Publication Date: September 26, 2003
Author: General Manager: FSA Students Channel
Summary: Development of DL Tools Version 3.1
Posted on 09-26-2003
TO: All DL Tools Users
FROM: U.S. Department of Education
RE: Development of DL Tools Version 3.1
The Department is alerting all Direct Loan (DL) Tools Version 3.0 users that we are developing an upgrade release, Version 3.1, to implement new enhancements to accommodate COD Web-Generated Disbursement records and to resolve several software issues.
Version 3.1, an upgrade to Version 3.0, will be available for download in early November on the Department’s Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at http://FSAdownload.ed.gov. We will send an additional message to the community when the installation file is posted to the Web site.
Version 3.1 will update and enhance your DL Tools software to allow the import and display of Web-Generated (WB) Disbursement records and their associated Disbursement Sequence Numbers (01, 66-90). These disbursement records will also print the appropriate DL Tools reports and can be rebuilt in Version 3.1 when using DL Tools Rebuild functionality.
The Version 3.0 software issues explained below will be resolved by Version 3.1 (current workarounds are listed, if available):
1) Issue: Database rebuild functionality for 2003-2004 databases is not allowing the rebuild of loan records that have an MPN associated with a DL school code (or “G-code”) different from the DL school code of the school recreating the record.
Workaround: Prior to initiating the rebuild of the 2003-2004 loan record(s) in question, the school performing the rebuild should manually add the DL school code listed on the MPN to DL School setup in 2003-2004 EDExpress.
2) Issue: Importing an SAS file that includes “Y” or “M” record types into DL Tools will generate a General Protection Fault (GPF) error message if you are running Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.
Workaround: DL Tools developers have determined that the error results from a coding change Microsoft made in Service Pack 4. We will fix DL Tools in Version 3.1 to match Microsoft’s change. If possible, delay upgrading your Windows 2000 PC workstation(s) from Service Pack 3 to Service Pack 4 until Version 3.1 is released to avoid the error when importing your SAS file.
3) Issue: A Run Time Error message will occur if you print the Disbursement Detail Comparison report for cycle year 2003-2004 with a comparison type of “SAS to External” selected . The Run Time Error message will only occur when comparing SAS disbursement data with external (non-EDExpress) disbursement data. There is no workaround available at this time for comparing these disbursements, however, users can still run the Loan Detail Comparison – Loan Level Report with a comparison type of “SAS to External” selected for cycle year 2003-2004 without error.
If you have any questions, please contact CPS/WAN Technical Support at 800/330-5947 or via e-mail at CPSWAN@NCS.COM.