As colleagues at Withins School have kindly informed me, subscribers to Capita’’s Exams.info service (chapter 17 in the Results Day Survival Kit 2008 document) will already be aware that two consolidated SIMS Examinations Organiser patches have been released.
There is a different patch depending on which version of SIMS your school is currently using. I have taken the liberty of authorising the relevant patches to schools; these can be installed via SOLUS in the usual way.
Please find below detailed information of what is included in each consolidated patch.
Consolidated Exams Patch for August 2008 Main Release (SIMS .net 7.108) Users - ID: 12229
This patch combines six previously available patches for use on the August 2008 Main Release (version 6.66) of Examinations Organiser:
- Patch ID 12222 Certificate Broadsheet Converting Varchar to Float error
Microsoft ole db provider for sql server, error converting datatype varchar to float.
Error received in Certification Broadsheet
- Patch ID 12208 Timeout error when importing Exam results
Some users have reported loss of contact with the Server midway through the import of large results files.
This appears to be an issue more related to local network configuration than to the database itself. Capita have not been able to replicate the error message as reported, but have succeeded in provoking a timeout error, which may be associated. Accordingly this patch was prepared to addresses this problem by further optimisation.
- Patch ID 12200 Duplicate Student and Grade Counts
Group Performance Analysis frequently doubles and trebles its grade count. This problem has been traced to a change in behaviour between SQL Server 2000 and 2005, which has necessitated some recoding of the procedure. Most users will be affected. This patch resolves the problem.
- Patch ID 12226 Certificate Broadsheet Divide by Zero error
Sims .net | Exams | Reports | Results | Certification Broadsheet
Select qualification as Key Skills
“Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server - Divide by zero error encountered.
Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server - The statement has been terminated.”
- Patch ID 12218 BTEC Applied Science Added to PI Measure for Science
This patch updates the KS4 PI calculation to recognise Level 2 BTEC Applied Science as satisfying the specific ‘2+ A*-C in Science’ measure. Please note that in addition to applying the patch, users of this qualification will need to use the Basedata Element Properties form to assign the appropriate QCA code, 0008, which is not indicated in the basedata.
Item 10 of the Results Day Survival Kit draws attention to the erroneous discount code issued for Edexcel Double Science. A number of other issues have since come to light in the same area.
Codes 1320 (Additional Science) and 0028 (Additional Applied Science), new this year, will have been added by the August upgrade. Elements assigned to these codes will have imported correctly, except for the QCA code, which will have been reported as non-existent. These should be inserted manually, where required. As the RDSK indicates, 1320 will be recognised as the counterpart of 1310, 0028 of 0008.
WJEC: Element 023001 is issued as 1300, with 023101 as 1320. 1300 does not appear on the DCSF’s QAN data. Users will find that the Element Properties form shows QCA codes for both as blank, because at point of import neither code was present. Assigning codes 1310 and 1320 respectively will allow the calculation to operate correctly.
Edexcel: Elements 2101 and 2103 are both assigned to QCA code 1310. The effect of this for students who have a result for each will be that the lower grade (or one or the other if the same) will be discounted. Users should correct element 2103 to QCA code 1320 and re-run the PI calculation.
OCR: In the original release of 6a08_01, J632 and J650 were both assigned to 1340, which is not in the QCA list. According to the QAN data, J632 should be 0008, J650 should be 1750. These values were corrected in the x05 revision, but Capita are still not convinced - J632 and discount code 0028 are both called ”Additional Applied Science”, which, according to Capita, sound like a good enough match. In any event, users should ensure that the ”core” elements with which they use these items produce valid combinations, as specified in the RDSK.
- Patch ID 12215 OCR National Exam results not included in PI calculations.
ONAT First Award and First Certificate at Level 2 have had the stopgap codes used in 2007/8 replaced by the August upgrade with the correct ones in readiness for 2008/9. The PI Equivalence table needs to be updated accordingly. This update will affect only centres delivering these qualifications.
Consolidated Exams Patch for June 2008 Update Release (SIMS .net 7.106) Users - ID: 12230
This patch combines five previously available patches for use on the June 2008 Update Release (version 6.64) of Examinations Organiser:
- Patch ID 12222 Certificate Broadsheet Converting Varchar to Float error
Microsoft ole db provider for sql server, error converting datatype varchar to float.
Error received in Certification Broadsheet
- Patch ID 12208 Timeout error when importing Exam results
Some users have reported loss of contact with the Server midway through the import of large results files.
This appears to be an issue more related to local network configuration than to the database itself. Capita have not been able to replicate the error message as reported, but have succeeded in provoking a timeout error, which may be associated. Accordingly this patch was prepared to addresses this problem by further optimisation.
- Patch ID 12200 Duplicate Student and Grade Counts
Group Performance Analysis frequently doubles and trebles its grade count. This problem has been traced to a change in behaviour between SQL Server 2000 and 2005, which has necessitated some recoding of the procedure. Most users will be affected. This patch resolves the problem.
- Patch ID 12221 Addition of Subject Codes 0028 and 1320
QCA code 0028 and 1320 not available prior to August 2008 Main Release (SIMS .net 7.108 - Examinations Organiser 6.66)
- Patch ID 12226 Certificate Broadsheet Divide by Zero error
Sims .net | Exams | Reports | Results | Certification Broadsheet
Select qualification as Key Skills
“Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server - Divide by zero error encountered.
Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server - The statement has been terminated.”
As always, please don”t hesitate to contact us if you require further information or support.
Please feel free to leave a comment below, especially if you have something to share with your fellow Exam Officers.
SIMS .net 7.112 (labelled SIMS 2008 11a November Main 2) is now available for supported secondary schools via SOLUS. Primary, special and nursery schools have already been upgraded.
The SIMS Agents sit on each SIMS computer, understanding the role of the machine (e.g. SIMS SQL Server or FMS Client).
Capita will be closing their data centre for essential maintenance on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th August 2008, a consequence of which is that you won”t be able to upgrade SIMS via SOLUS on those days.
