Data Literacy Training:
Getting Started with CatStats
Texas State University
Office of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research
Last modified: September 2024
Table of Contents
Accessing CatStats ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Navigation Bar......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Home Page .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Favorites ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Recents ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Shared with Me ...................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................................................................12
Collections .........................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Explore ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Start Page ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................17
CatStats Content ................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Navigating a Dashboard..........................................................................................................................................................................................21
Hovering & Selecting ...........................................................................................................................................................................................22
Excel & PDF Icons ...............................................................................................................................................................................................25
Filters .................................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Filter types ......................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Clearing Filters ................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Ribbon ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
Reset View .........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Undo Last Action ................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Redo Last Action ................................................................................................................................................................................................33
View: Original .....................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Save Custom View ..............................................................................................................................................................................................37
Watch (Suscbribing) ............................................................................................................................................................................................38
Download ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................40
Full Screen .........................................................................................................................................................................................................42
Share View .........................................................................................................................................................................................................43
Search Bar .............................................................................................................................................................................................................45
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Accessing CatStats
1. Access the Texas State University Website : [Link]
2. Click on the Search Bar.
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3. Search "Data, Analytics, & Institutional Research" and click on the Gold "Data, Analytics, & Institutional Research : Texas State University".
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4. Now on the D.A.I.R Website. Click on the lock icon labeled CatStats.
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5. Once you are the About page click on the Login button.
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6. Next, you are directed to the CatStats Login Page. Enter your Net ID and password, and click “Sign In”.
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Navigation Bar
The Navigation Bar is located on the left-hand side of the site. The navigation bar serves as a central tool for browsing and accessing various functions
within the site.
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Home Page
The Home Page is located on the Navigation Bar. Any recent dashboards you have opened will appear here, along with your Favorites and
Recommendations.
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Favorites
1. To favorite a dashboard, click on the star located in the bottom right-hand corner.
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2. Once a dashboard is favorited, it will appear in the Favorites tab, which is located on the Navigation Bar. The Favorites page is designed to
provide quick and easy access to dashboards or content that a user frequently needs or finds important.
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Recents
The Recent Page is located on the Navigation Bar. A Recent Page is designed to provide quick access to content or dashboards that a user has recently
viewed or interacted with.
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Shared with Me
The Shared with Me Page is located on the Navigation Bar. The Shared with Me page is where users can access dashboards or Customized Views that
others have specifically shared with them. This page centralizes content that has been made accessible to the user by colleagues, team members, or
other users, making it easier to find and collaborate on shared resources.
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Recommendations
The Recommendations page is located on the Navigation Bar. Recommendations dashboards that a user might find relevant or useful, based on their
previous interactions, preferences, or similar users' behaviors.
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Collections
1. You can access your Collections through the Navigation Bar.
2. Click the "New Collection" button to create a new collection.
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3. A new collection folder will be created. Once the new folder is created you can organize content in a collection for quick access to meaningful
data.
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4. You can share your collection with your team members. To do this, click on the three dots, select "Permissions" from the dropdown menu, and
choose who you'd like to share it with.
5. A pop-up box will appear where you can add others to your collection and set permissions for each.
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Explore
The Explore Page contains all of the Dashboards available on CatStats. You can access the Explore Page from the Navigation Bar.
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Start Page
1. You can set your start page to any page in CatStats. This means when you log in, the first page you see will be the page you choose. To do so,
navigate to the page you’d like to start on. Then, on the upper right-hand corner, click on the bubble with your name abbreviation.
2. You’ll see four options. Click on “Make this My Start Page”.
3. A popup box will appear letting you know that the next time you log in, you will automatically be directed to this page. Click “OK”. Done.
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CatStats Content
1. Dashboards in CatStats are categorized into a project folder. These project folders are found on the Explore page.
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2. Once inside a project folder, you will see dashboards (also referred to as workbooks).
3. Once inside a dashboard, or workbook, you will see different views within that dashboard.
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4. Once you’ve clicked on a view, you can navigate between the views by using the tabs on the upper right-hand corner.
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Navigating a Dashboard
CatStats offers practical application for analyzing and managing data efficiently, particularly with its intuitive features like Hovering & Selecting,
Filters, Table Views, and Customize Table View. By simply hovering over and selecting data points, users can quickly gain insights and drill down into
specific metrics. Filters allow for streamlined data analysis by narrowing down results to meet specific criteria, making it easier to focus on relevant
information. Table Views provide a clear and organized display of data, facilitating comparison and trend analysis. Additionally, the Customize Table
View feature enables users to tailor the display to their needs, ensuring that the most critical data is highlighted and accessible, ultimately enhancing
the decision-making process.
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Hovering & Selecting
1. Some dashboards have an informational “i” icon which you can hover over, and it will display general information or helpful tips about the
dashboard.
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2. Hovering over parts of a chart will reveal additional information and detail about that particular metric that you’re hovering over.
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3. You can also click on part of the chart it may show you that metric but in a different way, such as a line chart. You can click a second time to
deselect, and it’ll return you to the previous view.
4. You can also use CTRL+CLICK on Windows computers or CMD+CLICK on Mac computers to select multiple options at once. Note: by clicking
or selecting parts of a chart will cause it to act as a filter.
