eForms
Form 2 & Form 2A - Major and Non-major Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Report
Note: This also applies to Fom 3-Q - Comprehensive Quarterly Financial and Operating Report
Electronic Submission Software - Installation Manual
The FERC Form 2/2A Submission Software (F2SS) is downloaded
from the FERC Forms Server via the Internet. The downloaded file
is an installation file. It is used to install the application
on your workstation. Once the software is installed at your site,
the installation file is no longer needed and can be deleted.
Once the software is installed it will appear in your workstation "Start
Menu" under a Program Group called FERC Applications.
You would start the software by clicking on "Start/FERC
Applications/Form 2 Submission Software".
Once installed, the F2SS software will check with the FERC Forms
Server via Internet to determine if there are any updates to the
software. This check happens every time you start the software.
If updates are available, they will be downloaded to your workstation
and installed automatically. This keeps everyone's copy of the
software in synchronization and repairs problems you may find
and report to the FERC.
Downloading and Installing the Form 2/2A Submission Software
The following screen will appear. You may choose "Run this program from
its current location" and installation will begin.
If you choose "Save this program to disk", the downloaded installation
file can be used to make multiple installations. In this instance, remember
where you tell the software to save the file. After download, locate the file
with Windows Explorer, place your cursor on the file name, and double-click.
This will start the installation process. If you install the F2SS on multiple
workstations, you can copy the installation file to your network and invoke
it from there.
When Installation begins, you will get the following screen. Just click "Yes".
The next screen is a normal part of Microsoft Software installation. There is
no need to worry about the licensing agreement. We are authorized to distribute
this software free-of-charge.
The setup program will want to place the application in the F2SS folder on your
C: drive. If the folder does not exist, it will ask if you want to create it. Please
do not change the folder name or location if you can help it. It is
easier for us to help you if you have a standard installation. Just click "OK".
When the following screen appears, click on the big button shaped like a computer
screen to begin the actual installation. And, leaving the folder name as the
default would be helpful when you call for support.
The installation process will create a program group called FERC Applications
(see below). You can select a different group name, however, as mentioned earlier,
it will be much easier for us to provide support if you allow a standard installation.
Eventually, the installation will finish and you will get the following notification:
The installation will instruct you to restart your computer. This is necessary
for proper registration of certain components of the software.
Initial Operation and Setup of the Form 2/2A Software
At this point, installation is complete. You now need to set your communications
options (if any) and obtain the initial download of your Form 2/2A database information. However,
if you have a Form 2/2A Database from previous years saved on your network drive,
you should use that database. When you first start the software (click
on the Start Menu, locate Program Group "FERC Applications", then click on "Form
2 Submission Software"), you will get the following "Splash Screen". Notice
that the Version Number of the software is in the upper left-hand
corner of the screen. This number changes every time updates and changes are
downloaded to your workstation.
Downloading your Initial Form 2/2A Database
The following text refers to the next figure Form 2/2A Data Download).
If you are running the software for the first time, the data download screen
will appear (see below). This function allows you to download a database of
the company or companies for which you file Form 2/2A information. If
you filed Form 2/2A in prior years using this software, you should have a copy
of your Form 2/2A Database on your network. This version should be used instead
of attempting to download a new database. If you have an existing
database, you can skip down to the heading: Using a Database from
a Previous Year.
Before you proceed, you should click on the "Internet Setup Options" button
and set any of the options that apply to your Internet connection. These options,
if any, can be obtained from your Network/IT Support Personnel. These options
may also be set within the data entry software by clicking on the "Options" pull-down
menu at the top of the screen, and clicking on "Internet Communications
Setup", however, the new settings will not take effect until you exit
the software and restart it after making changes.
