Connect2ICTEducation:

Autumn 2015 SOLUS Upgrade –

Primary schools

Combined Upgrade for SIMS 7.166 and FMS 6.166

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

_{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.

I

providers to ensure SLG is upgraded prior to running this SIMS upgrade

CONTENTS

SIMS Server and Workstation Prerequisites

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 Email: [email protected]

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.

Check SIMS version before 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 3.62.232

The version should currently be 7.164

Note – If your version is showing as 7.166 then your SIMS .net system has already been upgraded

to Autumn 2015. Please continue with the instructions to check your FMS version. Click screen to close this information box.

Check FMS version before upgrade

Log into FMS and select Help | About SIMS FMS Module the following information should be displayed.

The version should currently be 6.164 (or lower)

Note – If your version is showing as 6.166

then FMS has already been upgraded to Autumn 2015.

Click screen to close this information box.

Version 7.106

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.

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

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.

Importing New Reports after 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.

Upgrade each individual SIMS .net Workstation

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 3.62.261 Version 7.166

2. Click anywhere on this window to

Upgrade each individual FMS Workstation

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 6.166

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 |

 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).

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.

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

http://simspublications.com/638475/assets/sims_autumn_2015_combined_release_note.pdf

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 233 8600

 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 The table has been renamed from Needs to Current Needs o The Recorded On column has been removed

o The column order has been changed

o The Start Date column now displays start dates that were previously available only from the Reporting Dictionary.

o The new Report button enables you to run the SEN Needs Report.

Should you experience any difficulties while upgrading, please contact the