Step 1: Go to  https://tracs.txstate.edu/portal/login

Step 2: Enter your Texas State Net ID (username) and password.  NOTE:  Do not use your Texas State ID number (A + 8 digits)

Click [Login].  A new screen will appear called My Workspace.

If your login fails due to Net ID or password complications, contact ITAC at 512.245.4822.

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Your Texas State Net ID and password is required in order to log into TRACS.  This is the same ID and password you use for Texas State Bobcat Mail.  If you do not have a Net ID and password created yet, please call ITAC at 512.245.4822. 

Note: Once your Net ID has been created, you will be able to log into TRACS. However, you will not see any course sites until the following morning.

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TRACS is a web tool used by professors to share content with their classes. Professors may post grades, syllabi, assignments, quizzes/exams, and other materials. Please note that not all professors use the TRACS system, nor do they utilize the same tools in every site.

TRACS sites can also be used by campus departments and organizations to share information with their members. 

TRACS project sites may be created by students for group work purposes.

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TRACS is Web-based, so you use a Web browser to access it. The following supported browsers work best with TRACS.

To determine what version of a browser you currently have, open the browser and go to the Help menu and click on "About..."

Windows

Internet Explorer 8.x

Mozilla Firefox 3.x

Macintosh

Mozilla Firefox 3.x

Other platforms

Mozilla Firefox 3.x

Some functions in TRACS, especially the WYSIWYG editor, will not work in the following browsers:

• Safari
• Google Chrome

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TRACS sites are represented as tabs across the top of your screen.  If you cannot see all of the sites you are a member of at one time, click on the My Active Sites button to see a list of all sites to which you belong.

Although you use a browser to access TRACS, TRACS has its own navigation system which you must use while in TRACS.

On most screens, the [Cancel] or [Back] button at the bottom of the screen will take you back one page.

DO NOT use the browser [Back] or [Forward] buttons while in TRACS as this can cause unpredictable behavior.

NOTE: With some tools in TRACS, you must click your browser [Refresh] button in order to see changes you have made.

Course and project sites in which you are enrolled appear as tabs across the top of the screen. Click a tab to go to the corresponding site. When you have more tabs than can fit across the top, a drop-down box appears with links to the rest of your courses.

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My Workspace functions as an online private workspace. This is the screen you see when you log in.

Your workspace has features common to course and project sites, including Announcements, Resources, Calendar, and Help. It also has features found only in My Workspace such as Account, Membership, Preferences, Profile and Worksite Setup. To return to your workspace after visiting other sites, click the My Workspace tab in the upper left corner of the screen.

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My Workspace is your own individual online worksite which functions as a private workspace. This is the screen you see when you log in. To return to your workspace after visiting other sites, click the My Workspace tab in the upper left corner of the screen.

What is in My Workspace?

The upper portion of the screen in My Workspace displays the TRACS welcome message. Below that is My Workspace Information. By default, these spaces contain announcements and information from the TRACS system administrator.

These are tools found ONLY in My Workspace:

Account

This feature contains basic information about you, including your name and email address.

NOTE: Texas State Users account information cannot be changed here. Texas State users must change their information through the Email Toolkit located in Bobcat Mail.

Membership

Allows you to join and un-join sites.

Preferences

Choose how you would like to receive emails from your course and/or project site(s), and email notifications of new announcements, documents and emails.

Profile

Information you can enter about yourself, such as your name, phone number, location and a photo.

Worksite Setup:

Displays your project and course websites. 

My Workspace Resources:

Add your own personal documents.

My Workspace Calendar:

Post personal reminders. 

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The Preferences tool allows you to choose how you would like to receive all email notifications to your course and/or project site(s). For example, you can choose to block low-priority notifications, to receive notifications when they are sent, and to receive a daily digest of emails all at one time.

NOTE: You cannot adjust your preferences for individual sites.

Notification Methods: Choose one of three notification methods for these four tools: Announcements, Email Archive, Resources and Syllabus.

