Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-edu (129 mails)
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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SIMS + SQLserver
- From: "Mark Evans" <mpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:37:38 +0000 (UTC)
- Message-id: <20000613123731.27628.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Thanks for a most interesting thread.
>
> The last information I received from Capita (SIMS) sated that they had
> every intention of rebuilding their product around Microsoft SQL
> Server......
When they could probably actually make more money by not using
MS products. Especially considering the rocky ride MS can expect
both here and on the other side of the Atlantic for the next few
years.
> Now it's time to 'put the cat in with the pigeons'......
Or "Penguin amongst the Lemmings"...
>
> I'm relatively new to Linux but have several interesting ideas. I have a
> lot of experience in dealing with school administration systems (but not
> the finance side) from the pupil management side of things.
LRM4 will probably work under dosemu. Since it is one few remaining
DOS modules. Apparently even Capita realise that trusting finance and
exam entries to Windows isn't a good idea.
None of the staff here appear happy with either Windows STAR or the
"new star" (Nova). Though they may look at bit nicer than the DOS
STAR and COVER modules routine tasks take several times as long and
require trained typists to make excessive use of the mouse.
Also there was the stunt over the library module...
> I have to admit that the one item that causes me incredible amounts of
> frustration within schools are the proprietary admin systems with which
> we are forced to work. If there are enough interested parties why don't
> we look at the feasibility of / or attempt to produce some sort of
> solution based on a combination of Linux / MYSQL-ProgreSQL /
> Perl-Python-PHP and Apache ? It would be a lot of work but I'm sure that
> it would be worth while. I have already written several 'databases' for
> target setting / school reports / IEP generation using Lotus Approach
> and intend to move them over to Linux / SQL / as soon as is
> practicable..... This may take some time because I'm having to teach
> myself the necessary techniques from scratch!
It needs to be able to read current SIMS data, which appears to be in
Dbase format (with separate index files which require manually rebuilding
at times.)
>
> Imagine how easy target setting on a county level would be if they could
> deploy such a 'commerce' type system?
If your county people are anything like mine good luck convincing them.
(They have difficulty even comprehending using Netware for our admin
network and honestly think that NT would be better. Yet can't give
one actual concrete reason to substantiate this belief.)
--
Mark Evans
St. Peter's CofE High School
Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109
Fax: +44 1392 204763
>
> The last information I received from Capita (SIMS) sated that they had
> every intention of rebuilding their product around Microsoft SQL
> Server......
When they could probably actually make more money by not using
MS products. Especially considering the rocky ride MS can expect
both here and on the other side of the Atlantic for the next few
years.
> Now it's time to 'put the cat in with the pigeons'......
Or "Penguin amongst the Lemmings"...
>
> I'm relatively new to Linux but have several interesting ideas. I have a
> lot of experience in dealing with school administration systems (but not
> the finance side) from the pupil management side of things.
LRM4 will probably work under dosemu. Since it is one few remaining
DOS modules. Apparently even Capita realise that trusting finance and
exam entries to Windows isn't a good idea.
None of the staff here appear happy with either Windows STAR or the
"new star" (Nova). Though they may look at bit nicer than the DOS
STAR and COVER modules routine tasks take several times as long and
require trained typists to make excessive use of the mouse.
Also there was the stunt over the library module...
> I have to admit that the one item that causes me incredible amounts of
> frustration within schools are the proprietary admin systems with which
> we are forced to work. If there are enough interested parties why don't
> we look at the feasibility of / or attempt to produce some sort of
> solution based on a combination of Linux / MYSQL-ProgreSQL /
> Perl-Python-PHP and Apache ? It would be a lot of work but I'm sure that
> it would be worth while. I have already written several 'databases' for
> target setting / school reports / IEP generation using Lotus Approach
> and intend to move them over to Linux / SQL / as soon as is
> practicable..... This may take some time because I'm having to teach
> myself the necessary techniques from scratch!
It needs to be able to read current SIMS data, which appears to be in
Dbase format (with separate index files which require manually rebuilding
at times.)
>
> Imagine how easy target setting on a county level would be if they could
> deploy such a 'commerce' type system?
If your county people are anything like mine good luck convincing them.
(They have difficulty even comprehending using Netware for our admin
network and honestly think that NT would be better. Yet can't give
one actual concrete reason to substantiate this belief.)
--
Mark Evans
St. Peter's CofE High School
Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109
Fax: +44 1392 204763
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