![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Advanced AFS Universal Interface FAQs
AFS Resources
- How do I link actions using the UI?
- We are now reporting new action types that we know are valid in AFS but the UI still tells us they are not valid. What's going on?
- I thought that the UI would prevent accidental reporting of duplicate actions but I'm finding duplicates in AFS. How come?
- Someone manually added and changed actions in AFS, and the action history in the UI don't match them anymore. How do I get my UI history to match AFS?
- Are all records reported on in the validation report exported?
1. How do I link actions using the UI?
If you choose to do so, there are a number of steps you will take leading up to using the UI to link actions. Additional historic information needs to be "seeded" into the UI, and an agreement made with the Region on action numbers used. Your user profile will change, allowing you to see more page links in your UI. Those links will help identify key actions, and link actions to them. The UI has a graphic "drag-n-drop" screen to make the actual linking very easy. Review of the entire preparation and process with the UI support team before you "go live" will help answer any last minute questions. Section 11 of the UI manual discusses this whole process in depth.
2. We are now reporting new action types that we know are valid in AFS but the UI still tells us they are not valid. What's going on?
When AFS cross-reference tables change, your UI cross-reference tables needs to be refreshed as well. Our support team maintains a set of national and Regional cross-reference tables on the UI web site ( http://www.dvcllc.com/UIXref.htm ) where you can download them any time you wish. The manual will help you step through the process of updating your tables. If you need to generate a new cross-reference table in between the quarterly refresh events, the manual can show you how to generate the cross-reference reports from AFS yourself.
3. I thought that the UI would prevent accidental reporting of duplicate actions but I'm finding duplicates in AFS. How come?
There are a few reasons this can happen.
First, the UI will allow some action to be duplicated. When you rely on the number generator to assign action numbers, the UI checks a history file to see if the action you are reporting has ever been recorded before. If it has, it checks to see if it is of a type that EPA business rules have identified as an allowable duplicate (Stack Tests for example). You will see warnings in the validation report about duplication, but those actions can still be exported from the UI for AFS submission. However, if it is a non-allowable type such as an HPV day zero, the UI will report the duplication in the validation report and will not write out an AFS transaction when you export. The rule to remember is that you should review duplicate warning errors in your validation report, because warnings are allowed through to AFS.
If you were to report an action that was not already in your UI history but was in AFS, it could also be duplicated. This could happen if data was being entered manually into AFS and then resubmitted through the UI using the number generator "trigger", or if the action being submitted was simply outside of the date range of the history of actions you currently retain in your UI history tables.
Another possibility is that your data extractions from your database report an action multiple times, once for each air program. In that instance you would also receive warnings on your validation report. There are six air program fields on the action format and if an action relates to more than one air program they should all be listed on one single action.
4. Someone manually added and changed actions in AFS, and the action history in the UI don't match them anymore. How do I get my UI history to match AFS?
UI Support can extract AFS data and provide you with the files needed to "refresh" your history. Once you receive the files you use the UI utilities to clear out your old history, then import and export the AFS extracts. That process reloads your history.
5. Are all records reported on in the validation report exported?
Most but not all. If the error is severe enough to cause problems, the error message will include the words "NOT EXPORTED". Unless you see this, the data is exported.
AFS Contacts
For technical information about AFS, call the AFS User Support Help line at (800) 367-1044, or contact Betsy Metcalf at (202) 564-5962.