be worth £180 million, I doubt that Nikon would ever see this much from all their cameras in the UK let alone just one. OK, if Moodle is a poor example because it's free try 'MS Sharepoint review' instead.

If I search the web for Nikon d50 review, I get loads of results giving me in depth reviews of the said camera. If I want a review of Sharepoint or most other software I do the same and get loads of answers. If I do this for any school MIS, I get nothing that will help me to decide/purchase apart from bland pdfs with nice smiley faces and no real detail from the said companies. Why is this sector so shady in it's percieved lack of openness? By the way try 'moodle review' and compare it to 'Sims learning gateway review'. Just interested to know other contributor feelings on this one.

This is called exploitation, how are they allowed to get away with it?