ComputingData

The wierd gobbledegook (I think) is some kind of RTF style formatting. Maybe (not too sure) if you copy the data into a text file, then rename it with a .rtf, Word may import it? This way you may get any formatting back too. Alternatively, you can load it into ReportComplete or ReportPlus (the demo of either program should work) by using the ReportAssist Wizard in advanced mode and pointing to the turtle.zdb or whatever.

Great event!

Thx for that. What time does the conference start in the morning, couldn't find any info on the forums...

Any ideas on where the meal is tonight yet? I rang and was told it may be Chiccos on Garstang road?

Ok, np. Thanks.

I would really like to attend (I did last year), but I'm from a Company. I filled in the 'contact us' page, but no-one has got back to me, did you get the info?

I think this should be what you need (copied from the 2009 manual pdf): UPN Surname Forename Date of Birth (dd/mm/yy OR dd/mm/yyyy) Gender (M or F - use Gender-Code if using SIMS) Year (*see below for accepted year group formats) Class Teacher Name (use Current Reg Tutor- Full Name if using SIMS) (* For EYFS use any of the following formats: EYFS, ELG, Foundation, Reception, Nursery, R, N, R/N, YR, YN, YF, Year R, Year N, Year F or Year 0. For all other year groups: 1, Y1, YR1 or Year 1). NB: Even if you don’t want to import all the above you must still include all the field headings, simply leave the columns blank. -Anthony

I don't quite understand. Why is it the last year you can use ReportAssist? If it's because of new Windows 7 machines, can't you run it in XP emulation mode? Anyhow, I thought your school bought ReportPlus last year - did you go back to Report Assist? If you did go back, the you should give ReportPlus another go. We have updated the program addressing the concerns of users last year. These updates are also available to ReportPlus 2010 schools - just get the latest update - you won't have access to new 2011 features, but will have access to improvements in comms to our server, grades (like in RA), etc... The new manual is available as a pdf in the resources section of the website (the old foldout leaflet has gone, it's a manual like RA had now). Using Access to do reports would be a but of a nightmare. There is no proper editing component, you could possibly do it if your teachers were technically minded and understood the drawbacks, but I don't envy you.

All you need to know is that nothing is secure, everything can be hacked. Even RSA have recently been hacked: RSA hacked, data exposed that could 'reduce the effectiveness' of SecurID tokens -- Engadget imho schools shouldn't use wireless networks and the pupil management system should be on a completely closed computer. Wireless networks are fairly easy to hack (under 20 mins using an automatic device) if they use WEP, WPA may be just as easy to hack any day soon. Once on a wireless network you use a network card that acts in promiscuous mode to intercept all network traffic, grabbing passwords, data, etc as it goes from one ip address to another. Also imho, you should not buy a certain brand of router from a certain manufacturer, this is like a red flag to a bull. This particular brand is use by most military organisations, governments and banks - they are quite famous. There are IP wardiallers out they that specifically look for the charactistics of data replies for this brand. If you do use that brand, be prepared to have a member of staff looking 247 for zero day hacks. Cloud networks are a very attractive 'hack' - once you take over a cloud network then you generally have access to all the data for all the customers of that cloud network. imho if you want to keep your data secure, encrypt it before it get to the cloud network or don't use one. Again, all you need to know is that nothing is secure, everything can be hacked!

Ahh - If your phone no ends in 26 then we did try to call you but you were not available. A message should have been left for you about the Alt + V and my email address?

Ahh, for some reason it had been collected as spam. Sorry. I've just replied. Edit: I think it was collected as spam because you mentioned my Grandad, I did have something in there to send emails with his name in them to spam! lol! I had a lot of emails from reporters asking me about him after he died. I'll alter the setting now.

If you open the RTF file up in Word, then copy each subject in turn, you can paste it into the program using 'edit' > 'Paste (not AI)' or by pressing ALT and V. This will take sometime though I expect. I'll see what I can do about adding an Import from RTF file, if the RTF file hasn't been altered since exporting then I don't think this will be a problem.

Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I've been waiting for the site to come back online. I'm at the Edugeek conference today, but anytime after that, just pm me ur number and I'll be in touch.

See my PM to you about me telephoning you.

If you update your version then it doesn't matter if the others don't update (the version numbers that different teachers use do not have to be in sync - that would be a nightmare). I can't get what you're describing to happen easily, so as a suggestion you could try pressing Enter to make space for the paste/insert?

