Banner

Banner is an administrative software package developed by SunGard SCT for use in higher education. It is a highly integrated web-based system with a common database that is shared by everyone who uses Banner. Banner maintains data and consists of integrated systems for Finance, Human Resources, Student, and Financial Aid.

Common Topics

  • System Requirements (Browser recommendations)

    Most campus users will be accessing Banner through Banner Self-Service. For those with the appropriate access, Banner Self-Service will run on most computers with access to the Internet and a web browser (see recommendations below).

    Recommended browsers (for Banner Admin and Banner Self-Service)

    Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 (with Java Plug-in 1.6.0_16)
    Netscape 7.0x
    Mozilla 1.7 (Firefox 1.0) Safari 1.2 (Sun plug-in 1.4.2)

    At this time IE9 is not recommended for use with Banner because it is not currently supported by Sungard or Oracle. These recommendations will be updated as new information becomes available.

    Requirements

    • Allow Banner pop-ups (disable pop-up blocker)
    • Enable Java
    • Enable JavaScript
    • Accept Cookies
    • Must be a recommended browser (see above)
    • VPN Client (Banner Admin only)
    • System Requirements (see below)

    Minimum system requirements for Banner Admin (ver. 8.2):

    Pentium III processor, 450 MHZ or higher
    128 MB RAM
    Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000, or XP
    Video card capable of displaying a minimum of 256 colors
    Monitor with 1024 X 768 screen resolution 
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 6

    For Mac users:

    Mac OS X (1.3 JDK), G3, 400 MHz
    384MB RAM
    450MB disk space available for installation.

    Additional Information

    If you need to access Banner Admin from a remote location, you will first need to establish a VPN connection.

  • Differences Between Banner Admin and Banner Self-Service

    There are two instances of Banner at Auburn: Banner Admin and Banner Self-Service. Both are available through the Web to those with appropriate access.

    Most campus users will use Banner Self-Service. Only administrative systems "super users" (like office administrators) will have any need to use Banner Admin.

    What is the difference?
    Banner Self-Service is web-friendly and is used to complete most general processes like viewing & querying budget, and approving documents such as requisitions and budget transfers. As additional components of Banner are implemented on campus Banner Self-Service may be used for processes like submitting leave and time sheets, viewing paycheck or direct deposit stubs, and student functions.

    Banner Admin is used by administrative "super users" (like Office Managers and Business Office employees, for example). Banner Admin offers some additional features necessary to complete specific administrative functions in support of AU business processes. Most campus users will be able to do everything they need through Banner Self-Service.

  • Banner Training
    Specific information on Banner Human Resources training is available through their web site at https://fp.auburn.edu/banner/documents/hr_training
  • AU Data Standards Document (v. 1.4) PDF
  • Test your Browser's Readiness for AU Access & Banner New Window
  • Banner Questions/Comments
    We value your feedback. To ask us questions or leave comments please log in to AU Access and submit your feedback to the appropriate area in the Feedback Channel located on the Home tab.
  • Scheduled Maintenance Sunday Mornings
    OIT computing resources may be unavailable for intermittent periods from midnight to noon on Sundays. These resources (including AU Access, Banner, tiger I, TigerMail, the OIT Windows web server (fp.auburn.edu), GroupWise, Mallard, AU Office, and Blackboard) are regularly subject to outages for upgrades, enhancements and troubleshooting. Often these systems remain online during this time, but if maintenance is needed, that is when it is scheduled.

How-To

  • Get access to Banner
    Locate your Administrative Computing Coordinator and contact him or her to request access to Banner.
  • Log on to Banner

    Campus users who have been granted access to Banner will login through AU Access. AU Access is available from the Auburn home page. To log in:

    1. Click on Employees.

    2. Under Online Resources, click on AU Access.

      Login

    3. Enter your username and password in the fields provided.

      Login

    4. Click on the Login Now button.
  • Download the VPN
  • Change your screen resolution

    Banner is best displayed with a screen resolution size of 1024 X 768 or more. By using more of the screen, less scrolling down the page will be required.

    If your monitor supports this large screen size instructions for how to change your monitor screen resolution to 1024 x 768 are more are provided below. If your monitor doesn't support this screen resolution you may want to consider upgrading your monitor and/or computer's video card. All current AU Lease recommended configurations support this screen resolution.

    1. Right click any where on your desktop. From the options displayed select Properties.

      Screen Resolution
    2. Click on the Settings tab.Under Screen resolution, drag the slider to the desired pixel display.

