Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF)

The Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF) and Document Management systems use the Banner System, WSU Pipeline, and Web-based tools to streamline selected Human Resource (HR) transactions at Wayne State University by scanning, indexing, and approving documents electronically.

Pertinent information about these new HR systems is available in a Wiki, a new Web communication mechanism provided by the Organization and Employee Development staff within WSU's HR division:

http://eausertools.ea.wayne.edu/index.php/EPAF_User_Tools

Those employees involved in processing and approving HR transactions are the most likely to use the new EPAF and Document Management systems. Ten WSU schools, colleges, and divisions were the first adopters. Round 1 started November 26, 2007. The electronic HR systems then will be gradually rolled out to the rest of the campus over the balance of the year. A list of EPAF users for each school, college, and division is available on the EPAF Wiki at:

http://eausertools.ea.wayne.edu/index.php/EPAF_Project_Home_Page

Note: An employee must first complete EPAF training before being granted access to EPAF.

Since the EPAF system uses electronic document management technology, the desktop computing environment for those who use EPAF will include new software requirements and, in some cases, new hardware.

Below are the important points to take into consideration, as well as individual installation and set-up instructions.

EPAF Software Requirements

Computer Operating System (OS)

The OS on the computer that accesses the EPAF systems must be Windows XP.

Supported Web Browser

Imaging and Document Management Tool

WebXtender is the name of the Sungard imaging and document management tool that needs to be installed on an EPAF user's computer in order to scan, index, or approve new HR documents and view, annotate, print, or delete digital documents.

Steps to install WebXtender on a single Windows XP computer

  1. Log on to the computer with administrator privileges.
  2. Start Internet Explorer.
  3. If you are using Pop-up Blocker, or Google/Yahoo toolbars, make sure to allow pop–up windows for *.wayne.edu.
  4. Go to http://banner.wayne.edu, and log on to Banner with an AccessID that has been granted WebXtender access.
  5. From the main menu in Banner, click the XtenderSolutions icon in the toolbar along the top of the window.
  6. Go to SOAPCOL and launch BXS (Banner XtenderSolutions). The following onetime message displays: password has been synchronized
  7. Select Help—> Check installed components and click the "current installed status" box. A onetime setup initiates to install componentcheck.cab.
  8. For those components that are not installed, double–click each and install them, possibly up to three executable files.
  9. From the query results list, check off two documents, and then select print. A onetime setup initiates to install queryresultset.cab.
  10. From query results, open any document. A onetime setup initiates to install ircviewer.cab.
  11. While viewing the document, select Page—> Enable Scanning. A onetime setup initiates to install wxscan.cab.
  12. If there is a scanner attached to the computer, select scanner with TWAIN (not WIA) driver.
  13. All seven WebXtender components have now been added to the computer.

Additional Hardware

Some EPAF system users will be responsible for a high volume of document scanning, indexing, and retrieval and/or HR transaction approvals. In these cases, departmental technical support staff may consider a dual-monitor configuration for these computers (at 1024x768 resolution). Such a configuration will aid in viewing the scanned documents and all open windows while using EPAF. Important: A dual-monitor configuration is NOT a requirement for all EPAF users.

Some, but not all, EPAF users will scan and index documents. Management in each school, college, and division decides what role(s) their EPAF users will have. Those who will scan need to have a scanner, or have access to one. Based on anticipated scanning volume, the departmental technical support staff needs to work with the EPAF project lead in the area to select the appropriate scanner. Computing & Information Technology (C&IT) has published a Web page with recommendations for document scanners at:

http://computing.wayne.edu/hardware/scanner.php.

Using EPAF and Document Management Tools

To use the Human Resources EPAF system, Wayne State employees must be approved by their management, complete EPAF training, and then be granted access to EPAF. A wide range of user-oriented support resources have been, and are currently being, built. For the latest information, visit:

http://eausertools.ea.wayne.edu/index.php/EPAF_User_Tools

Help

If you need further assistance accessing EPAF tools call the C&IT Help Desk at (313) 577-4778 or send an e-mail to helpdesk@wayne.edu.