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• Learner Information Suite Version 19.01 (76 posts)

• Selvy said 11 months, 3 weeks ago:

  Hello all

  The Data Service is making an early beta test version of the Learner Information Suite (LIS) version 19.01 (2011/12) available to assist software writers and providers writing their own ILR software. LIS 19.01 (Beta) requires 2011/12 ILR test data to run and is intended to help developers of systems producing ILR data. This is version 19.01 and has a very limited range of functionality and beta versions will be superseded throughout the LIS version 19 development process.

  If you would like to register to receive the beta test version of the Learner Information Suite (LIS) version 19.01 (2011/12) please email servicedesk@thedataservice.org.uk with your name, organisation, email address and telephone number. The Servicedesk will respond to your request and if you need further information please ring 0870 26700001.

  A Release Guidance document will be available for LIS 19.01 and users are strongly advised to read this document before using the beta test version of LIS 19.01 Beta version 1.01. Please note that this early version of the software is still in development and undergoing testing, we therefore cannot assure the accuracy or reliability of the software and its components. Therefore users are advised to not use this functionality to produce live data for academic year 2011/12.

  As part of this beta test, the Data Service would appreciate feedback on your experience of the software and for you to report any faults that you encounter. They are unable to provide full scale support and guidance for this Beta version of LIS but will attempt to answer queries where possible. Please email your feedback on this release to servicedesk@thedataservice.org.uk.

  Selvy

• Caspar Verney said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  I have sent my request to The Data Service for the LIS 19.01 Beta for testing purposes but have not received anything yet – when will it be available, please?

  Many thanks,
  Caspar

• Sean Seddon said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Had a reply from lscsupportdesk@lsc.gov.uk on 06/06/11 from my email sent 03/06/11.

  Thius gave me the link and the password for the zipped file.

  Found a couple of issues, but it was useful for debugging/correcting my XML output!

  Sean

• The Data Service said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Hi Caspar

  I have chased this up and someone from the Data Service will be getting in touch with you today.

• Gary Townsend said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Looking forward to the next beta release of the LIS as one of the bugs (A10=46 in flat file) is stopping me going any further with fully testing, but other than this bug it looks good, oh apart from trying to understand the Employment Status fully!

  I've had to resort to importing a flat file and seeing what it converts it to regarding Employment Status to try and replicate it in my XML extract, but I'm pretty sure this doesn't match what the single ILR document says.

  I've only imported one LR learner and one ER learner so far though…

• Jim Lyle said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Has anyone heard when a newer version of LIS 19 might be available? I too have had a number of 'errors' reported by the LIS that I'm confident are contrary to the singleILR spec. Some are clearly not errors as they refer to incorrectly formatted XML data that is not in my file. I have reported these 'errors' to the Service Desk (6 June). Unfortunately, I too cannot do much more with the current version, particularly as something in my file causes the LIS to crash and erase all the 'errors' found up to that point.

  Still, it was good to have had access to the LIS and it has certainly helped with development of my XML file. I just hope that there will be frequent updates.

• Lee Richardson said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Hi Jim, have you tried running your xml file through a validating parser (e.g. Altova XMLSpy) – if you have all the published xsd files in the same directory as your file then it will flag any validation errors.

  I'm not sure what happens if you end up with a file which conforms to the published xsd schema definition but which LIS says is invalid though. But if you suspect there may be an issue that would be one way of establishing it beyond doubt.

• Caspar Verney said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Still no news from the Data Service – could whoever posted before please chase again?

  Many thanks,
  Caspar

• The Data Service said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Hi Caspar

  I will chase again and get back to you.

  regards

  Fazia

• The Data Service said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  LIS 19.01 – Beta version 1.02 ready for testing

  The Learner Information Suite v19.01 Beta has been updated and version 1.02 is now available from the LIS 19.01 Beta download page for testing:

  http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Services/DataCollection/software/lis/lis_19_01_Beta.htm

  There is an updated release guide which describes changes in this version and a newer version of the LARA database has also been published on the same web page.

  The installation package for LIS 19.01 Beta v 1.02 is compressed and password protected. The password is the same one that was used for LIS 19.01 beta v 1.01.

  Please note: the release guide LIS 19.01 v 1.02 updated revised since its initial publication. The information that has changed in this is:

  7. Future LIS 19 Beta releases
  Beta versions will be updated throughout the LIS 19.01 development process. The next LIS 19 beta release v 1.03 is expected to include the Funding Calculation functionality as well as more fixes. It will be published with accompanying documentation on the LIS 19 Beta webpage. We currently expect the next Beta release to be available on Wednesday 22nd June. This date is provisional and is likely to change. Once the release is available, a corresponding email alert will be sent out to those that have requested to participate in Beta testing. All feedback contributions made by LIS Beta testers are valuable and greatly appreciated.

  If you have any queries or want to register for LIS beta testing please contact the Service Desk by calling 0870 2670001 or email: servicedesk@thedataservice.org.uk.

• Jim Lyle said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Thanks Lee, yes my XML file was validated externally and also validates in the LIS (once I modified the schema in the LIS to allow underscores in email addresses anyway). My problem lies with the LIS business validation rules which seems to be identifying errors in my file that I believe do not exist (for example it doesn't like the format of my National Insurance numbers, even though I haven't returned any in the file). This makes it difficult to identify the real problems which I'm sure exist.

  As I write this I notice that a new version of the LIS has just been released, so I will see if this improves matters.

  Thanks, Jim

• Sean Seddon said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Just downloaded and installed new beta.

  Attempted to load a file that produced rule violations (but passed batch processing).

  Now get the error:

  Object reference not set as an instance of an object.

  at the

  Amalgamating XML files…

  portion of the process.

  Guess who is emailing the data service pretty soon…

  Sean

• Gary Townsend said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  The documentation pdf file that accompanies the LIS release does state that "the embedded validation rules have not been verified or tested."

  I have one test learner who is 42, but I get an error saying they must be 19 or over…. I also get the NI number error….

• Jim Lyle said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  Just got the same 'Object reference not set as an instance of an object' error in LIS 19.01 v1.02 as Sean

• Sean Seddon said 11 months, 1 week ago:

  I've sent a screenshot and my (1 learner) XML file to

  servicedesk@thedataservice.org.uk

  Had the standard reply back, so now waiting with baited breath.

  S