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VAR Grade
Grading Tools for Teachers
Version 6.0
BEGINNER'S MANUAL
AND TUTORIAL
Written by DENNIS REVIE
(c) Copyright 1993 by Dennis Revie
Distributed by VARed Software
1490 Calle Fidelidad
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-6819
USA
(805) 523-7546
Compuserve: 73427,112
Internet: 73427.112@Compuserve.com
+---------+
+---------+ | (R)
--| |o |------------------
| +------+--+ | Association of
| | |-+ Shareware
+---| o | Professionals
------| | |--------------------
+----+----+ MEMBER
VAR Grade is COPYRIGHTED (C) 1987-1993 by Dennis Revie.
All rights are reserved.
VAR Grade can be distributed as SHAREWARE. It is not free.
VAR Grade is written in Borland International's Turbo Pascal.
The files that can be listed by the "DIR *.BGI" (screen drivers)
and "DIR *.CHR" (fonts) are copyrighted by Borland International
and are used in accordance with the license.
The files that can be listed by the "DIR $*.BGI" (screen drivers)
and other print driver files are copyrighted by Fleming Software
and are used in accordance with the license.
PKUNZIP.EXE is Copyright (C) 1989-93 by PKWare, Inc.
Product names from other manufacturers are mentioned, and are
copyright and/or registered and/or trademarked by the respective
companies.
Last Revision: March 1993.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................1
DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE.....................................2
DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT......................................2
I. INTRODUCTION TO VAR GRADE................................5
A. Program features.....................................7
B. Conventions used in this manual.....................13
C. Sample classes......................................13
II. REQUIREMENTS...........................................14
A. Hardware............................................14
B. Versions............................................14
C. Networks............................................15
III. INSTALLATION OF VAR GRADE.............................16
A. Using INSTALL.......................................16
B. Installation without INSTALL........................19
IV. TUTORIALS..............................................20
A. Starting the program................................20
B. Using an existing class: tutorial...................21
C. Starting a new class................................27
D. Entering data.......................................30
E. If you are lost.....................................31
F. Starting another class..............................31
G. Advanced mode.......................................32
H. Exiting the program.................................32
I. Using a Mouse.......................................32
J. How Special Keys are Used...........................33
K. How the Cursor Keys Work............................34
1
DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software
before buying it. If you try a shareware program and continue
using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs
differ on details -- some request registration while others
require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With
registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue
using the software to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial
software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few
specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are
accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the
programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are
good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method
of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy
and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a
specific group. For example, some authors require written
permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their
shareware.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software.
You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,
whether it's commercial or shareware. The shareware system makes
fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware
has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the
product, you don't pay for it.
DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT
Users of VAR Grade must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
"VAR Grade is supplied as is. The author disclaims all
warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation,
the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.
The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
consequential, which may result from the use of VAR Grade." VAR
Grade is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to
2
the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your
friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of
another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to
provide personal computer users with quality software without
high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
continue to develop new products. If you find this program
useful and find that you are using VAR Grade and continue to use
VAR Grade after a reasonable trial period, you must make a
registration payment of $50 (US). You will receive the current
version plus printed manual. In addition, you will be notified
of any future updates. If a major new version of the program is
released within 90 days of registration, you will receive the new
version free of charge. Canadian checks are accepted. Outside
the US and Canada, registration is $60, payable in US dollars on
an international postal money order. This registration fee will
license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time.
You must treat this software just like a book. An example is
that this software may be used by any number of people and may be
freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as
there is no possibility of it being used at one location while
it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two
different persons at the same time.
Schools, colleges, and universities must register and pay
for their copies of VAR Grade within 60 days of first use or
their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be
made by contacting us at the address listed below, and can be
arranged on a per-school or per-user basis. Further information
on site-licenses is in the file SITELIC.DOC.
Anyone distributing VAR Grade for any kind of remuneration
must first contact us at the address below for authorization.
This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors
recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for
shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering
VAR Grade immediately (However we must still be advised so that
the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of
VAR Grade).
You are encouraged to pass a copy of VAR Grade along to your
friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their
copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users
will receive a copy of the latest version of VAR Grade, as well
as the next significant upgrade.
To register, send the registration fee to the address listed
below. The manual is the same as the on disk version, except
3
that it includes figures and an index, as well as looking
"spiffier".
Note that if you find any significant bugs, they will be
corrected and a corrected version of VAR Grade sent to you as
soon as possible.
Registered users will have the opportunity to purchase
further updates at a nominal cost.
