Batch PDF operations
Insight offers two batch PDF processes to aid in producing verbatim output to users from your reporting systems. These processes are Conversion, which converts existing documents in the SIMS Document Server to PDF format, and Upload, which takes an archive of documents, and stores them to the SIMS Document Server against the correct student. Both are accessed from the menu item Batch PDF Conversion.
Conversion
Before you can use the Conversion process, some stages need to be performed actually on the Insight IIS server. Having performed the initial configuration, users can drive the process using only Insight.
Configuration
On the IIS server, create a local, machine administrator called "Account1" (you can actually call it what you like, it will continue to be referred to as Account1 here), and make sure it has log in to console rights. Domain admins and power users etc. will NOT be suitable. You will not be able to do this if your Insight IIS server is also a domain controller. Make sure the password for Account1 never expires and can't be changed.
Next, install Word 2010, alternatively or Word 2007 with http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=9943. If your operating system gives you a choice, you should always install the 32 bit version of Microsoft Word.
Log in as Account1, and run Microsoft Word. Enter initials where requested, agree to any licencing terms or activation processes, decide whether to post errors to Microsoft experience, activate over the web, etc. until you can just start Word and have it load up a blank document each time you run it, logged in as Account 1.
Next, click Start - Run and then either DCOMCNFG.EXE, or if you have a 64bit server, MMC comexp.msc /32. In the Component Services window, expand Component Services, your server, DCOM Config and look down the list for “Microsoft Word 97-2003 Document”, “Microsoft Office word 97-2003 Documents” or the APPID {00020906-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}.
Right click on the relevant node and select Properties, then the Identity tab. Now select “This user” and enter the [machinename]\Account1 details. Click OK to close the dialog.
That has set up the environment we need on the server, but if you would rather not need to provide the Account1 details each time the batch PDF conversion is run, you should also create an account, Account2, as a local, machine administrator account (again, can be anything), and deny it log in to computer rights. This account can now be used when you come to run the conversion process, and by denying logon you can give it to an administrative Insight user, without them being able to actually use it to log in to the server.
There is now some initial configuration to be performed in Insight too. Log in as an administrator, and go to Manage – Preferences – Batch PDF Conversion. In the two boxes, again enter the Account1 details, and click the Update button.
Running the conversion process
At this point, you can attempt a conversion! Still logged in as Admin, click on Manage – Batch PDF Conversion. Select the earliest and latest dates for those reports you would like considered, and select the relevant students from the list below. You can use the filters, and shift- or ctrl- clicks here. Click on the toolbar icon that looks like two pages with a cog. When you are prompted for credentials, enter the username and password for Account2 (remember you can distribute this if needed) and click OK.
You will see a popup detailing the conversion process, and when it is complete, a summary will be displayed.
If you are using this process it is advisable to also set the Role options for end-users to show only PDFs, thereby hiding the original documents from them.