Hi Sarah, I think the problem is that it is too confusing to know which perspective you ae writing from in GroupWriter - are you writing for a boy or a girl, if so, which girl, etc.. So... I've just uploaded a new version that make's it much clearer whos perspective you are editing with in the GroupWriter. The Version you want is V2010 r8.3.45 (if update isn't flashing - the new default is not to flash if you have updated less than a week ago, click 'help > Check for new update'). It now displays the currently selected gender perspective above the GroupWriter editor, followed by the selected pupil's name and the current subject. As before, if you click on a different pupil then it will show the current group writer text from their perspective. If you find that the problem still occurs and it is not correctly copying and translating the pronouns then let me know and I'll let you know by a PM what files to email me so I can try reproduce the problem here.

1) I'll do some tests on this today. This obviously shouldn;t happen and I've never seen it happen before. The pronouns are control words, before pasting the program checks to see if the cursor is on a control word, it should only report this if you are actually about to insert in the middle of a control word (pronoun). I'll do some checking to see if I can also get that message to happen here when it shouldn't, I could possibly also change it so in this case it copies to the immediate right of the control word? (so this message would not appear) 2) The text should be written from the perspective of the currently selected pupil in the goup writer list. What may have happened was that you were typing for one pupil, but had actually selected another. I admit that it isn't obvious and I'll find a way today of making this much clearer - I could put the current pupil name at the top of the group writer along with the sex of the pupil?

When you upload settings and data it uploads your current set of pupils (usually the whole school) as the 'default set' together with any teacher allocations, subject order, custom subjects, etc... Teachers then can get the 'default set' by downloading school settings, then (if they have never saved before) they will be asked if they want to use the 'default set', normally thay should click 'yes' and then select themselves from the dropdown lisy of teachers above the pupil list and start working. (If they have already saved for some reason and want to start again with the 'default set' then they can click 'file > new pupils file' and they will be asked the question again. They are the ones who use 'Upload pupil file' and 'Download pupil file' in order to save a copy on our sever for a backup, to transfer back to school or for you to merge at the end. If they click the dropown menu to the right of the pink 'save' icon in the toolbar, they can choose to upload the file or to save to memory stick.

Looks like this is a good start: Education ICT Quango Becta To Close | eWEEK Europe UK Becta were a real PITA when there used to be ELCs - acting like they were gods, good riddence.

I know it is getting pretty crazy, it's not just the ticks, targets and forms, but it's not just that - some Local Authoriities seem to be going either power mad or paranoid and blocking virtually all access to the Internet (for teachers!!!) unless they know about it first, even then they usually won't let them access a site that has a forum (of any kind). Some are even a bit funny about letting them access a site that has a user submittable FAQ section! A lot have bought into systems on behalf of their school - like 'caching proxy servers' that are designed to speed up Internet access, but because they have so many teachers accessing them with so many protection methods in place, turning off this proxy system leads to a dramatic increase in speed! A lot of the proxy systems are also 'buggy' in that they don't check to see if a file has been updated and cache old files - this appears to depend of the extension name of the file with executables being the worst affected. A lot are stuck with them with huge payment and support plans over a number of years - taking up all the combined technology grants from all schools in the area! Some LAs block the transfer of files over the Internet and also will not allow memory sticks to be accessed from a school computer and still expect the teacher to be able to work from home!!! It's the big brother "nanny" state gone mad. Hopefully now, there looks like a bit of sanity has arrived with the ability for some schools to be split from the LA. Sorry about the rant... I should start a blog!

no problem. Are you going to the Edugeek conference in June? I will be there, so if you need some more help, take some notes about what you may want in the program and I'll try to help and/or add it. -Anthony

Not currently - I think you are the first to request this. You can structure the list of favourites if you like though like a 'tree'. Just right-click the list and 'insert', make it a 'heading' rather than a 'statement'. Then you can 'drag' statements into the folder by pressing SHIFT then click and hold the left mouse button above the statement then move the mouse to the folder. Then release the left mouse button and the shift key. Use CTRL if you want to copy rather than move. I'll investigate ways of expanding this so that the 'tree' could expand to a heading that is the same as the current subject or something? What do you think?

The validate will remove the 'watermark' on printing, it also allows you to paste OUT of the program and export to a word style file (an RTF). The validated username is the 'area' on our servers that any upload pupil file will be saved to. If the computers are validated once, then they remain validated until the end of August (even without an Internet connection) - they will have a green 'lock' with a red 'lock hinge' if they are validated with no Internet.

I'll look at that and get it sorted it out. Thanks.

Hiyawatha: The password usually used for ReportAssist was 'domino', the admin password was 'shine'. The turtle.mbd file was a passworded MS-Access database - the password is either 'merlin27' or 'lancelot' (there may be more, but MS-Access uses XOR password encryption and it takes only 30 seconds to figure it out in your head!). I think, but I'm not to sure that even if you changed the password, the original one still worked. If not just access teh database directly using the passwords above and look in the reports table for your work.