Considerations of storing Tes E10 timetables on web platforms (Google drive, Teams etc)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• E10 and Edval Staff are designed as Windows desktop applications. 
• How does an .etz file open when stored on web platforms?
• File management warnings if storing the .etz timetable files on web platforms:
• Suggested process if storing .etz timetable files on web platforms where multiple people work in the file:
• Suggested process if storing .etz timetable files on web platforms where only one person works in the file:

E10 and Edval Staff are designed as Windows desktop applications. 

Tes strongly advises that its software and files are best stored on the school local network. If schools decide to store Tes E10 .etz files on web platforms, the IT team and Tes users must be aware of the potential issues and the care required to manage the data.Storing these software applications and .etz timetable files on web platforms can result in file management type errors, possibly resulting in data loss. If schools decide to store E10 files on web platforms, the IT team and Tes users must be aware of the potential issues and the care required to manage the data.

Please note that Tes Specialists cannot assist with issues resulting in the web based file management. The school's IT team will need to be consulted.

The Edval Staff.exe application will not make the correct connections it needs to in order to work. It cannot be used on web platforms.

How does an .etz file open when stored on web platforms?

It is not possible for two people to work on the .etz file at the same time, as it is the local copy on their computers they are actually each working on, not the main web platform version. The warning usually received when two people simultaneously open the same .etz file does not apply when the .etz file is stored on web platforms as the path E10 is looking for is not accessible.

File management warnings if storing the .etz timetable files on web platforms:

1. Single user
   If there is a single user at the school who works in the .etz timetable file, the file management issues are significantly minimised. They will need to monitor their file management, in the same way when the .etz files were stored on a network.
   
   
2. Multiple users
   Where more than one person opens the .etz file, file management can be problematic. It is possible that two people may open the file separately, at much the same time, and each make changes to the file. Only one of these versions will be saved, and the other changes will be lost.

Suggested process if storing .etz timetable files on web platforms where multiple people work in the file:

1. Place/download the E10 .exe application onto your computer desktop (ensure it is always updated to the latest version).
2. Rename the .etz timetable file on the web-based drive to communicate to others that you are working on it.
   e.g. Tes High School Master - Bob working on file Monday 8pm.etz.
3. Download the .etz file from the web-based drive onto your desktop (not required if user has an automatic sync set up between their computer and the web platform).
4. Make the changes required and save.
5. Upload the edited .etz file from your desktop back onto the web-based drive (not required if user has an automatic sync set up between their computer and the web platform).
   You may be asked if you want to replace the existing file on the web-based drive - select yes.
6. Rename the uploaded file back to the original file name on the web-based drive.

1. Place/download the E10 .exe application onto your computer desktop (ensure it is always updated to the latest version).
2. Create a folder on the web-based platform titled something like 'File currently being worked on'.
3. Move the .etz timetable file from the main location to the folder created above to communicate to others that it is currently being worked on.
4. Download the .etz file from the web-based drive onto your desktop (not required if user has an automatic sync set up between their computer and the web platform).
5. Make the changes required and save.
6. Upload the edited .etz file from your desktop back onto the web-based drive main location (not required if user has an automatic sync set up between their computer and the web platform).
7. You may like to delete or archive the .etz file that was moved to the  'File currently being worked on' location. If you decide to leave it there, when you next want to work on the master file and move it to this location, you may be prompted on whether you want to overwrite or copy the file in this location.

1. Have extremely good communication between the users of the .etz file to inform each other of when the file is being worked on by one of the users, so that the other users know not to work on the file until they are finished.