COMPASS® Internet Version Workstation Setup and Installation Guide

(Revised November 2011)

Part A. How to Access the COMPASS Internet Administrator System

The initial "Welcome" email provided to a licensed site contains the URL, Staff ID, and Password required for administrative access to COMPASS Internet Version.

To Log In:

  1. On the Internet, go to the URL provided in the email.
  2. Bookmark this page. This is the COMPASS Internet Version login page.
  3. You must log in as an Administrator to create user accounts before administering tests. This account has been configured with full administrator rights.
  4. In order to access COMPASS, use the Staff ID and Password provided in the email.
  5. Click Login!
  6. Immediately after logging in, you will be required to change your password. Be sure to make a copy of your password and keep your Staff ID and Password confidential.
  7. Next, you will be asked to enter key information to identify your Campus and Campus Staff.
  8. After you log in as the Administrator, you may create staff accounts, access administrative functions, set up and administer tests, and purchase additional test units.

Part B. Initial Setup for Test Delivery Workstations

CRITICAL: If you are installing on Microsoft® Windows® Vista or Windows 7, you must turn off the Microsoft User Access Control (UAC) and reboot the machine prior to running the CIV Workstation Setup. You may re-enable UAC once the installation is complete.

Windows 7

  1. Navigate to Start > Control Panel.
  2. Click the "System and Security" link.
  3. Click "Change User Account Control Settings" link.
  4. Set the User Account Control to "Never Notify."
  1. Click OK.

Note: Windows will have to restart for this change to take effect.

Vista

  1. Navigate to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control On or Off.
  2. Click the box to uncheck, "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer."
  1. Click OK.

Note: Windows will have to restart for this change to take effect.

Downloading the Test Launcher

You must download the Test Launcher installer files at least one time, and the files must be installed on each workstation before you can use the workstation to administer tests. Because the download can be a long process, installing on many different workstations can be time consuming.

After initial download, you may:

  • Save the file to the network and run the .exe from the network to install the Test Launcher and COMPASS files on each workstation.
  • Save the file to the network or hard drive, burn the file to a CD, and then run the .exe from the CD to install the Test Launcher and COMPASS files on each workstation.

Otherwise, you will need to save the file to the hard drive of each workstation and run the .exe file on each individual workstation.

Regardless of which option you choose, you must go to the Workstation Setup page for every workstation.

Fig. 1, Workstation Setup page, steps 1 & 2

  1. On the Workstation Setup page, you must register your workstation before you can administer tests. Select the radio button next to "Register." (See figure 1.)

Click Get MAC Address, which will automatically find and insert the workstation's MAC Address. This unique number is used to identify the computer workstation.

  1. If your machine is not already equipped with Java Virtual Machine (used for all e-Write tests) and Windows® Media Player (used for administering all ESL tests and online test instructions), you may download and install them from this page by clicking the appropriate link. (See figure 1 above.)

Fig. 2, Workstation Setup page, steps 3 & 4

  1. You have the option to download the Test Launcher & COMPASS files. (See figure 2 above.)

You must select a radio button next to one of the following options:

  • NEW COMPASS Workstation
  • CURRENT COMPASS Workstation
  • Do not download anything
If you have ...and you ...choose option ...
not installed COMPASS on this workstationhave not downloaded the Test Launcher and COMPASS filesNEW COMPASS Workstation.
already installed COMPASS on this workstationwant to update to the latest version of COMPASSCURRENT COMPASS Workstation.
downloaded the Test Launcher and COMPASS files to your network(or) have the files burned on a CD ready to install on other workstationsDo not download anything.
downloaded and registered COMPASS on this workstationneed to unregister your workstationDo not download anything.
  1. Once you have selected a download option, click OK. (See figure 2 above.)

When you are downloading the setup file, you must leave the computer on and connected to the Internet until the download is complete. Once the download is complete, return to the Login page.

Individual Workstation Setup

  1. To complete Workstation Setup, go to the workstation you would like to set up. Using Windows Explorer, find the location of the downloaded file, COMPASSESLInternetVersionFull.exe (whether it is on CD, hard drive, or network) and double-click on it to begin.

The .exe will open the InstallShield® Wizard, which will guide you through installing the necessary files to your workstation.

Fig. 3, InstallShield Wizard

  1. At the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard screen, click Next to continue.

Fig. 4, Welcome

  1. At the Destination Folder screen, select Next to install to the folder displayed or click Change to install to a different folder.