      Screen Resolution
    3. Click Apply and OK.
  • Update Your Preferred Name

    If you would like to update the university systems (People Finder, Email, etc) with my preferred name:

    1. Log into AU Access
    2. If you are an employee, click the Employee Services tab and then the Self-Service Banner image.

      Employee Tab, Self-Service Banner

      If you are a student, click the tiger i tab and click the Student Main Menu link.

      Student Main Menu
    3. Click the Personal Information tab.
    4. Click the link, "Name Change Information".

      Name Change Information
    5. Click the link, "change preferred name".
    6. Update the text field next to "Preferred First Name or Nickname"

      Preferred First Name or Nickname
    7. Lastly, press the Update button.
  • Use e~print (PowerPoint)
  • Banner Student Look Up Training PDF
  • Install Java Runtime Environment

    It is suggested you either bookmark this page or print it off so you can get back to it easily. Follow these steps to resolve your Java installation problems:

    1. Download and install this file: http://www.auburn.edu/oit/banner/java_6u12.exe
    2. You will be prompted to close any open internet browsers.
    3. Warning: It asks if you want to install the Yahoo Toolbar. Check the appropriate box if you want it.
    4. You should now be able to get into Banner Admin from AU Access.

    If you have problems installing this file to access Banner Admin please contact your IT Provider or OIT HelpDesk:

    OIT HelpDesk
    3rd Floor RBD Library
    (334) 844-4944 
    helpdesk@auburn.edu

    Related Info: Run this VB Script to trust Banner INB

Troubleshooting

  • Can't get to Banner after Upgrading to Java 6.11

    If you upgraded to Java 6 and now have trouble launching and/or printing from Banner:

    1. Launch the Java Control Panel (located within the windows control panel).  Start -> Control Panel -> Java
    2. In the Java Control Panel, on the General tab click the Settings button under the Temporary Internet Files heading
    3. Click the button "Delete Files" to delete temporary files.
    4. Uncheck the box by "Keep temporary files on my computer."

    If you are still unsuccessful, please contact the IT provider for your area or the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • I am unable to login to Banner Admin

    When you try to login to Banner Admin, do you receive one of the following error messages?

    • "Java Security Warning"
    • "Client retried 5 times to connect to the server"

     

    1. Resolve possible Java conflicts – Right click and select 'Save Link As' to download the script from http://www.auburn.edu/oit/banner/uninstall_old_java.vbs. Then, close all web browsers and double-click on "uninstall_old_java.vbs" to uninstall older versions of Java.
    2. If you do not have Java 1.6.0_XX installed, visit http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp to download and install Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 6.
    3. Check to see if the conflict is resolved by logging into Banner Admin.

    If you are still unsuccessful, please contact the IT provider for your area or the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • I am unable to access Banner Admin from a wireless connection

    If you are in the Auburn domain and attempting to access Banner Admin via a wireless connection, the VPN is required.  The solution is to either use a wired connection or install, configure and launch the VPN prior to accessing Banner Admin.

    VPN Download & Installation Instructions

  • I am unable to print from Banner Admin

    When I try to do screen prints from Banner Admin my browser window closes or I am otherwise unable to print.

    Solution:

    Resolve possible Java conflicts – go into Add and Remove Programs.  Remove all other instances of Java, leaving only Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v. 1.4.2.  Try again to print from Banner.

    Have you installed the Google Toolbar?  Try uninstalling it. 

    Confirm that a pop-up blocker is not causing the problem - go to the Banner Browser Readiness Checker and click on the "Test Your Browser's Readiness..." link?  Is a pop up blocker on?

    Work Arounds:

    • Hold the Ctrl key while going through the steps to print in Banner.
    • Use a screen capture printing alternative like Gadwin - download at http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen.   This software enables you to make quick and easy screen prints of Banner Admin windows. From the page you want to print, use ALT/print screen.   This actually provides a much better quality screen print and gives you more control over how the page prints than printing directly from Banner.

    If you are still unsuccessful, please contact the IT provider for your area or the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • Navigation tutorial gives white screen or asks for password

    When I try to access the Banner Navigation Tutorial it gives me a white screen or asks me for a password.

    Solution:

    White Screen - This is typically due to the version of Adobe Flash Player you are using. To update to the latest version go to:http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/about. For further assistance, please contact the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

    Asks for a Password - You are probably using a link to an older version of the tutorial which was behind a login. Please use this link to access the Banner Navigation Tutorial. For further assistance, please contact the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • Problems installing Java Runtime

    I can't get the Java Runtime to install from the "DO NOT CLOSE THIS WINDOW OR YOUR BANNER ADMIN SESSION WILL END" page.

