Grants.gov is a unified clearinghouse for all federal grant opportunities from the federal agencies that manage grant funds. PureEdge, the software currently provided by the federal government for Grants.gov electronic grant submission, is a Windows-only product. PureEdge is required to complete grant application packages and, at this time, there is no native Macintosh PureEdge client. Grants.gov plans to unveil a new platform-independent solution based on Adobe forms in April 2007. NIH will migrate to the new Adobe forms by October of 2007. In the interim, Weill Cornell Medical College is providing an institutional Citrix server solution that allows Mac OS X users to complete their PureEdge application packages using Mac OS X.

One-Time Set Up: Request Access to Citrix

You must request access to WMC's Citrix server. To do so, send an email to Bess Jensen (eaj2002@med.cornell.edu) listing the researchers and administrators in your department who only use Macs and require access to the Citrix server. Please follow the format below.

Please allow the following person(s) access to the WMC Citrix server:
Full Name: ***********
CWID: *********
Phone: *****

Note: If the user does not have a current ActiveDirectory account the account will need to be created. Creating the account will reset your LDAP/Email password to its default. The password can then be changed by going to http://myaccount.med.cornell.edu/ and logging in with the default password (first three letters of the CWID in lowercase and the first five (5) digits of the user's social security number).

One-Time Set Up: Install Citrix

1. Download the Citrix Client for Macintosh OS X.
2. Enter your CWID and password then click “Log In.”
   
3. Click “Continue.”
   
4. Install the Citrix Client by double clicking on the ICA Client installer icon.
   
5. Enter your password and click “OK.”
   
6. Click “Install.”
   
7. When the following message appears, click “Quit.”
   
8. Citrix is now installed. Installation created a folder in your home directory called “Grants.” In this folder is a file named PureEdgeAPI.ini. Instructions for using this folder and file are provided below.

Downloading a Grants.gov PureEdge Application Package

See “Applying for NIH funding through Grants.gov (using PureEdge)” for instructions on locating and downloading the Grants.gov application package that is specific to the program to which you are applying. Each grant opportunity has a specific application package.

The application package must have a file name ending in .xfd and should be shortened and simplified. It must be saved in a folder that also houses a copy of the PureEdgeAPI.ini file. When you installed Citrix a PureEdgeAPI.ini was saved in a folder in your home directory called “Grants.” Make sure the application package is saved in the Grants folder. Or, if you want to create multiple folders for organizing your application packages and attachments, copy the PureEdgeAPI.ini file in the Grants folder and save copies of the PureEdgeAPI.ini file in any folder that you want to use for saving application packages and attachments.

Running PureEdge on Mac OS X

1. Double click on the PureEdge file on your desktop.
   


1. You may be prompted to “Open” Citrix for the first time.
   
2. The first time you use the WMC Citrix Server you will be prompted to “Accept” the License Agreement.
   
3. You may also be prompted to allow a system setting to be changed. If the following window appears, click “OK.”
   
2. Wait while the connection is initiated. You will then be prompted to enter your CWID and password. Click “OK.”
   
3. You are connected to the PureEdge server.
   

Using Citrix to Open and Complete an Application Package

Once you are connected to Citrix, you will see a window that begins “Welcome to Cornell's Citrix Server for Mac Users.”

1. Click the File-Open Buttonlocated in the top left corner of this page. When prompted for access to your home directory you must click “Allow.”
   
2. Select “C$ on ‘Client’ (V:)” which is your hard drive in the Citrix environment. Your Desktop is also available, but will appear as a folder called "Desktop" within the C: drive.
   
3. Navigate to the location of your saved application package. In the example below, an application package called CancerR21.xfd is being opened from the Grants folder in the home directory.
   
   Note: The application package must have a file name ending in .xfd and should be shortened and simplified. It must be saved in a folder that also houses a copy of the PureEdgeAPI.ini file. When you installed Citrix a PureEdgeAPI.ini was saved in a folder in your home directory called “Grants.” Make sure the application package is saved in the Grants folder. Or, if you want to create multiple folders for organizing your application packages and attachments, copy the PureEdgeAPI.ini file in the Grants folder and save copies of the PureEdgeAPI.ini file in any folder that you want to use for saving application packages and attachments.
   
4. Begin your Grants.gov application package.
   

Disconnecting From Citrix and Losing Data

If you close the internet session or if you fail to use Citrix for more than 20 minutes, you will be disconnected from the Citrix server. You will have to reconnect to access Citrix and any data you have not saved will be lost. Save the application package often to prevent the loss of data due to a lost connection or 20 minutes or more of idle time.

Preparing Attachments

• Give documents simple names with no spaces or punctuation. Only use numbers and letters. Example: JensenBioSketch
• Convert final versions of documents to PDF and save them in one folder on your Mac. Save final versions of word processing documents as well for easier editing.
• When you open an application package using Citrix you will receive an error message if you attempt to “View Attachment.” When you use Citrix you can upload attachments but cannot view them. Attachments can be viewed if the package is opened on a PC.
• When you click "View Attachment" while working on an application package using Citrix you will get an error message stating "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." In a few seconds the error message will be replaced by the attached document. When you close the window the attachment is in you will get a message that asks "Do you want to close all tabs?" Click "Close Tabs" to complete the closure of the window.