| James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor |
Edward Renfrow
State Controller |
January 10, 2000
MEMORANDUM NO. 00-0013
| TO: | North Carolina Accounting System (NCAS) Users |
| FROM: |
Zeke Partin, CPA, Assistant State Controller |
| SUBJECT: | North Carolina Accounting System Decision Support System (DSS) Upgrade |
The Office of the State Controller (OSC) will begin delivery of the upgraded NCAS DSS Software (previously referred to as "SmartStream") and data in late January, 2000 (see schedule below for approximate dates) .
|
NCAS DSS Upgrade Time Schedule |
|
|
Deliver Program Files to LAN Administrators |
Jan. 18, 2000 (approx.) |
|
LAN Administrator PC Install Time Frame (Any Install Questions to be answered) |
Jan. 19 – 28, 2000 (approx.) |
|
Roll-out/Cut over to New MDCs |
Jan. 31, 2000 (approx.) |
As part of the delivery of the new NCAS DSS desktop, the OSC will be centrally tracking the number of users of this reporting tool. This is required as part of the OSC’s licensing agreement with the software vendor. We enc ourage your agency to provide access to as many users as possible; however, the OSC does suggest that these DSS users be adequately trained to ensure they are consistent and satisfied users. The OSC is presently providing for current Smartstream users, t he NCAS DSS Upgrade Training presentations. If your agency has not registered for these presentations, please do so immediately at 919-981-5415.
NCAS DSS Upgrade
January 10, 2000
Page 2
During the first quarter of 2000, the two-day NCAS DSS training class will be updated with all the new features. Check the "What’s New" section of the SIG or go to the following Internet link frequently for inform ation on dates and times.
http://www.osc.state.nc.us/sigdocs/sig_docs/sigWhats_New.htmlAll NCAS standard views and reports have been converted to the new formats. However, the OSC does not have access to user created custom SmartStream Views (.cvw files) or custom SmartStream Reports (.cre files). Those cust om views and reports, if still useful, must be re-created by each agency user in the new Decision Support System tool. This technique will be presented in the NCAS DSS Upgrade Training presentations as referenced in the previous paragraph. If an agency is unable to re-create its custom views and reports, the OSC will provide assistance, as resources are available. The OSC is requesting that users compile a listing of any current custom SmartStream Views and Reports that they cannot re-create and determ ine their importance, so that requirements can be prioritized. This joint effort will take some time to accomplish and will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis as much as possible. However, issues arising that require more urgent attention will b e addressed based on priority.
Users should contact the OSC NCAS Help Desk at 875-HELP (4357) with questions regarding their custom SmartStream Views and Reports. Users can also email the OSC NCAS Help Desk with the custom views and reports attach ed. The OSC NCAS Help Desk email address is helpdesk@mail.osc.state.nc.us. The OSC NCAS Help Desk will forward the requests for assistance to all available OSC personnel assigned to this project.
The OSC is excited about the new DSS reporting tool and the enhanced features. As always, we are committed to providing the NCAS users with the most current technological tools to support the State’s business requirements.< /font>