RunestoneInteractive · ascholerChemeketa · Sep 5, 2026 · Sep 5, 2026 · Sep 5, 2026 · Sep 5, 2026
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ def sort_key(assignment):
         lti1p1=is_lti1p1_course,
         now=now,
         visibility_map=visibility_map,
+        term_start_date=course.term_start_date,
         settings=settings,
         base_url=construct_course_url(course),
         activity_info="{}",
@@ -1020,6 +1021,7 @@ async def doAssignment(
         questions_score=questions_score,
         readings_score=readings_score,
         user=user,
+        term_start_date=course.term_start_date,
         user_id=user.username,  # _base.html for ptx student pages needs user_id
         base_course=course.base_course,
         # gradeRecordingUrl=URL('assignments', 'record_grade'),

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     border-radius: 5px;
     height: 20px;
     position: relative;
+    margin: 10px auto;
 }
 
 

@@ -235,9 +235,11 @@ <h2>
 
 
         <div id="scprogresscontainer">
-            You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of
-            <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page
-            <div id="subchapterprogress"></div>
+            <div id="scprogress-activity-count">
+                You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of
+                <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page.
+            </div>
+            <div id="subchapterprogress" aria-label="Page progress"></div>
         </div>
 
 

@@ -1432,4 +1432,11 @@ legend {
 
 .autopermalink {
     display: none;
+}
+
+
+.course-not-started-warning {
+    margin-bottom: 20px;
+    margin-top: 20px;
+    padding: 15px;
 }
@@ -348,6 +348,25 @@ export const NON_CONTENT_PAGES = [
     "search.html",
 ];
 
+export function isCourseStarted() {
+    let startDate = eBookConfig.termStartDate; // format is "2026-09-22"
+    if (!startDate) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    let today = new Date();
+    let start = new Date(startDate);
+    return today >= start;
+}
+
+function courseNotStartedMessage() {
+    const formattedDate = new Date(eBookConfig.termStartDate).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+        year: 'numeric',
+        month: 'long',
+        day: 'numeric'
+    });
+    return ("Course has not started yet. Progress will be tracked starting on " + formattedDate);
+}
+
 /** True when pathname names one of the NON_CONTENT_PAGES. */
 export function isNonContentPage(pathname = window.location.pathname) {
     let page = pathname.split("/").pop().toLowerCase();
@@ -440,6 +459,11 @@ export class PageProgressBar {
         } catch (e) {
             value = 0;
         }
+        let progressText = document.getElementById("scprogress-activity-count");
+        // Warn if course not started
+        if(progressText && !isCourseStarted()) {
+            progressText.appendChild(document.createTextNode(courseNotStartedMessage()));
+        }
         // Replace #subchapterprogress div with a native <progress> element if not already done
         let subchapterprogress = document.getElementById("subchapterprogress");
         if (subchapterprogress && subchapterprogress.tagName !== "PROGRESS") {
@@ -1080,6 +1104,22 @@ async function handlePageSetup() {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    // PTX generated pages may have stale HTML. Forcibly re-render the content
+    // of the progress container. Any logic that modifies the progress container
+    // should be done after this point, or it will be overwritten.
+    const scprogresscontainer = document.getElementById(
+        "scprogresscontainer",
+    );
+    if (scprogresscontainer)
+        scprogresscontainer.innerHTML = `
+            <div id="scprogress-activity-count">
+                You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of
+                <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page.
+            </div>
+            <div id="subchapterprogress" aria-label="Page progress"></div>
+        `;
+
     console.log(`This page served by ${eBookConfig.served_by}`);
     if (eBookConfig.isLoggedIn) {
         mess = `username: ${eBookConfig.username}`;
@@ -1094,7 +1134,23 @@ async function handlePageSetup() {
             }
         }
         document.dispatchEvent(new Event("runestone:login"));
+
         addReadingList();
+
+        // Warn if the course has not started yet
+        if (!isCourseStarted()) {
+            const ptxContent = document.getElementById("ptx-content");
+            if (ptxContent) {
+                const warningContainer = document.createElement("div");
+                warningContainer.className = "ptx-runestone-container";
+                const warningDiv = document.createElement("div");
+                warningDiv.className = "course-not-started-warning alert alert-danger";
+                warningDiv.textContent = courseNotStartedMessage();
+                warningContainer.appendChild(warningDiv);
+                ptxContent.insertBefore(warningContainer, ptxContent.firstChild);
+            }
+        }
+
         // Only show the StudyClues widget for certain base courses and when the path includes "/ns/books/".
         // This is a temporary measure to limit the widget to courses that are known to work well with it and to avoid showing it on non-book pages where it may not be as useful.
         if (shouldShowStudyCluesWidget()) {

