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New Functionality as of August 2007

The functionality of the Environment Settings has been updated to match the functionality of Class Names, Class Dates, Classrooms, Teachers, and Lesson Plans.

Previously, every student possessed his or her own private Environment Settings record (though this record could be copied and updated from the Master Account settings). There was no easy way to update, manage or view settings for groups of students. The new functionality allows students to share a single Environment Settings record. If a change is needed, the record can be modified with the update applied instantly to all students assigned that record. Multiple Environment Settings records can be created. For example, you will want one record to assign to teachers (with "teacher user" property and answers allowed in all modules). Another record can be used for your typical student. Additional records can be created for unique or special need students (students located in a different country, students who require a different quiz password, etc.)

In early August 2007, a conversion program was run on all Master Accounts, creating one or more Environment Settings records from your existing settings. These system-created records are listed in the "Manage" drop-down menu, under the "Environment Settings" option. The "domain master settings" record contains the settings from your Master Account. Additional records were created for each student who had settings different from the Master. All students with settings the same as the master were assigned the "domain master settings" record; those whose were different were assigned their own personal record.

It is not advisable to give each student his or her own settings record. There should be no reason as all "personal" settings have been moved to the student's own account record and can be edited from within the courseware browser using the "Edit --> Edit Student Settings" file option. Student settings include the student's email address, printer address, and font size/color options. They do not include passwords, answer access or country and time settings.

You should remove as many individual Environment Settings records as possible and create new records that can be used by groups of students. When you remove a settings record, accounts with that record will still be usable; they will default to "unrestricted" access with US settings. Please see below for more details. If you have an unmanageable amount of individual environment settings records, please contact VIASINC at support@viasinc.com and we can run an automated script to reduce the count.

Each student should be assigned an Environment Settings record. When no record is assigned, the account will be "unrestricted" with default US settings. An unrestricted account allow the student to access and modify environment settings from within the courseware browser, which includes giving themself access to answers.

Special-Purpose E-mail Address Field: When an e-mail address is specified in this field, all tickets and hard-copies will be sent to this e-mail, even if a printer device has been selected by the student in the "Edit -->Edit Student Settings" menu option within the courseware browser. If you want your students to print to a printer, you must leave this field empty. If you want your students to print to their own e-mail address, select the "Infer special-purpose e-mail from student account record" option in the Properties box of the Environment Settings record display. When this option is selected, all printing will be directed to the student's email (set by the student using the "Edit --> Edit E-Mail Address" menu option within the courseware browser) regardless of whether or not an email appears in the "Special-Purpose E-mail Address" field.

Please follow the steps below to set up and manage your new Environment Settings records.

Managing Your Environment Settings Records

Log into System Administration with your Master Account. Notice that there is no longer an "Environment Settings" link in the Account Record display. In the black header, click "+" next to "Manage" to expand the drop-down menu, and select "Environment Settings." A list of your settings records will be displayed. "Domain master settings" is the record for the Master Account. An additional record will appear for each student with settings different from the Master. These records may be identical. Clean up your settings records. Use the "Remove" link to remove records for past students. Use the "Edit" or "Copy" links to create new records that can be used for groups of students. Name (or rename) the record with a descriptive name in the "Description" box. Note: If you have too many records to manage, please contact support@viasinc.com. Finally, remove the individual record for students that will be reassigned a group record. When you have organized your Environment Settings records, you will need to assign a record to each student account. Use the "Retrieve" drop-down menu to display a list of sub-accounts. Use the fields to narrow the list to a group that will share the same environment settings record. Use your mouse to "Select" each applicable student record, scroll to the bottom and select "Assign environment setting record" in the Batch Operation drop-down list and then click on the "Submit" button. Choose the appropriate settings record and click "Submit." Continue to assign Environment Settings records in this manner. When you're finished, click on the "Log Out" link at the top of the page.