Publication Date: January 13, 2004
Author: General Manager, Students Channel, FSA ASEDS
Summary: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0
Posted on 01-13-2004
TO: All Destination Points
FROM: U.S. Department of Education
RE: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0
DATE: January 13, 2004
The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0, on the Department's Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site (located at FSAdownload.ed.gov). This release contains Application Processing, Packaging and Global functionality for the 2004-2005 cycle.
In addition, the following EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 documents are available on the FSAdownload Web site:
1) The EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 Installation Guide
2) The EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0 Cover Letter
3) The EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0 Desk Reference (covers Application Processing, Packaging and Global functionality)
4) The 2004-2005 Packaging Technical Reference
These documents contain important information regarding EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 functionality and enhancements that you should review.
Note: At this time, the Department's Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriation has not been approved. Therefore, the 2004-2005 Pell Payment Schedule included in Release 1.0 is based upon the current $4050 maximum Pell Grant. After the Department's Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriation is finalized, we will update, if necessary, the Pell Grant Payment Schedule through a future release of EDExpress. If you use the EDExpress Packaging Module to award Pell Grants, you may want to wait until it is known whether the Pell Payment Schedule will change.
Release 1.0 is available on the FSAdownload Web site in two formats. You can download the entire software in one file, called Express45r1.exe, or you can download the software in 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 Release 1.0.
Release 1.0 can be installed in a standalone or network environment. In a standalone installation, all programs files, including the software database, are installed and stored on the hard drive of a single PC.
If you want to run EDExpres for Windows in a network environment, you must first run a network server installation, designating a network drive location for your EDExpress database. Once the server installation is complete, you must run network workstation installations on all PCs that will access the network database, designating the correct network drive and folder during each installation.
Important Installation Note: If you use Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you must be an Administrator on your workstation in order to install EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Release 1.0. This is a change from EDExpress for Windows 2003-2004. If you are not an Administrator, you will receive a warning when you try to install EDExpress. Once an Administrator has installed EDExpress, you can run it as a member of the Power Users group. If your database is on a network server, you must be a Power User or higher on the network (or "domain") as well as on your workstation. There are no workarounds for these Windows rights issues. Please consult with your school’s technical department if you receive a warning that an Administrator must install the EDExpress software.
Other system and network requirements are outlined in the Installation Guide.
If you need assistance downloading EDExpress in single or multiple file format from the FSAdownload Web site, 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 Schools Portal: Listservs & Mailing Lists: FSATECH Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/FSA/services/fsatechsubscribe.html