Maintained for Historical Purposes

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

Summary: EDconnect, version 6.0

Publication Date: April 14, 2004

Author: General Manager, School Delivery Channel, FSA ASEDS

Summary: EDconnect, version 6.0


Posted on 04-14-2004

TO: All Destination Points

FROM: U.S. Department of Education

RE: EDconnect, version 6.0

The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of EDconnect, version 6.0. We strongly encourage you to install v6.0 to take advantage of the many enhancements and fixes from previous versions. One of our beta testers expressed the following after testing v6.0, "Our testing experience was positive and we found the documentation thorough and helpful." Another beta tester says, "We send a large number of files through EDconnect daily and we found a significant improvement in the speed of the transmission. "

Please note that EDconnect 6.0 is not an upgrade to version 5.X. It is a completely new version. There is no upgrade installation option.

EDconnect 6.0 includes the following changes and enhancements:

  • The name of the database has changed from EDconn32.mdb to EDconn6.mdb and the name of the executable file has changed from EDconn32.exe to EDconn6.exe.
  • The default installation folder has changed from C:\Program Files\EDconnect to C:\Program Files\EDconnect6.
  • Message Class Manager now enables you to combine files of any type, although you will receive a warning message if you try to combine file types that should not typically be combined, such as COD files.
  • Message Class Manager now enables you to select different Send and Receive locations for each file type.
  • You no longer need Dial-up Networking (DUN)/Remote Access Service (RAS) installed on your computer if you have a direct connection to the Internet. Once you select "Direct Connection" as your connection in EDconnect, you will no longer receive a warning message about DUN/RAS.
  • EDconnect 6.0 uses a more efficient method of transmitting your files.
  • The maximum size of files you can transmit has increased from two gigabytes to four gigabytes.
  • You are no longer prompted to "Save changes to Transmission Queue?" before transmitting your files. EDconnect 6.0 automatically saves the changes. You are only prompted to save changes if you close the Transmission Queue or exit the program without transmitting. Transmissions set up for later are no longer stopped by the "Save changes to Transmission Queue?" prompt.
  • The database format has changed from Access 97 to Access 2002.
  • The Archive View tab has been renamed the Received File View tab.
  • EDconnect 6.0 enables you to import your security settings (groups and users) from EDconnect 5.X.
  • The Startup Information security banner and the warning message "Caps Lock is on" are bypassed if you start EDconnect using a TQ template file, such as all.tqt, or start EDconnect using a TQ import file with the '.imp' file extension.

Performing a Full Installation of EDconnect 6.0

These are basic instructions for people who are installing EDconnect 6.0 on a single computer and already have a SAIG mailbox they have been accessing with EDconnect 5.X. If you are a new user with a new SAIG mailbox, or need information about performing a network/workstation installation, please see the Installation Guide for EDconnect, Version 6.0, for information. The guide is available on the FSAdownload Web site, located at fsadownload.ed.gov.

Important Installation Note: If you use Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you must be an Administrator on your workstation in order to install EDconnect 6.0. If you are not an Administrator, you will receive a warning when you try to install EDconnect. Once an Administrator has installed the software, you can run EDconnect as a member of the Power Users (or higher) group. If your EDconnect 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 EDconnect.

1. Download EDconnect 6.0 from the FSAdownload Web site (fsadownload.ed.gov) and perform a Full Install. You can find detailed instructions for downloading and installing EDconnect 6.0 in the Installation Guide for EDconnect, Version 6.0, also available on the FSAdownload Web site.

2. Start EDconnect 6.0. When you log in for the first time, you need to use the default user ID of "Admin" (without the quotation marks) and the password "PASSWORD" (uppercase and without the quotation marks).

3. If you have EDconnect 5.X installed and set up on your system, EDconnect 6.0 prompts you to import your security settings (Security Groups and Security Users) from your previous version of EDconnect when you log in for the first time. If you choose not to import your security settings when you log into EDconnect 6.0, you can import them at a later time by selecting File, Import from the main menu and selecting Security Setup as the File Type.

4. If you did not import your security settings from EDconnect 5.X, the Setup Wizard will walk you through completing the Security Group setup. On the SAIG Information dialog, you must indicate your TG Number (including the "TG," uppercase and without the quotation marks) and enter a Local Only SAIG password (the Network and Local password option will not be available during initial setup). The password you enter must be the same SAIG password you are currently using in EDconnect 5.X. Enter the password in both the New and Verify text boxes and click OK. A message box will inform you that the local TG password has been changed.

5. The User Wizard will help you create a user ID.

6. The Connection Wizard will help you configure EDconnect for transmitting data through your existing Internet connection. Under most circumstances, you want to select "Direct Connection" from the Connection to use list. Do not select any connections used by earlier versions of EDconnect, such as "SAIG-0." The Installation Guide for EDconnect, Version 6.0, contains additional information about selecting a connection.

FIREWALL ISSUES: EDconnect is an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program that uses an existing Internet connection on your computer to send and receive data. If you are behind a firewall, your network administrator may need to open Port 26581 for outbound TCP/IP traffic. The IP address of the SAIG network is 198.77.163.220. If you repeatedly get "Error -1" trying to send or receive data, contact your network administrator to see if you are behind a firewall.

TESTING YOUR CONNECTION: After you install EDconnect 6.0, you are prompted to test your connection. An unsuccessful test does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong. If you are able to send a network password change and receive the message class table, there is no need to test your connection. You may choose to skip the test.

7. The first time you connect to your mailbox, EDconnect 6.0 will download and import the latest message class table. Until EDconnect 6.0 imports the message class table, you will not be able to send or receive files.

NOTE: If "SAIG" is the only option under Project in the Transmission Queue, EDconnect 6.0 has not yet imported a message class table.

8. Set your Send and Receive directories, if necessary. If you do not change the default Send and Receive paths, EDconnect 6.0 sends files from and receives files to C:\IAM\DATA or, in the case of NSLDS files, C:\NSLDS\FILES. To change the default paths, open Security View by choosing New from the File menu and selecting Security View from the list of views. Right-click on a User ID for which you want to change the paths and choose Properties from the pop-up menu. Click on the Directories tab. Change "Database" to "Receive" and click the Browse button to select a Receive directory. Change "Receive" to "Send" and click the Browse button to select a Send directory.

NOTE: If you change the Send and Receive directories, you must log out of EDconnect 6.0 and log back in before transmitting or you may receive a transmission error.

If You Need Further InformationÂ…

You may reach CPS/SAIG Technical Support Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (CT), at 800/330-5947 or email CPSSAIG@pearson.com. You may also e-mail comments or suggestions to SAIGcomments@ed.gov.

CPS/SAIG Technical Support