For our existing client-server version users who upgrade to the web browser-based version, they receive a data conversion program that automatically moves data from into the SQL database. Specifically, it reads all MDB files, retrieves the records and builds then SQL Script files with Insert commands allowing the end-user to populate the SQL database via SQL Enterprise Manager (Microsoft supplied SQL database management tool) whenever and as often as they want.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: During a scheduled four (4) -day TSP (training success services package) the administrators and managers (course developers, training coordinators and key IT staff) are trained to import student information, create and manage course information and an overview for IT staff.

Upon server installation, the administrator establishes users, security access permissions, user login information, etc. Following successful deployment, staff enters data that has not yet been imported.

How many users can be handled (or how large of a corporation)?

PRO Compliance LMS: The number of users can be unlimited based upon the database used and storage space available. We have an installation script provided for SQL.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The number of users can be unlimited based upon the database used and storage space available.

What kind of pricing structure exists?  

Contact us at Productivity Systems (412-741-8623 ext 1) for a quote.

Is the graphical interface customize-able?

The look of the interface can be customized at installation or at anytime by the customer with some training.

Is there hosting of the database by the vendor?

PRO Compliance LMS: The preferred installation is the customer’s intranet or internet web server. Hosting arrangements are available.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The preferred installation is the customer’s intranet or internet web server behind a firewall. Hosting arrangements are available.

Should I build, buy or host a system?

Build versus Buy or Host

What kind of database(s) is the data stored in?  (Access, SQL, ...)

PRO Compliance LMS: You can store data in a SQL Server ODBC compliant database. Depending on demand, we may support Oracle at a later date.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The network version is a Powerbuilder application with a .mdb file format. You can view database tables with MS Access and create custom reports but not change data using Access.

Will the system allow the downloading of personnel and previous staff development information for professional, paraprofessional, and auxiliary employees from existing databases? Related question: Can we output information in a format that can be connected to existing HR compensation profile and turnover data, as well as key corporate data such as District Sales?

PRO Compliance LMS: The Report Writer Module or Crystal Reports may be used for customized reporting needs or any SQL Enterprise Management tool. Custom programmed interfaces with other existing software systems may be unnecessary since we have an automatic data synchronization process for employees and course revisions that looks for specifically formatted text files with specific filenames. Evaluation and processing of data for analysis can be accomplished with Microsoft Excel, the Report Writer or Crystal Reports that can be linked to the LMS database as a source of information.

Can the database of personnel information be automatically updated on a regular basis from another database?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. Custom programmed interfaces with other existing software systems may be unnecessary since we have an automatic data synchronization process for employees and course revisions that looks for specifically formatted text files with specific filenames.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: A Data synchronization module is available to establish the mapping and automatic updating of data between two software systems.

Will the system record name, title of session, session number, continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours, and credit category for each session.

PRO Compliance LMS: Some of these fields are tracked now. User definable fields can be made available for CPE hours and credit category.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Credit category may be available or can be added. The other fields are accommodated.

Is the system secure?

PRO Compliance LMS: When installed on a customer’s intranet, the application resides on the internal side of a firewall which prohibits access from outside parties.

When accessed via the internet, a secure user login and password restricts access.The web server can be configured by the customer or the service provider to route browser-based traffic through a specific port requiring a user ID and password.

Currently, certificate validation using HTTPS is not supported, although it could be accomplished and may be available in the Enterprise version.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: When installed on a customer’s intranet, the application resides on the internal side of a firewall which prohibits access from outside parties.When accessed via the internet, a secure user login and password restricts access.The web server can be configured by the customer or the service provider to route browser-based traffic through a specific port requiring a user ID and password.

Is it SCORM conformant and/or certified?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. The documentation provides more detail.

Will the system easily work with other WBTs (will they work with it)?

All web-based versions: The product is positioned to track training events at an affordable cost. You can link to any externally developed WBT course programs. Most customers use the system for tracking of all courses delivered via classroom, online or some combination and for online distribution of internally developed content and tests.

Any content may be delivered that is viewable through a web browser such as Word Documents, Adobe PDF, PowerPoint, Flash, web pages, and files such as animated gifs, movies in various file formats, etc. Systems that offer such capability typically cost significantly more.

Does The system provide bookmarking of any kind?

All web-based versions: Bookmarking is supported for SCORM conformant content developed with authoring software that incorporates bookmarking and passes the values to the LMS.

