Connect2ICTEducation:

Transcription

1 Autumn 2015 SOLUS Upgrade Primary schools Combined Upgrade for SIMS and FMS IMPORTANT: Please read these notes fully BEFORE commencing this upgrade. Failure to follow the steps correctly may result in a CORRUPT SIMS or FMS system. Introduction These upgrade notes combine the SIMS (v 7.166) & FMS (v 6.166) 2015 Autumn Upgrade. This will upgrade both systems and contains new functionality and system enhancements to several modules. This release also contains the software to run:- School Spring 2016 Census on Thursday 21 st Jan 2016 We will usually advise schools when an upgrade is released but it is also worth checking the School Improvement website (formally EDNet) each month for upgrades or advice on current issues. Please run this upgrade as soon as possible. This upgrade can take between 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the speed of your system and network. IMPORTANT NOTE: Schools using SIMS Learning Gateway (SLG) should contact their providers to ensure SLG is upgraded prior to running this SIMS upgrade Connect2ICTEducation: Liverpool City Council ICT - Application Support

2 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade CONTENTS SIMS Server and Workstation Prerequisites 3 Prior to Upgrade 3 Check SIMS version before upgrade 4 Check FMS version before upgrade 4 Downloading and Running the SIMS.net and FMS Upgrade via SOLUS 5 Upgrade Issues/Failures 7 Importing New Reports after Upgrade 8 Upgrade each individual SIMS.net Workstation 9 Check SIMS.net version after upgrade 9 Upgrade each individual FMS Workstation 10 Check FMS version after upgrade 10 Upgrade Additional FMS Databases 11 What s new this Upgrade 13 Page 2 of 13

3 SIMS Server and Workstation Prerequisites SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade IMPORTANT NOTE :- Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for this upgrade. This upgrade is no longer supported on : Microsoft Windows XP and Vista Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Office 2003 (Word 2003, Excel 2003 etc.) Screen resolutions of lower than 1024x768 monitor resolution. SIMS Server (Main PC) Prerequisites: RAM(Memory) minimum 2GB (4GB recommended, 8GB for Secondary schools) Free Disk Space: 2GB plus 5MB per pupil (e.g., 2GB +5GB for 1000 pupils) Windows Server 2008 (SP2) and Windows server 2012, Windows 7, Windows 8 Microsoft.Net Framework version 4. SIMS Workstation Prerequisites: 1GB RAM(Memory) minimum (2GB recommended Windows 7) Free Disk Space: 1.5GB Windows 7, Windows 8 Microsoft.Net Framework version 4 To Check the Specification on your PC Right click on the My Computer icon. This will either be on your desktop or on the Start Menu. Select Properties This will show your PC s operating system and the RAM/memory your computer has. To get a quote for memory upgrades or replacement PCs please contact the Education Sector Team as shown below, do not log a call for the Education ICT Support Team Education Sector Team EST@liverpool.gov.uk Prior to Upgrade It is important that you carry out the following tasks prior to upgrade. 1. Perform a full, restorable system backup. Note - If you have purchased the Remote Backup solution Redstor then a backup of SIMS.net and FMS will have taken place in most cases overnight. If no additional back up is taken this will be the point you may need to restore to. 2. Ensure all users are logged out of SIMS.net and FMS while upgrading. 3. Ensure the upgrade is performed on the main admin PC/server where the SIMS and FMS data is stored. Page 3 of 13

4 Check SIMS version before upgrade SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade Prior to upgrading please check the version of SIMS.net. Log into SIMS.net and select Help About SIMS.net, the following information should be displayed. The Database build should currently be The version should currently be Note If your version is showing as then your SIMS.net system has already been upgraded to Autumn Please continue with the instructions to check your FMS version. Click screen to close this information box. Check FMS version before upgrade Prior to upgrading please check the version of FMS. Log into FMS and select Help About SIMS FMS Module the following information should be displayed. The version should currently be (or lower) Note If your version is showing as then FMS has already been upgraded to Autumn Click screen to close this information box. Page 4 of 13

5 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade Downloading and Running the SIMS.net and FMS Upgrade via SOLUS Important Note - Before you run SOLUS, the (SIMS On Line Upgrade Service), please ensure that all other users are logged out of SIMS.net and FMS and remain logged out until the upgrade has completed. 1. Go to Start Programs Sims Applications Update and run SOLUS. A brief message will appear while SOLUS loads and check for Updates. SIMS.net Use the following login NOT YOUR OWN LOGIN: SIMS User Name : sa SIMS Password : Sims_2012 FMS use the following login. NOT YOUR OWN LOGIN: FMS User Name : sa FMS Password : Sims_2012 PLEASE NOTE THE LOGIN DETAILS ARE CASE SENSITIVE. (The S in Sims should be in Caps other letters lower case followed by an underscore then 2012). 2. Click the Login button. 3. If you receive the Terms and Conditions for the use of SOLUS option. Click the I Agree to the terms and conditions button. (You cannot upgrade without agreeing to the terms and conditions). 4. The SOLUS 2 Wizard screen will be shown listing the FMS 2015 Autumn upgrade and SIMS 2015 Autumn upgrade. NOTE : Your screen may have an extra patch (or patches) displayed as additional pending updates, this is fine. 5. Ensure that the Apply downloaded upgrades immediately after download is complete tick box is ticked. 6. Click on Next. Page 5 of 13

6 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade 7. Click on Yes to confirm download. 8. The download will now start, when the blue progress bars reach the right hand side the file download is complete and the upgrade will begin. 9. The installation will continue, security warnings (such as shown below) may be displayed during the upgrade, click Run on each occurrence to allow the upgrade to continue 10.. A number of screens will appear and disappear as the upgrade proceeds. This can take from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Page 6 of 13

