Difference between revisions of "Customised reports"

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This page shows examples of custom reports that have been created for schools. The [[review designer]] page gives information about the steps involved in having a custom report created for a school. <br> <br>
 
This page shows examples of custom reports that have been created for schools. The [[review designer]] page gives information about the steps involved in having a custom report created for a school. <br> <br>
 
[[Image:StudentReview.jpg|thumb|An example of how a student review could look]]
 
 
[[Image:Review1.gif|thumb|An example of how a student review could look]]
 
[[Image:Review1.gif|thumb|An example of how a student review could look]]
 
[[Image:certificates.gif|thumb|Certificates can be automatically generated for pupils who achieve a certain number of [[Behaviour|behaviour]] points.]]
 
[[Image:certificates.gif|thumb|Certificates can be automatically generated for pupils who achieve a certain number of [[Behaviour|behaviour]] points.]]
 
 
 
==An important note==
 
==An important note==
 
Student review generation for a specific Student Review Period will only work for a brief time within a school year where the data (grades, element schedules, student group memberships, the review design script etc) are all in "sync". It's important to upload them to the SIMS Document Server at this point if you require a record of them in future.  
 
Student review generation for a specific Student Review Period will only work for a brief time within a school year where the data (grades, element schedules, student group memberships, the review design script etc) are all in "sync". It's important to upload them to the SIMS Document Server at this point if you require a record of them in future.  
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==The XML data file==
 
==The XML data file==
  
A data file is generated from the SIMS database whenever a slip is generated. The data file is used as the source of data for the XSL stylesheet. This file is found in the PARS TEMP folder after a slip is generated and is called [[OUTPUT.XML]], DROUTPUT.XML or MDOUTPUT.XML. The PARS TEMP folder is found in the local PARS folder.
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Student review designs use [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xslt XSLT] to layout the data in the OUTPUT.XML file, converting it to PDF or HTML in the final printable copy. <br> <br>
 
 
The XML that PARS produces is unformatted but it can be tidied easily using [http://www.perfectxml.com/msxmlTidy.asp this] website.
 
 
 
This line of code can be added to the top of the XML data file to allow the transformation to be viewed outside of PARS:
 
 
 
'''<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="stylesheet.xsl"?>'''
 
 
 
Place both the XML and the XSL file (in this case called "stylesheet.xsl") into the same folder then open the XML file using a web browser. The XSL file can then be edited and saved using a text editor such as [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++] (free download). After saving the XSL file, refresh the XML window in the web browser to see the changes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
==The XSL stylesheet==
 
 
 
This text file transforms data that it reads from the XML data file into an HTML file that can be printed out. Some simple XSL stylesheets are included with the software and can be viewed by selecting one of the designs found under "Slip designer" or "Review designer" in various sections on the [[PARS main menu]].  
 
 
 
When editing an existing design in PARS, the "Test" button will appear if there is a valid XML data file in the Windows temp folder however the method outlined above is generally quicker.
 
 
 
 
 
  
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There are various free pieces of software that make it easier to work with XML and XSLT: <br>
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[http://www.xmlfox.com/ XMLfox] ''rearranges the XML into a grid view and makes it easy to navigate through large files.'' <br>
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[http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++] ''is a useful program for editing code and has settings for a wide range of different languages.'' <br> <br>
  
If you need any help or advice with creating an XSL stylesheet to use in PARS, please contact the [[Online Helpdesk]].
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Changes to Student review designs can be made by our programmers or by staff at school. For staff, the best way to work on a Student review design is to copy the XSLT review design text to a new text file called e.g. example.xsl. This file should be placed in a folder with an OUTPUT.XML file containing students who already have had the relevant data entered in PARS. The OUTPUT.XML file would need to be edited to insert this text at the very top: <br>
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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="example.xsl"?>
  
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The OUTPUT.XML file can then be opened in Internet Explorer (other browsers may not work) and the final report will be generated. Changes can be made to the XSLT file using [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++] or a similar text editor. Refreshing Internet Explorer would then display those changes in the report. <br> <br>
  
 
[[Category:Grading]]
 
[[Category:Grading]]
 
[[Category:Behaviour]]
 
[[Category:Behaviour]]
 
[[Category:Detentions and Removals]]
 
[[Category:Detentions and Removals]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 15 July 2016

This page shows examples of custom reports that have been created for schools. The review designer page gives information about the steps involved in having a custom report created for a school.

An example of how a student review could look
Certificates can be automatically generated for pupils who achieve a certain number of behaviour points.

An important note

Student review generation for a specific Student Review Period will only work for a brief time within a school year where the data (grades, element schedules, student group memberships, the review design script etc) are all in "sync". It's important to upload them to the SIMS Document Server at this point if you require a record of them in future.

Examples of Student Reviews; Bespoke Grade/Assessment Reports designed for Schools

Student review111.jpg


Grading example 5.jpg


BramRev.jpg


Gradingexample1.jpg


Gcse vs authorised absence.jpg


Example1.jpg


Example2.jpg


Grade report 3.jpg


Graph grade report.jpg


Example Report 1.jpg


Grade report 2.jpg

The XML data file

Student review designs use XSLT to layout the data in the OUTPUT.XML file, converting it to PDF or HTML in the final printable copy.

There are various free pieces of software that make it easier to work with XML and XSLT:
XMLfox rearranges the XML into a grid view and makes it easy to navigate through large files.
Notepad++ is a useful program for editing code and has settings for a wide range of different languages.

Changes to Student review designs can be made by our programmers or by staff at school. For staff, the best way to work on a Student review design is to copy the XSLT review design text to a new text file called e.g. example.xsl. This file should be placed in a folder with an OUTPUT.XML file containing students who already have had the relevant data entered in PARS. The OUTPUT.XML file would need to be edited to insert this text at the very top:

<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="example.xsl"?>

The OUTPUT.XML file can then be opened in Internet Explorer (other browsers may not work) and the final report will be generated. Changes can be made to the XSLT file using Notepad++ or a similar text editor. Refreshing Internet Explorer would then display those changes in the report.