We also offer course authoring software (http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm)

Will the system launch WBT created with "off-the-shelf" programs such as Dreamweaver, FrontPage, CourseBuilder...)

Both web versions: This capability is handled for SCORM conformant content. A cookie or javascript variable must be passed from the course content to LMS which would also require a session ID to track bookmark and score information. via form submission

Currently, SCORM conformant courses and test assessments may be created with our rapid application development software

(http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm). The system tracks various information about the students interaction with the course and quiz questions.

Does the system allow any content to be customized?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes, Content is linked from the course listing to launch course materials, so customization is accomplished within the desired course/test authoring software for import of externally created SCORM conformant content, question bank and Assessment tests.

Or, you might customize content using(http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm) or other course authoring software.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: not applicable

Can different permissions be allotted per use and/or user groups?

PRO Compliance LMS: An application user may establish user groups and permissions. Please consult the software documentation.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: User Id and Password enables access to the database. Security rights for specific functions are specified within each database.
On a network version, with the use of multi data locations module, users are linked to the databases to which they are to be permitted to access.

Does the system have search functionality -- in order to retrieve scores, etc.?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes, powerful and flexible search capability exists for creating custom reports easily. An easy to use screen builds sophisticated queries of your training data without needing to know SQL. Our web version includes a Report Writer or you can access the SQL database with other tools or with Crystal Reports.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes. An easy to use screen builds sophisticated queries of your training data without needing to know about database query languages.

Course Registration FAQ’s

What options are available for login procedures?

PRO Compliance LMS: When a company wants to train customers, the registration system can be enabled to allow persons to request registration (create a user ID and password) to access courses established for self-enrollment (electives). For employees whether imported or created by the administrator , the employee requests a temporary password via email message then changes it to a new password before using the system.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Users log in with a User ID and password based upon access permission to the particular database to which they are assigned.

Does the system have web browser-based training registration for both Instructor-led and Web-based courses?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. Courses registration and launching of courses may occur for various delivery formats and blended combination of them.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: No. The client-server version tracks training schedules and attendance based upon established requirements, sign-in sheets, certificates of completion and text files that enable importing of training completion for web-based courses.

Does the system indicate when the class is full and enroll learners on a waiting list?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: A warning message that a maximum class size is reached occurs during the scheduling of a class and learner enrollment. The user must create additional class sessions to accommodate those who would be on a wait list.

When a learner registers for a course, can they launch pre-work?

PRO Compliance LMS: Using a course and required training by job (career training path assignment), learners are automatically enrolled by the system in the course. Any defined pre-work for such a course can be launched by the learner and must be completed prior to beginning the course. Pre-requisite control is handled within establishing the curriculum.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: No course content can be "launched" as pre-work without a web-based software application. Pre-requisite control is handled within establishing the curriculum.

Training Administration FAQ’s

Does the system post class enrollment lists on the web?

PRO Compliance LMS: Depending on default and user-specific security access rights for Learner, Manager and Administrator user types (can have unlimited user profile types), active users may access the training data using their web browser software to view their enrollment, history, training sessions (required or voluntary elective), and training schedules to manage enrollment status.

Any report can be exported in an HTML web page format for publication to an intranet or internet web page as well as .PDF, .TXT, .DOC and .XLS. These reports can also be sent to an email distribution list.

Managers and administrators may view class enrollment lists for a specific course or (use Access or Crystal Reports and the query / report writer) for user groups or all users depending on established permissions.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, any report can be exported in an HTML web page format for publication to an intranet or internet web page as well as .PDF, .TXT, .RTF and .XLS. These reports can also be sent to an email distribution list.

Does the system allow budget/cost data tracking?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes, a course cost field is available for information purposes.However, since an LMS is not an accounting system, no authorization or approval process nor processing of credits and debits is available.Data may be linked to other systems for analysis.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, a course cost field is available for information purposes. More elaborate cost reporting can be developed as well. Training cost budget reports for requirements and for schedules is available. Training cost reports are available for attendance history by employee, by department, by job position, and by course or procedure.

Automatic email notification FAQ’s

Will the system create e-mails addressed to participants upon registration, upon session cancellation and upon 48-hour notice for reminder of upcoming sessions?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. For course required by job or career training path, email notifications are sent to the student and manager when a course starts, when it is overdue for completion, regarding the course enrollment status of waitlist, enrolled, or cancelled . The course contact person can also be notified as well as an administrator.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, version 6 due for release in Summer, 2006 will have email capability.

Does the system offer the ability to post specific class information by session regarding hotel location, agenda, etc.?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes.

