collins connect sims sync guide · 2015. 4. 22. · sims sync guide contents 1. technical...

1

COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE

CONTENTS

1. TECHNICAL REQUIREmENTS, FAQs and SUPPORT 2

2. SImS SyNC ADmIN GUIDE 3

3. SImS SyNC TEACHER GUIDE 8

4. SImS SyNC STUDENT GUIDE 25

5. SImS SyNC TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS 38

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COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: TECHNICAL INFO

1. Technical Requirements, FAQs and Support

Technical Requirements:

• CurrentversionsofMicrosoftWindows,MacOSX,iOS

• HTML5compatiblebrowsers–IE10andabove,Chrome,Safari,Firefox

• MSWord,MSPowerPoint,AdobeAcrobatReader

• Ensurethatyouremailsystemacceptsemailsfrom@harpercollins.co.ukand

@e.harpercollins.co.uk

• Ifyouareonasecurenetworkandarehavingproblemsloadinganycontent,add

thefollowingdomainstoyourwhitelist:*.collins.co.uk,jwpsrv.com,*.jwpcdn.com,

cdn.mathjax.js,ajax.aspnetcdn.com,www.googletagmanager.com

Help and Support:

• InthetoprightofthescreenthereisaHelpandSupportsectionwhichincludessupportmaterialandvideos

• Ifyourequiresupport,[email protected]

ring08445768126,option3

1. Technical Requirements, FAQs and Support

3

COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: ADmIN GUIDE

2. COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: Admin Guide

CONTENTS

1. Logging In 4

2. View Courses 5

3. manage Users 6

4. View Reports 7

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1. Logging In

Goto https://connect.collins.co.uk

ClickontheAdminloginbuttonanditwilltakeyoutotheAdminpage.Enteryour

Adminlogindetails–youwillhavereceivedtheseinanemail.

5


YourHomepagewillh

ave3boxes–View courses, manage usersandView reports.

2. View Courses

Clickonthe View courses boxtoseewhatcoursesyouhavesubscribedto.Each

coursewilldisplaytheexpirydatetoo.

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Youcanthengointoeachcourseandviewthecontent.

3. manage Users

Clickonthe manage usersboxtoviewteacherandstudentaccountsforyour

school.

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Youcanusetheroledrop-downboxtoswitchbetweenteacherandstudent

accounts.Youcanusethistocheckusernamesandpasswordsandtochange

passwords.ChanginganyotherdetailsshouldbedonewithinSIMS.

4. View Reports

Inthissection,theuserwillbeabletocreateandexportgroupreports.Thisfeature

iscomingsoon.

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COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: TEaChEr GUIDE

3. COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: Teacher Guide

CONTENTS

1. Logging In AS A TEACHER 9

2. LOOKING AT CONTENT 11

3. SETTING HOmEWORK 13

3.1 Setting homework through the Content box 13

3.2 Setting homework through the Homework box 15

3.3 marking and monitoring homework and tests 16

4. SETTING TESTS 16

4.1 Creating your own customised tests 17

4.2 marking and monitoring homework and tests 19

4.3 my marking – marking long answer questions 19

5. VIEWING RESULTS 22

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1. Logging In AS A TEACHER

Goto https://connect.collins.co.uk

ClickontheTeacherloginbuttonanditwilltakeyoutotheTeacherpage.

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Enteryourteacherlogindetails;thesewillhavebeensuppliedtoyoubyemail.If

youhaveforgottenordidnotreceivethem,pleaseaskyourAdminuserforthem.

ThiswilltakeyoutoyourHomepage.

Selectacourse.Ifyouhavemorethanonepageofcourses,youcanclickon

thepagenumbersatthebottomtoaccessthem.Thenselectfromthefollowing

options:

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2. LOOKING AT CONTENT

ClickontheContentbox.

Usethecontentindexinthelefthandpanetoscrollthroughthecontent.Youcan

clickonthearrowsnexttothetitlestoexpandtheselection.

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Thereareseveraliconstotherightofthecontenttitles:

Thisenablesthecontenttobeopenedfullscreen.

Thisenablesyoutocreatealinkdirectlytothatbitofcontent,

usefulforhomeworkorcatchinguponlessons.

