Downloading your School's Data |
The Pocket eSchool Manager form can be launched in one of several ways. The simplest way is by clicking the PDA Man button on the toolbar, as shown in Figure 5-1, below.
Figure 5-1: The toolbar showing the PDA Man button
It can also be launched from the Forms menu by selecting the Pocket eSchool Manager menu item, as shown in Figure 5-2.
Figure 5-2: The Forms menu shows various favorite forms, including the Pocket eSchool Manager form.
Launching the Manager form, in either case, causes it to be displayed, as shown in Figure 5-3. The form has three page tabs which reflect the three steps: 1) Import Jobs for importing your school's data, 2) Data for selecting the data to be downloaded, and 3) Export Jobs for setting the download parameters and downloading to an SD data card or a handheld.
Figure 5-3: The Import Jobs page of the Pocket eSchool Manager form
The import jobs page is used for creating, editing, and managing import jobs. In Figure 5-2, eight sample import jobs are listed in the Import Jobs list box. These sample import jobs are the subject of topic Importing Data, where they are discussed in detail. In your school's case, you must have at least one import job that meets your needs. However, you may find that it is handy to be able to design and test other import strategies without abandoning any one that works. The Import Jobs page can accommodate any number of import job entries. As you can see in Figure 5-2, each import job has a name which is entered or edited in the Import Name text box. There is also a large Import Notes edit box for notes about the job. Below the notes edit box is the Last Edited by name and date, and the Last Imported by name and date. The buttons at the bottom of the form are used for creating new jobs or deleting unwanted jobs. Notice that the Import Jobs page, in Figure 5-2, has another page frame (a form structure with page tabs) with two page tabs Info and Import Script. The contents of the Info page is already visible in Figure 5-2. The contents of the Import Script page is hidden. The import script page is described in topic Importing Data.
The Data page is shown in Figure 5-4. Its primary purpose is to organize the student, teacher, and staff demographic data for subsequent downloads. Since Pocket eSchool may be used by different users with different needs, it is desirable to customize the selection of demographic data items and their order. This is done with the various data grids that can be created, edited, and previewed here. Also, the Set "My Order" button is used to select the My Order sort keys. The information for them is downloaded to the handheld and is available from the My Order menu item on Pocket eSchool's main menu. The Data page in Figure 5-4 also has subject-specific page tabs for Discipline and Gradekeeping. Topic Preparing the Export Grids describes the Data page in detail.
Figure 5-4: The Data page of the Pocket eSchool Manager form
The Export Jobs page, as shown in Figure 5-5, is used to manage the various downloads for different users and for different platforms (Windows, Palm or Pocket PC, at the present), and for download targets (hotsync, activesync, card readers, or file folders). In addition, three demographic data grids, selected from the ones listed on the data page, in Figure 5-4, are selected for each export job. Also, the security settings (password policy, time-out policy, data encryption policy, and what the user can do and see on the handheld) are set here. Topic Setting the PDA Download Specifications describes this form page in detail.
Figure 5-5: The Export Jobs page of the Pocket eSchool Manager form
If you are reading this material for the first time, I suggest that you skim though the various topics, Importing Data, Preparing the Export Grids, and Setting the PDA Download Specifications first. I suggest that you only skim only because you really want to get the big picture of the import, verifying the data, and export processes -- you want to avoid getting bogged down in details.
Once you have the big picture, read each section again and try to follow the discussion details. You will grasp the material more quickly and become productive with your own school's data if you, in addition to reading this manual, you can follow the discussion by running eSchool PDA Edition on your desktop; use the same example files that are used in this manual. If you are an eSchool user, then your school's data does not need to be imported. Your data is already available to be downloaded.