The next step is to determine a location for your database. The box titled "Destination
for Data or Location of Existing Data" shows a proposed default location for
your Form 2/2A Database. It is highly recommended that you choose a directory
on your Network for the Form 2/2A Database. First of all, storing the
database on your network permits multiple users of the Software to work at the
same time. (If you desire having multiple users inputting data, the database must be
on a shared network drive accessible by all users). Secondly, you will be protected
from losing your work should your workstation have a malfunction. Most network
data is backed up every evening. If you chose not to use a network drive
for your database, and thereby ensure that it is backed up frequently, you are
at risk of losing all your work should something happen to the database because
of hardware malfunction. Please consider the ramifications of this happening,
and take appropriate action to protect your data.
Once the Database location has been chosen, you click on the "Retrieve
Company Listing" button. The software will obtain a list of companies
available for download from the FERC Forms Server.
After the year 2000 submission, you will need to contact FERC for a password
to download a company database. This is to prevent users from accidentally
downloading a new database copy instead of using the database from 2000/2001.
Select your company name in the "List of Available Companies" box
by clicking on it once. Then, Click on the "Begin Download" button.
The software will notify you when the download is complete. If you file for
more than one company, you may now select a different company for download,
and click the "Begin Download Button" again. Continue
in this manner until all companies you file for are downloaded.
Once database download is complete, you may click on "Finished".
Using a Database from a Previous Year
Normally, the software will "remember" where your database was located
in prior years. If you are doing a "fresh" software install, you may see the "Form
1 Data Download" screen. If you do, delete the data in "Destination for Data
or Location of Existing Data:" and insert the path to your database on your network.
Then, hit the tab key to exit the field, and click on "Done". You can click
on the button to the right with the three dots and you can navigate to the database
location.
Internet Setup Options
Here is a picture of the screen that will appear if you click on the "Internet
Setup Options" button. Unless you are sure of what to place in these
boxes, just leave them blank. If the software cannot communicate with the FERC
Forms Server for updates, you might contact your network support personnel to
determine what values belong in these boxes, if any.
Selecting Schedules
Here is a picture of the Page Selector Screen on the Data Entry page of F2SS.
To select your company, click on the "down arrow" next to the
Company Name. You will see a pull-down menu listing companies or company (if
you just file for one). A similar pull-down menu for the particular year you
wish to work with is to the right of the company name. Once you have selected
the company and year, you can double-click on any "Reference Page No:" to open
that schedule. Although it clutters the screen, you can have more that one schedule
page open at one time.
Selecting a Company Example
Here is an example of the screen you will see when you click on the down-arrow
next to the Company Name box. In this example, there are four companies that
have been downloaded in the initial setup. Multiple users can all work on the
same company - or on different companies, at the same time. Notice the "pull-down" menu
for the Year. You can go back and review or correct prior year data and even
resubmit a prior-year Form 2/2A if you make corrections.
Form 2/2A Options Menu
Here is an example of the "Options" pull-down Menu. Following
paragraphs will describe the elements in this menu.
Set Form 2/2A DB Location
This is used to specify a new location for the database. An example would be,
you have installed the database on your C: drive and wanted to move the database
to a network drive. First, you would create the network folder using Windows
Explorer. Then, you would select all the contents of the C:\Form2data folder
(go to the folder, use cntrl/A to select all). Copy the entire contents to the
new network folder. Then, you would start the F2SS, select "Options/Set Form
2 DB Location" and select the new drive and folder on the network. Once that
is done, you can erase the C:\Form2data folder on your workstation.
New Year
This element sets up the database for a new year of reporting activity - for
example, starting 2001 (filing in 2002) when the last year you entered was 2000
(filing in 2001). First, make sure that your company name and the year 2000
appear in your "Company Selected" box. Then, click on "Options/New Year" and
follow the directions to set up 2001. Next, click on "Company Selected" and
select 2001 from the drop-down list for year. If you have multiple companies
in your database, you will have to do this process for each one of them. This
must only be done once. All workstations using the software will now be able
to access 2001.
Internet Communications Setup
This element allows you to enter the Internet Communications Options screen.