Thisenablesrelevantcontenttobeprinted.

2.1.Viewing homework and assessments through the Content box

Homeworkquizzesandassessmentsareavailabletoviewattheendofeach

chapter.Toaccessthese,scrolltothebottomofeachchapterandclickonthelink.

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3. SETTING HOmEWORK

Therearetwowaystosethomeworkforstudents:

• GothroughtheContentbox

• GothroughtheHomeworkbox

3.1 Setting Homework through the Content box

TosethomeworkthroughtheContentbox,clickintotheContentboxonthe

homepageandgotothetopicrequired.ClickSet homework on the topic inthe

toprightofthecontentpane.

Youcansethomeworkbytickingthetickboxontherightofthetitle.Youcan

selectmultiplecontentwithinanyonechapter.Onceyouhaveselectedallrequired

content,clickonthe Finishand assign button.Youcanselectmultiplecontent

withinanyonechapter.

Enterahomeworktitleandinputsomeinstructionsforthestudents.ClickOK.

.

Youwillthenbeabletoassignthehomeworktogroups.

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Youassignthehomeworktogroupsbydraggingthehomeworkanddroppingthe

homeworkintotherequiredbox.

groups.

ThenclickontheFinish and reviewbuttoninthetopright.

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Onceyouhavedonethatyoucanselectastartandenddateforthathomework.

ThenclickontheConfirm and notify studentsbuttonandthiswillschedulethe

homeworkandsendanemailtothestudentnotifyingthemoftheirhomework.

YoucanalsocreatenewhomeworkbyclickingontheCreate new homework

buttonandfollowingthestepsabove.

3.2.Setting Homework through the Homework box

TosethomeworkthroughtheHomeworkbox,clickontheHomeworkboxonthe

homepage.

ClickonCreate new homeworkandfollowthestepsasyouwouldforcreating

homeworkintheprevioussection.

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3.3.marking and monitoring homework and tests

Inthetoprightofthescreentherearetwobuttons:

my markingenablesyoutomarklonganswer

questionsfromstudents’homeworkandtests

TheNotificationsfeatureprovidesmessages

relatingtotest/homeworksyouhaveset.e.g.

deadlinesabouttoexpire,studentsmaking

submissions

4. SETTING TESTS

Ifthecourseyou’veselectedincludestheabilitytoallocatetests,youwillseethe

Testsboxonyourhomepage:

Allthepre-createdtestswillbeonthelefthandside–youcandraganddropthese

toyourgroupstoassigntheteststothem.

.

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4.1.Creating your own customised tests

YoucanalsocreateyourowntestbyclickingontheCreate custom testbutton.

Giveyourtestanameandadescription;youarethenabletoclickonthearrowsto

expandtheteststoshowtheindividualquestions.

inyourcustomtestbyclickingintothetickbox

• Selecttheeyeicontopreviewthequestionbeforeselectingit.

• Youcanselectthequestiontoincludeitinyourcustomtestbyclickingintothetickbox.

ClickonCreate testbuttonatthebottomtocompletetheprocess.

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OnceyouclickonOK,yournewlycreatedtestwillbeaddedtoyourselectionof

teststoallocatetogroups.Oncethetesthasbeendraggedtotherequiredgroup,

clickontheOKbutton.

ClickontheFinish and reviewbutton.

EnteraStartdateandanEnddateforthetest.ThenselecttheConfirm and notify

studentsbutton.Thetestswillbeavailableforstudentstocompleteduringthis

time.

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4.2.marking and monitoring homework and tests

Inthetoprightofthescreentherearetwobuttons:

MyMarkingenablesyoutomarklonganswer

questionsfromstudents’homeworkandtests

TheNotificationsfeatureprovidesmessagesrelating

totest/homeworksyouhaveset.e.g.deadlinesabout

toexpire,studentsmakingsubmissions

4.3.my marking – marking long answer questions

Oncemymarkinghasbeenclicked,allthetestsandhomeworksthatrequiremanual

markingwillbedisplayed.Assignmentswillnotappearhereuntilthedeadlinehas

passedforthem.

Uponclickingonatest,teachersaretakentotheoutstandinganswers.Herethey

willbeabletoallocatemarkstoeachstudent’sanswersinaccordancewiththe

givenrubric.Todothisateacherwillselectamarkfromthepossibleanswerson

therightofthescreen(rememberingnottoallocatemoremarksthanthequestion

allowsfor).

