STEP 5: LOTUS FORMS IS THE FORMS PROGRAM CURRENTLY IN USE BY THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE |
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(The CHESS website has scheduled outages: Saturdays between 0200-0500 EST and the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month between 0700-1200 EST)
Please know that on: 1 December 2010, CHESS went to AKO registered CAC ONLY. They did this One (1) year ahead of schedule based on this memo.
If you are having problems accessing the Lotus Forms software download link outside of the hours listed above, or are wondering why there is NO alternate Army download location, please read below.
NOTE: If you currently have Pure Edge viewer and ApproveIt installed, I recommend you go into Control Panel and uninstall them, then restart your computer. It will drastically speed up the install process below. The Lotus Forms program has the ability to uninstall Pure Edge automatically, but in my assistance to others, it can take several hours.
Installation Steps: Download / Save this page as single / printable PDF1. Download Lotus Forms 3.5.1.123 from: https://chess.army.mil/ascp/commerce/download/lotus_forms_viewer.jsp 2. You will be prompted to Accept the conditions that you are logging into an Army / DoD website. Read it then select I Accept. NOTE: If this is the first time you have been to this website you will have to register. NOTE2: If the following page does not take you to the page titled Lotus Forms Viewer, you will need to navigate to it via the buttons on the left side of the screen. Click Software, Army Software Downloads, Lotus Forms Viewer. 3. Click the link titled: Download Software, (you will be prompted to logon with your AKO registered CAC). 4. Click the Army CAC Logon (button), Enter your CAC PIN. 5. Click the link titled: Lotus Forms Viewer Application and save it to your computer. 6. Once it is downloaded, double click the file titled: LotusForms351.exe, NOTE: When it says it will take a few minutes to install, it really does (one person stated it took 5 hours). Once the little box closes it has finished installing. This program does not tell you it completed. NOTE: My personal recommendation to verify the software installed is to navigate to Control Panel: Uninstall a program (Windows 7 / Vista), or Programs and Features (Vista), or Add/Remove Programs (XP) look for: IBM Lotus Forms. Video Installation Instructions PROCEED TO STEP 6 - INSTALL APPROVE IT
LOTUS FORMS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
The ideas on this website are from my personal experience. I have been told by Army Publishing Directorate (APD) to send all users to their help desk so they become aware of the problems with this program. 703-692-1306 / DSN: 312-222-1306 , Webform, or apdfcmp@conus.army.mil
If you are having problems accessing the CHESS website, contact the CHESS help desk at: peoeis.pdchess.helpdesk@us.army.mil or 888-232-4405 / 703-806-1019 / DSN: 312-656-1019 (Monday - Friday 0800-1700 Eastern).
To download DA forms, go to the Army Publishing Directorate website http://www.apd.army.mil/ , click on the Forms (tab), DA Forms button. Find the form you want (in the range of form numbers). Right click the XFDL link to the right of the form you want, Select Save Target As. Save it to your computer and you will have the form for later. You can also click the link, it will open up your Lotus Forms or Pure Edge software automatically (only if using Internet Explorer 6, 7, or 8). All other browsers will have to use the Right click, Save As option to save your form.
You can use the following link to download all available Lotus Forms / PureEdge forms in a single zipped file. http://www.army.mil/usapa/eforms/index.html#eforms_range It is recommended if you want to use this .zip file [with all the forms], you [at a minimum] re-download the file once a week. This is due to forms being made obsolete, updated, new forms being added, etc. This way you are sure to have the most current version of any form that is available. You will want to use the "click here" for the XFDL files, which is located in the middle of the page.
Digitally signing a form is easy when following these instructions PDF Instructions Video Instructions With your form open and your CAC inserted in the card reader Single click the button with the slanted pen with "Click to Approve" typed after it (see image)
Read the Electronic Signature Notice, then OK Click the word Sign (not OK) Select your name (the one without the word email in it), then OK You should see your name, once you do, click the word Sign It will prompt you to type in your PIN, then select OK Once you see Signature is valid, select OK You have now signed your form
If the word Sign is GRAY, please look here for some known cures
Are you curious how to change the check marks to X's on forms?
Open Lotus Forms, click the Preferences button (blue and red O + on it) Select Advanced Settings Select the box next to: Use "X" Style Check Boxes
If you are interested in knowing how to digitally sign an Excel or Word 2003 or 2007 file, this is how to do it
This is the email I received from APD on 25 August 2010 when I asked for permission to have an alternate download location for people when the CHESS website is down.
"In regards to your email, As I am sure you are well aware APD is the Enterprise provider of Lotus Forms Viewer and Silanis ApproveIt software. There are only two channels that are authorized to be the authoritative distributor of the fore mentioned software, 1. AGM (Army Gold Master) for GFE (Government Funded Equipment) installation / use and 2. CHESS (Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software Solutions) for PFE (Personal Funded Equipment) installation / use. APD does not authorize any other body (i.e. AKO files) to distribute its Enterprise Software. Your request to have this software hosted in your files has been dually noted. At this time your request to host / provide the Lotus Forms Viewer and Silanis ApproveIt software is Denied. You will be advised if APD's stance on this request changes in the future."
For issues obtaining the software from the CHESS website, utilize the Official Army channels listed below.
The ideas on this website are from my personal experience. I have been told by Army Publishing Directorate (APD) to send users to their help desk so they become aware of the problems with this program. 703-692-1306 / DSN: 312-222-1306 , Webform, or apdfcmp@conus.army.mil If you are having problems accessing the CHESS website, contact the CHESS help desk at: peoeis.pdchess.helpdesk@us.army.mil or 888-232-4405 / 703-806-1019 / DSN: 312-656-1019 (Monday - Friday 0800-1700 Eastern).
Air Force users, download your version of Lotus forms: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/viewerdownload.asp Download "AFDPO Releases Updated IBM Lotus Viewer_DSign_3.5.1.333.exe" under Software link
NOTE: This new version has toolbar.ifx loaded. Therefore it "should" work for Army users.
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Last Update or Review: Sunday, 19 February 2012 16:50 hrs
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