• Send me each notification separately: You receive email notification each time that an announcement is posted, a document or syllabus item is added, and an email is sent.
• Send me one email per day: Individual announcements, documents/syllabus items, and/or mail messages are bundled into a single email message and sent to you daily.
• Do not send me low priority: You receive no notification regarding low priority site activity.

To set your preferences, click the radio button to indicate your choice for each tool.

Click [Update Preferences]. To return to the previous page without making a change, click [Cancel Changes].

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Click the [Membership] link in the menubar to see the sites to which you belong. These are sites you are enrolled in, or that you have chosen to join.

Click [Joinable Sites] to see a list of other sites you can join (sites that have granted Global Access). The site you join will be added to your tabs, or appear in the My Active Sites tab.

Click [My Current Sites] at the top of the screen, to return to your membership list.

To remove a site you joined, click [Un-join] below the site title.

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By default, you will see a tab for each site to which you belong.

To change which tabs are visible, click [Preferences], then [Customize Tabs].

To add or remove a site from the Sites Visible in Tabs list box, select the site and click [Move Selected] or [Remove Selected] to move the site.

To reorder sites in the Sites Visible in Tabs list box, select a site in the list and use the up and down arrows to change the order.

Click [Update Preferences]. To return to the previous page without making a change click [Cancel Changes].

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The TRACS Profile tool allows you add information that you would like to share with the TRACS and University Community.  For more information on creating a profile in TRACS, visit the Create a TRACS Profile document.

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The Resources tool allows you to add your own personal documents such as PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and HTML pages. The documents you keep in your Resources tool will only be available to you. You can access your personal documents from any computer with Internet access.  You have 10 GB of space allotted for you to use.

To learn more about the Resources tool and how to upload documents, please view the Resources help document.

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Step 1:  Click on the site's tab you wish to view announcements for.

Step 2:  Click the [Announcements] button on the left-hand side of your screen.

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Here are a few helpful tips when taking assessments:

• You CANNOT preview an assessment. Once you click the Begin Assessment button, you need to be ready to start the assessment. If the test is timed, the timer starts as soon as you click the begin assessment button.

• Use a reliable, fast internet connection. Pages may take longer to load using a slower connection, wasting valuable time if the assessment you are taking is timed.

• When taking an assessment, close all other programs running on the computer. DO NOT check your email, use Facebook, or chat during a test. Having multiple programs running can cause unforeseen problems TRACS cannot be held responsible for.

• When taking an assessment, DO NOT have multiple internet browser windows open. Having multiple browser windows open has been shown to cause issues.

• Use an approved browser for TRACS.

• Be aware of the due date and time along with the assessment test time. For example, If your instructor set the due date and time for your assessment to be 11 am and has given you 1 hour to submit the assessment once you've started it, DO NOT start the assessment at 10:30 am and think that you have an hour to finish the test. In this case, your assessment would automatically be submitted at 11am, whether you were finished taking it or not.

• Note the due date of the assessment. You are not able to submit an assessment past the due date.

• If you experience any issues while taking an assessment send an email to your instructor and TRACS IMMEDIATELY! Our email address is tracs@txstate.edu. When emailing TRACS, please include a description of what you experienced and approximate time your issue began.

• If you mark a question for review or leave a question unanswered, TRACS will prompt you letting you know you've marked a question for review or left a question blank, and confirm that you still want to submit the assessment for grading.

• When you are finished with an assessment and want to turn it in, click the Submit for Grading button, NOT the Save and Exit button. Saving and exiting an assessment WILL NOT grade the assessment.

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To see assignments in a course site in which you are enrolled, navigate to the course in which you need to submit your assignment and click [Assignments] in the menubar. Assignments from your course sites are displayed in the order they are due.

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Step 1: Click the assignment title. 

Step 2: Follow the on-screen directions provided by your instructor. 

Step 3: Add an attachment(s) to the assignment or enter your text using the textbox.

• To add an attachment, click the [Browse] button. Locate your attachment and click the [Open] button.  If you would like to add multiple attachments, click the green [ + ] button and browse for your file.

If you need to remove an attachment, click the red [ - ] button.

