COLTS (Church Online Tracking System)

Click on the link to the left to access the Virginia Conference COLTS (Church Online Tracking System) Logon Screen.   NOTE:  If your Internet Explorer POP-Up blocker is turned on you may need to press down on the CTRL key on your keyboard as you click on the link.  The CTRL key is the manual override to the POP-Up blocker.

Often the answers to questions about COLTS are found by reading this documentation so please take a moment and read the following information.   

Should you need further assistance, contact your District Office or send an e-mail message to the Conference Help Desk at HelpDesk@vaumc.org

Revised System
The Church Online Tracking System (COLTS) goal is to increase our efficient use of resources to lower operating costs.    Thanks to your efforts we are making great strides toward this goal.

Logon ID and Password
Should you need assistance with your Logon ID or Password please contact your district office.    

Easy Profile Update
Using the following process will save you time and provide a copy of the profile response for your records.   This is the suggested method to complete a Profile (Pastor, Church, Community).   Open the COLTS profile page and print the web page showing the profile questions.   

New Profile - using your favorite word processor create your response to each profile question.  When you have finished all of the profile questions then run your word processor spellchecker.   The final step - with your word processor open to your profile page, open COLTS, go to the selected profile, open the selected question.  Minimize the COLTS screen - DO NOT CLOSE the screen - only minimize it.   Go to your word processor and COPY the selected question response and then minimize your word processor - again minimize and not close.   Maximize the web browser with the COLTS question open and PASTE your response to the selected question.  SAVE and CLOSE the COLTS data window.   Continue this process to complete all of the profile questions.   When you are finished you may want to save a copy for your own records.  

Updating an Existing Profile - Open COLTS to the profile and COPY your response.   Then open your favorite word processor and PASTE your response into the document.   Continue until you have the responses to each question.    Update all of your responses in your word processor and then run your word processor spellchecker.   The final step - with your word processor open to your profile page, open COLTS, go to the selected profile, open the selected question.  Minimize the COLTS screen - DO NOT CLOSE the screen - only minimize it.   Go to your word processor and COPY the selected question response and then minimize your word processor - again minimize and not close.   Maximize the web browser with the COLTS question open and PASTE your response to the selected question.   SAVE and CLOSE the COLTS data window.   Continue this process to complete all of the profile questions.   When you are finished you may want to save a copy for your own records.  

Web Browser Concerns
In developing the COLTS web site , effort was made to take advantage of current web programming practices while balancing constraints inherent in older web browser versions.   It is possible you may be using a browser that may not be compatible with programming in parts of the COLTS web site.   COLTS is easy to use, and many folks have very few problems in this online data entry environment.  However, there are a few pitfalls that can occur, and most of these happen when any (or all) of these conditions occur:

  • you are not using one of the approved browsers
  • the browser settings do not have JavaScript enabled
  • you are using AOL to connect to the Internet

Supported Client Operating Systems Windows

  • 95 / 98 / ME / NT / 2000 / XP
  • Mac OS 8.6 & 9.1 (OS X to be supported by version 3.7 with full release of IE)
  • Linux
  • Opera

Use a Current Web Browser
Check your browser and make sure you are using a browser that works well with COLTS.  COLTS is very sensitive to web browser versions - the browsers that work best are:

Internet Explorer (IE) 

  • Internet Explorer (IE) 5.5 SP2 or higher
  • Internet Explorer 6 SP1 is an excellent choice
  • Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 and earlier versions will encounter data screen issues 

Netscape

  • Netscape 6.2 or higher 
  • Netscape 7
  • Netscape 6.1and earlier versions will encounter data screen issues 

America Online (AOL)

  • AOL utilizes Internet Explorer for a significant percentage of browser functionality.   If you are using AOL then you will need to check both your AOL and IE installed versions.
  • AOL 5 or higher in combination with IE 5.5 SP2 or higher (see IE above)
  • AOL 7 in combination with IE 5.5 SP2 or higher (see IE above)
  • Earlier versions of either AOL or IE will cause data screen issues 

Other Browsers 

  • Mozilla was not tested; however, the browser may be Ok
  • Jaguar was not tested; however, the browser may be Ok
  • Opera was not tested; however, the browser may be Ok

If you don’t know what version browser you are using, click the Help button in the menu bar and in the drop down box, click About Internet Explorer or About Netscape.   If your browser is older than the versions listed above please download and install one of the browsers listed above before you continue with data entry in COLTS.

Possible AOL User Concerns

If you use America Online (AOL) for web access, use AOL 5.0 or higher client software and you also need to have Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 or higher installed as well.  Using earlier versions of AOL or IE may cause you to experience data screen issues on some COLTS web pages.

If you are using AOL and are experiencing issues with COLTS data processing, please try the following:  The AOL browser utilizes a substantial amount of the Internet Explorer (IE) system.   If either AOL or IE versions are less than AOL 5 and IE 5.5 then you will encounter data screen issues.  Update your AOL version and your IE version by following the instructions below: 

Updating AOL - Go to the AOL site or find an AOL update CD and perform an AOL update to AOL version 5 or above.   

Updating IE - Connect to AOL as usual then minimize the AOL browser - DO NOT close the AOL browser - minimize it.   Locate Microsoft Internet Explorer (big blue E) and open the browser.  IE should open and connect to an Internet web page through your AOL connection.  Open the www.colts.vaumc.org  page and open this page again.  Click on the browser link for the IE update (see above).  Download and update your IE browser.   When the update is complete -  restart your system unit.   When the system comes back up you should be using the new version of AOL and the new version of IE.   You should now be able to properly process the COLTS data screens using your AOL browser.  
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