Hi Chris
Thanks for that- it's given us some food for thought :)
I can see that the timing of SP releases and coordination of downtime may be problematic.
Thanks,
Anu
-----Original Message-----
From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Boon, Chris
Sent: 31 May 2013 10:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: SP12 Resources
Hi Anu,
Yes, I believe this is a fairly standard approach; the odd-numbered service packs should, in theory, be more stable than the even numbered ones, and I think many institutions tend to stick to these. I prefer to deploy odd numbered ones on our live system, but other factors such as the timing of the release and the available maintenance window can affect the decision too.
The Patch Sets and Cumulative Patches can help to get fixes deployed between Service Packs, and may provide a higher chance of receiving a fix for a specific bug than waiting for a patch for the individual issue, if your bug is something which many other institutions are suffering from too. Of course, this doesn't cover all situations, especially if you're experiencing a slightly more unusual issue.
Regards
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anu Sharma
Sent: 31 May 2013 09:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: SP12 Resources
Hi All
Just to piggyback onto this discussion, we also find the numerous bugs can be rather frustrating for our users. It has been a big change for them to move from WebCT Vista to Bb Learn this past year and such issues can serve to adversely affect their experience.
Whilst the Bb Support team have been responsive towards issues we have reported (and I have to give them credit here!), what concerns our users is the length of time it takes to create a patch for a certain bug (we waited 4 months for the last one!).
So an idea that we may be pondering is only implementing the odd numbered service packs, going forward, to ensure any bugs have been addressed. Can I ask whether this is a common approach? Do other institutions do the same?
Thanks,
Anu
-----Original Message-----
From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hanrahan Highland
Sent: 31 May 2013 09:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: SP12 Resources
This discussion just serves to highlight the big problem - namely, that there is no way to sort these reported issues by features such as the hardware and software system on which Blackboard is implemented in one's own institution. This lack means that the same process - of slogging through a long list of issues, realising after careful reading that most of them don't don't apply to you - has to be repeated in each institution, wasting hours and hours of staff time in each one. It's very frustrating!
On 28 May 2013 10:53, Boon, Chris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Paul,
>
>
>
> I've also subscribed to this list and as Paul Wigfield says I think
> it's a case of looking through to see if there are any show stoppers,
> or major issues which will affect your institution. The list can seem
> rather daunting at first, but as it's an 'all bugs for all versions,
> in all situations' list there will be many which hopefully won't have
> a big impact on you. As you mentioned some are for other language
> packs, some are minor issues, or perhaps include tools when you don't use.
>
>
>
> Having said that, keeping an eye on the list is very useful; I skim
> through the emails each day and have picked up issues from it which I
> wasn't aware of. This can either be useful so you're prepared for any
> issues before an upgrade, or can alert you to patches and fixes before
> an issue is found by faculty.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul
> Wigfield
> Sent: 27 May 2013 10:26
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: SP12 Resources
>
>
>
> I understand and you are not on your own. But I can only help by
> getting fix dates. Like I said I was not aware of this list. I will
> take a look and get up to speed. But if I can help I will and what I can do is limited.
>
> Please send me any showstoppers and I will follow up with Andy Hulme.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> Paul J Leman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
>
> the fix dates are in the articles on Behind the Blackboard - I haven't
> gone through the list yet but our problems arise when a user (usually
> one with some clout) hits a problem which affects them or their
> students badly. I should have added that there is at least one fix
> we've been waiting for announced too but thats in a different mail so its not all gloom and doom.
>
>
>
> Paul
>
> On 27 May 2013 10:00, Paul Wigfield <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Paul,
> If there are specific issues and they have an LRN number I can get a
> fix date for you. But I was not aware of the bug list.
>
> Paul
>
>
> Paul Leman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> I've just back from holiday and the known issues mails I've received
> since
> 12 May 2013 number 72. Not all of them affect SP12 but most do.
>
> We don't use Arabic or Dutch (but we might do soon) and some are
> esoteric. I think that is quite a lot of bugs reported in 15 days for
> a system that we'll take live in late July although others might disagree.
>
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> Paul Leman
>
> CiCS
>
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> UK
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