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Summary: Availability of DL Tools for Windows, Version 3.0

Publication Date: July 3, 2003

Author: General Manager: FSA Students Channel

Summary: Availability of DL Tools for Windows, Version 3.0


Posted on 07-03-2003

TO: All Direct Loan Participants
FROM: U.S. Department of Education
RE: Availability of DL Tools for Windows, Version 3.0
DATE: July 3, 2003

"Our office has not used the DL Tools software in the past to close-out our Direct Loan account. We have relied on the cumbersome, time consuming process of checking each loan individually. After becoming more familiar with this product as a beta-tester, I believe that I will rely heavily on the DL Tools V3.0 software for the 2002-2003 loan close-out; and use the SAS Reports, Cash Summary Reports, and the Disbursement Summary Reports to keep my loan account reconciled. The Loan and Disbursement Comparison Reports help identify discrepancies for resolution. I feel that as I start to use the product more in my working environment that I will find more features that will assist our office in maintaining our loan account." -- Quote from Jo Branson, Carl Sandburg College, DL Tools Version 3.0 Beta Test Site

The Department is pleased to announce the availability of DL Tools for Windows, Version 3.0, a supplemental software product for Direct Loan participants. The software is available for download from the Department's Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at http://FSAdownload.ed.gov.

DL Tools is a multi-year application designed to help you perform the following tasks:

  • Rebuild loan and disbursement data in EDExpress using an automated process
  • Compare the SAS and/or 732 reports to loans and actual disbursements recorded in EDExpress or an external file, and/or compare the reports to the DL Tools Cash Database
  • Print the SAS and/or 732 reports in readable formats
  • Track cash receipts (drawdowns) and returns of excess cash for Direct Loan

This release of DL Tools was developed to process data for multiple years. Version 3.0 contains Rebuild and Cash Management functionalities for the 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, and 2003-2004 cycles, and Compare functionalities for the 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 cycles.

The Compare and Cash Management functionality can be utilized by any Direct Loan School, including schools using custom or combination systems to process Direct Loans and EDExpress-only users. The Rebuild process can be utilized by any Direct Loan School that wish to rebuild Direct Loan records in an EDExpress database. DL Tools has the same "look and feel" as EDExpress.

Important DL Tools Comparison Reports Note: DL Tools Loan and Disbursement Comparison Reports are designed to be run using the SAS Reports with YTD detail, NOT monthly detail. Please see DLB-02-36 for information about default settings and SAS Option Selections. You can choose other options, for example YTD detail, by contacting your customer service representative.

DL Tools Version 3.0 is available on the FSAdownload Web site in two formats. You can download the entire software in one file, called DLTool30.exe, or you can download the software in six separate "disk" installment files, which can be copied to a network drive or diskettes. Please review the download and installation instructions in the Installation Guide for further information.

You are required to have Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME or Windows XP as your PC workstation operating system in order to run DL Tools Version 3.0. Other system and network requirements are outlined in the Installation Guide.

Version 3.0 can be installed as an upgrade to DL Tools Version 2.0. You must have Version 2.0 installed in order to run an upgrade (or "Custom") installation of Version 3.0. Version 2.0 is also available for download from the FSAdownload Web site.

NOTE: If you have not installed DL Tools Version 2.0 on your system, you can proceed directly to a Full standalone or Full network server/workstation installation of Version 3.0. You do not need to have Version 2.0 installed to perform a Full installation of Version 3.0. Please be aware that a Full standalone or network server installation will load a completely new, blank DL Tools database to your system!

If you are running an upgrade installation of Version 3.0, it is crucial that you ensure you have a valid, reliable back-up of your DL Tools Version 2.0 database (DLTools.mdb). You should also run a database repair and database compact (in that order) via the Tools | Utilities menu before installing Version 3.0.

To upgrade from Version 2.0 to Version 3.0, select the Custom install option during your standalone or workstation installation. Do NOT mark the "Database" checkbox unless you are performing a first-time installation or want to overwrite a previously installed Version 3.0 database. Remember, if you choose to overwrite your database, all data previously entered is lost.

After you upgrade from Version 2.0 to Version 3.0, reboot your PC, then log on to DL Tools to allow the software to perform a one-time only database update. This update loads important changes and fixes to your database structure.

If you are running DL Tools in a network environment, you should first complete ALL of your workstation installations on ALL relevant production PCs, rebooting each PC as you finish the install, then access the software from ONE designated workstation to allow the database update to perform successfully.

If you receive any prompt during the installation indicating an existing file was found and asking if you want to overwrite, click "Yes."

If you need assistance connecting to the FSAdownload site, downloading DL Tools in single or multiple file format, or with the installation or use of DL Tools, please contact CPS/WAN Technical Support at 800/330-5947 or via e-mail at CPSWAN@NCS.COM.

If you have technical questions about our FSA systems and software, you may want to subscribe to our e-mail listserv, FSATECH. For more information about FSATECH, including how to subscribe, visit the FSA Schools Portal: Listservs & Mailing Lists: FSATECH Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/FSA/services/fsatechsubscribe.html.