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.