michael2k6

Try to work out if it's a set of users, or a certain area of the school, or a certain image of machine, or only when someone does it to a class of a certain year, etc. As soon as you spot a pattern, there's a way of fixing it. In the mean time, make sure that people aren't using an external link (myschool.com for example) inside school, as this is the biggest issue we find causes caching problems internally. Also, try changing the browser settings to 'every visit to the page' (tools, options, browsing history settings). Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

Hi there, We all agree and we're testing methods with greater load testing ability is something we're implementing at the moment. Proof is in the pudding.

I do jobs for people that can return the favour. I have regular folk who are qualified for gas, water electricity, brickies, carpet fitters, one of them is training for worlds strongest man - they all have their uses at some point. I kinked a radiator pipe for example at jsut gone ten at night. 2 plumbers round my house within 15 mins, floorboards up, new pipe laid new valve fitted, cost nothing. It's the way to go, i tell ya.

I do apologise, i stand corrected, and thanks for the information that will come in handy.

Hi, Things have changed. If it's available using the API, your data is live. If you use csv's you have to surely produce a new set and upload them every time you want to refresh data? I believe (though i could be wrong, i'd have to check) that the certificate error is due to it being unsigned by a certified authority. IE verisign, for example, rather than the server address. The only way i know of to rid that warning is to purchase one, which costs about 500 squid per year. Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

As a slightly different option, you could see about working for us for a year? I have absolutely no idea whether we'd take you on for a year but i believe it's been done before. We're on Pride Park, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to get to. Like i say, don't get too excited, i don't know if it's something we're in a position to do at the moment and i have absolutely no power over recruitment! But why not give us a bell and ask? Michael Sanderson Serco Learning

Good to see the positive comments. The install procedure has changed again a little since then. In the way that some may be on site, but we try to make them all remote. It has its disadvantages, but they are greatly outweighed by advantages - such as if we were to drive for 4 hours round to do an install, it leaves us say 2 hours to actually do it. If we don't we have 6 hours to do an install which means there's a lot more time for looking at other things, like the server it's going onto and ensuring minimal fuss in the future. Plus we can go into more depth with the network manager as to what we've done, etc. We can always go on site as a second option. In terms of managing staff and their expectations, i think the important bit is keep them involved. Give them some sort of clue as to when things are hapenning, and the biggest thing is they dont feel on their own. Even if you know no more than they do, knowing they can speak to you about it (even if they dont expect a solution) might put their mind at ease, support has to be at their fingertips, both externally from us and internally from such as yourself. Perhaps of usergroup meetings internally at the important stages so people can keep in touch outside of the chatter - it's easy for things to get negative if for example the conversations develope in the staff room and several people voice concerns. If you're seen to be having good communication between everyone they ought to feel more positive, and also, you can help control the pitch of the meeting when you're in it, and make sure it stays positive. This way, expectations won't be so high that they are disapointed, but should be high enough to keep confidence up that the change is worth while. As for the changes, and listening to customers, i'm glad you've noticed. Pretty much everywhere you look there's room for feedback, and we do read it and act upon it. For example, at the end of a gotoassist session (remote software we use) there is room for positive, negative or neutral, and a comment. We can track back the feedback to individuals but they cannot see it themselves. On the knowledge base articles, as you'd expect, you're asked how useful it was and whether you'd like to make a comment, etc. I hope your experience is a positive one, i'm sure it will be. Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

Richard, It's a shame you're moving on but of course i wish you all the best and hope the move ultimately benefits the students, which after all is what it's all about. In terms of SQL 2008, what Michael says is right, you'll be licensed for 2005 if you buy 2008. If you're developing a new system, i'd probably go straight to 2008 to avoid any issues upgrading it at a later date (not that there should be any). Definately do some sort of upgrading before you start writing it, 2005 will make your life much, much easier. Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

Richard, This could be the reason your data's been corrupted. Technically speaking, it should of just stopped you from using it. But if you've been updating the database by saving student data, and you're on windows 2000 it might of left some tables locked etc. You shouldnt really be connected to the database while a service pack is being applied to SQL. It usually required a server restart, as you said and so is done out of hours. I believe you're one of our customers? If so and you're still have an issue please log a support call asap. If you've resolved it, i should probably mention that upgrades should always be done out of hours where possible, and also that we no longer support SQL 2000. Though if you are going to use it, service pack 4 should be on, and it's worth noting service pack 3 has a memory leak. To check which version of service pack you have, run select @@version go A version ending in .760 is service pack 3, or service pack 3a. 3 has the memory leak, 3a fixed it. Unfortunately the version number didn't change. so if you stick sp4 on, you're covered (ends in .2094 off the top of my head, but essentially, anything over 760 and you've cracked it). Hope this was useful, feel free to PM me if theres anything else. Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

