johnymac

In primary schools we use a hosted exchange solution called Primary Email. Its an ideal solution for Primary schools who don't want to host their own email, Usual full exchange features such as : Lesson plans video guides text guides simplified login interface automatic update from mis bullying/abuse filtering spam filtering pupil games .... you get the idea....

evidently Its part of an email product we develop called primary email, we intend to make it free as an open source project as soon as its a final stable release - we have a few hundred schools using it at current with only a few minor issues that the clients haven't even noticed but I know about. It extracts the data from SQL not SIMS, we avoid sims completely. As for class/reg group changes basically we create sec/dissy groups based on the value from a pupil so if a new class is added we automatically generate a sec/dissy group. When a user is moved group we just see the new group and remove the user from its old groups and stick it in the new groups. Any more Q's?

We have finished the tool to extract the data from SIMS for primary education and it is due to go to public release soon. It will take me a few hours max to do secondary. I need to know how much demand there is for CMIS I guess, all of our clients at current SIMS users (but I imagine this will change). If anyone has a CMIS server up there is a few things I need to make my life easier. If someone can load profiler - set up a recording and run a query in CMIS on a year group I will be able to see if it uses a stored procedure or a plain old SQL query. That way I can plan creating the executable to harvest the data. Also I'm assuming CMIS has an "Use Date" value, I need to know how this is formed. If you have much demand for the SIMS client then drop me an email and I will spend some time with you getting it right for secondary education use. Any schools local to Bradford would be easiest but I can remote in/work over email/phone pretty easily. If anyone on this forum wants to post a comprehensive list of requirements checked against this list then feel free. At current the client does this: Queries MIS and exports: pupil name - pupil class teacher name This data is the encrypted and either ftp'd up to a third party server or transfered locally The data is imported every 24 hours into OU in this format: School Name - Teachers - Pupils - Admin/SMT Security and Distribution groups are made for: Teachers (sec.%firstthreelettersofschool%.teachers) Each Class group (in format sec.%firstthreelettersofschool%.%classname%) - Remvoe the sec. bit for distribution groups Teachers are imported as firstname.surname Pupils are imported as %firstthreelettersofschool%.firstname.surname *** This is important for child protection so kids don't have [email protected] email address' Exchange Values are also set in Exchange Environments for Query Base DN as some schools do not wish pupil a to be able to find pupil b in their GAL/OAB. Accounts are enabled and set to never expire (optional) Passwords are set to a user input - seperate for teachers and pupils, this is only done on user creation (1 time) Pupils automaticaly change class if their class in MIS changes. Teachers must be manualy placed into Admin/SMT OU. ---- End of specs. I don't check the forum much so I recommend emailing me at [email protected] with any queries you may have.

I have written an app that does a Datapump of pupils/personel information(Name/Class) directly from the MSSQL database, it writes the data from the database to an encrypted file. It also datapumps the classes group and creates security/distribution groups accordingly. I have written a second app that allows you to define what data is what, IE you can set descriptions of user type, class names(security groups), distribution groups etc. <-- it has lots of cool features The software allows you to use a secure ftp transfer from one site to another (ie sims server to ldap server). Although either Microsoft FTP server must be enabled or a third party app. I am in the process of ironing out any legal issues this has before releasing it, I don't want capita taking legal action against me and I definitely want to make sure I stick within the CPA regulations! I do have a problem “updating” users with this app but I’m pretty sure with the right amount of time/resources/funding I can iron out any remaining issues. Any feed back on something like this would be great and I would be happy to take a few beta testers on board, those people would have to apreciate this software is still in development and is not ready for final release or to be used in a production environment. Phil: It may be that you haven’t begun developing this yet and it may be of some use to you? If so, let me know, I will be happy to work with Capita to develop this. P.s I am working on a few other management systems and I can do custom data pumps to your needs, contact me to discuss your requirements..