1. How do I install WebTrack III?

Unzip the files to any drive/folder. This can be a folder on a USB/Flash drive if desired. No further installation is required.

2. Can multiple WebTrack III accounts exist on the same computer?

Yes. Multiple accounts can be stored in the WebTrack folder. The database for each account is assigned a name based on the WebTrack Instructor ID. The last-used instructor ID will be displayed by default on the login screen. To log in as a different instructor, enter the instructor ID and password.

Alternatively, separate copies of the program could be located in different folders or on Flash drives inserted/removed into the same computer.

3. What sort of redundancy is built into the system?

1. a.If a backup copy of the database does not exist when the program is started, a backup copy will be created at the start of the session.
   

2. b.In addition, a backup copy of the instructor database with a .bak extension is made at the end of each session.
   

3. c.If for some reason the main .rsd data file becomes corrupted, exit the program, copy the .bak file to an .rsd extension, then restart the program.
   

4. d.For additional safety, each time you exit the program a copy of the database is saved with the current date as part of the filename and a .bak extension (the same naming convention as an archived database when you activate a new database). If necessary, you can revert to an earlier version of your database by removing the date from the filename and changing the extension to .rsd.
   

5. e.For example, to re-active the file joe.smith@msi.edu3-18-2007.bak, rename to joe.smith@msi.edu.rsd and restart WebTrackIII. NOTE: If too many backup files start to accumulate, use the Tools/Delete Old Database Backup menu option to delete old dated .bak files.
   

6. f.In addition, during normal use, the instructor database will automatically rebuild itself if necessary. All student data remains in the students’ Tracking files and all data is submitted each time a student submits data, with duplicate data filtered out during the consolidation process. Even if the instructor's hard drive fails or the USB/Flash drive is lost, the database will automatically be reconstructed IF students are saving data in their personal Tracking Files and IF all students submit data at least one more time for that course. Just activate a new database and wait for students to submit their data at least one time. This can be very helpful during the semester, but won't be useful if a hard drive fails the weekend after the end of the semester.
   

7. g.Redundancy is not a substitute for prudent backup procedures. It is strongly recommended that all instructors regularly backup the folder containing their WebTrackIII program files and data.
   

4. Is the consolidated WebTrack data secured?

The consolidated WebTrack data is saved in a database named for your WebTrack Instructor ID with an .rsd extension. This file is not encrypted or secured.

A casual user with access to your computer will not be able to log in to your WebTrack instructor account without knowing your password. However, users with SQLite experience might recognize the .rsd extension and figure out how to access the data directly. Therefore, you should take steps to physically secure  the computer or Flash drive that contains your WebTrack III program and data.

6. Is the data cross-platform-in other words can I use my Flash drive and data in a Windows computer then use that same Flash drive and data on a Mac?

Yes, the data is fully cross-platform. You can consolidate or view data from almost any computer--Mac or Windows. You can insert the Flash drive into a Windows computer, run WebTrackIII.exe, and view/modify your data. You can then insert that same Flash drive into a Mac (PPC or Intel processor), run MacWebTrack and view/modify the same data.

7. Help! I just messed up my database--deleting the wrong records or incorrectly importing comma-delimited data. How can I get it back?

If WebTrackIII is still open, click Tools/Exit without saving changes. All changes from the current session will be rolled back. When you restart the program, your database should be in the same state it was when you started the current session.

If you've already exited and therefore finalized the changes to your database:

a. Locate your latest backup database which has the name userid + date + .bak.

b. Copy that file, then rename it, eliminating the date and changing the extension to .rsd. When you restart WebTrackIII, that database will be activated.

  

8. WebTrackIII won't run from the Flash drive on my Vista computer. What can I do?

Vista might be configured to prevent programs from running from Flash drives. To change this configuration:

a. Log in to the Vista system using your regular user account.

b. Click the Start button.

c. Type "autoplay" in the Search box, then press Enter.

d. Put a check mark in the box labeled  "Use AutoPlay for all media and devices."

e. On the list for Software and Games, change the default to "Install and run program."

f. Click the Save button to save your changes.