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Oncetheteacherishappythatthequestionhasbeenmarkedsuccessfullythey

shouldclickontheNext Studentbutton.Ifthestudenthasgottennothingright

thentheteacherwillneedtofirstclickSave Progress toregisterazeromark,

otherwisethequestionwillbeunmarkedsoastobereturnedtolater.

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Markingprogressissavedautomaticallysoateachercanalwayslogoutandcome

backtoatestiftheywish.Onceateacherdoeswishtocompletethemarking,

goingtothelastanswerofthelastpupilandmarkingitwillcausetheNextStudent

buttontobecomeaSubmitbutton.

Theteacherwillthenbegiventhechancetoreviewtheanswersagainorflagthe

markingascomplete.

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ThiswillthenreturnthetesttothenormalResultspage.

5. VIEWING RESULTS

Oncestudentshavecompletedtheirtestsand/orhomework,youcanviewtheir

resultsbyclickingintotheResultsbox.

Selectthegroupthatyouwouldliketoseeresultsfor.Thisthengeneratesareport

whichshowsyouresultsforhomeworkandtests.

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whichshowsyouresultsforhomeworkandtests.

Theradiobuttonsatthetopcanbeusedtoselectdifferentsetsofresults.TheAll

optionallowsyoutoselecthomeworkandtestresults.

Thereisadifferenticontoindicateadifferentstatusofatestand/orhomework.

Agreentickindicatesthatthestudenthascompletedthetestor

homework

Aredcrossindicatedthatthestudenthasnotcompletedthetestor

homework

N/aindicatesthatthetestorhomeworkwasnotsetforthisstudent

Formorein-depthresults,youcanclickonthestudentnametogivearecordsheet

fortheindividualstudent.Hereyoucanviewstudentsfeedbackandaddyourown

teacherfeedback.

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Youcanalsoclickontheassignmenttitlestogiveadetailedresultgridforthat

assignment.

TheEXPORToptioninthetopright

allowsyoutosaveyourresultsasan

Excelfile.

25

COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: STUDENT GUIDE

4. COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: Student Guide

CONTENTS

1. Logging In 26

2. Homework 27

3. Tests 32

4. Looking at Content 36

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1. Logging In

Gotohttps://connect.collins.co.uk

ClickontheStudent loginanditwilltakeyoutotheschoolselectionpage.

Begintypinginyourschool’snameanditshouldappearinalist.Clickonyour

schoolandyouwillbetakentotheStudentloginpage.

Onceyouhaveenteredthedetailsitasksforyoucanpresstheloginbutton.

Ifsomebodyelseinyourschoolhassimilardetailstoyou,youmaybeaskedtopick

yournamefromalist.

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Youwillthenbetakentotheworkyouhavebeenassignedandaselectionofthe

coursesyourschoolissubscribedto.

2. Homework

Clickoneofthehomeworktilestostartthathomeworkactivity.

Theremaybeoneormoreactivitiestodo.Somemayjustrequireyoutoreadthem.

YourteachersmayaskyoutocompleteactivitiesthatyousubmitoutsideofCollins

Connectaswell.

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TheremaybeaHomeworkquizatthebottom.Clickonthearrowtoexpanditto

showtheStartbutton.

Onceyoustartaquiz,therewillbeaseriesofquestionstoanswer.Youshouldenter

youranswersintotheanswerboxesprovided.

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Onceyouhaveansweredaquestion,youshouldclickontheNext buttonatthe

bottom.Youcanalsoclickthroughthequestionsusingthenumberlineatthe

bottom.YoucanusetheTag for laterbuttontoremindyoutoreturntoquestions

youareunabletoanswerimmediately.

Onceyouhavefinished,clickComplete quiz,andyouwillbeshownabreakdownof

yourresults.

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Notethatifthequizcontainsanylonganswerquestionsthatarenotautomarked

bytheplatform,yourinitialscorewillonlyreflectthequestionstheplatformhas

beenabletoautomark.Yourscorewillbeupdatedonceyourteacherhasmarked

thelonganswerquestions.

