Maintained for Historical Purposes

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

Summary: Availability of 2003-2004 EDExpress, Version 9.2

Publication Date: December 2003

Author: General Manager: Students Channel

Summary: Availability of 2003-2004 EDExpress, Version 9.2

Posted on 12-01-2003

TO:

All EDExpress Users

FROM:

U.S. Department of Education

RE:

Availability of 2003-2004 EDExpress, Version 9.2

The Department is pleased to announce the availability of 2003-2004 EDExpress Version 9.2, which implements software enhancements and resolves several issues.

Among other changes, Version 9.2 adds two major areas of functionality to 2003-2004 EDExpress: the ability to import Response data for Direct Loan Disbursements created or modified on the COD Web site (cod.ed.gov), and the ability to import Pell Year-to-Date (YTD) files generated by COD. Please look for a separate network message from the Department discussing the new EDExpress functionality for processing Direct Loan Web-Initiated Disbursement records.

Version 9.2 is an upgrade to Version 9.1 and service release Version 9.1.a. You must have Version 9.1 or Version 9.1.a installed before upgrading to Version 9.2. Upgrades are accomplished by selecting the “Custom” install option during Version 9.2’s Installshield process. (You should backup your current system before beginning any new installation.)

If you do not have ANY version of 2003-2004 EDExpress installed on your system, you would perform a Full standalone or a Full network server/workstation installation of Version 9.2. You do not need to have a previous version of 2003-2004 EDExpress installed to perform a Full installation of Version 9.2.

NOTE: If you have an existing 2003-2004 EDExpress database, a Full installation will load a completely new, blank 2003-2004 EDExpress database to your system and your current database will be overwritten!

Version 9.2 is available for download on the Department’s Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at http://fsadownload.ed.gov/index.htm.

The following software enhancements and resolved issues, listed by module, are included in Version 9.2:

**Global**

1) Updating a User-Defined Field value to blank no longer updates unselected User-Defined Field values to blank as well. Boolean (True/False) User-Defined Field values are not affected by this issue.

**Application Processing**

1) The SAR/ISIR Comment Codes table in the EDExpress database has been updated to reflect changes to Guarantee Agency phone numbers and the setting of the SAR C Flag for verified reject “R” (Social Security Number and Date of Birth mismatch) ISIRs.

**Packaging**

1) When printing an Award Letter to e-mail, the Award Letter print count field (accessible via the Award Letter dialog on the Awards tab) increments by one.

**Pell**

1) EDExpress has been updated to allow the rebuild of Pell records using Pell Year-to-Date (YTD) import files sent by the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system.

2) The Pell Disbursement Entry grid now prevents users from de-selecting the Disbursement Release Indicator (DRI) unless the Disbursement status is “R” (Ready to Export) or “E” (Error).

3) Users no longer receive an error message when importing a Pell External Add file that includes Pell Disbursement Profile codes.

**Direct Loan**

1) EDExpress now allows the import and display of COD Web-Initiated (WB) Disbursement records and their associated Disbursement Sequence Numbers (01, 66-90). These disbursement records also print on relevant EDExpress reports and lists.

2) The Import Edit Report for COD Response files (COMRECOP) no longer prints edit #015 (Corrected Value same as Original Value) for DL change records next to the Social Security Number, Student Last Name and Date of Birth fields.

3) Users no longer receive an error message when importing a COMRECOP file with more than seven reject codes for a single origination or disbursement record.

4) File Management functionality has been updated to reflect the Exit Counseling Results import file message class as DLFF01OP, not DLFF04OP. This is a non-cycle-specific file, so the message class will not update from one cycle to the next.

5) The DL Document Activity database correctly displays the COD Receipt Import Date in the Receipt Import Date column (instead of the Response Import Date column) following import of a COMRECOP containing receipt records.

6) If PLUS Loan Credit Decision data is included in a COD Response file (COMRECOP), the software, in addition to the normal import edit report, now prints the PLUS Credit Decision Report on import as well.

7) The import edit report for Response data now displays the message “MPN rejected or MPN not on file” if an “R” (Rejected) is received for the MPN status on a student record.

**Pell and Direct Loan (issue affecting both modules)**

1) The Document Activity database now correctly populates the Import File Name column when you import a COMRECBK.* file (a COD Response/Receipt file that has been previously imported into EDExpress).

2) EDExpress now treats a Pell and/or Direct Loan disbursement record with an “R” (Rejected) status and Edit Code 58 (indicating duplicate data) as a duplicate instead of a rejected record when importing a Response COMRECOP file. An Edit Code 58 updates the associated Pell Disbursement Status to “D” (Duplicate) or the associated Direct Loan Disbursement Status to “A” (Accepted).

Version 9.2 is available on the FSAdownload Web site in two formats. You can download the entire software in one file, called EDExpress92.exe, or you can download the software in twelve 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 operating system in order to run 2003-2004 EDExpress Version 9.2. Please note that on PCs using Windows 2000 or Windows XP as the operating system, users must be Power Users or Administrators for EDExpress Version 9.2 to run. If the EDExpress database is on a network drive, users must be Power Users or Administrators on both the local workstations and the server. There is no workaround for this issue. Other system and network requirements are outlined in the Installation Guide.

If you are running an upgrade installation of Version 9.2, it is crucial that you ensure you have a valid, reliable back-up of your current production 2003-2004 EDExpress database (Expres34.mdb). You should also run a database repair and database compact (in that order) via the Tools | Utilities menu before installing Version 9.2.

To upgrade from Version 9.1 or Version 9.1.a to Version 9.2, select the Custom install option during your standalone or workstation installation, and mark the checkbox for any modules you use (so module fixes can be installed). Do NOT mark the “Database” checkbox unless you are performing a first-time installation or want to overwrite your Version 9.1 database. Remember, if you choose to overwrite your database, all data previously entered is lost.

After you run the Version 9.2 installation, reboot your PC, then log on to EDExpress 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 EDExpress 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 prompts 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 EDExpress in single or multiple file format, or with the installation or use of EDExpress, 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 Technical Support Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/services/fsatechsubscribe.html.