When you register please include your name, address, and the
version of the program that you have. A suggested form is
included with the program in the file REGISTER.DOC.
If reporting bugs, please include the version of VAR Grade
that you have, as well as:
(1) The type of computer AND microprocessor 8088, 80286,
...).
(2) The type of printer you will use with it.
(3) The version of DOS that you are using (important for
finding bugs).
(4) List the bugs that you have found--and EXACTLY, if
possible, how they occurred. This information is needed
to find and correct the bug.
(5) Also include any other suggestions for improving the
program--wish lists, etc.
This program is produced by a member of the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the
shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the
member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can
help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but
does not provide technical support for members' products. Please
write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Rd., Muskegon, MI 49442
or send a Compuserve message via easyplex to ASP Ombudsman
70007,3536.
4
Registration
Fees and conditions are listed above in the Disclaimer-Agreement
($50 inside North America, $60 outside it).
To order direct from us, send a check or P.O. to:
VARed Software
1490 Calle Fidelidad
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-6819
USA
Credit card orders: You can order VAR Grade from the Public
(Software) Library with your MC, Visa, AmEx, or Discover Card
by calling (800) 2424-PsL or (713) 524-6394, or by FAX to (713)
524-6398, or by Compuserve to 71355,470, or by mail to:
PsL
P.O. Box 35705
Houston, TX 77235-5705.
These credit card numbers are for ordering only. Please do not
ask them technical support questions. The PsL program number
is 7392/1394.
Information
For dealer pricing, volume discounts, site licensing, shipping of
product, returns, latest version number, or other technical
information, contact us by calling (805) 523-7546, or by
Compuserve to 73427,112, or write to the address for VARed
Software listed above. A text file, SITELIC.DOC, is included
with the program that gives more information on site-licenses.
5
I. INTRODUCTION TO VAR GRADE
WELCOME TO VAR GRADE! This program has been written to be
flexible enough to allow you to grade your class with the same
methods you now use--except that the program does the tedious
chores of adding, plotting, and writing the scores. The program
has been written by and for teachers and requires no special
knowledge of computers or MS-DOS.
This manual will help both computer novices and computer
experts get the most out of the VAR Grade program. If you are
not an experienced computer user, this Beginner's Manual and
Tutorial will show you how to get started with the program.
Before putting data from your own classes onto the computer, we
suggest that you go through the tutorial in Chapter IV, First Use
of VAR Grade, which uses a sample class to illustrate the steps
in starting the program.
If you are acquainted with MS-DOS and want to modify the
program to meet your specific needs, the Advanced Manual contains
information on how to do so. Menus are used to access all areas
of the program. When in the program, you can read the manual at
any time by simultaneously pressing the <Alt> key and the "H"
key.
One of the most powerful features of the program is its
ability to analyze student grades in a wide variety of ways. The
tutorials and additional material in Chapter IV will enable you
to examine both individual and group performance using several
different methods of data analysis. The calculations generated
by VAR Grade will give you a great deal of information helpful in
assigning final grades. Both you and your students will benefit
from this data, since you can identify clearly how the student is
performing relative to the rest of the class, and also evaluate
the student's work on different assignments. The program also
allows you to generate clear and attractive graphics, which will
answer the question "why did I get this grade?" in more detail
than most students will need.
The program can be used for both grades and attendance. You
may grade with either letter or number grades, and you can use
any combination of letter and number grades. You can change the
6
Introduction
points of any assignment or score at any time. You can also use
many different types of pre-defined assignments (tasks),
including ones that are the sums, averages, and weights of other
tasks. Any task or combination of tasks can be plotted,
correlated, and analyzed statistically. Attendance for your
classes can be recorded. Individual student scores can be
printed or scores for each section of the class can be printed.
You can control page length, margins, and type size when printing
the data.
The program has also been designed to be as immune as
possible from errors on your part. The program checks for
reasonable task scores, will not easily let you exit the program
without saving your data, and will check to ensure that the data
sent to a disk was actually written before letting you exit from
the program. It will also prevent accidental deletions of your
files by making them read-only files (which you cannot delete
with the DOS "del" or "erase" commands). You can also protect
your grades from prying eyes by requiring a password before
allowing access to your data.
The program has been in use for several years, and has
undergone constant improvements and corrections. However,
suggestions are always welcome for additions, deletions, or
improvements to the program. Please send comments! Most of the
recent changes in the program were suggested by people using this
program.
A. Program features
An unlimited number of students, tasks, and classes of students
are allowed by VAR Grade. Only the amount of memory in your
computer limits these.