YoucanclickonReviewtocheckyouranswersagainstthecorrectones.

Onceyouhavecompletedalltheexercisesofthehomework,youshouldmakesure

youtickallthe“Done”tickboxesandclickontheSubmit homeworkredbuttonin

thetopright.Note that your results do not get passed through to your teacher

until you have clicked the Submit homework button so it is very important to

remember to do this.

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IftheSubmit buttonisclickedwithoutcompletingallpartoftheactivities,a

messagewillalertyoutomakesureeverythingiscompletedandtickedoff.

IfforwhateverreasonyoudonotclicktheSubmit homeworkbutton,Collins

Connectwillauto-submitanyworkyouhavedoneonthehomeworktoyour

teacherwhenthedeadlinepasses.

OnceyouhaveclickedtheSubmit homeworkbutton,youthenhavetheopportunitytoprovidefeedback.Selectatickboxforeasy,averageorhardandthenoptionallyenteracommentonhowyoufoundthehomework.

ClickOKtosubmityourresultsandyourfeedbacktoyourteacher.

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3. Tests

Note:Popupsneedtobeenabledtoviewthetests.Thetestwillopeninanew

window.

Clickonatesttileontheinitialscreenyouseewhenyoufirstlogintoopenatest.

Youwillbepresentedwitha Startbutton.

Onceyoustartthetest,youwillgetaseriesofquestionstoanswer.Enteranswers

intotheboxesprovided.

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Whenyouhaveansweredaquestion,youshouldclickontheNext buttonatthe

bottom.Youcanalsoclickthroughthequestionsusingthenumberlineatthe

bottom.YoucanusetheTag for laterbuttontoremindyoutoreturntoquestions

youareunabletoanswerimmediately.NoteyoucanPauseatestatanytimeand

returnandcontinuewhereyouleftoffthenexttimeyoulogin.

OnceyouhaveclickedonSubmit,youwillbeaskedtoconfirmthis.

Youwillthenhavetheopportunitytoprovidefeedback.Selectatickboxforeasy,

averageorhardandthenoptionallyenteracommentonhowyoufoundthetest.

ClickSubmittothengetabreakdownofyourresults.Notethatifthetestcontains

anylonganswerquestionsthatarenotautomarkedbytheplatform,yourinitial

scorewillonlyreflectthequestionstheplatformhasbeenabletoautomark.Your

scorewillbeupdatedonceyourteacherhasmarkedthelonganswerquestions.

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ClicktheReview buttontocheckyouranswersagainstthecorrectones.

Onceyouhavecompletedatleastonehomeworkortest,youcanviewtheresults

bygoingtoView my homework results andView my test results.

Whenyouselectoneofthese,youwillbepromptedforapassword.Youwillbe

askedtosetthispasswordthefirsttimeyoulogintoCollinsConnect.Ifyouforget

yourpassword,pleaseaskyourteachertocheckwithCollinsConnectadminwho

canusethemanage user buttonontheirpaneltocheckyourpassword.

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Youthenhaveaselectionofheadingsthatshowdifferentinformation:

Overallscore(%)Providestheoverallmarkforyour

homeworkortest

RankProvidesanindicationofhowyou

aredoingamongyourgroup

FeedbackIndicateswhetheranyfeedback

hasbeengiven

TheEXPORT buttonallowsyoutoviewandsaveyourresultsinExcelformat.

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4. Looking at Content

Clickonthecourseyouwishtostudy.

Thiswilltakeyoutothecourse’slandingpagewhereyoucanclickontheContent

button.

Hereyouwillbeabletoseeallofthecontentfromthetextbookaswellas

interactiveactivitiesandhomeworkquizzes.

37


Thereareacoupleoficonsontherightofthetitles:

Allowsyoutoopenthecontentinfullscreen

Allowsyoutoprintthecontent

38

COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS

5. COLLINS CONNECT SImS SyNC GUIDE: Technical Instructions

CONTENTS

Step 1 39

Step 2 39

Requirements 40

Checklist 40

SImS Configuration 41

SImS-Sync Configuration 45

39


This document is for customers who choose the SImS SyNC option within

Collins Connect. If you have selected the standalone option you don’t need to

follow these instructions.