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Excel & PDF Icons
1. Some dashboards will have an Excel and/or PDF icon, so you can easily download the dashboard data.
2. By clicking on the Excel icon, it will allow you to download a spreadsheet in either a CSV or Excel format, referred to as a crosstab. The correct
sheet will usually be marked with pound signs “#” at the beginning and end of the sheet name.
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3. By clicking on the PDF icon, it will allow you choose your preferred PDF format.
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Filters
1. You can use the filter toolbar at the top of the page to customize and refine the data to your preferences.
2. You may also see a filter toggle button on some dashboards. This will allow you to display or hide the available filters. Note: this does not
mean that the filters are turned off or on, it will simply hide them so there is more room to display the charts and diagrams.
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Filter types
1. Single selection filters will automatically apply themselves once selected.
2. Multiple selection filters may require you to hit “Apply” before filtering the data.
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Clearing Filters
1. If you want to clear filters, you can use the little funnel icon button that is located adjacent to the filter.
2. Alternatively, you can also click on the “Reset view” button on the top left hand corner.
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Ribbon
The ribbon at the top of each dashboard includes the following buttons:
• Undo Last Action
• Redo Last Action
• Reset View
• Refresh Data *
• Pause Auto Updates*
• Accelerate*
• Views
• Data Guide*
• Watch
• Download
• Full Screen
• Share View
*These buttons are not being utilized, so they will not be discussed in these instructions.
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Reset View
The "Reset View" feature located on the ribbon allows users to revert a customized interface or data table back to its original, default settings. With a
single click, "Reset View" clears filters, rearranges columns, and restores the original layout, ensuring that the user can quickly return to the standard
view.
*Hovering over the button will display a label describing its function.*
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Undo Last Action
The "Undo My Last Action" feature located on the ribbon allows you to instantly reverse your most recent operation or change.
*Hovering over the button will display a label describing its function.*
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Redo Last Action
The "Redo My Last Action" feature located in the ribbon allows you to reapply the last action you undid. If you change your mind after using the undo
function or if you want to quickly restore an action, this feature lets you bring back the previous operation.
*Hovering over the button will display a label describing its function.*
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View: Original
1. This button will allow you to choose between different saved views in your account. If you haven’t saved a custom view before you will only see
the option of viewing the original, default dashboard view located under “Other Views”.
2. This button will also allow you to manage your custom views. The pin icon will allow you set it as your default, the pencil icon will allow you to
rename the view, and the trash bin will allow you to delete it.
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3. Another way of viewing your custom views is by navigating to the main dashboard page, and clicking on “Custom Views”.
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4. On this screen, your custom views will be listed under Actions, and will allow you to either change owner or delete the view.
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Save Custom View
1. After filtering the table to your preference, a new button will appear called “Save Custom View” that will allow you to save the current
dashboard (along with filters selected) as a Custom Table View. To do so, click on "Save Custom View" located on the ribbon.
2. When you click on "Save Custom View," a pop-up box will appear, allowing you to name your custom view with the option of making it your
default.
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Watch (Suscbribing)
1. Clicking on this button will give you two options, Subscriptions and Alerts. Subscriptions will allow you to get scheduled email snapshots of
the dashboard. The Alerts button will not be utilized.
2. After clicking on Subscriptions, a popup box will appear. Here you can select (1) what dashboard view* you would like emailed, (2) the format
preferred, (3) the email subject line, (4) an optional message, (5) the frequency, and (6) the scheduled time. After you’ve chosen your
preferences, click on subscribe. Note: if you would like the emails to include a custom view, make sure your dashboard is displaying that view
before clicking on subscribe. Otherwise, it will send you the default, original view.
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3. You will also be able to manage your subscriptions, by clicking on the blue “Manage Subscriptions” located on the lower left hand corner of the
popup box.
4. This page will list all your subscriptions, by clicking on the three dots under “Action”, it will allow you to modify or delete them.
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Download
1. This button will allow you to download the dashboard in whatever format you would like.
2. The “Image” and “PDF” options are suggested for readability; however, you can choose other formats as well. Note: restrictions have been set
for downloading the data behind the dashboard.
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3. If you choose to download the “Crosstab”, “PDF”, or “PowerPoint” options, a popup box will appear asking for additional selections. The
correct sheet will usually be marked with pound signs “#” at the beginning and end of the sheet name.
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Full Screen
This button will allow you to switch from viewing the website in full screen format or in your regular browser window. Alternatively, you can click
on F11 on a windows computer or CMD+CTRL+F on a mac computer.
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Share View
1. This button will allow you to share the dashboard with other staff and faculty. You can choose to share with a user by entering their username
or share via a link.
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2. If you choose to share with people using their usernames, you can choose to share with multiple people, and you will have the option of
entering a message. After you click on Share, the system will then send an email notifying them. Note: the way your dashboard is displayed will
be the way it will be shared, so if there are filters selected on the dashboard, the people you share the dashboard with will also see those same
filters.
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Search Bar
The Search Bar is located on the top right-hand side of the site. The search bar in CatStats allows users to quickly find specific dashboards or other
content within the platform. Instead of navigating through multiple pages, users can type keywords, titles, or phrases related to what they’re looking
for. The search bar then displays relevant results, making it easier and faster to locate specific items, especially when users know what they need but
aren't sure where it's stored.