The attachment(s) will be listed in the order they were entered.

• Alternatively, you may be allowed to submit your answer via the in-line text box provided. Simply type your answer and format it how you'd like. Remember to use the Paste From Word tool (the clipboard with a W on it) if you are pasting text from Microsoft Word.

Step 4: You can click [Save Draft] to save your work without submitting it. You may also click [Preview] to view your submission.

Step 5:  Click [Submit] when you are done. You will recieve an automatic email confirmation stating you have successfullly submitted your assignment.

NOTE: If your instructor requires an Honor Pledge stating you have not received outside help with the assignment, you must click the checkbox before submitting the assignment.

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Any comments, grades, or assignment resubmissions will be visible in the Assignments tool. Click on the submitted assignment to view this information.

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Be sure and save your work frequently by clicking the [Save Draft] button if working within the text editor inside of TRACS. One suggestion is to create your assignment in Word and paste it into TRACS. BE SURE TO USE THE PASTE FROM WORD OPTION IF DOING THIS. See the section of this document called “Pasting Text from Word into TRACS” for further information.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Blogs].

Step 2: Select the name of the blogger whose blog you want to read.

Step 3: Click [# comments] under the blog you wish to read.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Blogs].

Step 2: Select the name of the classmate whose blog you want to read.

Step 3: Click [Leave a comment] under the blog you wish to comment on.

Step 4: Write your comment and click [Publish comment] to save your comment, or click [Cancel] to clear all changes made.

Step 5: Click [All the blogs] to return to the list of bloggers.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Blogs]. 

Step 2: In the new page, click [Add Blog Entry]. 

Step 3: Give the blog posting a title. 

Step 4: Type your blog. You may use the built-in WYSIWYG editor to format your text as desired. 

Step 5: Choose who can see the blog entry by selecting the available options: 

• Only site administrators and I can see this entry: Only the author and those people with the appropriate role, such as instructor, maintainer, TA, and site collaborator may view the blog. 
   
• All members of this site can see this entry: Every member of the site is able to view the blog posting
   
• This entry is publicly visible: This will allow Blog to be viewed outside of TRACS (Not implemented yet). 

Step 6: Click [Save Draft] to save your changes but not post the entry, click [Publish entry] to post, or click [Cancel] to clear all changes made.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Blogs].

Step 2: Select the name of the classmate whose blog you want to read.

Step 3: Click [Edit entry] under the blog you wish to edit.

Step 4: Make the necessary edits and click [Save Draft] to save your changes but not post the entry, click [Publish entry] to post, or click [Cancel] to clear all changes made.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Blogs].

Step 2: Select the name of the blogger whose blog you want to read.

Step 3: Click [# comments] under the blog you wish to remove the comment on.

Step 4: Click [Remove this comment] to the right of the comment you want to delete. Click [OK] to delete the comment or click [Cancel] to cancel the action.

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Step 1: In the menu bar for the site, click [Blogs].

Step 2: Select the name of the blogger whose blog you will want to delete.

Step 3: Underneath the blog which you wish to remove, click [Remove entry].

Step 4: Click [OK] to remove the blog, or click [Cancel] to cancel the action.

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Step 1: In the menubar, click [Blogs], and then click [My blog settings].

Step 2: In the page that opens, fill out the URL for a user profile picture that will be displayed next to all comments and posts you leave. You may upload an image to your My Workspace resources then use the URL generated for the image URL in blogs. For more information on how to add a file, please see the training documentation for the Resources tool.

Step 3: Add any information you wish to be displayed in your blog profile. Click [Change settings] or click [Cancel].

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Step 1: Click on the site's tab in which you want to view calendar events.

Step 2: Click [Calendar] on the menubar.

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Step 1: Log in to TRACS and click [Chat Room] in the left side menubar.

Posted messages appear in chronological order, with the most recent at the bottom. Messages always identify the sender.

To see who is presently in the Chat Room, look under Users in Chat on the right side of the screen.

Step 2: To see the date or time messages were posted, select the appropriate option from the View drop-down list. Choices are Time Only, Date and Time, Date Only, Neither Date or Time, or ID Only.