To enable the setup of Collins Connect to be completed, you need to install a

piece of software called SImS-Sync on your school’s network. Thispopulatesyour

school’sdatainCollinsConnectandautomaticallysetsupaccountsforallteachers

andstudents.It’saone-timesetup–onceinstalledandworking,itwillensurethe

studentandteacherdatainCollinsConnectissyncedevery24hourswiththedata

inSIMS.NofiddlydataexportsfromSIMSandthenimportsintoCollinsConnectare

required!

STEP 1:

ThecomputerwhereSIMS-Syncisinstalledwillneedtoreceivedatafromandsend

datatoalfiecloud.comoverHTTPandsecureHTTP(HTTPS),sopleaseensurethis

domainANDsubdomainsarenotrestrictedbyfirewallorproxy.

STEP 2:

TeacherandStudentaccountsareautomaticallycreatedwithinyourschool’s

CollinsConnectusingthedatafromyourSIMSdatabase.Theintegrationprovides

greatercontrolfortestandstudentgroupmanagementandeffectivedataanalysis.

Theplatformwillnotifyallteachersoftheiraccountdetailsafterthefirstsuccessful

sync.

TheapplicationwhichperformstheSIMS-SyncintoCollinsConnecthasbeen

developedbyourtechnicalpartner,Alfiesoft.Theyhaveprovidedthefollowinguser

guidetohelpwithinstallationandthelinktodownloadthesoftwareyouneedis

givenbelow.

DATA PROTECTION Alfiesoft and Collins are fully compliant with the Data Protection act (Policy:

Z2014235. Link) and all data is kept on a secure server based in the European Union and is transferred over secure HTTP (HTTPS).

Overview

SIMS-SyncSDisanapplicationthatcreates&managesaWindowsscheduled

taskthatinturnsynchronisesstudent,teacher&group/classdatawiththeAlfie

assessmentplatform.

40


Requirements

YouwillneedtohavethelatestversionofSIMSandanAlfiesoftwarelicence.You

willneedtohavethelatestversionofSIMSandanAlfiesoftwarelicence,whichwill

beprovidedtoyouwhenyouselecttheSIMS-Syncoption.

Checklist

YouwillneedthefollowingLog-in & Account Details:

• SImS

TheSIMSusernameandpasswordneedtobefairlyhighlevelbecausethe

synchronisationinvolvesstudent&teacherdetails.ThisismosttypicallyaData

manager accountratherthananITlog-in.

• Alfie

IfyouaretheITContactdesignatedattimeofpurchase,youshould

havereceivedanAlfiesoftemailwithinstructionsofhowtoactivateyour

Administratoraccountandcreateapassword.

IfyouarenotinpossessionofanAdministratoraccount,pleasecontact

[email protected].

• Installation of Software to Windows

AWindowslog-inisrequiredtoinstallSIMS-Sync–thismaybepossiblewithin

theschooloryoumighthavetoreferthistoyourITManagedServicesProvider.

• Windows Scheduled Task

AWindowslog-inisrequiredtorunthescheduledtask–thisistypicallyan

accountthatisalreadybeingusedfortheSIMSdataovernightback-upor

synchronisationwithyourVLE.

• SImS Teacher Records

TeachersusingAlfieneedtheirSchool Domain Teacher Email Address intheir

SIMSteacherrecord–thisisusedfortheirlog-inname.WithinSIMS,select

Focus | Person |Staff todisplaytheEmployee Details page,andsearchforan

existingstaffmembertodisplaytheirdetails.

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SImS Configuration

Change-Tracking Control

SelectTools | Setups | Data Change management todisplaytheData Change

Tracking management page.

TurningonData Change Tracking maybearequestfromanumberofSIMS

partners.Toensurethatallofthepartnersystemsareappropriatelyserviced,

schoolsshouldsetthefrequencytothehighestdemandedbyanyofthepartner

applications.Intheabsenceofadvicetothecontrary,itisrecommendedthe

LoggingFrequencytobeOnce a day.Thenentertheschoolemailaddress,setthe

LocationtoWork,maintoyesand PrimarytoNo.

ImPORTANT NOTE:TheSQLcomponentnamedServiceBrokermustbeactivated

inordertousethechangetrackingfunctionality.Thiscomponentisactivated

automaticallyaspartoftheSIMSupgradeprocess.