Hi all, I'm glad you agree that there has been an improvement in support. Apologies if you're experiencing mildly longer queues, as you say, we've been busy since census and the last release. The support team quickly caught up over the holidays though and things should be back to normal. The implementation and installation process has altered in the last year or so too and i believe (though i haven't experience this as a customer) the process is now a lot more user friendly and geared much more towards keeping confidence in staff. Of course the improved support helps a lot, as does the documentation on our knowledge base, in keeping staff confidence high. Obviously when they experience a problem (it's inevitable with a new system of any type they will, be it configuration issues, software errors, user errors, or a lack of training) it is resolved quickly. I'd like to say technical support has improved too, the technical team used to be based in support specifically as part of second level, but have grown in size and we are now in implementation. So we do the installs, and are available during the implementation process should any issues arise, and then we take technical calls from second level support (or are available to support them) where necessary. This should help out people in your position more than previously. The point of me saying this is i'm not sure when coquet636 was implemented and how long they have been using the software (but obviously it's over a year ago) and so things may of changed. Any more comments, especially from newer customers in reply to me? I supose support is easy to compare to this time 12 months ago as long as you've had the software over 12 months, but implementation is much more difficult as no one goes through implementation twice. I hope which ever MIS you choose, you have a good experience moving. My first post was in a school who had just moved to Facility, as Data manager and admin network manager. The software was fine, as was the network, the biggest problem i had was staff simply not wanting to change, regardless of the reasons, be it better for the school, or the students. But after the initial period of change, when people start to see the benefit, that's when it really takes off. So my general advice would be do anything you can to keep confidence high, and if you have any problems with it yourself, lock yourself in a room before you shout about it! Good luck with your endeavours, Michael Sanderson Technical Team Serco Learning

I had a similar issue the other day when i turned the dizzie 180 to set better access to the bracket, and the haynes said as you look at the engine with the timing mark on the right the rotar arm goes clockwise. So i set it to 5 degrees and still got backfire. Turns out it goes anticlockwise. I've burnt the haynes.

Build yourself a VTEC type r mini. That's where my next 10k is going. couple of hundred horse power out of a slipper. Put a roll cage in it too.

@quackers - I've done this twice now, it's great. Same idea. Travel down in the motor, maybe spend £30 in disel, return, with my foot down, from West Yorkshire, then about a tenner on the tube return and about 3 quid for parking. Because you're at the end of the tube line you've got all zones return, you can do pretty much what you wanti in between.

Hi all, You're right - if you put in the expression boxes username and password it will look at the username and password field in the cmis database. The only staff that will work in this way in ePortal are those marked as active and with the 'teach' box checked (last time i checked). You've done the right thing in creating a new account. Although - i thought i'd mention that you can change username to dispcode if you wish (there are various, but dispcode is most common) which will make their username the ID in the cmis database, which is usually something like their initials, but staff usually know it. Some people prefer this option than having a seperate username. Just to clarify - the Supply account is there on a default install, but is not enabled.

Don't supose you haven't got round to selling that picture of the Jag XF?

Here's where i throw a spanner in the works... chocolate covered rich tea, which cadbury's now make. So... 1) Choclate Rich Tea 2) Chocolate Rich Tea - And they are both for dunking. I accidentally discovered one day that modelling tweasers go a long way for aiding in the dunking ceremony - chocolate covered rich teas soon melt onto your fingers, which if fine if you're in a position to clean them, but not if you're also typing. Use some decent modelling tweasers and problem is solved. If you eat enough of them you end up typing with the fingers on one hand and with the tweasers in the other.

@cheredenine: I'm sorry to hear you were given the wrong information. I'm on annual leave at the moment, but when i return to work in the new year i'll write a communication about licensing and send it to all implementation, sales, and support staff to ensure that everyone is aware of SQL licensing. As it isn't our software it is not something that has been trained in the past, but i will endeavour to make it part of the systems admin course, so any new staff will also be aware of this. Of course, this doesn't help your current situation, but please be confident that i'll do my best to ensure this doesn't happen again. If you want to discuss this further, please PM me and i'll be happy to send you my mobile number or call you on a number you might provide. Again, i apologise for the wrong information being given initially. Michael Sanderson Technical Team Engineer Serco Learning

Don't be too put off, phone them - Mine says no, but i've already got it - not the 50mb, but 20mb - and it says the alternative to the 50mb is up to 16 through a phone line - not me, got it coming straight in from the fibre link at the top of the road. Phone them and check, i will be doing.

