Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF)

The Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF) is an electronic process in the Wayne State University Imaging and Document Management Systems. EPAF streamlines selected Human Resource (HR) transactions at Wayne State by means of scanning, indexing, and the electronic approval of HR documents.

Pertinent information for employees about using EPAF is available in the online WSU Human Resources Help System:

http://www.hr.wayne.edu/help/index.htm#epaf/

Those employees involved in processing and approving HR transactions are the most likely to use EPAF and the WSU Imaging and Document Management Systems.

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

EPAF training is provided by the WSU Organization and Employee Development Department. Employees can self-register through WSU Pipeline after receiving management approval: Click the "Training, Seminars, Workshops" icon in the right channel of the Employee Tab, scroll down to the EPAF section of the page, and click the appropriate program. From the screen that displays, you can pick a session and sign up.

Since the EPAF process uses electronic document management technology, the desktop computing environment for those who use EPAF includes 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.

Software Requirements for the WSU Imaging and Document Management System

Computer Operating System (OS)

Windows XP is the only computer operating system (OS) certified for use with the WSU Imaging and Document Management System by the vendor, Sungard High Education. Note that Windows Vista and Mac OS X are not supported.

Supported Web Browser

Internet Explorer 6 or Internet Explorer 7 are the only Web browsers that support the vendor's requirements. There is no support for Mozilla Firefox.

Client Software

ApplicationXtender (formerly WebXtender), by EMC Documentum, is the Web-based interface employees use to scan, index, and approve documents electronically, as well as view, annotate, print, or delete digital documents. This application needs to be installed on an EPAF user's computer so that it can interact with the Banner XtenderSolutions document management system, by Sungard Higher Education. XtenderSolutions is accessed from the Banner System or through WSU Pipeline.

Before installing ApplicationXtender, take note of the following:

Steps to install ApplicationXtender 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 ApplicationXtender 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.

Help with Accessing EPAF

If you need further assistance accessing EPAF — with regard to software installation or scanner recommendations, call the Computing & Information Technology (C&IT) Help Desk at (313) 577-4778 or send an e-mail to helpdesk@wayne.edu.