[Year 12 IPM] Re: Booking software -- does it integrate ??

[Robert Timmer-Arends]

Hello Kevork

re: 'One task I have for next year is to integrate timetabling, reporting
and attendance into one package ( vs the current 3 different programs where
changes have to moved across each time to the others ). Thereafter, I wish
to integrate the remaining databases ......   Wish me luck !'

can I offer a small piece of advice?
I have just finished a 4 year tour of duty as timetabler (and for 2 years as
DO as well) and thought to do they same (having also been the reports person
before then). The department started making noises about a timetabling
component in CASES21. Given that the school has to use CASES21 for all its
student admin, I thought it would be a logical step to move TT and DO to
CASES21. We moved halfway there (did all the blocking uses CASES21 TT
module) but that as far as I got. The actual task of creating a timetable in
CASES21 defeated me in the end. I finally understand logic behind the way
CASES21 timetable is constructed but that logic does not work well when you
have lots of part timers and a range of periods per subject. Plus there were
all sorts of operational issues in using the TT module at the end of the
year when YLCs are also trying to use parts of it.

I am now recommending that we use a TT package to do all the student admin
in classes, and leave CASES21 purely as the source of base student data.
This is not ideal but....

So, be careful about choosing CASES21 as your central db. There are schools
using the TT function successfully so I might be wrong.

Also, isn't what you are wanting to do part of the ULTRANET idea that some
schools are trialling?

Regards
Robert T-A
Brighton SC