Publication Date: March 31, 2005
Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, FSA Application, School Eligibility and Delivery Services
Summary: Tips on Using EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006's New "Automatically Transmit?" Option with EDconnect
Posted on 03-31-2005
The "Automatically Transmit?" feature is a new Global setup option included in the recently posted EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006, Release 2.0 software. In a single step, this feature enables you to export a file from EDExpress, add the file to EDconnect's Transmission Queue, start EDconnect automatically, and transmit the file to your Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) mailbox.
We want to explain this new option to you in greater detail and note several issues you may encounter as you begin to use it. As noted in the "Using the Automatically Transmit Option Prior to EDconnect 7.0" section below, some schools may prefer to wait to take advantage of this new feature until EDconnect 7.0 is released in May 2005.
**Background**
On the Security Users dialog box in EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006, we added the "Automatically Transmit?" checkbox, which you can select if you also select the "Export to EDconnect?" checkbox. The settings you choose for these checkboxes can be customized for each Security User created.
Please note the following, depending on the settings you choose:
1) If both "Export to EDconnect?" and "Automatically Transmit?" are selected: Each time the user runs an export in EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006, the software adds the exported file to the Transmission Queue in EDconnect 6.X, starts EDconnect 6.X automatically, and transmits the file to SAIG.
2) If only "Export to EDconnect?" is selected: Each time the user runs an export in EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006, the software adds the exported file to the Transmission Queue in EDconnect 6.X but does not transmit the file to SAIG. After the export is complete, you must start EDconnect and transmit the file by selecting "Now" from the "Transmission" menu.
3) If neither "Export to EDconnect?" and "Automatically Transmit?" are selected: Each time the user runs an export in EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006, the software saves the exported file in your normal data directory but does not add the file to your Transmission Queue in EDconnect 6.X or transmit the file to SAIG. After the export is complete, you must start EDconnect, locate and add your exported file to your Transmission Queue, and transmit the file by selecting "Now" from the "Transmission" menu.
Please Note: The "Automatically Transmit?" feature will only work if the executable files for EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006 and EDconnect are on the same drive. The EDExpress executable is expres56.exe. The EDconnect executable is EDconn7.exe for EDconnect 7.0, EDconn6.exe for EDconnect 6.X, and EDconn32.exe for EDconnect 5.X.
Under normal circumstances, the executable files for both programs will be on the local computer. However, the EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006 and/or the EDconnect program files, including the executable file, may have been inadvertently installed to a network drive for some users. This particular configuration is not supported by CPS/SAIG Technical Support.
** Using the "Automatically Transmit?" Option Prior to EDconnect 7.0 **
We recently discovered an issue that, under certain circumstances, prevents the new "Automatically Transmit?" feature from working with EDconnect 6.X or earlier. The "Automatically Transmit?" feature does not work if EDconnect is installed as a network installation, with the program files on the local computer and the database on a network drive. With this configuration, selecting the "Automatically Transmit?" checkbox in EDExpress for Windows 2005-2006 and exporting a file generates an error message that says the EDconnect executable file cannot be found. However, EDExpress still adds the file to the EDconnect Transmission Queue. The file can then be transmitted by starting EDconnect and selecting "Now" from the "Transmission" menu.
This issue will be resolved in EDconnect 7.0, which is expected to be released in May 2005. Due to the proximity of this release, we do not recommend that you change your current EDconnect configuration in order to resolve the "Automatically Transmit?" issue. However, CPS/SAIG Technical Support can assist you if you want to begin using this new feature.
** Important Tip for Using the "Automatically Transmit?" Option **
Schools and other organizations with more than one TG Number and with multiple groups set up to send files with EDconnect from different TG Numbers should exercise caution when using the "Automatically Transmit?" option.
The "Automatically Transmit?" feature sends files from EDconnect using the User ID of the person who was most recently logged in to EDconnect. Since different EDconnect users may transmit from different TG mailboxes, staff members for whom you have enabled the "Automatically Transmit?" function in EDExpress must verify PRIOR to exporting from EDExpress that the exported file will be sent from the correct TG Number using the appropriate EDconnect User ID.
To verify the EDconnect User ID is the correct one, start EDconnect and check the User ID on the Logon dialog box. The User ID displayed will be used to transmit a file when you export from EDExpress. If you want to use a different User ID, select the correct User ID, type the password, and log in to EDconnect. Next, exit EDconnect, log in to EDExpress, and export the file. EDconnect will now use the ID you logged in with to transmit the file.
If you have any questions about the information in this message, please contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.