IfChange-Tracking Enabled iscurrentlyswitchedOFF,selecttheON radiobutton

toenableit.Theremainingoptionsonthescreenbecomeavailableforediting.

Unlessyouhaveareasontooverridethem,itisstronglyrecommendedthatyou

acceptthedefaultsettings.

ImPORTANT NOTE:YoumustclickSave toactivatethechanges.

SImS Account

This part of the process is optional, but is recommended.

WhileyoucanusuallyuseyourDataManageraccounttorunSIMS-Sync,

werecommendcreatinganewaccountspecificallyforSIMS-Syncdata

synchronization.

42


LogintoSIMSusinganaccountwithSystem manager Preferences.Youcanuse

yoursysman accountforthis.

SelectFocus | System manager | manage Users.

ClickNew,andinsertyourBasicDetails.

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OnceyouhaveenteredyourBasicDetailsclickContinue.

AnewSIMSAccountwillbecreated.MakeanoteoftheUsername andPassword

asyouwillneedthesetologintoSIMS.

UnderthesectionGroups,clickonAdd.

Selectthefollowinggroups,thenclickOK:

• AssessmentCo-Ordinator

• CurricularManager

• SchoolAdministrator

• ThirdPartyReporting

• TPSuperUser

ClickSave,thenlog-outofSIMS.

44


LogbackintoSIMSusingtheUsername andPassword youhavejustcreated.You

willbeaskedtochangethepasswordtosomethingmorememorable.

ThisaccountisnowavailabletouseforyourSImS-Sync Data Synchronisation and

importofResult Sets (seepage6).

SImS Email Addresses

SelectFocus | Person | Staff todisplaytheEmployee Details page,andsearchfor

anexistingstaffmembertodisplaytheirdetails.

Ifthereisnoschool domain email address presentclickonNew adjacenttoEmail

Addresses panel.Thenentertheschoolemailaddress,setthe Location to Work,

mainto yes and Primaryto No.

Ifapersonalemailaddressispresentitcanremain,astheschoolemailaddresswill

nowbeprioritisedforusewithinAlfie.

Installation

SIMS-SyncmustbeinstalledtothesameserveranddriveasSIMS.

1. Downloadthesoftwarefrom

http://downloads.alfiecloud.com/SImS-Sync.zip

2. LocateSIMS-Sync.zipthroughWindowsExploreranddouble-clicktoopen.

3. Double-clicksetup.exe.

4. TheSetupprogramwillissueanumberofprompts.Unlessyouhaveareasonto

overridethedefaults,itisstronglyrecommendedthatyouaccepttheinstallation

defaultsettings(justpressOK,yes,orNext,asappropriate).

45


SIMS-SynccanbelaunchedusingtheDesktopiconor

Start | All Programs | Alfiesoft | SImS-Sync

SImS-Sync Configuration

First Launch

LaunchSIMS-SyncusingtheDesktopiconor

Start | All Programs | Alfiesoft | SImS-Sync

ThefirsttimeSIMS-Syncisrun,theremaybeadelayasitneedstohandlethe

maintenanceofDLLswithyourSIMSinstallation.Pleasebepatient.

ImPORTANT NOTE:Ifyouarenotifiedofafailuretoconnecttotheinternetwhen

startingSIMS-Sync,youwillmostlikelyneedtoconfigureyourproxysettings.

46


Proxy Settings

GototheProxy Settings tab.YoumayneedtoinputProxySettingsmanuallyifyou

haveaproxyserverwhichSIMS-Synchasnotautomaticallydetected.

IfyourProxyServersupportsNTLM,NegotiateorKerberos-basedauthentication

youcantickUse Default Credentials tousetheWindows Domain,Username and

Password oftheuserrunningSIMS-Sync.

IfyourProxyServerdoesnotsupportNTLM,NegotiateorKerberos-based

authenticationyouwillneedtoentertheDomain,Proxy Username andProxy

Password manually.

Tocheckyouhavetheenteredthecorrectdetails,clickonTest.

Adding Schools

Inmostcircumstances,youwillonlyaddoneschool.However,ifyouareanLA-wide

serviceprovider,youcanaddmultipleschoolsthatresideonthesameSIMSserver.

GototheSchools tab.

