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CAFAS Software

  
 
   
 

Software Upgrade

The Ontario Common Data Set identifies data elements, mandated by the ministry, to be collected by Ontario agencies. These are highlighted in the CAFAS software versions 5.3 and 5.4 with a red maple leaf. As such, the only versions of the CAFAS software which are supported by CAFAS in Ontario are versions 5.3 and 5.4. ALl VERSIONS PRIOR TO v. 5.3 ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY CAFAS IN ONTARIO.

Instructions to Download 5.4 Upgrade

Program files for upgrading to version 5.4 are available and you can obtain them by contacting Cristina Vlad.

Please note that the above programs are NOT to be used for a fresh install and but they only function as an upgrade. You MUST have CAFAS 5.21 or earlier already installed in order to use the downloadable files.

Install the upgrade as follows:

arrow Shutdown the CAFAS server program (the small pink icon located in the system tray)
arrow On the server, run the "CafasSmallGroup.EXE" file. This will NOT overwrite your existing database. You must have an existing Cafas database to use this upgrade.
arrow If you have the CAFAS program installed on client computers, run the "CafasClient.EXE" file.
arrow If you want to install the Service component (see description here ), install the "CafasService.EXE" file on the server. For installation instructions, click here.
arrow Restart the Cafas server program (CafasSmallGroup.EXE in the \Program\Files\Cafas\Bin\Folder).

You need to contact CAFAS in Ontario if : 

arrow If you want to install the upgrade on a new server.  In this case, you will need to use an install disk (for the previous version) to put the program on the new server, re-license, move your dataset from old to new server and upgrade to 5.4 on the new server. Look for instructions below.

arrow If you are a new site and do not have the CAFAS software on your system. You will need to obtain an installation disk from CAFAS in Ontario (contact Karen Fennell or Cristina Vlad).

arrow If you need technical assistance

arrow If you need to re-license your software, which is required on or after May 1st of each year. (n.b.  The upgrading downloads DO NOT DO the re-licensing.)

Note: The above instructions refer to a an upgrade-NOT a new install. Click here if you you are interested to do a new install.   
 

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What's New in CAFAS 5.x

The enhancements added in latest versions (5.3 and 5.4) of the CAFAS software include features that were most requested by users:

arrow A new pop-up calendar for date selection (Canadian users cannot enter dates manually so as to prevent date format confusion, as requested by "CAFAS in Ontario.")
arrow Addition of admission date on the "Select Existing Case" screen.
arrow Required entry in the "Next Case" due field, which may include "None Due", so that the Open Case Roster will include all open cases entered under 5.3.
arrow Bar graph in the Client Assessment Report always starts on a new page to prevent splitting across two pages.
arrow Raters can be classified as "inactive," which permits removing the rater's name from the drop-down list on the 'Rate CAFAS' screen.
arrow For Multiple Log-On users, added fields to the case selection dialog window to make it easier to identify cases and added sort buttons make it easier to find cases.
arrow For Canadian users, required data fields are indicated by a leaf symbol.
arrow Internet Explorer 6.x is still the required platform, however other platforms can be used if Internet Explorer is not an option.
arrow WARNING! The changes in the 5.3 and.4 versions are requested enhancements. Some require different behavior on the user's part. These changes may be confusing to the user on first glance, especially if the administrator for the CAFAS software has not attended to a few details. The most important issues are listed here to bring attention to them.

arrow "Next CAFAS" due date is required. The user cannot leave the 'Rate CAFAS' screen unless a button is selected or a date entered.

arrow  "Rater" is a required field on 'Rate CAFAS' screen. However, new raters can only be entered under Main Menu | Browse Raters. A new rater cannot be added on the 'Rate CAFAS' screen. Furthermore, if the user attempts to leave the 'Rate CAFAS' screen and go to 'Browse Raters' to add the new rater, the information entered on the 'Rate CAFAS' screen will not be saved. This is because information cannot be saved unless all required fields have been entered (and rater identification is a required field).

arrow On the 'Rate CAFAS' screen, the dropdown list of raters includes active raters for the current log-on (for the multiple log-on version 5.3 or 5.4). Furthermore, a rater will only appear in the dropdown list if the rater was entered under the correct log-on (for multiple log-on users). In previous versions of the CAFAS software, all raters from all log-ons were displayed in the dropdown list. Two remedies can be used if a rater was not entered in the correct log-on under Main Menu | Browse Raters. One is to use the <Show All Raters> button on the 'Rate CAFAS' screen to display and select the rater. Another is to move the rater using the Installation Administration module

arrow  More detailed descriptions are provided here.
 

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