KS Admin FAQ's

Here are the most common questions and points of discussion for KS admins.

Q - What's the difference between a Sub-admin and a Full-admin?

A - Sub-admins can set up test sessions from a browser, using the 'Assessment' link, but not access the main KS dashboard.  Full-admins can log in to the KS dashboard and use the browser test set-up tools.

Q - How do I re-set or change my KS password?

A - All users can re-set their KS password at any time, by clicking the 'Reset password' link on the KS login page:

This takes you to the following page: https://online.knowledgesmart.net/PassRecover.aspx.  Enter your KS username and the system will email a new password.

KS admins can set their own password, by logging in to their KS dashboard and selecting the 'Change password' link.

Copy the original password into the first field, then confirm your own password and save the changes.

Q - How do I add a new KS administrator to my account?

A - Go to the Accounts > Your Accounts page of the KS dashboard and click on the 'Administrators' tool (small people icon).

From here you can add new Sub-admins or Full-admins, using the 'Add administrator' fields:

Q - I get an error message when I try to import my user list.  Why is this?

A - First, make sure that you are using a .csv file format, not .xls or .xlsx.  (See help notes on the Users > Upload User Data page for a link to a formatted .csv template).  Also, make sure that you have 10 data columns in your .csv file.


Q - My invite mails are not getting through to users every time.  Why not?

A - Sometimes KS invite mails are blocked by spam prevention software.  If the KS mails are not in junk mail, then your corporate security might not be allowing the mails through.  This happens from time to time.  A combination of the following steps usually resolves the issue:

‘White flag’ the domain @knowledgesmart.net.
‘White flag’ the domain @ks-server.net.
‘White flag’ mails from system@ks-server.net.

That should allow the mails to work OK.  However, if they are still getting blocked, there is one more thing to try.  Our hosting company (1&1) sometimes uses a relay server in Germany, called kundenserver.de.

‘White flag’ the domain @kundenserver.de.

That should sort everything out, from a corporate mails point of view.


Q - Some invite mails contain a username and password.  Others do not.  Why is this?

A - The KS system appends a username and password on invite mails for regular users (i.e. non-admins), but not for system administrators. KS admins can manage their own passwords, so the KS system does not include admin usernames and passwords on invite mails.


Q - When  a user tries to log into a test session, their password does not work.  Why is this?

A - If a user receives two or more test invites in close succession, the latter invite(s) will overwrite the password(s) from earlier mails.  Instruct them to use the password from the last email invite received to access ALL open KS test sessions.

All users can re-set their KS password at any time, by clicking the 'Reset password'' link on the KS dashboard login page, which takes you here: https://online.knowledgesmart.net/PassRecover.aspx. Enter your KS username and the system will email a new password.

Q - If  a user logs out of a test session, will all answers be saved?

A - Yes.  All your answers will be saved if you resume a test session, at a later date.


Q - If a user logs out of a test session, does the clock stop?

A - Yes.  The clock stops recording elapsed time when you log out of a test session and starts again when you log back in.


Q - A test result did not upload correctly at the end of a test session.  Can it be rescued?

A - Yes.  If a user loses their web connection at the end of a test session, occasionally a result will not upload to the dashboard successfully.  Just notify us and the KS team will manually retrieve the score and add it to your dashboard.  Submitted answers will not be lost.


Q - Can I mix & match questions from different test modules?

A - Yes. KS admins have full editorial control over all KS test material, including authoring tools for creating new questions from scratch and sorting and moving existing questions between modules and tests.


Q - Can I extend the expiry date on an invite?

A - Yes. Go to Invites > History, select your invite(s) and use the 'Extend invite' tool to change the expiry date of your invites.

Q - Can I set a time limit on a KS test?

A - Yes. Import your KS test and go to Library > Draft Content > Draft Tests, edit step 4 (Test Settings). Enter your chosen time in the 'Time limit' box.

Q - Can I hide the clock which appears on the KS test UI?

A - Yes. Import your KS test and go to Library > Draft Content > Draft Tests, edit step 4 (Test Settings). Uncheck the 'Show timer' box (see above).


Q - How do I copy admins on KS invite, reminder & results mails?

A - Go to Accounts > Administrators and toggle the account invites tool (small envelope icon) to 'on'.

Go to Settings > Invites and check the box below:

Go to Settings > Reminders and check the appropriate boxes:

Q - Is it possible to edit score and time data for KS results?

A - Yes. If you have a KS result that needs to be edited, email the details across to us and we can make the edits via the main KS db.


Q - Can I copy dynamic groups from the Users page to the Results page?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > User Datafields and click on 'Share Dynamic Groups', to share existing groups across the Users, Results and Invite History pages.

Q - Can I filter results by date of test taken?

A - Yes.  You can filter KS results data across a variety of search criteria. Go to Results > Data page and click on the 'Show search' tool to display the search options:

Q - Can I export test results?