47


ClickAdd andyouwillbetakentoanewdialogshowingyourSImS Config.

ClickAuto-detect tohaveSIMS-Syncattempttofindyourdetailsautomatically

fromSIMS.

IfSIMS-Synccannotdetectyourdetails,inputyourSImS Server andDatabase

manually.

InputtheSImS Username andSImS Password.

48


ImPORTANT NOTE:ThisaccountmUST havedataextractionprivileges,orthe

datasynchronisationwillfail.IdeallyyoumayneedtousetheSImS Data manager

usernameandpassword.

GototheAlfie Account tab.

InputtheAlfie Username andAlfie Password providedfortheAlfiesoft

Administrator.IfyouarenotinpossessionofanAdministratoraccount,please

[email protected].

ClickAuto-Detect topullyourschoolLAandDCSFdatafromSIMS.Youcaninput

thesefieldsmanuallyifyouknowthem,thenclickSelect School.

Checkthatthecorrectschoolhasbeenchosen.Ifthecorrectschoolhasnot

beenchosen,[email protected] orcall

08445768126.

ClickValidate All.

ClickOK toreturntotheSchools tab.

ClickTest all.

49


Green lightmeanstheschoolisokay.

Amber lightmeansthecallsweresuccessfulbuttheschoolsdatapulledfromSIMS

doesnotmatchtheschooldataassociatedwiththeAlfieaccountselected.

SelecttheschoolandclickEdit.GototheAlfie Account tabandcheckthedetails.

Iftheyallappearcorrect,[email protected] or

call08445768126.

Red lightmeansoneormorecallsarefailing.

CheckyourProxy Settings,SImS Config andAlfie Account details.Iftheyall

appearcorrect,youwillneedtosendusacopyofthelogfiles–seeChecking for

Errors.

Schedule Task Settings

GototheSchedule tab.

ARun Daily timeisrandomlyselectedforyou,thisshouldbechangedtorun

before midnight.Typicalschoolhoursareomittedsothatthescheduledtaskdoes

notinterferewiththeday-to-dayrunningofSIMS.

50


InputtheWindows Username andWindows Password oftheWindowsuser

accountthathassufficientprivilegestorunthescheduledtask–thisistypically

anaccountthatisalreadybeingusedfortheSIMSdataovernightbackupor

synchronisationwithyourVLE.

ClickRun Now.Thiswilluploadthefirstdataset.Pleasenote,atpeaktimes,when

therearelargeamountsofdatapresent,theinitialimportcantakeseveralminutes.

GototheLog tabtomonitordatauploadprogress.

51


ThedatauploadiscompletedwhenyouseethemessageTest complete for [your

School]

[Name] [Date] [Time]. Toupdatethelog,clickRefresh.

Oncecompleted,returntotheSchedule tab.

Ifyouneedtosynchronisedataimmediately,clickRun Now.

52


TosettheScheduledTaskwithinWindows,clickStart.

ImPORTANT NOTE:IfSchedule Task isnotsettoStart,itwillnotrunthe

synchronisationprocessasplanned.

maintenance

Oncetheschedulehasstarted,youarefreetoclosetheSIMS-Syncapplication.

However,itisrecommendedyourunitandcheckthelogsperiodicallytomakesure

everythingisworkingasitshouldbe,otherwiseerrorscangoundetected.

Pleasedirectallsupportquestionsandanyerrorsencounteredto

[email protected]

Checking for Errors

Asamanager runningSIMS-Sync,youshouldfrequentlymakesuretheapplication

isfunctioningcorrectly.YoucandothisbyclickingtheLog tabfromwithinthe

applicationmainwindow.

• TheSImS-Sync radiobutton,ifselected,willshowyouthelogdatafortheSIMSSyncapplication(theoneyouarecurrentlyrunning).

• TheAlfiemain willgiveyoulogdataonthehiddenapplicationthathandlesthedataexchangebetweenSIMSandAlfiesoft.

Youshouldcheckbothlogsforerrorsorwarnings,andaddressanyissuesthatmay

beflagged.Ifnecessary,eachlogcanbesavedindividuallybyclickingSave To

Disk,[email protected]

collins connect sims sync guide · 2015. 4. 22. · sims sync guide contents 1. technical...

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