matt40k

FYI, I've put in a request to the DfE for an updated list.

Shame Capita can't give an option to use MS-SQL Audit, loads better then using profiler - can pick what tables to audit and less of a performance impact. OK don't think it works on Express but hey.

I've just done a minor release for the old 1.7 release - which seems to be pretty popular lately, this includes fixes for the most common issues reported. If your running 1.7.21 it's worth a upgrade - https://simsbulkimport.codeplex.com/. Anyway, I need sleep now

I wouldn't quite say killing it, development has speed up on the application side. Forced to adapt to a changing market perhaps.

Go wash your mouth out with soap then go stand in the corner.

ROFL!! Let's hope you can spread the bug about a bit. Could be interesting when you've got a room full of suppliers all winking at you!! Still be even worse when they start talking prices and we start at £0 and supplier winks - not quite sure what the policy is exchanging services for "other services", I suspect it's not positive. Should make interesting Friday conversation in the Christmas jumper wearing office

You've just made RackSpace and Microsoft cry - you haven't heard about private cloud and the whole mashup of hybrid-ness so you can physically locate the servers but have the power of the cloud.

You know @PhilNeal going to quote you when they announce a (true) cloud SIMS

I think that's one of the reasons why it's not nearer the top of list of things to do, still it's on the list and it's going to get sorted. So till then the fire fighting will have to continue and hopefully someone will step up.

Don't tick install SQL server, install the SQL tools to the SQL binn (simssqlapplicationsetup.exe \ s3), the restore the database.

@GREED we both know schools look for the LA for advise, if every school did independently look at every MIS product out there nothing would get done!! The DfE framework was them basically them say, hey, these companies\products are OK and pretty much the same. I'd be interested in what MIS system the LA choose (which sucks the data from the schools).

You forgot the quotes mate, remembers he's a sales guy, so great means face lift. To counter my cynicalism, they do have a good team who's building a better product with every release.

That errors relates to it trying to check for updates. V2 won't work, I never finished the logic for UDF. v1.7 should work - but only if it's a single text line. What is the UDF type? You'll have to do the workaround unfortunately - SIMS Bulk Import - View Issue #1531: Unable to import UDFs

What does it need to end up in?

Your SIMSINST is out of date and you wouldn't want to create a new blank SIMS database.

@Chuckster You've missed off the Program Files\SIMS\* folder where the application lives!! @Ghostgame has a point, that way users don't have permissions to a protected folder that can undermine software restriction polices. Also you won't have issues with Exams or Nova etc that need to register COM components.

Sounds like you need to set the email location - home\work\other. the issue with the crashing is it's waiting on the sims api/business objects to return the data, in that version i think it was only one thread so it appears to crash, I'd recommend importing a year group at a time and being very patience, SIMS isn't known for its speed!!

@Rawns ideal world, you upgrade every 3 years, real world, not always that easy. If your school is closing, like a Middle school in a LA that is going to a two-tier system, I doubt you'll want to spend money on a new server. Personally Capita need to physically restrict the upgrade working on unsupported systems so you MUST run a supported system and you can't run into trouble such as running on critical with sensitive data on a insecure system and get hacked. I doubt Capita have the balls to do it. This is the only way you're going to get everyone upgrade in time. You'll be surprised how fast you can cut throw the red tape when you have the census looming which is going to be used to work out the schools budget!

@Ephelyon old version work ok?

I think it'll be wise if @PhilNeal confirms that 2003\XP is going to work, otherwise the first MS security release after 2003\XP is dropped by Microsoft we're going to see a hack and a list of schools who's vulnerable. I'm sure no-one would be stupid enough to target schools specifically, but idiots are unpredictable and I'd, personally, rather not make it easy for them.

Should work ok - SIMS Bulk Import - Download Release File I know some of Microsoft DNS servers had issues a while ago that affected Codeplex, so might be worth another try. Failing that you could send me £250 and I'll mail you a copy on a CD

Haha, I open source all the small stuff I do so I invite people to steal the code! The idea is you get a bit of a rep. It's just at the moment it appears my rep is being used to demonstrate failings in a certain MIS provider and to be fair, they kinda deserve it. They're not exactly healthy for the open-source community. On the plus side I've got favours all over the place.

You can download it here (for free) - http://http://simsbulkimport.codeplex.com/ Not tried it on Autumn 2013 yet, should work however, perhaps if someone could try for me. I've not actively developing it, but I do get the odd request for help and if anyone finds anything that breaks I'll fix it. V2 is pretty much on full stop - Capita suppose to be releasing a similar tool but I don't know any more then that, I guess someone pointed out that it's pretty bad promoting using the Business Objects as a must if Capita themselves and their major partners just write direct SQL, especially when it's vulnerable to SQL injects. It all depends if they try to slap a price tag on it and if the right person asks

Thought you were going to say "One release to rule them all!" Lol. Actually ONE is a dirty word, I better go wash my hands for typing such a sinful word.

What are the current odds at the moment for the number of releases?