Will the system be able to notify the "waiting list" by e-mail of an opening after a cancellation?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Not at this time.

Can the system launch post-class follow up assessments?

PRO Compliance LMS: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system. The system launches course materials via a hyperlink.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: N/A

Web-based Assessments

Can pre-tests be administered on the web and scored instantly?

PRO Compliance LMS: The system can track pre-tests and scores easily when developed in the product.

All web versions: The use of authoring software such as (http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm) is a possibility as well to score assessments and send score results to this SCORM-compliant LMS.

Is there random question generation for testing?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system. The system can transfer to the LMS or to a server-side database not only Passed / Failed or the exact test score, but each question and answer delivered/chosen for the learner.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: n/a.

Can correct answers can be viewed along with scores?

PRO Compliance LMS: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system. The system can transfer to the LMS or to a server-side database not only Passed / Failed or the exact test score, but each question and answer delivered/chosen for the learner.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Scores may be recorded in the Training Result field.

Can manager’s view test results on the web?

Yes, when they have an application user log in access permission.

Can checklists can be clicked on for completion?

PRO Compliance LMS: A Learner can launch any web-deliverable document that you have created. We would suggest using a survey, evaluation or test created with our SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system. Form fill objects including checkboxes, radio buttons, drop downlist boxes, fill in blank, etc. are available for the purpose of a checklist.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: This system tracks completion of items but does not launch documents.

Are there online course evaluations?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes, we have a Faculty and Student online feedback form that can be modified using the SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system and made available to be chosen within any online SCORM conformant course. For non- SCORM users, Learners choose the User Feedback button and complete an evaluation online for any course they have attended.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: n/a

Web-based Reporting

Both systems offer training attendance, due for re-training, scheduled training and nearly 50 standard reports are available from the reports menu. Searching for Attendance date of 0 will show only incomplete training requirements for the Training Requirements report.

Will the system allow a user to print transcript of sessions completed.?

PRO Compliance LMS: Either a student or manager may print history that details currently required courses, courses actively in progress and completed courses as well as certifications and competencies held.

Either a student or manager may view history of attended classes, certifications and competencies held.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Both systems offer training attendance, due for re-training, scheduled training and nearly 50 standard reports are available from the reports menu. Searching for Attendance date of 0 will show only incomplete training requirements for the Training Requirements report.

Will the LMS be accessible so users may enroll, check status, print schedules and reports of sessions completed?

Yes, this capability exists.

Will The system report overall attendance statistics?

PRO Compliance LMS: The LMS will have statistical reports in the use of the Report Writer or Microsoft Excel or a SQL Reporting software that you may have in-house.One might create a custom report using Crystal Reports.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The system includes a Report Writer. Most customers familiar with SQL databases prefer to use SQL tools or Crystal Reports since they are already familiar.

Can the system enable managers to view information for their own departments?

PRO Compliance LMS: The LMS is configured so managers can view their own learners progress.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Managers can view their own reports or, with the use of the multiple data location module, one can specify what set of users can access what training databases. Multiple data locations would be handled with separate SQL database installations in the web-based version (additional licenses would be involved should they be installed on separate server locations).

Ability to sort by Name, Title, Course, Department, Location, Date of Hire, District, Region, test score.

PRO Compliance LMS: The LMS provides up to 5 levels of report sorting that can be user-selected.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: This system provides up to 5 levels of report sorting that can be user-selected.

Will the system report participants that still need to be trained?

PRO Compliance LMS: Yes. The LMS can track competency qualification level, certification and other required courses that may remain outstanding. This web-based system can track compliance for point-in-time and other training audit needs in addition to that of required courses. It notifies learners when required courses or competencies or certifications must be taken, when training is to begin, and when a manager enrolls them into a course.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes.

Will The LMS print a customized training program completion certificate?

If so, please advise how this is accomplished?

PRO Compliance LMS: The LMS will allow a Word .doc or Acrobat .pdf file to be launched from an authored online course such as that which you might create using our authoring software..

PRO Compliance Training Manager: A separate certification printer program is available or you may make use of your Microsoft Word Mail-merge capabilities. A report can be created for this purpose in our web-based version or you can deliver a certificate to the student at the completion of the online course by creating this process with our course authoring system and making it part of the completion of each course.

Will The system print out a copy of our client's company policy?

If so, please advise how this is accomplished?

PRO Compliance LMS: Company policy documents may be imported into the content for a course or tracked as its own separate required course.