1. Beginner vs. advanced modes
When you first start the program, you will be in "beginner"
mode. This mode lacks many of the options of the "advanced"
mode. Switching between the two modes is done quite easily
on the Main Menu. Since the beginner mode has fewer
options, it is easier to learn and use. However, to unleash
the full power of the program, you will need to move to the
advanced mode. Those features only in the advanced mode are
listed in this manual with an (AM).
7
2. Entering the students
You can enter the students either by entering their names
directly into the program, or by telling the program to use
a file of names for the students (AM). You can enter both
names and IDs for the students. Printouts can print one or
both of these, and, if desired, print only the last few
digits of the ID.
You can sort and list students several ways, including by
names, IDs, sections, and task scores. You can display and
print students by their names and/or their IDs.
3. Sections
The number of sections is initially set at 1 when you first
start a new class. For elementary schools, that is probably
all that you will need. For secondary schools and colleges,
several sections of the same class are frequently taught by
one instructor. There is a limit of 254 different sections
of students in the class. Students can be printed, plotted,
or analyzed in any combination of sections.
4. Tasks
Tasks include, but are not limited to, assignments. Regular
tasks include exams, tests, homework, papers, quizzes, and
any other assignment. Special tasks are not assignments,
but rather mathematical manipulations of other tasks. Below
is a quick overview of both kinds of tasks. For more
information, see the Advanced Manual. Besides defining
tasks, you can use a variety of tools to analyze or modify
the tasks after they have been defined.
(a) Regular tasks
There are eleven different types of tasks allowed. Two of
them correspond to ordinary number and letter grades.
(i) Number tasks are ones in which the scores are numbers.
(ii) Letter tasks are ones in which the scores are
letters, like A, B-, or C+.
8
Introduction
(iii) Extra credit tasks are ones where the points can be
added to a number task, but the total points of the number
task are not altered. Extra credit tasks are treated in
special ways by the program. The special tasks, listed
below, count extra credit as 0 total points.
(b) Special tasks
The second type of tasks are called Special tasks.
Special tasks are sums, averages, highest, percentages,
etc., of other tasks. You do not enter scores into
special tasks. Instead, you pick the tasks to be counted
in the sum (or average, percentage, highest, etc.) of
other tasks. The program then calculates the scores for
you. These scores will be recalculated each time you
change student scores.
(i) Sum tasks
These are tasks that are the sums of other tasks.
Tasks that are not yet entered can be included in the
list of tasks that will be summed. When the tasks are
then defined, they will be included in the sums.
(ii) Averaged tasks
These are tasks that are the average of other tasks.
If you use letter grades, the averages are averages of
the point values of the letters, otherwise they are the
numerical average of the scores. Any scores that have
not yet been entered are not averaged, so the averages
reflect only those tasks for which the student has
scores.
(iii) Percentage tasks
These are tasks that average scores, then convert those
averages to percentages. Like averaged tasks, any
scores that have not yet been entered are not used in
the calculations.
(iv) Highest tasks (AM)
These are tasks that sum the scores of other tasks,
then the lowest one or more scores are discarded
("throw out the lowest of several scores"). The
program will find the lowest of a set of scores and add
9
up only the remaining ones. Scores that are unentered
are discarded first, then the lowest that have been
entered are discarded.
(v) Weighted tasks (AM)
You can define a task as the sum of other tasks, each
worth a certain weight of the final grade.
(vi) Attendance tasks (AM)
Attendance can be given values. These values can then
be used to calculate a score that can be used like the
other special tasks.
(vii) Attendance extra credit tasks (AM)
These are defined like the attendance tasks, except
that, like the regular extra credit task, they are
treated special ways by special tasks--as having 0
total points.
(viii) Final tasks (AM)
You can define a task as a final task. Letter grades
are assigned to this task based upon student scores and
grade cutoffs specified by you.
(ix) User tasks (AM)
You can define a task as a user task. You enter a
formula, like you would in a spreadsheet, to define how
the student scores are calculated.
5. Attendance and seating
You can use VAR Grade to record attendance for your class.
There can be up to 240 days of attendance, with several
different types of attendance (present, absent, late, etc.).
Seating charts can be made, printed out, and used for
recording attendance.
10
Introduction
6. Database items (AM)
Besides names and IDs, you can enter up to 200 different
database items per student. Database items can be numbers,
memos, strings, booleans (yes/no), etc. They can represent
addresses, comments, sex, age, year in school, birthdates,
etc.
7. Entering data
Scores and attendance can be entered spreadsheet style.
