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Frequently Asked Questions

Sentinel is a well-known, established attendance monitoring software, which has been successfully used, as part of a swipe card based electronic registration system, in schools throughout the UK for over 15 years.Software

Touch Registration software?
The software records attendance data, however it is input into the system, and produces a wide range of real-time reports, which can be instantly viewed on screen or printed out.

How is the data initially input into the system?
The data for staff, pupils and timetables are generally downloaded from the school MIS system. Interfaces for SIMS are built in as standard. Other systems are relatively easy to include. At year-end the school databases rollover to the new school year with a copy of the old year database kept live for easy historical access.

What language is the Sentinel software written in?
The Sentinel software is written in Microsoft’s Visual Basic and the database is Microsoft’s Access Database.

What is the middleware & why is it required?
The middleware enables the Sentinel software to interface with the Network/USB fingerprint reader drivers so the information can be passed between the two.

How are changes made to the registration details for pupils?
Different schools have different procedures for doing this. Some schools download data to, and update from SIMS. Some manually adjust the data on the Sentinel system, while others use an Optical Marker Reader (OMR) interface.

Can information be passed to Messaging Systems for parent communication?
Yes, Sentinel will work directly with Voice Connect and Truancy Call systems. As Sentinel and these systems operate in real-time, this facility can work automatically or on confirmation by the School Administrator.

Will Sentinel download data to School MIS systems?
Yes it will. As soon as the fingerprint is recognised it will update your SIMS or Facility database and the Sentinel database with the registration data. With continuous product development other interfaces are always being added to our capabilities.

Is Sentinel compatible with cashless catering and library management systems?
We have our own Cashless Catering and Library Systems that use the same fingerprint database as Touch Registration.

Alternatively using a BioStore central database Sentinel is fully compatible with a range of cashless catering and library management systems.

How secure is the database?
The database, which is stored on the network server, not locally on the PC or laptop, is password protected so only authorised users and administrators have access to the data. The fingerprint data is stored as an encrypted digital code, not as an image, the fingerprint cannot be retrieved or reproduced.