Getting Started With CACTUS

June 11, 2008

Running CACTUS from the Web

To run CACTUS on your computer you must set up a remote desktop icon on your desktop. Follow the instructions in the next paragraph.

Installation

After you have received permission and the appropriate security information from the Utah State Office of Education you may begin to use CACTUS.  Unless you are accessing your individual educator record from the Web you will need to install some software on your computer.  The Remote Desktop/CACTUS client software is easy to install. There are instructions for the installation of CACTUS in this online help.

Some Assumptions

In order to use CACTUS successfully it is assumed you have some experience using applications within Microsoft Windows.  You do not have to be very experienced, just some very basic skills will do.  Persons who have little or no experience using Microsoft Windows but who have experience with other GUIs such as the Macintosh or X-Windows should also have little difficulty using CACTUS.  One thing you should become aware of, is the use of the right mouse button in Microsoft Windows systems.  If the cursor is over an object in a window to which you want to apply some action, clicking the right mouse button often results in the display of a pop-up menu.  A good example of this is the addition of an assignment in the Current Assignments tab page.  To add a new assignment record, just right click below the last assignment in the displayed table and a menu will pop up.  This menu will allow you to choose numerous actions including adding and deleting records from the table.  If you need some more help or want to review the fundamentals there is a section in help called Windows GUI.

Everyone who uses this help system needs to be aware of one very import thing.  This help is a general help system written for all types of users of CACTUS.  Depending which group of users you belong to you will have different rights or permissions within CACTUS.  For example, you may be able to see and update some things other types of users never see much less are able to update.   There is a list of user groups which defines in general terms what each user group is able to do with  CACTUS.  If you are part of a user group with a "DIST" prefix you are part of a group whose access to educators is restricted to those in your home district.  For more details about what your group is able to do within a given function you should refer to the detailed help for that window, tab page or function.  If you do not know what group you belong to click on the Help menu item,  then on "About".  Your user id and security group will be listed.

Starting CACTUS

Double click the desktop icon

  The CACTUS Icon on the Desktop >>>-------> 

The first window you will see when you click on the CACTUS will be the disclaimer box. read it then click OK. You will then see the followig window. 

Enter your User ID and password and click on "OK" or press "Enter".  IF you are already logged on a network the User ID is usually filled-in with your network User ID.  Please note: This may or may not be the same as your CACTUS User ID.  The Password box will always be empty.  Although you can change your password for CACTUS to be the same as another password you use, make sure you practice good password habits.  Change them often, use random strings of letters and numbers (not the names of your kids, pets or favorite car) and do not write them down.  The Password Change window in CACTUS may be enforcing some of these guidelines.  Unless given instructions to do otherwise never change the information entered in the Server or Database boxes. 

If you get a small dialog box or window after trying to logon and it says "Logon Failed" you will need to try again by double-clicking on the CACTUS icon once more.  Please check to make sure you are using the correct User ID and Password, and that the Caps Lock light on your keyboard is off.   Sometimes other things go wrong when you try to logon.  If you are sure you are using a good logon id and password check to make sure you are on the Internet.  Can you use your Web browser?  If you can but still can not logon to CACTUS, the CACTUS database may be down.  Check the FAQ and Trouble Shooting section for more help

Next you will see the main CACTUS window.  It looks like this:

When the cursor is held over an icon a label will appear.  Click on the schoolhouse icon to open the district/school search, and continue with the help for that window.  The icons on the main CACTUS window, the menu items and drop down menus, also appear in the left side table of contents for this help Web.  This allows you to easily reference the area of the system where you need help.

If you are not feeling very comfortable with Windows please look at the Windows GUI section or get some basic Windows training.