AITAP Meeting
April 22, 2008
Michael Quiner’s experience at DUG 2008
Big push with Datatel is to move to SQL
90% of clients are on R18. Datatel now wants everyone to move on to SQL
Advantages of SQL: Better communication between systems.
Have
Kathy: Can’t send out reports to offices that do not have a Datatel printer. We’re maxed out on our Datatel printer licenses (would cost another $10,000 or so to add more). If on SQL Kathy can send reports to any networked printers.
Not limited to one file, you can join files to put together reports. Don’t have to build own database.
Mary: Had an occasion where the B’s were not in a query. Pulled a query for Carol there were random people missing. Can’t imagine that dozens of people were accidentally, randomly deleted. There’s no logic as to why these people wouldn’t show up.
Michael: Sounds like an indexing problem. Index is out of whack…
We have patches that are supposed to go through indexes and fix problems… May not index HR often enough…
Varga: Are we going to have to change all codes from 5 to 3 characters??
Quiner: Ken Paine is looking into that…
Biggest job is that we have to go through all of the data fields to make sure they fit with the rules. Have to scan each group of files in each application. Ken came up with 16,000 errors… 80% were an easy fix… Last 20% will take a lot of time to fix.
SQL will enforce the data base rules that are already out there. Datatel has already put in the stipulation that they are only 3 digits and ignores it. SQL will not ignore the rules put into place.
Time frame: would like to be in SQL by December 2008
Michael was elected onto the Datatel Board. The Board doesn’t do as much client advocacy as one would think. Talked about how everybody writes in their platform for the election of what clients would like to do with Datatel. Michael can get requests to the Client Advisory Committee. He meets with the other committees twice a year.
NW DUG is going to be in
2008 Administrative Technology Survey
Has built in features to skip questions if not relevant to the person’s position.
There are some questions that specific people will be asked to answer.
List of major summer projects:
Barb, Ken, Rich, and Michael…
DocLocator is expanding into the Registrar’s Office and the Dean of Students Office. Probably not going to be able to have all of the advisers on the system this year.
SQL Conversion has been started. The nice thing about the conversion is that it will not require ‘testing’. Will need to spot check… Will have training on how to use SQL tools.
Varga: Is SQL going to affect how we process reporting on grants/funds. (Import/export process)
Michael: Datatel says no, but we will check on that. This summer we will have a ‘test system’ set up to trouble shoot. Servers are already set up.
Varga: Export of loans would be a great area to live test for Financial Aid…
VoIP Project
Conversion is in progress and has been going well.
A big part of RCC and Mem have been converted.
Having trouble coordinating with Qwest …Qwest has pretty much disregarded our conversion schedule and tends to shut off service all at once rather the service that is specified. Mike H and Roger have been able to get over and set up VoIP phones in these instances so far.
Setting up a
The wind storm sped up this process. There are some problems with the fiber between here and North Hall due to the wind storm.
Zimbra
Replacing Marcus, but can still use Outlook…
WCTS and President’s Office is using it. Going to move the Dean of Faculty office next.
Put President on it because Zimbra works better with his Blackberry, so had to move the whole office, which now means that DoF has to move to it too… Conversion is happening faster than planned…
Calendar: Can check other people’s schedule easily. Can create other calendars: “vacation” “College Calendar”, room reservations, etc.
Has crashed a few times at 4 a.m. Could be false errors. Might be doing updates at that time, but seems to be back online relatively quickly. Kyle Singer and Mike Osterman have been looking into this.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 10th 1:30 p.m.