VPAD - Veterans' Practitioner Activity Data Base
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Overview
The Veterans’ Practitioner Activity Database (VPAD) assists Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) practitioners record and manage claimant details and key details of their casework. VPAD was developed in consultation with ESO practitioners and was initially installed at approximately 70 sites throughout the country in late 2003, early 2004.
VPAD allows a user to record details about pension claims, appeals, entitlements and various other claimant type information. VPAD also has tools to assist in case management through setting reminders as well as recording general information such as welfare and interviews. The database has a number of case management features and can produce status reports for specified time periods, and generate a report to assist in the application for BEST grants.
VPAD is available at no cost to all suitably trained ESO practitioner centres. It includes an installation and user guide. Training and installation assistance are also available. For further information, please contact the Training and Information Program (TIP) Coordinator in the relevant State.
Latest News
11-05-2007 – Email sent to ESO’s seeking bugs to fix in Patch 4.02
30-03-2007 - ESO contact database clean-up in progress
30-03-2007 - VPAD User Group to be established
30-03-2007 - Version 4 Patch 2 in development
11-09-2006 - VPAD Support handed to Application Maintenance & Support
15-08-2005 - How to backup my VPAD database document available to download
11-08-2005 - Version 4 Patch 1 released
25-07-2005 – Version 4.0.0 now available on CD
28-06-2005 – Version 4.0.0 user manual available to download
07-02-2005 – Version 3.0.1 now available on CD
Email sent to ESO’s seeking bugs to fix in Patch 4.02
For more information see Version 4 Patch 2 Development
ESO Contact Database Clean-Up
VPAD Support hold a database of all registered ESO’s. This contains contact information and keeps a history of any queries or problems experienced at each ESO. This is used as a tool to help VPAD Support.
An email was sent to all contacts registered ESO’s on the database a number of weeks ago requesting each ESO to confirm that their details were still current. Although many records have been checked there still remains as number that have not been confirmed. ESO’s may not have received this email due to change of email address, email spam controls or other problems.
If your ESO has not confirmed you details with VPAD Support, please do so as we will be sending out information about updates etc. You will need to email vpad.support@dva.gov.au with the following details;
- Address
- Phone Number
- Email address
- Contact Officer
- How many people using VPAD in your organisation.
VPAD User Group
VPAD Support is establishing a VPAD User Group. This group will discuss current issues/bugs with VPAD and discuss solutions. This group will not be discussing enhancements. 14 users nation wide (2 users per state) will be required. Users with good VPAD and technical experience is preferred and will be easily contacted and available during the week. If you would like to be a member of the user group please contact VPAD Support.
Version 4 Patch 2 Development
Version 4.0.1 of VPAD contains a number of known and unknown bugs. Patch 2 is being developed to fix a number of issues*. Please report any bugs to the VPAD Support Team, email vpad.support@dva.gov.au.
*Just a reminder, VPAD Support only handle existing bug fixes. We do not work on enhancements. Any enhancement requests should be directed to your TIP Coordinator.
Version 4
What’s New in Version 4
VPAD version 4 delivers the following improvements over previous versions:
Help:
VPAD now includes an integrated Help system. All screens in VPAD now have a help icon in the corner. If you click that help icon, you will be presented with a help page for the screen you are on.
Toolbar:
VPAD now uses a simple toolbar to provide a quick link between features. This toolbar replaces the old Main Menu screen.
Redesigned Claimant screens:
The various screens that display claimant information have been redesigned to allow easier input and viewing of information and to expand the amount of information you can record for a claimant.
Archiving:
VPAD now allows a user to archive claimant records. This will remove the claimant(s) from being visible in VPAD and will also allow the reactivation of the archived claimant at a later date.
Import/Export:
You will now be able to move claimants from one VPAD database to another using the Import/Export features. This allows you to extract a claimant from one database, say the main database in your organisation, and then import that claimant into another database, say the database you have on your laptop. You can then make changes to the claimant using the laptop and then extract that claimant record from the laptop and back into your organisation’s main database. This feature will provide flexibility to organisations that do a great deal of home visits and who want to use VPAD on those visits.
Organisation:
VPAD provides the feature of recording your organisation details and then registering those details with Department of Veterans' Affairs. By registering your details with DVA you will automatically be notified about fixes or updates to the VPAD software.
Improved Installation and Network support:
VPAD is now easier to install. There is no longer any need to select between different types of installation, as there is now only one. If you need to install VPAD on a network, you simply run the installation as normal, and then move the VPAD database (VPAD2000.mdb), anywhere you want. When you run VPAD, it will ask you where the database is and then you are away.
Glitches and Gremlins:
VPAD version 4.0.0 also addresses many of the issues that plagued previous versions. Version 4.0.0 is now much more stable and robust than before. Ensure that you have installed Patch 1 which can be downloaded here.
Minimum Requirements
To install VPAD, you will need a system that meets the following minimum requirements.
- Windows 98SE, Windows 2000 or Windows XP
- Microsoft Word 97 (or higher)
Please note that support cannot be given for users who do not meet the minimum requirements.
Documents
The following VPAD documents are available for download.
How to backup my VPAD database (File size 0.3Mb)
VPAD Version 4 User Manual (File size 2.0 Mb)
VPAD Version 4 Installation Guide (File size 1.0 Mb)
NOTE: You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files
Please note that these manuals are not training manuals. For any training matters, you should contact your local TIP coordinator.
Known Issues
This section details the known issues regarding VPAD version 4 and, most importantly will provide information on how to resolve or work around those issues.
Issue Number |
Date Raised |
Problem |
Resolution |
1 |
25-07-2005 |
Missing Home Postcode and incorrect State on Claimant Details tab. Broken Postcode report. |
Download Patch Number 1 |
2 |
25-07-2005 |
Adding Conditions to a new Case. When you add a new Case, and you add Conditions to that case, those conditions do not stay with that case once you click the OK button. |
When you add a new Case, do not immediately add any Conditions to this case. After you have added the new Case, reopen that Case using Modify Case or by double-clicking on the Case. When the Case is reopened, you can then add Conditions. These conditions will now stay with the Case. |
3 |
10-8-2005 |
Find Claimant screen not opening |
Download Patch Number 1 |
4 |
11-8-2005 |
Upgrading from Version 3.0.1 to Version 4 |
Some users have experienced problems with the upgrade available on the CD and their existing VPAD database. Please ensure that before you upgrade, you make a copy of your VPAD database. The database is called VPAD2000.mdb. Copy this file to another folder, such as My Documents. |
5 |
30-03-2007 |
“Reassigning” a client only reassigns the Veteran, it does not reassign the Veterans Cases |
Solution to be added in Patch 2. |
6 |
30-03-2007 |
Cannot modify spelling of surnames after the record has initially been closed. Runtime errors appear. |
Solution to be added in Patch 2 |
Download Patches
In this section, you will be able to download patches to resolve known issues in VPAD version 4.
Patch Number |
Date Released |
Instructions |
File |
1 |
11-08-2005 |
Download the file VPAD4_Fix01.exe |
Requesting a VPAD CD
If you are interested in receiving a copy of the VPAD CD, you should contact your local TIP coordinator.
Support
To seek support, keep apprised of updates, patches, fixes and the ongoing development of VPAD, please use the Organisation screen in VPAD version 4 and click here to learn more about the ESO Contact Database Clean-Up.