SIMS state that they currently use SQL-Anywhere (not familiar to us) which gives five concurrent users at no cost for software licence. Work is well in progress for future versions of many SIMS modules and subsequently ALL modules working with Microsoft SQL server. Apparently there is a cut down version which they include as part of the SIMS licence as it is 'cheap' or free to schools. SIMS have also stated (to us) that they intend NOT to support Linux and that their software will NOT work with ANY other version of SQL as it is written to use many 'features' which are unique to MS-SQL........ ...our problem was that the minimum spec of PC and server that they suggest for future versions was outrageous, particularly for Primary schools... Ian UP. Mills Technical Support Manager Flintshire Education ICT Support Unit
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...... Now it's time to 'put the cat in with the pigeons'...... 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. 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! Imagine how easy target setting on a county level would be if they could deploy such a 'commerce' type system? Any thoughts? Alan Harris Network Manager Bryngwyn School alanh@bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk
"Ian P. Mills (Technical Support Manager)" wrote:
SIMS state that they currently use SQL-Anywhere (not familiar to us) which gives five concurrent users at no cost for software licence. Work is well in progress for future versions of many SIMS modules and subsequently ALL modules working with Microsoft SQL server. Apparently there is a cut down version which they include as part of the SIMS licence as it is 'cheap' or free to schools. SIMS have also stated (to us) that they intend NOT to support Linux and that their software will NOT work with ANY other version of SQL as it is written to use many 'features' which are unique to MS-SQL........
...our problem was that the minimum spec of PC and server that they suggest for future versions was outrageous, particularly for Primary schools...
Ian UP. Mills Technical Support Manager Flintshire Education ICT Support Unit
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
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 ?
That's exactly what I am planning here, the big problem being the amount of time required to implement it. And to implement a solution that would work in other sites as well it's ten times the amount of effort. -- Christopher Dawkins, Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3JG 01371-820527 or 07798 636725 cchd@felsted.essex.sch.uk
On Tue, Jun 13, 2000 at 02:43:14PM +0100, Christopher Dawkins wrote:
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 ?
That's exactly what I am planning here, the big problem being the amount of time required to implement it. And to implement a solution that would work in other sites as well it's ten times the amount of effort.
I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the commercial software that's been mentioned in this thread but for a possible open source solution you might want to have a look at: http://www.wdbi.net/ which queries a relational DB via a web interface. It might meet some of your needs but if nothing else give you some ideas to work on. I did set it up once as a front-end to MySQL and it worked well and it wasn't too much effort to set up. -- Frank Shute *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* | Boroughbridge | Tel: 01423 323019 | PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 | *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* http://www.esperance.demon.co.uk/
SIMS state that they currently use SQL-Anywhere (not familiar to us) which gives five concurrent users at no cost for software licence. Work is well in progress for future versions of many SIMS mod> ...our problem was that the minimum spec of PC and server that they suggest for future versions was outrageous, particularly for Primary schools...
Ian UP. Mills
At last years BETT, I asked about this at the SIMS stand and was told that they had planned to move to a c/s system based on SQL anywhere but had problems with it and shifted development to MS SQL server. regards Richard richard@tortoise.demon.co.uk
participants (6)
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Alan Harris -
Christopher Dawkins -
Frank Shute -
Ian P. Mills (Technical Support Manager) -
Mark Evans -
richard＠tortoise.demon.co.uk