Step 3: To limit the list to messages to those from the past three days, select Past 3 Days. To see all messages, select All Messages.

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Step 1: Click [Chat Room] in the menubar.

Step 2: In the text box at the bottom of the window, type your message. Then click [Add message].

Step 3: Click [Add message] to display your message. Once a message is added, it cannot be changed or deleted. Only an instructor or someone with maintain access can delete the message.

Step 4: To discard a message you haven't sent yet, click [Clear].

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Step 1: Click [Drop Box] in the menubar of the site.

Step 2: Next Drop Box folder, click [Add].

Step 3: From the drop-down list, choose the type of item you wish to add. Your choices are:

Upload Files

Create Folders

Add Weblinks (URLs)

Create HTML Page

Create Text Document

Add Citation List

Depending on your choice, do one of the following: Browse for the file on your computer, enter the URL for the website, or enter information for the HTML page or text document, or create the new folder.

Step 4: Click [Add]. The item is added.

The Drop Box allows you to share documents with only the instructor. If available, check the box to send an email notification to the instructor to alert them that you have added something to the Drop Box. You will know if your file was posted correctly if you can see it in your Drop Box folder. If you can see it, the instructor can see it as well.

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Step 1: From the Forums tool, click the title of the topic for which you’d like to post a message.

Step 2: Click [Post New Thread]. The Compose Forum Message screen will open.

Step 3: Type the subject/title of your message next to Title.

Step 4: Under Message, use the editor to compose your message.

Step 5: Under Attachments, you can attach a file from your local computer or from Resources.

Step 6: Click [Post Message] to  or [Cancel] to cancel your message without saving.

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Step 1: In your site's menubar, click [Forums], then the title of the desired topic you want to reply to.

Step 2: Click the subject of the desired message.

Step 3: Click [Reply to Thread] to reply to the thread the discussion belongs to. Click [Reply] to respond to the current message you are viewing.

Step 4: Give your reply a title next to Reply Title.

Step 5: Under Message, use the editor to compose your reply. To insert the original message to which you are replying, click [Insert Original Message] located above the text editor.

Step 6: Under Attachments, you can attach a file from your computer or from Resources.

Step 7: Click [Post Message] or [Cancel] to cancel your message without saving.

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You will only see grades once the instructor has made them available and you may or may not see a calculated course grade when you check the gradebook.  If you do not find grades in the Gradebook tool, or you dont see a Gradebook tool at all, look for a tool called 'Post'em'.

Step 1: Log in to TRACS

Step 2: Click on a course tab, then click [Gradebook] in the menubar. Any grades your instructor has made available will be displayed.

NOTE: You may not always see your calculated course grade as this is a setting the instructor chooses to display.

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The Home tool will display an overview of the site as welll as any recent changes in the Announcements, Messages and Fourms, Chat, and Calendar tools.

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Step 1: Click [Mailtool] in the left side menu bar.

Step 2: Click the [Select X role], X being the participant's role you wish to email. Examples of roles: Instructor, TA, Student, Maintainer, Grader, Access

Step 3: Place a checkmark in the box next to the individual's name to whom you wish to send an email.

Step 4: If you want this email message sent to another recipient outside of the site, please type their full email address in the field titled "Other Recipient(s):".

Step 5: Compose your message and add attachments or a subject, if you wish.

Step 6: Click [Send Mail] or click [Cancel] to cancel any changes you have made.

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Step 1: Click [Mailtool] in the left side menu bar.

Step 2: Place a checkmark in all the boxes next to [All X], X being the role you wish to email. For example, if you want a message to go to all students, click the All Students box.

Step 3: If you want this email message sent to another recipient outside of the site, please type their full email address in the field titled "Other Recipient(s):".

Step 4: Compose your message and add attachments or subject, if you wish.

Step 5: Click [Send Mail], or [Cancel] to cancel any changes you have made.

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Step 1: In the site menu bar, click [Messages]. Under “Messages,” click [Compose Message].

