RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SIMS / PHP
The subtext being that SIMS.net is replacing SIMS and MENTOR; hence a specific development to access SIMS will inevitably be a short-term solution. I doubt that Capita will continue to support SIMS for long now they have a new product on the market. The other point being that if any part of SIMS has files of a recognisable format, an ODBC interface can be created either to the file or to the data dictionary if it exists. No doubt you have been down this road.
Sounds nice... BUT our SIMS system isnt based around MS-SQL, its more a bit of a bit of everything :S
I think it was Rob Keeling who mentioned something about this?
From: Grainge, Derek [mailto:DGG@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk]
I don't know about SIMS, but SIMS.net uses MS-SQL; No doubt the data will be encrypted.
I can happily read data from Capita's other product, Mentor, as it has an ODBC interface. The files are foxbase (but you don't need to know that to read data) and unencrypted.
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And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL... == Kyle Williamson Solent Educational Limited Tel: (023) 80 843189 Fax: (023) 80 848715 http://www.solented.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: Grainge, Derek [mailto:DGG@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk] Sent: 18 January 2003 21:15 To: kyle@solented.co.uk Cc: suse-linux-uk-schools@suse.com Subject: RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SIMS / PHP The subtext being that SIMS.net is replacing SIMS and MENTOR; hence a specific development to access SIMS will inevitably be a short-term solution. I doubt that Capita will continue to support SIMS for long now they have a new product on the market. The other point being that if any part of SIMS has files of a recognisable format, an ODBC interface can be created either to the file or to the data dictionary if it exists. No doubt you have been down this road.
Sounds nice... BUT our SIMS system isnt based around MS-SQL, its more a bit of a bit of everything :S
I think it was Rob Keeling who mentioned something about this?
From: Grainge, Derek [mailto:DGG@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk]
I don't know about SIMS, but SIMS.net uses MS-SQL; No doubt the data will be encrypted.
I can happily read data from Capita's other product, Mentor, as it has an ODBC interface. The files are foxbase (but you don't need to know that to read data) and unencrypted.
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On Saturday 18 January 2003 9:47 pm, Kyle Williamson wrote:
And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL... We have had some success at this kind of activity - but the technique is only of use for getting current data out of SIMS and is no use if you want to modify the data and put it back. Sadly, I can't remember the name of the package, but somewhere in the SIMS suite of applications is a report generator - it might be called 'something pro' if my brain cells are working this morning. You can get that to dump most things you are likely to need into csv files which you can then load into mysql. I've used it to get lists of teachers, kids, groups and subjects out of the system for a PHP/MySQL based report writing system I'm in the middle of writing. The solution is a bit lame because you are not linked into the live data.
SIMS do seem to have an API they are developing for the MSSQL backed system. They do not want people messing directly with the database tables, but rather to talk through their API. Given their track record, I can't see how the system they develop can possibly be any good. Those who like talking to software through multiple layers of treacle may feel differently :) Cheers -- Phil Driscoll
On Sat, Jan 18, 2003 at 09:47:40PM -0000, Kyle Williamson wrote:
And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL...
If you find such a "magic button" could you also check for one which works with LEAs :) -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
On Sun, 2003-01-19 at 11:38, Mark Evans wrote:
On Sat, Jan 18, 2003 at 09:47:40PM -0000, Kyle Williamson wrote:
And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL...
If you find such a "magic button" could you also check for one which works with LEAs :)
Don't know too much about this, but won't the DfES common data format allow transfer of all the data from SIMS to other databases? I thought the idea of the CDF was to make the data independent of the system it was in? Regards, -- IanL
On Sun, Jan 19, 2003 at 12:10:35PM +0000, Phil Driscoll wrote:
On Saturday 18 January 2003 9:47 pm, Kyle Williamson wrote:
And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL... We have had some success at this kind of activity - but the technique is only of use for getting current data out of SIMS and is no use if you want to modify the data and put it back. Sadly, I can't remember the name of the package, but somewhere in the SIMS suite of applications is a report generator - it might be called 'something pro' if my brain cells are working
There are 3 versions; "repgen", the original DOS version; "repgen lite", the first attempt at a Windows version and "repgen pro" the later Windows version.
this morning. You can get that to dump most things you are likely to need into csv files which you can then load into mysql. I've used it to get lists of teachers, kids, groups and subjects out of the system for a PHP/MySQL based report writing system I'm in the middle of writing. The solution is a bit lame because you are not linked into the live data.
SIMS do seem to have an API they are developing for the MSSQL backed system. They do not want people messing directly with the database tables, but rather to talk through their API. Given their track record, I can't see how the system they develop can possibly be any good. Those who like talking to software through multiple layers of treacle may feel differently :)
Which is probably why the hardware specs keep spiraling up. Effectivly we are being asked to buy machines more suitable for video editing to perform the kind of things an early pentium should be capable of. -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
On Sun, Jan 19, 2003 at 11:45:12AM +0000, ian wrote:
On Sun, 2003-01-19 at 11:38, Mark Evans wrote:
On Sat, Jan 18, 2003 at 09:47:40PM -0000, Kyle Williamson wrote:
And so we have, alas :( I could do with something where I click a magical button and the exam timetables,timetables etc are transported across into MySQL...
If you find such a "magic button" could you also check for one which works with LEAs :)
Don't know too much about this, but won't the DfES common data format allow transfer of all the data from SIMS to other databases? I thought the idea of the CDF was to make the data independent of the system it was in?
Considering the fun we had with PLASC I'm not convinced that this concept is well understood by the decision makers. -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
participants (5)
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Grainge, Derek -
ian -
Kyle Williamson -
Mark Evans -
Phil Driscoll