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(EDESuite) Subject: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 3.0

Posted Date:August 10, 2018

Author: Federal Student Aid

Subject: Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 3.0

We are pleased to announce the posting of EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 3.0, on the Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Website, located at https://fsadownload.ed.gov.

This release adds new functionality to the Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant) module that enables you to import Pell Grant School Account Statement (SAS) files and compare the imported SAS data to Pell Grant award level disbursement summary, disbursement detail, and cash detail data in your EDExpress database. Release 3.0 also includes updates to import functionality for entrance and exit counseling results for Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant awards and resolves several software issues from the prior release.

In addition to the software, the following EDExpress 2018-2019 documents are now available on the FSAdownload website and provide detailed information on Release 3.0:

  • The EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 3.0 Cover Letter (provides information regarding enhancements and other updates in Release 3.0)

  • The EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 2.0 Desk Reference (revised for Release 3.0 to include guidance regarding Pell Grant cash management, SAS import, and SAS compare enhancements)

We also updated Volume III of the 2018-2019 COD Technical Reference to add combo school guidance regarding Pell SAS and cash management functionality, as well as new import record layouts for external cash and abbreviated external award and disbursement options added in Release 3.0. The technical reference is available for download from the FSAdownload website.

EDExpress 2018-2019 Installation – Special Notes

Note the following guidance during the installation of EDExpress 2018-2019, Release 3.0:

  • When you initiate the EDExpress 2018-2019 installation process, you will be prompted to install the ACE Access Database Engine. This functionality is required to install EDExpress 2018-2019. Click Install to allow the process to determine if the ACE Access Database Engine is already on the workstation and install it if it is not, after which the installation will proceed.

  • EDExpress 2018-2019 requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.6.2. You will be prompted to install this software if the EDExpress 2018-2019 installation process determines it is not available on your workstation.

For more information on installing EDExpress 2018-2019, see the EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019 Installation Guide, available for download from the FSAdownload website.

EDExpress 2018-2019 Initial Login Information

If you upgrade to Release 3.0 from a prior EDExpress 2018-2019 version (Release 1.0 or Release 2.0), your user IDs, passwords, and other security settings are carried forward to Release 3.0 and do not need to be recreated.

If you have not installed EDExpress 2018-2019 prior to Release 3.0, when you first access the software after installation, the default user ID is SYSADMIN and the default password is $y$tem Adm1n. Be sure to include the space between $y$tem and Adm1n (the two parts of the default password).

After you enter the default user ID and password, EDExpress 2018-2019 requires that you immediately define a new password for the SYSADMIN. New passwords must be a minimum of 12 characters and must include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one keyboard character that is not a letter or number (such as an exclamation mark or other punctuation symbol). You can adjust the minimum password length and other requirements in the new Password Setup dialog box (Tools, Setup, Global, Password Setup).

In addition, the SYSADMIN user ID now only provides access to critical administrative functions in order to limit its use for routine software tasks and improve your ability to trace actions taken in the software to specific users. EDExpress administrators at your school should create unique user IDs in Security Users setup with the necessary access (based on the associated Security Group) and log into the software under those IDs for most software tasks they perform.

For more information on security setup, see EDExpress Help in the software and the EDExpress for Windows 2018-2019, Release 2.0 Desk Reference, available for download from the FSAdownload website.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding downloading, installing, or using EDExpress 2018-2019, Release 3.0, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.

You can also post questions regarding EDExpress on FSATech. FSATech is anelectronic mailing list for technical questions about Federal Student Aid systems, software, and mainframe products. For more information on subscribing to FSATECH, go to https://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/services/fsatechsubscribe.html.

If you have any questions about the COD System, contact the COD School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978. You may also email CODSupport@ed.gov.