    Solution:

    I suggest you either bookmark this page or print it off so you can get back to it easily. Follow these steps to resolve your Java installation problems:

    1. Close all your internet browser windows.
    2. Reopen an internet browser window and go to: http://www.auburn.edu/oit/account_info/banner/jre-1_5_0_08.exe
    3. You will be prompted to open or save this file. If you select save, save it to your desktop, go to your desktop, and double-click the file. You will now begin the Java installation process.
    4. Make sure Typical Setup is selected and click Accept.
    5. Click Finish to complete the process.
    6. Again close all your internet browser windows.
    7. Reopen an internet browser window and go to:
      http://baninb2.prod.auburn.edu/forms/frmservlet?config=prod
    8. You should now see a message that says "The application's digital signature has an error..". If you do not get this error, reboot your computer and redo step 7.
      Note: If you continue to not get the error shown below contact the OIT HelpDesk.
    9. Check "Always trust content from this publisher." Click Run.

      Digital Signature Error
    10. You should now be able to login to Banner Admin.
    11. Close all your internet browser windows.
    12. Reopen an internet browser window and go to AU Access.
    13. Login to AU Access and try the Banner Admin link from that page. You should now be able to get into Banner Admin from AU Access.

    If you continue to have problems accessing Banner Admin please contact the OIT HelpDesk:

    OIT HelpDesk
    3rd Floor RBD Library
    (334) 844-4944
    helpdesk@auburn.edu

    Related Info: Run this VB Script to trust Banner INB

  • Browser crashes when accessing Banner INB

    My browser (Internet Explorer/Firefox) crashes when I access Banner Admin even though I passed the Banner Browser Checker.

    Error:

    Faulting application iexplore.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module jvm.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00050b58.

    Solution:

    Uninstall any 3rd party search toolbars (ie. Google toolbar, Yahoo! toolbar). For further assistance, please contact the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • I cannot access Banner Admin off-campus

    I am off-campus and am unable to access Banner Admin.

    Reason:

    Access to Banner Admin is restricted to computers in the Auburn domain. Off- campus access (excluding AUM) to Banner Admin requires a VPN. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It's use in relationship to Banner at Auburn is to restrict public access to secure Banner Admin data.

    Solution:

    To access Banner from a location off-campus you will need to install the Cisco VPN client from http://www.auburn.edu/download. Once installed click the "AU Off Campus" entry to and login using you Auburn User Name and password.

  • Why does Banner Admin time out?

    After one hour of inactivity Banner Admin times out and ends your session.  This time out is a security feature that protects the data in Banner Admin when a session is left open and unused.  Timing out also limits another user from initiating a long process that may tie up system resources causing poor performance for active users.  Submit data or a query to “reset” the timeout clock and keep your session active.  Once Banner Admin times out you will be required to login again with your User Name and password.  Users are encouraged to log off from Banner when going to lunch or otherwise leaving workstations unattended. 

    Another thing you should check is the power saving settings on your PC. Especially on newer laptops the power saving setting is set to 30 minutes by default. When activated the power saving option turns off the network card severing the Banner connection. You may want to consider changing this to 2 hours to match the Banner time out length of time.

    For further assistance, please contact the OIT HelpDesk at 844-4944 or helpdesk@auburn.edu.

  • Sun Java and Microsoft VM (Virtual Machine) Conflict

    MS Java Virtual Machine is required to write WebFOCUS reports until Summer 2007 but I have to use Sun Java Virtual Machine for another application (Banner Admin).  Since I can’t run both  what should I do?

    Solution:

    To Toggle Between Sun JVM and MS JVM with Internet Explorer:

    1. Click on Tools > Internet Options
    2. Click on the Advanced Tab

      Scroll down until you see you'll see Java (Sun) and Microsoft VM.  Only one of those two should be checked at any given time.

      Sun Java and Microsoft VM Conflict
    3. If accessing Banner Admin, use the Sun Java by checking the box under 'Java (Sun)' labeled 'Use JRE...' or 'Use Java...' (the exact text will depend on which version of Sun Java is installed).
    4. If writing WebFOCUS Reports, use the Microsoft Java by checking the box under 'Microsoft VM' labeled 'JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled'
    5. Click on Apply
    6. You may need to restart IE for the change to take effect

Last Updated: Jan. 11, 2012