SACS2021 Software: Known Problems/Fixes

Problem: Incorrect Calculation of the Total Budgeted Expenditures and Other Financing Uses in Criteria and Standards, Criterion 7, Facilities Maintenance

Users Affected

Districts only, Budget Reporting Period only. This problem only affects districts that have budgeted expenditures (objects 1000-7999) in resource codes 3210, 3215, 3220, 5316, 7027, 7420, and 7690 in funds other than Fund 01 (e.g. 09, 13, 61, 62, etc.).

Problem

Form 01CS, Criterion 7: Facilities Maintenance, Line 2a Cell, Calculating the Total “Budgeted Expenditures and Other Financing Uses” in Fund 01

This cell should exclude the budgeted expenditures in resource codes 3210, 3215, 3220, 5316, 7027, 7420, and 7690 in Fund 01 only; however, the exclusion incorrectly deducts budgeted expenditures for those resource codes in other funds, which reduces the overall total Fund 01 budgeted expenditures in line 2a. With the reduced total Fund 01 budgeted expenditures in line 2a, the three percent required minimum contribution will be calculated incorrectly. As such, if a district has budgeted expenditures for those resource codes in other funds (e.g. 09, 13, 61, 62, etc.) besides Fund 01, the three percent required minimum contribution will be calculated incorrectly due to the reduced budgeted expenditures in line 2a.

Workaround

Districts should manually calculate the total Fund 01 budgeted expenditures excluding only the amounts associated with the relevant resource codes in Fund 01. Then, multiply the correct total budgeted expenditures amount by three percent to determine the correct required contribution to the Ongoing and Major Maintenance Account, Resource 8150. Districts should contribute the minimum contribution amount to Resource 8150.

If a district does not make the corrections at budget period, then the required minimum contribution can be corrected at First Interim reporting period. At First Interim, the Required Minimum Contribution cell is unlocked and can be overwritten. The district can manually calculate the Fund 01 budgeted expenditures excluding the resource codes in Fund 01 and the three percent minimum contribution. In the Required Minimum Contribution cell, enter the correct required minimum contribution amount.

Problem: Import, Export, and TRC Menu Options Disabled for Some Windows 7/8/10 Users

Right after installing the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) software, some users are unable to import, export, or run the Technical Review Check (TRC) because the File–Import, File–Export, and TRC–Technical Review menu options are disabled.

Fix

Some Windows 7/8/10 users have encountered this problem, and applying one or more of the following solutions has been effective:

• Ensure that the SACS software was installed correctly:
  • Temporarily change the user's level of access to that of the system administrator;
  • Have the user log onto the network;
  • Install the software;
  • Change the user's level of access back to its original setting; and
  • Restart the computer.
• Register the RICHTX32.OCX file. This should be done by information technology staff only.
• Change the SACS software to run in compatibility mode using Windows XP (Service Pack 3). To do this, right-click on the SACS software desktop icon; select Properties; select the Compatibility tab; if not already active, click on the Run this program in compatibility mode: check box; when the drop down menu activates, select Windows XP (Service Pack 3); press the Apply button and then OK.
  

Problem: Known Printing Issues Relating to Windows 7/8/10

After the SACS software was modified to mitigate the worst of its incompatibilities with Windows 7, many software testers encountered a remaining printing problem where a fund form, supplemental form, or report is sent to the printer, and the SACS software print status window freezes. (This is not an issue when printing the Technical Review Checklist (TRC), the import log, or from the User Data Input/Review screen.)

Workaround

Anticipating this problem for all Windows 7/8/10 users, the California Department of Education's (CDE’s) workaround is to print first to Adobe PDF, then send the document to the printer. 

Possible Fix

After extensive testing within CDE’s test environment, we are able to send forms and reports directly to printers by using the following print drivers (which are specific to our model printers), and by changing a particular printer setting specifically for Hewlett-Packard (HP) printers. CDE does not advocate the purchase or use of any specific printer brand or model and provides this information only as a basis for LEAs to test with different print drivers and/or settings if desired.

• For Samsung printers: Samsung Universal Print Driver 2 PS
• For HP printers: HP Universal Printing PS or HP Universal Printing printer command language (PCL) 6 print drivers
• Additional printer settings required for some HP printers:
  • Notes: 
    • For some users, these printer settings must be changed outside of the SACS Software (e.g., changed through the Control Panel) or else the printer settings are lost each time the SACS Software is closed.
    • Some users need to reset these printer settings each time they install the SACS software.
    • Some users need to intermittently change these printer settings within the SACS software (i.e., changed through the print prompt) as well.
  • Specific steps CDE uses for HP printer settings: 
    • Open SACS software form
    • File menu, Print… option
    • Properties [button]
    • Effects [tab]
    • Click on the radial button “Print Document on:”
    • Then it should default to "Letter" right underneath it.
    • It should also add a checkmark next to "Scale to Fit"
    • Click Apply
    • Then OK to print

Problem: Run-time Error 429

Periodically, the required Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) file is not properly installed, causing a run-time error 429 upon opening the 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.