EPIC Readme (For System Administrators) Welcome to NFC's Entry Processing Inquiry and Correction System (EPIC) application. ========================================== Table of Contents ========================================== 1. About The Readme File 2. Features 3. Hardware and Software Requirements 4. General Information 5. Installing and Removing EPIC 6. Troubleshooting 7. More Help ========================================= 1. About The Readme File ========================================= The Readme File includes information about installing, maintaining, and trouble shooting EPIC. ========================================= 2. Features ========================================= As part of its upgrade to the Payroll/Personnel System, the National Finance Center (NFC) has developed a Windows 95/NT online entry, inquiry, and correction application, EPIC. This application allows agencies to enter, correct, inquire, and retrieve payroll and personnel transactions in a single system using a personal computer. EPIC features are described below: - Personnel actions and payroll documents categorized by type to facilitate multiple entry of like transactions - Online entry and correction of current and future payroll documents and personnel actions - Online inquiry of current, future, and applied payroll and personnel transactions - Status and suspense reporting - Lists of documents sorted by social security number or document type - Online help, tutorial, and Readme file ========================================= 3. Hardware and Software Requirements ========================================= - A personal computer (PC) capable of supporting Windows 95 or higher, or Windows NT 4.0 - Windows 95 or higher, or Windows NT 4.0 - Approximately 10MB of available disk space - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack - Secure TCP/IP connectivity with NFC - NFC logon software - EPIC application software Note: Setting your screen resolution to 800X600 will enable you to see the EPIC windows in their entirety. ========================================= 4. General Information ========================================= EPIC is designed in a Windows format, providing mouse-driven, point-and-click functionality; menu bars; pull-down menus; tool buttons; and other Windows features. For detailed instructions about accessing EPIC, see Title I, Chapter 23, Entry Processing Inquiry and Correction System (EPIC) procedure or the tutorial. ======================================== ======================================== This section describes how to install EPIC on a standalone computer or on a network. It also provides instructions for removing EPIC and all its files from your system. A secure TCP/IP telecommunications link to NFC must be established before agencies can download the EPIC software, obtain security access, or request the procedures, even though the EPIC application is available. To determine if your agency has a secure TCP/IP telecommunications link, contact your Information Technology (IT) office. (NOTE: Sites currently using upgraded payroll/personnel applications already have a secure TCP/IP telecommunications link.) The IT office should contact NFC's Information Center at 504-255-5230 to coordinate installation and testing. Whenever there is a change to a version, EPIC users will see a pop-up that indicates the effective date of the new version and asks them to contact their system administrator to download the new version. To read about version changes, select Help > About This Version at the NFC Logon window. ------------------------------------------------------- A. Installing On A Standalone Computer - Close all Windows applications. - Use Windows Explorer to locate EPIC setup program downloaded on NFC's FTP server. - Double-click the downloaded file. - Follow the online instructions provided by the setup program. ------------------------------------------------------- B. Installing On A Network Server - Install EPIC using the instructions under "Installing On A Standalone Computer". - When the setup program displays the suggested installation drive and directory, change this to the network server's drive. NOTE: All users performing a network install need permissions to write to the server. ------------------------------------------------------- C. Removing EPIC This procedure removes all files that the EPIC setup program loaded during installation and deletes the initial Registry entries created during setup. To remove all the files that the EPIC setup program loaded, follow the instructions below: - From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings and then Control Panel. - In the Control Panel dialog box, double-click Add/Remove Programs. - In the list box in the Add/Remove Program Properties dialog box, select NFC EPIC v01.05. - Click the Add/Remove button. - In the response to the confirmation message that appears, click Yes. ======================================== 6. Troubleshooting ======================================== The following situation may occur in EPIC. Included arehelpful hints to resolve the situation. S When I try to logon to EPIC, I get the message, "TIRM629E: Error client manager could not send data to server." If the EPIC banner window appears but the Menu Item options are grayed out, this could mean (1) there is a problem with your TCP/IP connection to NFC's servers, or (2) NFC's servers are unavailable. Contact your IT office. When I try to access a specific personnel office identifier (POI) or employee, I get the message, "Violation of Installation Defined Edit or Validation Procedure DB60VAL." This error means the user does not have access to the specified POI/employee. ======================================== 7. More Help ======================================== For questions about payroll/personnel policies and regulations, contact your Committee for Agriculture Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) representative. For questions about NFC processing, contact the Payroll/Personnel Operations section at 504-255-4630. For general questions about the system (including help with unusual conditions or obtaining access authority), contact Information Center personnel at 504-255-5230 or your NFC Customer Service Representative. For question about the EPIC procedure or online help, contact the Directives and Analysis Branch at 504-255-5322.