@@ -400,7 +400,11 @@ <h4>Before you keep reading...</h4>
   {% endif %}
 
   <div id="scprogresscontainer">
-    You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page <div id="subchapterprogress" aria-label="Page progress"></div>
+    <div id="scprogress-activity-count">
+        You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of
+        <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page.
+    </div>
+    <div id="subchapterprogress" aria-label="Page progress"></div>
   </div>
 
   {% include "subchapter.html" %}

@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@ import {
 /** The markup a book emits for the progress bar. */
 function progressMarkup() {
     return `
-<div id="scprogresscontainer">You have attempted
-<span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of <span id="scprogressposs"></span>
-activities on this page.
+<div id="scprogresscontainer">
+<div id="scprogress-activity-count">
+    You have attempted <span id="scprogresstotal"></span> of
+    <span id="scprogressposs"></span> activities on this page.
+</div>
 <div id="subchapterprogress" aria-label="Page progress"></div>
 </div>`;
 }

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ <h3>{{ course.course_name }}</h3>
             <div class="settingsbox">
                 <label for="start_date">Term Start Date</label>
                 <input type="text" id="start_date" value="{{ start_date }}" onchange="updateCourse(this, 'new_date')">
-                <div class="setting-description">Set the start date for your course term</div>
+                <div class="setting-description">Set this to the first day students will be able to do work in the course. Student work before this date will not be counted.</div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="settingsbox">

@@ -147,7 +147,8 @@ <h4 class="book-section">{{ section }}</h4>
             <label><input type="checkbox" name="allowpairs" value="true" {% if submitted is defined and submitted.allowpairs == 'true' %}checked{% endif %}> Enable <strong>experimental</strong> pair programming features.</label><br>
             <label><input type="checkbox" name="instructor" value="yes" {% if submitted is defined and submitted.instructor == 'yes' %}checked{% else %}checked{% endif %}> Make me the Instructor of this course.</label><br>
             <label for="startdate">Term start date</label>
-            <input type="date" name="startdate" id="startdate" class="form-control" required value="{{ submitted.startdate if submitted is defined else current_date }}">
+            <input type="date" name="startdate" id="startdate" class="form-control" required value="{{ submitted.startdate if submitted is defined else current_date }}" aria-describedby="startdate-hint">
+            <small class="form-text text-muted" id="startdate-hint">Set this to the first day students will be able to do work in the course. Student work before this date will not be counted.</small>
         </div>
         <div class="form-section">
             <div class="step-title">Step 6: (Optional !!): Support Runestone Academy</div>

@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 {% endblock %} 
 
 {% block content %}
+
+{% if using_ptx_base != "true" %}
+    {% include 'common/ebook_config.html' %}
+{% endif %}
+
 <section class="assignment-page">
 <h1 class="heading">Choose Assignment</h1>
 

@@ -32,4 +32,5 @@
   eBookConfig.authorServerUrl = "{{settings.author_server_url}}";
   eBookConfig.websocketUrl = "{{settings.websocket_url}}"
   eBookConfig.enableDebug = true ? "{{settings.debug}}" == "True" : false;
+  eBookConfig.termStartDate = "{{ course.term_start_date | default('', true) }}";
 </script>