(Revised February 2007)
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:
- On the Internet, go to the URL provided in the email.
- Bookmark this page. This is the COMPASS Internet Version login page.
- You must log in as an Administrator to create user accounts before administering tests. This account has been configured with full administrator rights.
- In order to access COMPASS, use the Staff ID and Password provided in the email.
- Click Login!
- 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.
- Next, you will be asked to enter key information to identify your Campus and Campus staff.
- 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
You must download the Test Launcher and COMPASS files (ESL files are optional) 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.
Downloading the Test Launcher
You must go to the Workstation Setup page for every workstation, regardless of which option you choose.
Fig. 1, Workstation Setup page, steps 1 & 2
- 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. - 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(s). (See figure 1 above.)
Fig. 2, Workstation setup page, steps 3 & 4
- You will have the option to download the Test
Launcher and COMPASS files, with or without the ESL files. (See
figure 2.)
There are three options presented on the Workstation Setup page. You must select a radio button next to one of the following options:- Test Launcher & COMPASS files
- Test Launcher & COMPASS files plus all ESL files
- Do not download anything
- If you are setting up your first workstation and wish to save the downloaded files to a network and/or hard drive to install on each subsequent workstation, choose one of the download options with or without the optional ESL files.
- If you do not plan to install from a network or CD, and instead wish to install the files from the workstation hard drive, choose one of the download options with or without the optional ESL files.
- If you have already downloaded the Test Launcher and COMPASS files to your network, and/or have burned the files on a CD to install on other workstations, choose "Do not download anything."
- If you are unregistering your workstation choose "Do not download anything."
- 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
- To complete Workstation Setup,
go to the workstation you would like to set up. Using Windows Explorer,
find the location of the downloaded file, COMPASSInternetVersion.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 Setup
- Once the Wizard is prepared, the Welcome page of the installation setup process will display. Read the information and click Next.
Fig. 4, Installation Setup Welcome
- The Choose Destination Location page will display. You may use the default location or select one of your own by clicking the Browse button.
Fig. 5, Choose Destination Location
- Once you have the Destination Folder set, click Next to begin the installation process. A progress bar will mark the status of the installation process.
- When the installation is finished, click Finish on the Setup Complete page.
- Reboot your computer workstation.
- 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.
- 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 any time 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 cancellation |
Customer Services ACT Technology Center 800/645-1992 (8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m eastern time, M–F) |
| Help with installation, launch, and browser issues |
ACT Help Desk ACT Technology Center 800/645-1992 (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 questions |
ACT Accounts Receivable ACT National Office 319/337-1150 (8:30 a.m.–5:00 PM central time, M–F) |
| Implementation ideas, training, questions about operational features or content-related issues |
ACT Regional Office |
ACT Educational Services, Regional Offices
Postsecondary/Business Staff Supporting ASSET, COMPASS, and ESL Users
| East Region | Southwest Region |
| (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) | (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) |
|
4 Pine West Plaza |
8303 MoPac Expressway N. Suite A-110 Austin, TX 78759-8369 Telephone: 512/345-1949 |
| (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA) | |
|
3355 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 320 |
|
| Midwest Region | West Region |
| (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, WV) | (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, MT, NE, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY) |
|
300 Knightsbridge Pkwy, Suite 300 Lincolnshire, IL 60069-9498 Telephone: 847/634-2560 |
2880 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 214 Rancho Cordova, CA 95742-6549 Telephone: 916/631-9200 |
Part D. Technical Support
ACT offers free technical support via a toll-free telephone number or 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 is 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 problems they may have with issues relating to local networking, other programs also operating on their computer or issues related to a site's Internet Service Provider. ACT disclaims responsibility for the installation, maintenance, or resolution of problems related to any programs other than ACT software.
If you require assistance other than technical support, please contact the appropriate COMPASS service resource which is listed in the table above.
Contacting ACT Help Desk for Technical Support
If you need technical assistance, please use the Contact Us form located in the online help to send an email 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.
- 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.
- At the top of the help window, click the link "Show" to display the Table of Contents. You will find the Contact Us page listed near the end of the Table of Contents.
- Click the page title "Contact Us" to display the technical support request form.
- 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.
- Click the Submit button to submit the completed form to the ACT Help Desk.
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 1-800-645-1992, or you can send an email to hvtechs@act.org.
Technical Support via Email
Technical Support via email is designed as an alternative to the 800 hotline. It may be more useful to use email for less critical problems or if you have a schedule that makes telephone support more difficult. This is intended only as an augmentation of, and in no way diminishes, our telephone support.
To send a message via email to the ACT Help Desk, please follow these specifications. This service is to be used only for technical problems with the software, such as installation or error messages.
The Help Desk staff will respond in a timely manner to your emailed request in the order it is received.
If you require assistance other than technical support, please contact the appropriate COMPASS service resource that are listed in the table above.
To send an email to the ACT Help Desk:
- Address email to hvtechs@act.org.
- Include the complete product name and version in the subject line of the email. For example: COMPASS Internet Version
- 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.
It is also helpful to the support staff if you 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.