Hi guys, Michael's right in everything he said and i agree. The licensing for ePortal with SQL works by users concurrently connected to eportal. Even if it were the dataserver being connected to the database, you'd still need 5 because that's the default number of maximum SQL connections. But, it is considered 'multiplexing' software and when using multiplexing software each user must have the license, not each connection made by the software. It is a good time to buy as you'll be covered by 2008, though we don't yet support it, it makes you future proof. The reason we don't support SQL 2000 is because it has been phased out of mainstream support. I apreciate what you're saying about the chances are, it won't make much of a difference, but we have seen some queries perform differently in the different versions of SQL and it's no longer tested on 2000, so you never know. The other reason is we had to stop supporting (and therefore testing) SQL 2000 or we would not have the resources to begin support (and testing) SQL 2008. If you're running SQL 2000, and you're happy, you can continue to do so, but if you phone us with a technical query (which usually only happens in terms of disaster recovery) the more time goes on, the less chance there is we'll be able to resolve the issue if you are using SQL 2000, as the support team aren't training using it anymore and there are significant differences. In years to come we will be using more and more of features found in 2005 and 2008 such as stored procedures and management views, among other things, that don't exist in 2000. So you're technically speaking safe for the moment, but if you've got a data issue and you're running 2000, we won't be able to support it, and at some point, there will be a radical change in the software which will cause you problems. That will not be any time soon, though. Back to what we were saying about SQL only using 1gb of RAM if you're on express - SQL will only use half of the server ram by default. If you are running a Windows 2003 box with SQL 2005 SP2 and ePortal on it, as recommended, this works out about right with 4gb of RAM, as you'd want half to go to SQL, a quarter to the OS and a quarter to ePortal (apprx). The thing to bear in mind with SQL is that it will load as much of the database as possible into RAM (buffer cache) to avoid writing directly to disk, which is what slows it down. A schools Facility DB is typically between 600mb and 1.2gb, depending on the size of the school and how you use the software. If you have a 600mb db and only 1gb of RAM available (due to it being express) you only have 400mb left for queries. If your db is 1.2gb in size, it will still reserve some for queries, say a minimum of 300mb for example, and so you'd find 700mb in buffer cache and 500mb writing directly to disk, which is where the speed issue comes from. You've certainly made the right decision going for standard.

Oh, ok i see. Merging the databases will be the most difficult bit as obviously you cant just merge them due to primary keys etc. I'm affraid to say due to the lack of involvement i have with the Irish software i can't be certain. However, after a recent conversation with a colleague about a school having an issue with firefox which was resolved over here when we started supporting firefox i'd say not. Though the issue could of had a different cause. I would imagine it will be in the future as the software develops. Again, the only way you can be sure would be to check with support. In terms of when these databases merge it will either be incredibly simple or incredibly difficult depending on what data you store and how much of it you need to keep (presumably all of it?). I'm sure that support / implementation (who ever is relevant in your case) will be able to advise you further though. If there is a fibre trunk between the two, and you have a high spec server, put them both on the same machine is ok, if you have spare machines lying around, keep them seperate, it will be easier to configure, support and update, and will not have any bearing on merging the two databases when the schools merge.

Hi there, I believe so, but i'm affraid you'd have to check with support. It is usually configured so that each school has its own deployment of the MIS on site. This will mean that you will need a server to host SQL, ePortal and Facility. If you want to centrally host the MIS system from one location you can, but you will need to be on a WAN to the schools or use a solution such as VPN. In this case, you will need a server of a much higher spec than normal and it will be a little more awkward to install, configure and update. But is indeed possible. For example, the only time it has happenned successfuly to my knowledge is when an Local Authority supporting all of the schools' infrastructure have hosted centrally (say 50 schools across 6 servers or high spec) which means they can keep better controll of the MIS system than if it were on site. They have high speed WAN out to each school. A VPN or Citrix solution is possible over the net but will be much slower and depending on connection speed might not be feasible. Let me know if you need any more detail or i've misunderstood the question.

I never had to build an IT suite as it wasn't my job, but i can vouch for the Sebel chairs! Bought a shed load of them and never had a problem.

@ Wil0 - i haven't had chance to read all of this thread yet, but that is a sweet mini! I run a mini club (not very well at the moment, i'm waiting for spring and the 50th aniversary!) in Pontefract / Wakefield, West Yorkshire - Welcome to The Full Ponte Mini Club (sorry for the poor site, the previous chap forgot to back it up and the server hosting ran out - grrr - i'm getting there). Check out the our cars gallery and the forum - we're all very friendly and there's nothing we can't do between us if you every want any help :-) I fancy a VTEC myself but if i do it, i'll have Geoff Watson build it, because he builds the best. If you give him a good standard of mini, and 12k you can drive it out with a vtec type R in it. Expensive, given that a good one costs about 6k, i think i'd buy a new sportspack shell and get him to put the rest of it together too. I reckon a budget of about 20k initially would do it. And that sounds a lot but you'd get one hell of a car. That's boxster money and i know what i'd choose.... i also know which is quicker. Watson's page is Welcome To WatsonsRally.co.uk - Home of the Honda powered minis :-)

At the school i used to work at, we had 2100 kids and it was deemed sensible that the kids would stay in the lessons they were in and line up like that rather than regrouping in that mornings form groups. The teachers would know who was in their class at the time, as would the kids. They simply report back anyone missing. The fire cheif agreed this was a better and more reliable way than relying on technology and endangering lives be keeping people in the building to print things off.

Hi all, LDAP is an addon which can be purchased. The passwords are displayed as clear text to the users who have the correct rights in Admin, but are encrypted in the database, with the usernames, and so just openning up the database table will not show you the passwords. You must first log into Admin with the correct user rights. Michael Sanderson Technical Engineer Serco Learning