NOTE:You can also click [Compose Message] when you're viewing the contents in one of the private message folders.

Step 2: Select the individual(s) to whom you want to send a message. To select multiple participants, use “Ctrl-click” (in Windows) or “Cmd-click” (in Mac OS X).

Step 3: If you would like to send a copy of the message to the recipient's email address, place a check mark in the "send a copy of this message to recipients' email address(es)" box

Step 4: (Optional) Under “Label,” use the drop-down list to change the priority status of your message.

Step 5: Type the subject of your message next to "Subject."

Step 6: Under “Message,” use the editor to compose your message.

Step 7: (Optional) Under “Attachments,” click [Add Attachments] to attach a file from your local computer or from Resources.

Step 8: Click [Send], or [Cancel] to cancel your message.

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Step 1: In the site menu bar, click [Messages].

Step 2: Click [Received] to view the messages you've received.

Step 3: Find and click the message to which you're replying.

Step 4: Click [Reply].

Step 5: (Optional) Select any additional individual you want to send the message to. To select multiple recipients, use “Ctrl-click” (in Windows) or “Cmd-click” (in Mac OS X). You can also choose to send your message to the entire class or to all instructors.

Step 6: (Optional) Under “Label,” use the drop-down list to change the priority status of your message

Step 7: Type the subject of your message next to "Subject."

Step 8: Under “Message,” use the editor to compose your message.

Step 9: (Optional) Under “Attachments,” click [Add Attachment] to attach a file to your message.

Step 10: Click [Send], or [Cancel] to cancel your message.

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Click on the link in the menubar of your site to view the news feed. Many times the instructor will rename the tool to better reflect the topic or news source they wish to display.

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Step 1: Highlight the URL as it is presented to you in the Podcast tool and copy it to your clipboard. The URL will look something like this: http://tracs.txststate.edu/podcasts/site/yoursiteid

Step 2: Open your podcatcher (such as Apple iTunes) and paste this URL into its appropriate area. Follow your podcatcher's directions for specifics as they all work differently.

Step 3: All content from TRACS podcast will appear in your podcatcher for downloading.

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Step 1: Navigate to the site where the poll is located and click [Polls] in the menubar.

Step 2: Click on the poll title you wish to vote for and cast your vote.

Step 3: Click [Vote!] to save your changes and vote in the poll.

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Step 1: Click [Results] next to the poll you wish to view.

Step 2: View the results per option you added with the total number of votes per option or as a percentage view.

Step 3: Click [Back] to return to the poll.

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Your instructor may not use the Gradebook tool in TRACS to post grades.  They may instead use the Post'em tool in TRACS to post your grades and other information that only you will be able to see.

Step 1:  Click on the TRACS site you wish to view.

Step 2:  Click on the [Post'Em] tool from the site's menubar.

Step 3:  Click on the title of the item (if multiple items are present) in the Post'Em tool.

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The Question and Answers tool allows you to pose and answer questions in the site.  Instructors may allow questions to be posed anonymously, however, answers are always anonymous.  Not even the instructor knows who has posted an anonymous question or answered any question in the site.

Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Questions and Answers].

Step 2: Click [Ask a question]. If settings are set to anonymous, the link will be titled [Ask a question anonymously].

Step 3: In the Question text box, type the question you want to ask.

Step 4: (Optional) If you do not wish to receive an email notification for each answer to your question, uncheck the checkbox for “Email me answers to this question”.

Step 5: (Optional) Click [Add Attachment]. Browse your computer and upload the file. Click [Continue] to add the attachment, or [Cancel] to cancel adding the attachment.

NOTE: If the questions are not moderated you may select a category to place your question in.

Step 6: To add the question, click [Add Question] or [Cancel] to exit.

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Step 1: In the menu bar, click [Questions and Answers].

Step 2: Click the title of the question you want to answer.

NOTE: You may need to click a category title to view question if questions are organized in categories.

Step 3: Click [Add an answer].

Step 4: Type your answer in the text box, type your answer.

Step 5: Click [Add Answer], or [Cancel] to exit without saving.

