Maintained for Historical Purposes

This resource is being maintained for historical purposes only and is not currently applicable.

Tip of the Week --- Identifying SAR/ISIR Transactions

PublicationDate: 6/26/98
Summary: Tip of the Week --- Identifying SAR/ISIR Transactions
Author: CPS - Central Processing System (CPS)

TO: All EDExpress Users
FROM: CPS Customer Service
RE: Tip of the Week --- Identifying SAR/ISIR Transactions
Generated by NSLDS Updates


This week's tip highlights a specific feature or process in the EDExpress 1998-99 software: Identifying SAR/ISIR transactions generated by NSLDS updates.

Beginning with the 1998-1999 processing year, NSLDS has implemented a
postscreening process to assist schools in identifying students with updated aid eligibility. CPS will generate a new SAR/ISIR transaction displaying any changed information when updated information about the concerned student is reported to the NSLDS. The new transaction will display the SAR/ISIR comment code "004," which indicates the transaction was created due to a change in NSLDS information.

By following the instructions below, you can use 1998-1999 EDExpress for Windows to print a list of those students whose NSLDS information has changed:

1) Go to Tools/File Format/App Express and create a file format. First, enter the Format Code and Format Description (both fields are user-defined and should be populated with identifiers relevant to you as a user). You should then choose "Selected Fields" for Format Type, click on the ellipses (...) button, and mark the following fields: Transaction Key (1), First Name (6), Last Name (7), and Comment Codes (192). 2) Go to File/Export and choose External ISIR.

3) Click on the File button under "Export To" and create a name for your file in the File Name box. Then, select a target directory for the export file you are about to create. The software will
automatically choose your default export directory unless you designate another target directory.

4) Click on the ellipsis button next to "Format Code" for a picklist of all established file format codes; double click on the format code you created in Step 1, then click OK.

The exported file you create can be viewed in any ASCII-compatible program (MS-DOS Editor, Microsoft Word, etc.). The file will include the SSN, name code, transaction number, and first and last name, followed by three digit comment codes for each ISIR on your database. Comment code "004" will be the first code listed for any records produced as a result of the NSLDS Postscreening process. It will always be followed by comment code "006."

To assist you in interpreting your export file, you may want to print out the file layout for your established file format code via File/Print/App Express/Record Layout-User Defined Format.

You can rerun this process over and over, and can use selection criteria of Add Date Range to get a list of new ISIRs that may have comment code "004."

If you have any questions or problems with this process please contact CPS Customer Service at 1-800-330-5947, option 8, then option 1, or via e-mail at CPS@NCS.COM.