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(EDESuite) Subject: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0

Posted Date:September 25, 2017

Author: Pamela Eliadis, Service Director, System Operations & Aid Delivery Management, Federal Student Aid

Subject: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0

We are pleased to announce the posting of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0, on the Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) website, located at https://fsadownload.ed.gov. This release contains Global, Application Processing, and Packaging functionality for the 2018-2019 cycle.

Important Note: We redesigned the EDExpress software for 2018-2019 to implement software enhancements that improve usability, increase security, and eliminate outdated functionality. See the following EDExpress 2018-2019 documents on the FSAdownload website for important technical information and guidance on new and revised functionality:

  • Installation Guide for EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019 (provides technical guidance regarding installing and using Release 1.0)

  • EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0 Cover Letter (provides information regarding enhancements available in Release 1.0)

  • EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0 Desk Reference (covers Global, Application Processing, and Packaging functionality)

The 2018-2019 Packaging Technical Reference, which provides technical guidance and record layouts for use with the EDExpress 2018-2019 Packaging module, is also available on the FSAdownload website.

EDExpress 2018-2019 Installation – Special Notes

Note the following guidance during the installation of EDExpress 2018-2019, Release 1.0:

  • When you initiate the EDExpress 2018-2019 installation process, you will be prompted to install the ACE Access Database Engine. This functionality is required to install EDExpress 2018-2019. Click Install to allow the process to determine if the ACE Access Database Engine is already on the workstation and install it if it is not; after which the installation will proceed.

  • EDExpress 2018-2019 requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.6.2. You will be prompted to install this software if the EDExpress 2018-2019 installation process determines it is not available on your workstation.

For more information on installing EDExpress 2018-2019, Release 1.0, see the EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019 Installation Guide, available for download from the FSAdownload website.

EDExpress 2018-2019 Initial Login Information

When you first access EDExpress 2018-2019 after installation, the default user ID is SYSADMIN and the default password is $y$tem Adm1n. Be sure to include the space between $y$tem and Adm1n (the two parts of the default password).

After you enter the default user ID and password, EDExpress 2018-2019 requires that you immediately define a new password for the SYSADMIN. Beginning with Release 1.0, new passwords must be a minimum of 12 characters and must include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one keyboard character that is not a letter or number (such as an exclamation mark or other punctuation symbol). You can increase the minimum password length and adjust other requirements in the new Password Setup dialog box (Tools, Setup, Global, Password Setup).

In addition, the SYSADMIN user ID now only provides access to critical administrative functions in order to limit its use for routine software tasks and improve your ability to trace actions taken in the software to specific users. EDExpress administrators at your school should create unique user IDs in Security Users setup with the necessary access (based on the associated Security Group) and log into the software under those IDs for most software tasks they perform.

For more information on security setup, see EDExpress Help in the software and the EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 1.0 Desk Reference, available for download from the FSAdownload website.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding downloading, installing, or using EDExpress 2018-2019, Release 1.0, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by email at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.

You can also post questions regarding EDExpress on FSATECH. FSATECH is an electronic mailing list for technical questions about Federal Student Aid systems, software, and mainframe products. For more information on subscribing to FSATECH, go to https://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/services/fsatechsubscribe.html.