7 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade NOTE : SIMS.net will need to run the Database Upgrade Tool as shown above, for the SIMS.net and FMS upgrades as well as any patches. This upgrade will take longer than usual as it is upgrading both SIMS and FMS databases, so will run through these screens for both databases. Please ensure upgrade is not interrupted. You need to ensure the upgrade is left alone until you have the option to select FINISH. Upgrade Issues/Failures During the upgrade process you may find the download stops and you receive a message on the screen about either files failed to download or signature failures. Should you receive such a message, please make a note of the error message in full and contact the Connect2ICTEducation on stating SIMS SOLUS error. Page 7 of 13

8 Importing New Reports after Upgrade SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade Each release includes new and updated reports which should be imported into your SIMS system as follows. 1. Log into SIMS.net and select Reports Import. 2. Click the Open button and Select the PreDefined_Reports_v7166.RptDef file. Note : The system should default to look in the correct folder, but if the file is not shown browse to C:\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS.net or C:\Program Files (86)\SIMS\SIMS.net 3. Click the Open button. A list of reports will now be displayed. 4. Click the Import button. 5. When the status changes to Imported, click the Close button. Note: Failure to import the updated reports may result in reporting errors. Page 8 of 13

9 Upgrade each individual SIMS.net Workstation SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade After running the upgrade, ensure that each SIMS.net workstation is upgraded successfully by launching SIMS, as shown below To do this Go to Start All Programs SIMS Applications SIMS.net. (Do not use the shortcut on the desktop as this may not pick up the upgrade). This should detect that an upgrade is available and should automatically upgrade the workstation, and then provide the login box, (This may take between 5 and 20 minutes depending on the speed of the PC). Check SIMS.net version after upgrade After running the upgrade, check the version of SIMS.net on both the main PC and any SIMS workstations. 1. Log into SIMS.net and select Help About SIMS.net. The following information should be displayed. Database build Version Click anywhere on this window to close the screen. Page 9 of 13

10 Upgrade each individual FMS Workstation SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade After running the upgrade, you need to ensure that each workstation that uses the Finance system is upgraded successfully by launching FMS: To do this Go to Start All Programs SIMS Applications FMSSQL SIMS FMS MODULE. (Do not use the shortcut on the desktop as this may not pick up the upgrade) This should detect that an upgrade is available and should automatically upgrade the workstation and then provide the login box. Check FMS version after upgrade After running the upgrade, check the version of FMS on both the main PC and any FMS workstations. 1. Log into FMS and select Help About SIMS FMS Module The following information should be displayed. Version Click OK to close the screen. Page 10 of 13

11 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade Upgrade Additional FMS Databases There are several schools that have additional FMS databases or Archive FMS databases which will also require upgrading. Please follow these instructions to upgrade these additional FMS databases. Accessing Finance Database Selector (FDS) 1. Goto Start Programs SIMS Applications FMSSQL Finance Database Selector. You will see a star next to the database which is currently selected this should be the database you have just upgraded. Highlight the other database listed and press Select you will see the star move to this database. From the menu select View Detail Once you have done this make a note of the following :- Server Name and instance e.g. Ci129185\SIMS2012 Database Name e.g. FMSEBRHTA This information will be required for the next step. 2. On the main SIMS PC\Server Go to Start Programs SIMS Applications FMSSQL DbUpgrade. Log in as shown :- Page 11 of 13

12 Ensure the path points to the FMS folder within the SIMS\Setups i.e. F:\SIMS\SETUPS\FMS Server Name enter server name as previously noted e.g. ci129185\sims2012 Database Name enter database name as previously noted e.g. FMSEBRHWA Sims User name : sa Sims Password : Sims_2012 Please note the FMS login details are case sensitive. (The S in Sims should be in Caps other letters lower case followed by an underscore then 2012). SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade 3. Click on Login. This will now run through the upgrade for this database. If your school has more than 2 databases you will need to run through this process again for the other databases to ensure they are upgraded to the latest version. If you have any issues upgrading additional FMS databases as highlighted above please log a call with Connect2ICTEducation on stating FMS Additional database upgrade. Page 12 of 13

13 SIMS & FMS Combined Autumn 2015 Upgrade What s new this Upgrade When you first log into SIMS.net you will be presented with a What s New this upgrade screen. This screen contains links to the Release notes which outline main changes. This document can be accessed at any point in time via your SIMS.net system by selecting the \Documentation button on the top right of the SIMS homepage. A full list of all new functionality and fixes included in this upgrade for all SIMS modules and FMS can also be found via your SIMS Documentation centre, as above or by using the Link Below Some of the main changes which schools may find useful are outlined below STAR Early Year Pupils New year groups added It is now possible to record pupil details within your SIMS system for pupils under nursery age. Two new groups for E1 and E2 are now available. This will make it easier when promoting your school as pupils will move from E1 to E2, E2 to N1, N1 to N2 etc. If you currently record pupils younger than N1 in your system and wish to add these new groups please log a call with Connect2ICTEducation on Leavers New field added to Pupil details \ school history. It is now possible to record the Destination Institution for school leavers. This is particularly useful for Independent schools when generating the ISC Return because the number of pupils attending university or other Higher Education institutions can be calculated automatically. Enhancements to the Needs Table in the Basic SEN Details Panel In Route - Focus Pupil (or Student) Special Educational Needs, a number of enhancements have been made to the Needs table in the Basic SEN Details panel, as below Please see SIMS Upgrade documentation for full details o o o o o The table has been renamed from Needs to Current Needs The Recorded On column has been removed The column order has been changed The Start Date column now displays start dates that were previously available only from the Reporting Dictionary. The new Report button enables you to run the SEN Needs Report. Should you experience any difficulties while upgrading, please contact the Connect2ICTEducation on and your call will be logged for assistance. Page 13 of 13