Alert: A new, improved version of the planning tool was released on 20 May 2008. If you are using the old version (v 4.0) of the planning tool then please download and install the latest version (v 4.10). The old version will not update automatically.
When you open the planning tool the version number displays in the title on the Welcome page.
There are 3 versions of the planning tool available. Please read the details below before deciding which version to download.
Portable version – use this version if you do your planning at school and at home
The portable version runs the application from a USB memory stick (or pen drive).
- Used by: those who do their planning at school and at home.
- Advantages: clippings, resources and plans are stored in one location (USB memory stick) and can be accessed at home or at work.
- Disadvantages: depending on the performance characteristics of the USB memory stick (i.e. how fast it can read and write information on the memory stick) performance is slower than the standalone version.
Operating system requirements: Windows 2000 or newer; Mac OS X 10.4 or newer.
Standalone version – use this version if you have a laptop or only use one computer to do your planning
The standalone version is installed onto the user’s hard drive.
- Used by: those who use non-networked computers at school; those who do their planning at home on their personal computer; those who use a laptop computer and can prepare plans at school and at home.
- Advantages: performance is best when running the planning tool from the hard drive.
- Disadvantages: stored content can only be accessed on the machine it was saved on; may need to be installed by a system administrator if the user does not have permissions to install software on their computer.
Operating system requirements: Windows 2000 or newer; Mac OS X 10.4 or newer.
Network version – set up on a network by the system administrator
The network version is installed on a shared network drive by the system administrator.
- Used by: those who use networked computers at school; those with a shared login on a non-networked computer to allow personal access to their clippings and saved plans.
- Advantages: the system administrator is responsible for backing up planning tool data. Users are able to access their clippings and plans from any computer on the network using their username and password.
- Disadvantages: users need to ask the system administrator to install the planning tool; users have no control over backing up their plans – it is the system administrator’s responsibility to back up user data.
Operating system requirements: Windows 2000 or newer.
Quick links:
If you have any queries or suggestions for improvements please contact Customer and Events Services on 0845 850 1444, or e-mail secondary@nationalstrategies.co.uk.
