In their latest newslatter they say from more things about SIMS.net, apparently copied straight from Capita's marketing department. Anyway havn't Microsoft just dropped using *.net

Capita offer major new features with SIMS.net, including the promise that it -

Slightly odd wording...

Integrates seamlesly and can be fully customised to fit the unique needs of individual schools.

So it will work with any computer system yet built? Also the latter is more of a "design requirment" than anything else.

Is a cost-effective, feature-rich school information management solution built on Microsoft net technology.

I can think of at least two people (both called Chris) who might dispute the "cost-effective" bit.

Users will benefit from features such as personalised desktop, instant alerts, unified login, access to web resources, intuitive navigation and Microsoft Office integration.

So it either generates documents Office can understand and/or supplies data for mail merging. Also it can operate as a web browser... For the rest I think I need a "Marketing to English" phrasebook.

Builds on your current investment in SIMS by working on current school data.

Again more of a requirment.

Allows data to be imported from other management information systems.

ditto (this is simply a more general version of the previous claim.)

Offers Microsoft Office integration - easy letter and document generation from user-accessible SIMS data -- and a brand new document management facility.

Didn't they already say this. Anyway does this imply that every machine also has to have MS Office on it?

Is designed to enable schools to comply with the national information management strategy.

Yet another thing which more of a requirment.

Offers built-in, secure, reporting and viewing, with a comprehensive suite of off-the-shelf' reports and more advanced user definable reporting.

If the reporting and viewing wasn't built in then you'd if effect have a write-only database.

Supports personalised user accounts and role-based security, curriculum management, school calender management and attendance code management.

What is "role-based security". What about security tied to workstations and users? Right near the end we have the only apparent innovation, the calender... -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763