Colorado

Download the Latest Plugin

1. Navigate to the MCS Software Downloads page.

2. Select the Franklin folder.
   
   

   Open

   

3. Select the Plugins folder.
   
   

   Open

   

4. Download the latest Colorado plugin and save it to your local or network drive.
   
   

Download the Export to State .xml File

1. Follow Steps 1-2 above or you may click Go Back One Level to be redirected to the previous screen.
   
   

2. Select the Misc folder by clicking on it.
   
   

3. Click on the ColoradoDCExportToState.xml file.
   
   

4. Use your mouse to right-click and choose Save as...
   
   

5. Choose a location on your local drive or network to save the file. The file should be in .xml format.
   
   

Establish Export Settings

1. Login to Franklin.

2. From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select the Advanced Setup menu, and choose the Exports option.

3. Click on the Import Settings button and locate the Colorado.xml file on your local or network drive. Click Open once you have located the file.
   
   

4. In the Configure Export window, enter a description name. Then, click the Setup button.
   
   

5. Establish export criteria.
   The file name must be DISTRICT.txt for this process to work. If your filename is not DISTRICT.txt, highlight the filename before the .txt extension and type DISTRICT. Then, click Save.

   1. In the Export Criteria window, choose a designated location on your workstation by clicking the ellipses button.

   2. Next, click the Edit Layout button.
      
      

       

   3. In the Setup Export Specification window, locate the first Format column in the Filler row and enter the school site number. Then, click Ok.
      
      

6. Click Ok in the Export Criteria window.

7. Click Ok in the Configure Export window.

8. You should now see the Colorado DC file in the Export window. Click the red "x" to close the export window.
   
   

Export Data from Franklin

1. In the Utilities tab, locate and click on the Advanced button. Then, click Export Data.

2. Select the Colorado DC file and click Run.
   
   

    

Password Change

1. Navigate to the CDE Child Nutrition section of the CDE website and click on the Online Claims and Services link.
   
   

2. Click the Online Claim System button to update your Direct Cert password.
   
   

3. Sign in using the initial User ID and Password you were sent for Direct Certification.
   
   

4. Click on the Change Password button.
   
   

5. Change the password.

   1. In the Old Password field, type in the initial password you were given.

   2. In the New Password field, type in the new password.
      Password Requirements - Keep in mind you will need to use both upper and lower case alpha characters as well as at least one numeric character and one symbol. The uppercase and numeric characters cannot be the first or last character or your password. e.g. State*1 is not acceptable; however, sta*1Te is acceptable.

   3. In the New Password (verify) field, re-enter your new password.

   4. Click Save when you are done.
      
      

CDE Direct Certification Process

1. Navigate to the CDE Child Nutrition section of the CDE website and click on the Free and Reduced Processes link.
   
   

2. Click on the Direct Certification link.
   
   

3. Click on Online Direct Certification System.
   
   

4. Log on with your User ID and Password.
   
   

5. Perform the upload and download procedures.
   
   

   1. Click on Upload District File.

   2. Using the Browse button, locate and select the formatted district file named DISTRICT.txt from your workstation. Do not add your district's name to the file name.

   3. Click the Upload File box. You will see processes running in the File Upload Status window.
      
      

   4. If the upload is successful with no errors, you should receive a message stating Congratulations! File upload successful.
      You will receive a notification message if you have errors. Please refer to your State and District policies for regulations on how to handle this type of issue. If you believe the error is related to MCS Software, please contact Support.

6. Once you have successfully uploaded the file, proceed with the download process.

7.  

   1. Using the drop-down arrow, select Fixed Length.
      
      

   2. Click on the Download District file button. (This returns the District file with the Direct Certification match codes (1, 2, 3, or 4) in field position #202.

   3. The File Download window will appear asking if you want to Open or Save the file. Save the file and take note where it is saved.
      
      

   4. After you have successfully downloaded the District file, click on the Matches Detail Report and select the Save button.
      This step is required by the State.

8. Once the report has been downloaded, you will need to print it for reviewing purposes.

Importing and Running the DC File

1. From the Utilities tab, select the Direct Certification menu and choose the Import File option.
   If you already have DC Import Configurations established, you may be asked to select which one to use. Choose an Import Configuration and click Ok if this is the case.

2. Select the ellipsis and locate the DC Filename on your computer or network. Select Ok to begin the import.
   
   

3. Review Updates and Adds and the types of changes. Then, click Ok to continue.

4. From the Utilities tab, select the Direct Certification menu and choose the Apply State Match option.

5. The Apply Direct Certification State Matching window will appear notifying you the process to match the imported DC file will be run against the student database. There is NO UNDO available.

   1. You should review the settings you have chosen before proceeding. The ID Field to Match is setup in System Settings.

   2. You will be informed that "Letters WILL be queued" or "Letters WILL NOT be queued." Letter printing options are setup in System Settings.

6. Click Ok when you are ready to proceed with running the state match process.
   
   

   
   
   

7.  In the Confirm DC State Match Results window, you will receive a message as to the percentage of correct matches. Questionable matches appear in red. If you are sure a student in red is a match, click the apply box to include the student in the match. When you are done, click Ok.

   _{(All names have been changed to protect the identity of students.)}
   
   
   

Print DC Notification Letters

1. From the Home tab, locate and click on Print Letters in the Letters group.

2. Choose which letter type to print and how to sort the letters. When you have completed setting up print options, click Ok.

   1. Kinds of Letters to Print - If you have setup a separate template for DC Letters, use the drop-down menu to select the correct letter, otherwise, leave the Normal Letters default selected.

   2. Letter Sort Order - Use the drop-down menu to choose how letters should be sorted for printing.
      

3. The print batch window will appear notifying you of the number of letters that remain to be printed. Click OK to open the print preview screen.
   Selecting Cancel in the Print Next Batch window or clicking Close Print Preview prior to printing letters will leave the unprinted letters in the queue. Letters will only move out of the print queue when a print job is executed.