SACS2012ALL Software: Known Problems/Fixes

Problem: Known Problem with Form GANN — Appropriations Limit Calculations

Users Affected: Districts only, Unaudited Actuals Period only

Problem: A problem has been identified in the new warning Internal Form Check (IFC) that was added to Form GANN. The new check was added to ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs) enter data (or a zero) in the 2011-12 Adjustments column to reflect State Aid received for programs that are currently flexed. Currently, the IFC is generating only a partial display of a warning message stating that there are incomplete data in the form when in fact users have completed all of the required cells.

Fix: Save (do not open) the revised gann-d.vts template file – (VTS; Revised 09-Aug-2012) to a temporary folder such as C:\SACS2012ALL\Temporary. Once saved, copy the file from the Temporary folder into your C:\SACS2012ALL\Templates folder. Upon copying the file to the Templates folder, a message may display that the file already exists; select Yes to overwrite the existing template file with the revised file. To verify that you have replaced the old file, the date of the new template file in your C:\SACS2012ALL\Templates folder should be the date downloaded.

Problem: Known Problem with Report SEMA —Special Education MOE - Actual vs. Actual Comparison

Users Affected: All LEAs, Unaudited Actuals Period only

Problem: A problem has been identified in the "2011-12 Expenditures by LEA (LE-CY) [LEA Exps CY]" worksheet, Total column. The 2008-09 ARRA expenditure data (resources 3313, 3314, 3319, 3322, 3324, and 3404) is erroneously preloading into the Total column calculations. The preloaded values do not appear in any other column. Due to this calculation error, the total costs in the TOTAL EXPENDITURES and FEDERAL EXPENDITURES sections are overstated by the preloaded expenditures, and the sum of expenditures of each row do not equal to the calculated amounts in the Total column.

Fix: Save (do not open) the revised sema.vts template file – (VTS; Revised 09-Aug-2012) to a temporary folder such as C:\SACS2012ALL\Temporary. Once saved, copy the file from the Temporary folder into your C:\SACS2012ALL\Templates folder. Upon copying the file to the Templates folder, a message may display that the file already exists; select Yes to overwrite the existing template file with the revised file. To verify that you have replaced the old file, the date of the new template file in your C:\SACS2012ALL\Templates folder should be the date downloaded.

Problem: Known Problem with Windows 7

Some users have reported problems running the standardized account code structure (SACS) software on Windows 7 PCs. The problems are not consistent among users, but they have been encountered while importing, exporting, running the technical review checklist, updating the validation tables, and printing, including printing from the Table of Contents.

Workaround: Install the Windows XP Mode and the Windows Virtual PC (directions follow). Then within the newly installed Windows XP with Virtual PC window, install the SACS Software, print drivers, and printers. From this point forward, all SACS software should be installed and accessed within the Windows XP with Virtual PC window.

Note: We strongly recommend enlisting the help of your technical support staff before attempting this workaround. The initial download and installation of Windows XP with Virtual PC, print drivers, and printers may take significant time, depending on the speed of your internet connection, the level of your technical expertise, and the level of your PC’s user account rights and privileges. For example, while installing the Windows XP with Virtual PC, the user is prompted to review and accept a licensing agreement, and the user must be logged on as an administrator and have sufficient user account privileges. Please verify with your technical support staff that you have authority to install the Windows XP with Virtual PC.

• Download and install Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC  --  The installation files for Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC may be downloaded from the Microsoft Web page .
  
  
• If you needed to log on as an administrator for the bullet above, you should now log on as the normal SACS software user. (Once you log on as a different user, you may be prompted to repeat the Windows XP Mode setup steps.)
  
  
• After Windows XP Mode with Virtual PC is installed, open Windows XP Mode (Start→Programs→Windows Virtual PC→Windows XP Mode, which can be right clicked to make a shortcut icon on your desktop) and install printers and print drivers for use within Windows XP Mode.
  
  
• While still within the Windows XP Mode, and while still logged on as the normal SACS software user, install the SACS software.
  
  
• The SACS software user should be made aware of the following:
  

• Anytime the user accesses the SACS software, the user must first go into the Windows XP Mode window and then open the SACS software icon.
  
  
• When the SACS software is installed in the Windows XP Mode with Virtual PC, it is installed to the VIRTUAL C:\drive. 
  
  
• As a result, all exported files are sent to the VIRTUAL C:\drive, as opposed to the standard C:\drive on your physical PC.  “Other” .dat files are exported to C:\SACS2012ALL, and “Official” .dat files are exported to C:\SACS2012ALL\OFFICIAL.
  
  
• Accordingly, when validation tables and fixes are downloaded, they should be downloaded to and applied from the VIRTUAL C:\drive.

Problem: Run-time Error 429

Periodically, the required Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) file is not properly installed on Windows 98 machines, causing a run-time error 429 upon opening the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) software.

Fix: Be sure all other applications are closed, then download this MDAC file: mdactyp (EXE; 7MB). Once downloaded, double-click on the file to begin installation (be sure to read the prompts thoroughly). When the installation is completed, the SACS software should open properly.