A - Yes.  Go to the Results > Data page and click on the 'Show groups' tool.  Look for the 'Export results to csv' tool.  You have a number of export options to choose from:

Q - Can I edit the user rating labels which appear at the start of a test?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options and apply your changes in the fields provided.

Q - Can I choose whether or not to display the user survey pages at the start and end of a test session?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options and apply your change in the relevant check box.

Q - Can I stop users from logging out of a test session?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options (see above) and apply your change using the relevant check box.


Q - How can I compare our results to the overall average KS benchmark stats?

A - Go to Results > Global Comparisons and select the title(s) you want to compare your results data against.

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KS Devs Update - Spring 2014

Q1 is almost done and we've had a busy start to 2014. In fact, if a skills assessment service is a good bell-weather for the general well-being of wider industry, then this is our best start to the year since before the recession began. That's encouraging!

So here's a look at what we've been working on in the past few months:

We started off with a general update to our underlying platform, trading up to .NET 4.5. And we added a new issues-tracking system for logging bugs and system updates.

The Results > Group Comparisons page has a new tool which allows admins to capture and save results comparison charts.

The Results > Data page has new search and export options for capturing 'Skipped' question data:

The Results > Training Requirements page has 2 new tools which display charts for 'Training requests' and 'Skipped' questions:

At the end of a test session, a new advisory note displays, which confirms how many questions have been skipped:

We added some new options for creating dynamic groups on the Users and Results pages:

We added dynamic grouping to the Invites > History page:

Plus the ability to recreate existing dynamic groups in other areas of the system. For example, if you have an existing dynamic group on the Users page, you can now recreate the same group on the Results or Invite History pages. This tool can be found on the Settings > User Datafields page:

Admins can now check the progress of existing 'in progress' tests, by clicking on the new link in the Invites > History page:

We added a new filter on the Invites > History page which allows admins to display a sub-list of users who have not yet received any invites:

We added a new tool which allows admins to anonymise charts on the Results > Performance Spread and Results > Group Scores pages:

The following tasks are currently being tested in our staging area and will shortly be deployed to live:

The test start page has been tidied up and re-formatted.

We fixed a bug which caused tests to display an error if they contained more than 71 questions.

We added the ability to create more than one draft invite template on the Settings > Test Invite page.

We added rich text options, including HTML links, to the Test Invites page.

We added an advisory which is triggered if a user enters too many answers for pick list questions. It says: 'This question has a maximum of x correct answer choices'.

We are adding new options on the Results > Data page to filter and export the user data capture info (which is captured on the pages at the start and end of a test).

We are adding a new page called 'Module Performance', which allows admins to analyse results data on a per module basis.

We are adding new search options on the Accounts > Move Users page.


In addition to the system updates, we are also continuing to work on the KS library. All existing Autodesk titles are available in 2014 format. Plus the following: Vault, Civil 3D advanced, Revit MEP advanced, Revit MEP metric, AECOsim Building Designer, Blue Beam, Synchro and Tekla Structures,

Looking ahead, our summer dev list includes adding new question types and survey options. Followed by individual user dashboards. We'll keep you updated as this work progresses.

R

Logging in to the KS system

OK, this might seem like a pretty basic task, but we thought it was worth documenting for new users of the KS system.  How do admins access and log in to the KS system?

Here's how..

Step one
Go to the KS website homepage and click on the CUSTOMER LOGIN link, top right.

Step two
This takes you to the KS admin dashboard landing page.  Here is the direct link: https://online.knowledgesmart.net.

Step three
To access your KS admin dashboard, click on the ADMIN DASHBOARD LOGIN link, just under the KnowledgeSmart logo.

Enter your administrator username and password, in the grey box and hit the Log In button.

And that's it!  The first page you will see is the KS test list, which lists all of the 'off the shelf' tests on your account.

Here are a couple of additional things to be mindful of.  First, when you are assigned your initial password by the KS system, it is generated by a software program.  Consequently, it is a random series of characters and numbers.  When you first log in to your dashboard, we suggest you change your system generated password, to one of your own choosing.  Here's how..

Hit the Change password link, top right of your dashboard homepage.  Copy & paste your system password in the first box.  Enter your own password in box 2 and repeat in box 3.  Then hit the Change password button - and you're done!

If you forget or lose your KS password, you have the option to re-set the password at any time.  Go to the login page, hit the ADMIN DASHBOARD LOGIN link and click the Forgot details? link at the footer of the grey box.

This takes you to the password re-set page.  Type in your username and hit Submit.  You will be sent a new password to your registered email address.

Lastly, a word about the difference between the 'CADsmart' database and the 'KnowledgeSmart' system.  You'll notice that there is a separate link called 'CADsmart Login', at the footer of the KS dashboard landing page.  This link takes you to the login page for legacy CADsmart users.  It is an entirely separate system and should not be confused with the login routine for the KnowledgeSmart tools.  The CADsmart system has a separate account number and password combination.  If you attempt to login to the CADsmart system using your KS username and password, you won't get very far.  So don't try! :)

Conversely, you can't access a CADsmart dashboard with your KS credentials!

R