MEMORANDUM NO. FSD 040012
 

TO:	NCAS Primary Contacts NCAS CFO Contacts University Vice Chancellors Fiscal Contacts - NCAS & Interface Fiscal Contacts - Universities
FROM:	Don Waugh Assistant State Controller
SUBJECT:	NCAS Decision Support System (DSS) Upgrade

The NCAS Decision Support System (DSS), previously known as “SmartStream”, uses an analysis and reporting tool named Cognos PowerPlay. The Office of the State Controller and agency LAN administrators are implementing a PowerPlay upgrade during the month of April.

For all DSS users, PowerPlay will be upgraded from Version 6.5 to Series 7. The new PowerPlay Series 7 works with existing Version 6.5 cubes and reports, so there should be no change in how users work with PowerPlay. Some users will receive an upgrade to the current version of the “DSS Desktop” graphical front end, a minor upgrade with no change in functionality.

Existing PowerPlay Version 6.5 custom reports can be opened and modified with the new Series 7, but once a custom report has been saved using the new version, it cannot subsequently be opened using the old version. This would be a problem only if other users who have not yet received the upgrade attempt to open the converted report file.

New PowerPlay Series 7 cube files and standard report files will be delivered to agencies beginning on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 . These new files will not work with Version 6.5 of PowerPlay, so all DSS users must have the new PowerPlay Series 7 installed by that date.

If you have any questions regarding this upgrade, please call the OSC NCAS Help Desk at (919) 875-HELP (875-4357). Thank you for your support and cooperation in this matter.