EARN README Welcome to NFC's Statement of Earnings and Leave System (EARN) application. March 1998 ======================================================= Table of Contents ======================================================= 1. About The Readme File 2. Features 3. Hardware and Software Requirements 4. General Information 5. Installing and Removing EARN 6. Troubleshooting 7. More Help ====================================================== 1. About The Readme File ====================================================== The Readme File includes information pertaining to EARN. ====================================================== 2. Features ====================================================== EARN is a Windows 95/NT system designed, developed, and maintained by the National Finance Center (NFC). This system is used to print Statements of Earnings and Leave (also referred to as E&L statements) for employees payrolled by the NFC. EARN features are described below: - reprint the original E&L statement at NFC. - print an unofficial copy of the E&L statement at customer sites. - access online 26 pay periods of earnings, deductions, leave, and savings bond history. - access an online tutorial for help in understanding system design and navigation. - access online help for assistance in using the application. ======================================================= 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 5MB of available disk space - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack - Secure TCP/IP connectivity with NFC - NFC logon software - EARN application software NOTE: Setting your screen resolution to 800x600 will enable you to see the EARN windows in their entirety. ======================================================= 4. General Information ======================================================= EARN 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 EARN, see Title I, Chapter 20, Section 6, Statement of Earnings and Leave Statement System (EARN) procedure or the tutorial. ====================================================== 5. Installing and Removing EARN ====================================================== This section describes how to install EARN on a standalone computer or on a network. It also provides instructions for removing EARN and all its files from your system. A secure TCP/IP telecommunications link to NFC must be established before agencies can download the EARN software, obtain security access, or request the procedures, even though the EARN 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. ------------------------------------------------------- A. Installing On A Standalone Computer - Close all Windows applications. - Use Windows Explorer to locate EARN 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 EARN 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 EARN This procedure removes all files that the EARN setup program loaded during installation and deletes the initial Registry entries created during setup. To remove all the files that the EARN 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 EARN v01.01. - Click the Add/Remove button. - In the response to the confirmation message that appears, click Yes. ======================================================= 6. Troubleshooting ======================================================= The following situations may occur in EARN and include helpful hints to assist you in resolving the situation. ------------------------------------------------------- A. When I try to start EARN, I get the message, "TIRM629E: Error client manager could not send data to server." If the EARN banner window appears but the VIEW and EARNINGS 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. ----------------------------------------------------- B. When I try to start EARN, I get the message, "TIRM727E: Error security not valid." Contact your security officer. ----------------------------------------------------- C. When I enter an employee's SSN, I get the message, "EARN Employee Not Found - Check Security Access And Verify SSN." You have entered a social security number that is not on the Payroll/Personnel System, or for which you do not have security access. (1) If the SSN is correct, contact your security officer to obtain the proper access. (2) If your access is valid, contact the Information Center. ------------------------------------------------------ D. When I perform a pay period search, I get the message, "EARN Pay Period Not Found." The employee does not have an E&L statement for the specified pay period. (1) The year-to-date totals for the E&L statement may need to be manually adjusted, or the employee may have been in a non-pay status and an E&L statement was NOT issued. (2) If the above conditions do not apply and you think that the employee should have received an E&L statement for that pay period, contact your Payroll/Personnel Inquiry representative. ------------------------------------------------------- E. When I try to generate an original reprint, I get the message, "An Earnings Statement Original Reprint Request Needs A Complete Address." The employee does not have a mailing address established in the Payroll/Personnel System. You should enter a one-time address in the Print Mailing Address dialog box to have the E&L statement for that pay period mailed to that address and process an AD-349 in PRES or Employee Express to update the Payroll/Personnel System. ------------------------------------------------------ F. When I try to reprint an original E&L statement, I get the message, "Earnings Statement Not Available For Print - Contact Information Center." The employee's year-to-date earnings information had an accounting error and has to be adjusted manually. The E&L statement for the specified pay period has been sent to the Payroll/Personnel Branch for the adjustment. Please contact the Information Center. ------------------------------------------------------- G. When I try to start EARN, I get the message, "EARN Application Error - Wrong Version Installed - Contact Info Center." EARN verifies that your version of the software is the correct one. Contact your IT office so that they can obtain the new version of the software. The IT office can contact Information Center for information on submitting request for EARN software. ======================================================= 7. More Help ======================================================= For questions about payroll/personel 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 questions about the EARN procedure, contact the Directives and Analysis Branch at 504-255-5322.