How To Set Up Defaults

Overview

When a new user account is created, a User Defaults ID is automatically created.   This ID stores the default settings for the user's profile.   Once the user logs in and out for the first time, their default profile is created and their settings will save going forward.

There are Generic default settings that save the last thing that was entered into certain fields on a form, such as agency name, agency city & county, officer name and ID number, and the last statute or court location that was used on a citation.

There are other defaults that are saved to the user profile that are created and updated by the user.   These include the following:

Advanced searches
AdHoc queries
Auto Print settings
Column layout and visibility
Day/Night mode
Favorite searches
Favorite statutes
Favorite citation locations
Navigation Bar settings
Officer signature
Quick Add icon order
Search tab settings
Zoom level

Whenever the there are additions or changes to these settings, the changes save to the default profile once the user logs out of TraCS.

Be sure to log out of TraCS properly by pressing the X in the upper right corner or by going to the File tab on the upper left and pressing Exit.   If you do not log out properly, your defaults will not save.

If you use more than one computer for TraCS, make sure you are logging out on one before logging into the other or you could lose any new defaults that you have created.   Defaults will save on the last machine where you log out.   If you are logged in to more than one machine at the same time, defaults will save on the machine where you log out last.

Auto Print Settings

You may configure your the print settings for the Driver Exchange, UTC, and DUI citation to your liking.

See this page for instructions.

Officer Signature

Officers may add a signature to their profile.   Once added, the signature will automatically be added to forms.

A signature is required on UTC and DUI citations.   Adding a default signature saves the officer from having to do it each time they write a citation.

Instructions on how to create one are here.

Form Settings

Agency Name, Agency City/County, Officer Name/Badge Number

Once officers add their agency, city, county, name, and badge number on each different form, that information saves to their default profile and will populate in those fields going forward.

The last thing that is entered is what will save to those fields.

If the officer makes a mistake and enters incorrect information in those fields, they can fix it on the next new form they create.

If the officer's name or badge number changes, they should update it on the next new form that they create.   Each different form used by the agency must be updated.   For example, if the agency uses crash, UTC, and tow, the officer must change their information on all three.

Favorite UTC Statutes & Favorite Citation Locations

Favorite UTC statutes and favorite UTC locations that you set up will save to your default profile.

How to Save Favorite UTC Statutes

How to Save Favorite UTC Locations

Zoom Level

You may set the zoom level on forms to your liking.   The custom zoom level must be set on each individual form type (crash, UTC, tow, etc.).

Open the form where you want to set a custom zoom level.
Gp to the View tab and press the Zoom button.
Choose a zoom percentage level and it will change the view on your form.
Once you decide on a zoom level that you like, press Zoom again, make sure the level you want is checked, and press Set Current as Default.
Repeat for each form where you wish to set a custom zoom level.

Forms Manager Settings

You may set the Forms Manager view to your liking.

Column Layout & Visibility

You may change the layout of the columns and form list to your liking.

By default, TraCS will sort the form list by date.   To sort by form name, form number, or any other column, click the column header. To reverse sort, click it again.   You may also right click on the column you want and choose Sort Ascending or Sort Descending.

To adjust the column width, put your cursor between the column headings and drag until it is the size that you want.   You may also right click and choose Best Fit or Best Fit (all columns).

To adjust the column layout, left click your mouse on a column header and drag and drop to where you want it.

To hide a column, right click and press Hide This Column.

To add a column to your view, right click and press Column Chooser.   Double click on the column you want to add and then drag and drop it to where you want it.

Day/Night Mode

There are two ways to toggle between daytime and nighttime mode.

From the Forms Manager, go to the View tab and press the Night Time Mode button.
From within a form, press Ctrl-F2 or go to the View tab and press the Night Time Mode button.

Searches

Advanced searches, ad hoc queries, and favorite searches that you create save to your default profile.

How to Create an Advanced Search
How to Create an Ad Hoc Query
How to Create Favorite Searches

Troubleshooting

If your defaults are not saving, see this page for troubleshooting steps.