GMS Upgrade Guide
GMS 5.6 to GMS 6
Upgrading to GMS 6 is a big step for most users. In addition to the user interface being different, the
reporting capabilities and the overall flexibility of the software is greatly improved. You can learn more
about GMS 6 on our resources page: http://resources.specialolympics.org/gms/ or contact us at
[email protected].
BE FORE UPG R A DING
Use this opportunity to ensure all of your hardware and software are NOTE: Although not recommended,
up to date. Work with your IT Dept. to ensure your server and your Programs can use GMS 5.6 and GMS 6
users’ computers are updated. (5.99.0.445) connected to the same database.
Consider your users and infrastructure. Do you want to centralize all Not all features and functions between the
of your data? Are there procedures, paper flows, and protocols that two versions are compatible with each other,
you would like to streamline? which may cause issues with competition
management, GMS Transfer (exchange), and
Will you need to coordinate GMS User Training? We offer training overall database inconsistencies.
either in-person or via webinar.
MINIMUM HARDWA RE REQUIREMEN TS
DID YOU KNOW? It’s possible to upgrade
Windows 7 and above, Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB hard drive.
directly from GMS 5.6 to GMS 7. This requires
You get much better performance with a faster processor and 8GB
database conversion. Please contact us to
RAM.
discuss if this is something your Program
M IN IM UM SE RVE R REQ U IREMEN TS would like to do.
Most Programs are using NexusDB (v1.08) as their database server
Nexus is an open-source database server with a database size limit of 2 GB of memory. Once a database
grows past 2 GB, users will begin experiencing issues with data management and possible corruption and
loss of data.
We highly recommend using Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft SQL Express for this upgrade. This will
provide a more stable, scalable DB server for this version and future upgrades. SQL Express is free and
supports a database size of up to 10 GB. SQL Server 2014 has costs, and supports a database size up to 16
TB.
This page lists the minimum and recommended requirements for SQL 2014:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506(v=sql.120).aspx
www.specialolympics.org Updated: November 16
GMS 6 to GMS 7
New Features in GMS 7
Upgrading to GMS 7 is easy for most Programs. The user interface
Increased number of built-in person types to
and overall functionality is the same as GMS 6. In addition to some
32, including types for the 3 Unified sport
added features, we have made a large amount of changes in the
models, and 10 custom types
programming to address bugs and open doors to future
Support for new SOI Medical Form
development. You can learn more about GMS 7 on our resources
Added Awards Requirement Estimator
page: http://resources.specialolympics.org/gms/ or contact us at
Track athlete Personal Best scores
[email protected].
Designate "Home" and "Away" teams in
bracketed matches
BE FORE UPG R A DING Assign coaches to teams (within a Games)
Use this opportunity to ensure all of your hardware and software Associate teams with delegations (within a
are up to date. Work with your IT Dept. to ensure your server and Games)
your users’ computers are updated. Track yellow and red cards in football/soccer
matches
Consider your users and infrastructure. Do you want to centralize
View tie-breaker information in bracketed
all of your data? Are there procedures, paper flows, and protocols
events
that you would like to streamline?
Improved bracket images and scaling for
Will you need to coordinate GMS User Training? We offer training bracket reports
either in-person or via webinar. Ability to project reports to large screens
Multiple improvements to Colorado Timing
MINIMUM HARDWA RE REQUIREMEN TS
System scoreboard exporter
Windows 7 and above, i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB hard drive.
DocuSign integration for completion of new
You get much better performance with a faster processor and 8GB
SOI Medical Form
RAM.
Ability to import data from new medical form
M IN IM UM SE RVE R REQ U IREMEN TS (SOI Medical Form pdf form template only)
Most Programs are using NexusDB as their database server. Nexus Extended the Census certification to 2020
is an open-source database server with a database size limit of 2 Updated DQ Codes for 2015 Aquatics rules
GB. Once a database grows past 2 GB, users will begin experiencing Import and export support for Office 2007
issues with data management and possible corruption. and newer
Multiple bug fixes and stability improvements
We highly recommend using Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft SQL See the full GMS 7 Release Notes posted on
Express for this upgrade. This will provide a more stable, scalable the GMS Learning Center
DB server for this version and future upgrades. SQL Express is free http://resources.specialolympics.org/gms/
2 | Special Olympics, Inc. UPDATED November 16
and supports a database size of up to 10 GB. SQL Server 2014 has NOTE: The current official release of GMS 7 is
costs, and supports a database size up to 16 TB. version 7.5.3. Version 7.1 was utilized during the
2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles. Previous
This page lists the minimum and recommended requirements for
versions were used in development and testing
SQL 2014: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-
leading up to World Games.
us/library/ms143506(v=sql.120).aspx
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
GMS 7 is not backwards compatible. GMS 7 uses an updated version of Delphi (programming language) and changes the database
structure which breaks all compatibility with versions of GMS 5 and GMS 6.
GMS 7 is still being tested to determine whether it remains compatible (sharing a database server and tables) with VSys One. At this time,
we do not recommend upgrading to GMS 7 for Programs using both GMS and VSys One on a shared database server. SOI does not
provide support or development for VSys. Please contact VSys One with any VSys questions or concerns, at [email protected].
3 | Special Olympics, Inc. UPDATED November 16
