| Support issues |
The University Financial Helpline (612-624-1617 or fsshelp@umn.edu) is the first point of contact for questions about FormsNirvana financial documents, access to the system, and using the system.
For questions related to individuals’ desktop computers, the software installed on it, or questions that require departmental or collegiate decisions, please contact your division administrator or technical/computer support person first for assistance. Contact the University Financial Helpline or 1-HELP when appropriate (see below) if internal support is unable to solve the problem.
|
| I need: |
initial access |
If someone in your department already has access, have that person log into the system and assist the new person in completing an FNA form. The new user must have available an X.500 ID and password (and only the individual whose account this is should know the password), and should know which documents s/he will be preparing, and for which divisions. Departments may require some sort of training on departmental policies and procedures. Training requirements vary, but NO training is required to become an approver, COA and one FFN entry class is required to be a preparer, and a special class is required if someone wants to prepare PVs. Each individual must complete an FNA form to gain access to the system. (There are no short cuts for this process). |
| |
a new division |
The division administrator should complete FNAs to give any new users access, and then may complete an FNN form to set up a totally new division--the person completing the form will be the division administrator, and existing users may be granted access as preparers or approvers. (Totally new users to the system may not be listed on the FNN form.) |
| |
to modify a division |
The division administrator
can remove access using the template FND form for a
specific division. To add a user to an existing division,
an FNA should be completed (using the user's template if
they already have access to the system) requesting access
to the division. |
|
|
| I'm having trouble: |
printing pdf |
Check to be sure Adobe Acrobat is installed on the machine being used. Check to be sure the web browser software has Acrobat set up as a proxy or helper application for pdf files. Check the printer to be sure it is capable of handling this kind of file. Sometimes the Nirvana machine will choke on a request to generate a pdf file. (Common messages state "no data sent/returned.") Usually if you back up a step and try again, everything will work properly. If you consistently experience problems printing pdf files from Nirvana and other web sites, it is probably a problem with your configuration/software rather than a problem with FormsNirvana. Software to enable you to deal with pdf files may be downloaded from the links on the FormsNirvana home page. Problems with the Nirvana machine generating pdf files should be referred to FSS. Problems with printing pdf files once the Nirvana machine has created them should be referred to your department's technical support staff or 1-HELP at 301-4357. |
| |
printing postscript |
Make sure you have a printer capable of handling postscript files. Check to be sure you have the proper software installed for your system to deal with postscript print files. Problems with the Nirvana machine generating postscript files should be reported to the University Financial Helpline. Problems getting postscript files to print once they are on your own computer should be referred to your department's technical support staff or 1-HELP at 301-4357. |
| |
with web browser |
We recommend that you use version 4.7x OR 7.x of Netscape's web browser software. (Navigator, Communicator, etc.). Do not use Netscape version 6.x. If your web browser software is acting strangely only when using FormsNirvana, contact the University Financial Helpline. If your browser software is acting strangely all the time, you should contact your department's technical support staff or 1-HELP at 301-4357. |
| |
with total fields |
FormsNirvana uses Java scripting to make the total fields on some of the financial documents fill in for you as you enter amounts and quantities. Sometimes web browser software will display odd values, or won't display anything in the total fields at all. Turning on/off the Java capabilities of your browser may solve this kind of problem. (This usually is done under options, preferences, or a similar menu in your browser software.) Microsoft Internet Explorer is especially prone to oddities in dealing with Java scripts. If you have trouble with the display of total fields, you can be fairly certain that the values will pass correctly to CUFS (we have had no trouble with it so far), but you will need to notify the approvers of the document in some way to let them know about the odd display, so they can review the document thoroughly. You may also want to notify the University Financial Helpline if you are concerned. Printing the document out (use the pdf or postscript versions rather than a screen print) after it has passed the sanity check will show you what will actually be sent to CUFS. You may also want to check the document on CUFS after it has posted (will be in approved status in FFN) to make sure all the dollar amounts passed correctly. |
| |
with inactive accounts |
If FFN tells you that an account or budget line is not valid, and you know the account exists in CUFS, you may want to check CUFS yourself or have the University Financial Helpline check for you. It is possible that the list of valid, active accounts did not correctly pass from CUFS to FormsNirvana. It is also possible that the account/budget line was activated in CUFS the same day you are attempting to process a document in FFN. The new information will not be passed from CUFS to FFN until that night, and so the account/budget line will not be valid in FFN until the next day. Call the University Financial Helpline if there is trouble with an account or budget line. |
| |
with invalid or odd vendors |
It is possible that the list of valid vendors did not pass correctly from CUFS to FFN. It is also possible that the vendor information was updated or added in CUFS the same day you are trying to use the code in FFN. The new information will not be passed from CUFS to FFN until that night, and so the vendor code will not be valid until the next day. Call the University Financial Helpline if there is trouble with a vendor code. |
| |
with ILOC codes |
It is possible that the list of valid ILOCs (institutional location codes) did not pass correctly from CUFS to FFN. It is also possible that the information was updated or added in CUFS the same day you are trying to use the code in FFN. The new information will not be passed from CUFS to FFN until that night, and so the code will not be valid until the next day. Call the University Financial Helpline if there is trouble with an ILOC code. |
| |
completed fields blanking
out |
Sometimes users have configured their browser software in such a way that it may blank out completed information on a document. Calls should be referred to your department's technical support staff or 1-HELP at 301-4357. |
Return to: Controller's Office : U of M Home