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The Resources tool contains files that your instructor wants you to view, such as Word documents, PowePoint files, and PDFs.  You must have the appropriate program to open the file, otherwise it will not open.

Step 1: Log in to TRACS.

Step 2: Click on a course tab and click [Resources] in the menubar.

Step 3: Click the resource and either save it to your local computer or open it for viewing.

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Roster information for the entire course is not viewable by students. However, if an instructor has created groups within the site, this is where your group membership is viewable. 

The Section Info tool will dispaly which section of a course you are registered for if your instructor has created a site with multiple sections of the same course in it.

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Step 1: Enter the site and click [Signup].   

Step 2: Click the meeting title you wish to view.

Step 3: Click the [Sign-up] button for the time slot you wish to sign up for.

Step 4: Add comments that will be sent to the site maintainer, if you wish.

Step 5: Click [Finish].

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Step 1: Click on a course tab and click [Syllabus] in the menubar. Depending on how the syllabus is entered, you may have to download your instructor's document. You will have the option to save the file where you'd like.

Step 2: (Optional) Click the print icon displayed for a hard copy of the syllabus.

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Step 1: To create a new page, you must first add a link to it. Select an existing page, for example, the “Home” page.

Add a link to the new page by typing its name enclosed in square brackets. For example: [name of page].

If your new page will be named “Research,” enter: [Research]

NOTE: The brackets are the simple text syntax or code, which tells the wiki this is a link to a page—in this case, a new page.

Step 2: Click [Save].

Step 3: Once you have saved the page, you will see the link to the new page that you created. The link consists of the word(s) you typed followed by a question mark, for example research? This indicates the page needs content.

Click the linked word, (e.g.: Research?), which will take you to the default template.

Click [Edit] to enter the edit mode. You can highlight and delete the default text and begin entering your own text in the text box.

Around the text box are instructions and examples of the code you will use to format your text within the wiki.

Step 4: When you are done, click [Save] to publish the page. Click [Preview] to see what the page will look like when published. Scroll down to see the preview.

If you need to make revisions, click [Edit], make your changes and then either click [Preview] or [Save].

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NOTE: The following characters cannot be used in a page title:

Character Name

: (Colon)

@ (At)

# (Hash mark)

| (Pipe)

\ (Back slash)

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To edit an existing page (such as the Home page), select the page by clicking on its title. Click [Edit], located in the tool bar to see the page in edit mode. In edit mode, you will see a text box with existing text and/or links. This is where you will enter and edit text, as well as add links and images.

To the right of the box, you will see “Help Tips” to use in creating and formatting text in the wiki.

You can type text directly into the text box, copy and paste text, modify existing text, and format text. You can also add tables, and links to Web sites and images which have been uploaded to the Resources tool.

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To delete a page, delete all links to the page in the edit mode.

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Step 1: Type the entire URL of the page you would like to link to within square brackets. For example, [http://www.google.com]

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Upload the image you would like to insert to your resources folder on the site.

Step 1: Click the image icon in the text editor. Your resources folder is displayed.

Step 2: Click [Select] for the image from your resources folder and click [Continue]

Step 3: Click [Save]. The image appears on the wiki page.

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If you would like to copy text from Word and use it in TRACS, please use the Paste from Word tool, which is accessible any time you are able to add text in TRACS. Many times copying and pasting text from Word into TRACS causes issues with formatting and creates extra code that can make forum postings, emails messages, etc. appear incorrectly when posted in TRACS.

Step 1: Copy the text from Word that you want to paste into TRACS

Step 2: Go to the TRACS tool you wish to paste the text into

Step 3: Click the Paste from Word icon which looks like a W with a clip-board behind it

Step 4: In the box that appears, paste the text you copied from Word

Step 5: Click [OK]

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Connect allows classes to meet, communicate, and view presentations in a real-time online environment. Instructors will post a link to the Connect room within TRACS. 

For help with Connect issues, please visit:http://www.its.txstate.edu/services/adobeconnect.html
or contact itsconnect@txstate.edu or 512-245-5566 for further information.

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