Fig. 5, Destination Folder

  1. At the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install to begin the installation process.

Fig. 6, Begin Installation

  1. When the installation is finished, click Finish on the Setup Complete page.

Fig. 7, Installation Completed

  1. Reboot your computer workstation.
  2. To launch tests using the workstation's lock-down browser, locate and double-click the Test Launcher icon on the workstation desktop to load the test launcher.
  3. Log in, using a staff account set up with rights to launch a test, and select the test package you wish to administer.
    • To exit the Test Launcher's lock-down browser mode, select CTRL-ALT-Q anytime after selecting a test package or launching a test. Choose Exit to close the test launcher or choose Home to return to the workstation's login screen.

NOTE: Sites using products like Deep Freeze™ or Centurion Guard may require additional setup steps.

Part C. Contact Information

ACT is pleased to provide ongoing support to ensure the effective use of COMPASS by your institution. For questions about COMPASS services, contact the appropriate resource person.

COMPASS Service and Resource to Call:
For this service:Please contact:
Ordering units; questions; or changes to site status and information, license renewal, and cancellationCustomer Services
ACT Technology Center
800.645.1992
Press #1 to reach Customer Services
(8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m eastern time, M–F)
Help with installation, launch, and browser issuesACT Help Desk
ACT Technology Center
800.645.1992
Press #2 to reach Technical Support
(available 24 hours/seven days a week)
Participate in ACT's research services (Entering Student Descriptive Report, Returning Student Retention Report, Course Placement Service, Underprepared Student Follow-up Report, etc.)COMPASS Research Services
ACT National Office
319.339.3089
(8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. central time, M–F)
Billing questionsACT Accounts Receivable
ACT National Office
319.337.1150
(8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. central time, M–F)
Implementation ideas, training, questions about operational features, or content-related issuesACT Regional Office

Part D. Technical Support

ACT offers free technical support accessible by submitting an online help request form from within the COMPASS application, by toll-free telephone number, or by email. Support is extended to any currently licensed user with the most recent version of the software installed.

When requesting technical assistance, it is important to have the program version, browser version, and operating system information, and a detailed description of the problem.

The Help Desk staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer your call.

ACT's Help Desk staff is ready to assist with the installation of the software on a computer that conforms to the system requirements listed in the technical specifications. The staff does not have the appropriate information to help clients with issues relating to local networking problems they may have with other programs also operating on their computer, or issues related to a site's Internet Service Provider. ACT is not responsible for the installation, maintenance, or resolution of problems related to any other applications.

If you require assistance other than technical support, please contact the appropriate COMPASS service resource listed in the table above.

Technical Support via Contact Us Form

If you need technical assistance, and you are logged into the Administrative pages, please use the Contact Us form located in the online help to send an email from COMPASS directly to the ACT Help Desk staff. The Help Desk staff will respond in a timely manner to your request in the order it is received.

  1. To access the online help, click the "?" button on the right side of the navigation bar at any time after you log into the administrative side of the program. A separate window will open, displaying the help topic related to the section of the program you are currently in.
  2. At the top of the help window, click the "Show" link to display the Table of Contents. You will find the Contact Us page listed near the end of the Table of Contents.
  3. Click the page title, "Contact Us" to display the technical support request form.
  4. Fill in all of the fields. Be sure to provide a valid email address and describe the problem in as much detail as you can.
  5. Click the "Submit" button to submit the completed form to the ACT Help Desk.

Technical Support via Phone

If you are unable to access the online help form or you need to contact the ACT Help Desk staff directly, they can be reached at 800.645.1992.

Press #2 to reach Technical Support.

Technical Support via Email

Support by email is designed as an alternative to the direct 800 hotline. It may be more convenient to send email for less critical problems, or if you have a schedule that makes telephone support difficult to coordinate.

This service is to be used only for technical problems with the application such as installation issues or error messages.

  • If you require assistance other than technical support, please contact the appropriate COMPASS service resource, which is listed in the table above.

To send an email to the ACT Help Desk:

  1. Address email to hvtechs@act.org.
  2. Include the complete product name and version in the subject line of the email. For example: COMPASS/ESL Internet Version
  3. The body of the email should contain the following information:
    • Your name and title
    • The school's name
    • Your phone number and hours you can be reached
    • Your email address
    • A complete description of the problem
    • If reporting an error message, it is extremely important to include the entire message you received. It is also helpful to describe the specific steps that you took when the problem occurred.
    • Include your site ID whenever possible

The Help Desk staff will respond in a timely manner to your emailed request in the order it is received.