This is the same screen you can call up in the Form 2/2A Data Download screen.
You should ask your network support personnel if any of these options apply to
your network.
Data Entry Status
This element produces a report that you can view on screen, or print. It indicates
which schedules have had data entered and which ones are still blank. In situations
where the Form 2/2A is being filled out by many different people, you can determine
which schedules have been worked on - and which schedules are still blank.
Form 2/2A Data Cross-check
This element edits the database for consistency and produces a report on screen
for review or printing. This is an edit report an attempts to determine consistency
errors between schedules and other obvious errors. Some of the warnings it produces
are not errors, but rather areas that you should review to ensure that the data
is correct.
Form 2/2A Help Facility
The Form 2/2A software contains extensive documentation that explains its operation.
You can either view this help on the screen, or print it out to read when you
have the time or inclination. You invoke the Help by pressing the F1 key, or
clicking on the Help Menu at the top of the screen.
The results should look like the picture below. The "Help" system
will be expanded during the 2000 filing period.
The following is a list of all the files that comprise the Form 2/2A database.
There are 214 of them. Essentially, there is a table in the database for each
Form 2/2A schedule page. This is the directory/folder that should be placed on
your network for data security purposes. You should ask your network support
personnel to assist you in setting up a security scheme so that only members
of your work group can access these files. Otherwise, someone might think it
is fun to delete some of the files and see what happens. This can cause you a
lot of wasted time and extra work.
Also, be sure that this folder is backed up by Network Operations every
evening. If something happens to the database, you will lose all your
work that was done since the last backup. If it has never been backed up, then,
you start all over. Not a pleasant thought.
Once you are finished with Form 2/2A for a particular reporting year, you should
either leave the database on the network, or ask that it be backed up with the
assurance that you can get it back for the next year. The database contains
all Form 2/2A filing information for 1994 through 1999 - and, once you do 2000,
it will be there also, and 2001 and so on. So, to put it another way, please
do not delete or lose the database.
If You Have Problems, Please Read Carefully
You may experience problems downloading your initial database or obtaining the
automatic updates mention at the beginning of this document. Either of these
problems can usually be traced to your Network Firewall which protects your network
from outside interference. The software will work OK at most companies. However,
if you have a problem with these two issues, your only recourse is to plead with
your IT folks to loosen things up a little or make some accommodation.
If you have errors in the software where it quits, gives you some kind of system
error, or otherwise acts in an abnormal manner, you can report these problems
to FERC and we will try to resolve them. (See below for reporting procedures)
If there are bugs in the software, we will fix them, and distribute updates
to your software automatically. If you can't receive automatic updates (see
#1 above), you will probably have to download and install the software each
time there is an update. The software has version numbers that change as we
apply corrections or improvements.
Below is an example of the Form 2/2A Folder where the software is installed on
a typical workstation:
Notice the file named F2.log. When you send us an email regarding
any errors or problems, we must have the F2.log attached to
the email. Also, be sure to put the word Form2 in the Subject of the email. If
you forget to attach the F2 log file, we will send you a reply mail asking for
it. So, it just saves time to send it along in the first place. Of course, your
IT people are welcome to review the log file and help diagnose any problems you
might have.
Send emails with software problems, Internet problems, or suggestions for improvements
to the application to FERC Online Support at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov. Be
sure to attach the foss.log to your email if you are reporting an error.
If you feel you have a serious problem, call FERC Online Support
toll-free at 866-208-3676.
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Downloads & Links
Electronic Submission Software
Data
Data Filed Electronically
Viewer
Form Communications Test Application
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Contact
Information
Form 2/2A Filing Matters
Christie (So) Kim
Telephone: 202-502-8216
Email: so.kim@ferc.gov
Form 2/2A Software Issues
FERC Online Support
Telephone: 202-502-6652
Toll-free: 1-866-208-3676
Email: ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov
Content Inquiries
Email: Form2@ferc.gov |
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