The Department of Education has released an updated version of Edconnect 8.6.1, which is now available on the Knowledge Center’s “Software and Other Tools” website. The upgraded software is required to receive Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in the new FTI-SAIG mailbox for the 2024–25 award year and beyond.
POSTED DATE February 27, 2024
AUTHOR Federal Student Aid
ELECTRONIC ANNOUNCEMENT ID GENERAL-24-14
SUBJECT SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Availability of EDconnect 8.6.1, Updated Documentation, and Password Guidance
As we have informed Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) users in multiple Electronic Announcements, upgraded software is required to receive Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in a new FTI-SAIG mailbox for the 2024–25 award year and beyond.
We are pleased to announce that an updated version of the EDconnect software (version 8.6.1) is now available on the Software and Other Tools page of the Knowledge Center website, along with an updated EDconnect Installation and User Guide. Additionally, we are providing a new resource about SAIG passwords and updated user documentation for the FTI-TDCommunity Manager (FTI-TDCM).
Please refer to the sections below for important information about the updated SAIG software and documentation.
Reminders
SAIG users who expect to receive 2024–25 ISIRs should install and begin using the updated SAIG software now:
- The updated SAIG software (EDconnect 8.6.0 or higher and TDClient 3.5) can be used for all award years as each offers connectivity options to both SAIG and FTI-SAIG.
- To use the updated software for 2024–25 ISIR data, users need to sign and submit an updated SAIG enrollment agreement and enroll for an FTI-SAIG mailbox. Refer to the Sept. 22, 2023 Electronic Announcement for detailed information about this enrollment process.
- As announced on Feb. 27, 2024, we will conduct a test of partners’ connectivity to active FTI-SAIG mailboxes during the week of Feb. 26. 2024. TDClient 3.5 or EDconnect 8.6.0 (or higher) must be installed to participate in the optional test. If possible, we recommend EDconnect users install the latest release (EDconnect 8.6.1) before connecting to their active FTI-SAIG mailbox to retrieve the test file.
EDconnect 8.6.1
EDconnect 8.6.1 is now available to resolve several issues that users experienced with the previous version of the software, EDconnect 8.6.0 (released in November 2023). The following fixes have been implemented in 8.6.1:
- Opening all.tqt now correctly adds an entry to the transmission queue.
- Attempting to receive “All” data in all projects with a TG account now results in the transmission of data.
- The network is now correctly set when switching from an FT# to a TG#.
- The database error dialog displayed on the first log-in as TG# after initially logging in as FT# has been resolved.
- The “Password not changed in tdclient.ini file” issue has been fixed.
In addition to the software release, we have updated the EDconnect Installation and User Guide to address discrepancies that users brought to our attention. Please refer to the guide for detailed installation instructions.
Important Installation Information
When installing EDconnect 8.6.1, it is important to follow the installation instructions to ensure a smooth transition and preserve your database data:
- For users with an existing EDconnect installation, select the “Local Install – Custom” option to retain your database data.
- For users with no previous EDconnect installation, choose the “Local Install” option during installation.
Choosing the “Local Install” option without customization will result in data loss for those with an existing EDconnect installation.
FTI-TDCommunity Manager (FTI-TDCM) and Password Guidance
To reduce user confusion about system passwords, we have renamed the password reset link on the FTI-TDCM log-in page (https://ftisaigportal.ed.gov) to “FSA User ID Change Password.” Log-in functionality remains unchanged.
To further assist users with understanding the various password types and how to change a password, we have created a high-level job aid, SAIG/FTI-SAIG Passwords Overview, now available on the Software and Other Tools page of the Knowledge Center website.
Finally, an updated FTI-TDCM User Guide is available to correct several errors in the initial publication.
Contact Information
If you have questions, please contact the FPS Help Desk (formerly CPS/SAIG Technical Support) at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at support@fps.ed.gov.
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