Students and their data are listed either by individual
students or by the whole class. Data entry is checked for
valid input, so no scores can be entered if they have more
than the allowed points. The program also includes an
"inline" calculator for adding up scores that are to be
entered.
8. Writing the scores
You can print the scores of one student OR you can print the
scores for an entire class or combination of sections of the
class. After choosing which way to write out the scores,
you can choose the printer, page size, type size, and if the
data should be written to the screen, or also to a disk file
or a printer. The program allows a great deal of
flexibility in how you print student data. The program also
allows you write your own "report forms" so that you can
print the scores just about any way you want (this feature
is only in the advanced mode). You can then change anything
printed by the program. In other words, if you don't like
the way the program prints things, you can probably change
it.
9. Plotting the scores
You can plot and graph the scores of any task that you
choose. If you grade with numbers, you can choose the low
and high scores to plot.
In advanced mode, you can plot all the scores for one
student. You can correlate scores on two tasks. The scores
will be plotted against each other and the correlation
11
coefficients calculated. You can also plot the class scores
for any task or set of tasks. Ranges, means, medians, and
standard deviations are calculated and plotted.
All the plots can be displayed and printed using a variety
of fonts.
10. Define grading systems
You can pick just about any grading system you want, simply
by renaming the grades and changing their values. In
addition, each class can have up to 4 grading systems at the
same time! You can also use the program to automatically
assign grades according to your own grading scale(s).
11. Statistics & assigning grades
At the end of a semester, you can assign grades and have the
grades and grade cutoffs neatly printed. If you use number
grades, you can weight exams by adding or multiplying the
current scores by a number. You can calculate statistics on
tasks and adjust the final grades. You can even calculate
what students need to get particular grades (what-ifs).
12. Printers
For printing student scores, you can use any printer. In
order to be able to print graphs and plots, you need to
specify your printer(s) during installation. VAR Grade
support most printers. You can print in pica, elite, and
compressed characters. Graphs are printed at the resolution
of your printer.
13. Passwords
If your computer is accessible to others, you can prevent
people from accessing the student data by using a password.
The password can be up to 15 characters long, and can
include spaces and punctuation marks.
12
Introduction
14. Other program features
There are many additional features in the program. Among
them are (a) the colors used by the program can be changed,
(b) the number of lines and characters on a screen and on a
printed page can be specified, (c) the number of decimal
places to use can be specified, (d) whether to round or
truncate scores can be chosen, and (e) macros can be
specified for repetitive typing, and much more.
15. International support
You can define your own grading system, dates, and translate
all program output into your language of choice. You can
even write your own report forms.
B. Conventions used in this manual
Names of files and programs are printed in UPPERCASE letters.
Warnings and notes are printed in italics.
Examples of what to type are in double quotes: "TYPE THIS".
MS-DOS prompts are usually listed as: A>. Anything after the
prompt should be typed.
Example: A> GRADE
The prompt is A>, and you should type "GRADE".
Special keys are those that do not print normal characters.
They are designated in the manual and program by bracketing
the key name with "<" and ">".
Example: <Esc> means the Escape key, <Rtn> means the Return
or Enter key.
C. Sample classes
To look at the capabilities of VAR Grade, four sample classes
called GSample, A, B, and C have been included. Many of the
features of the program have been used for these classes. To
view them, type "GRADE GSAMPLE", "GRADE A", "GRADE B", or
"GRADE C". These classes are also used for tutorials and
figures in the manuals.
13
II. REQUIREMENTS
A. Hardware
1. This program will run on an IBM PC or compatible computer.
2. It requires MS-DOS 2.0 or later.
3. It requires at least 420,000 bytes of free memory (memory
LEFT after DOS and memory resident programs are running). If
you have 512K memory or greater in your computer you should
have no problem running VAR Grade.
4. One drive of 720K or more. A hard disk is highly
recommended.
5. The program can run using either a monochrome or a color
monitor. To see graphs and plots, you need a display
adapter that can display graphics (e.g., Hercules, CGA, EGA,
VGA, and others). If you want to print graphs and plots, a
dot matrix, ink jet, or laser printer is required. Grades
and attendance can be printed on any printer.
B. Versions
The standard version of this program allows you to have up to
16,000 students in up to 254 sections or groups per class, up
to 2,000 tasks per class, 240 attendance days per class, 200
database items per class, and an unlimited number of classes.
In reality, the limitations are due to available memory.
In addition to regular memory VAR Grade takes advantage of any
EMS and XMS memory that your computer has. EMS and XMS memory
is memory above 640K. The program also automatically uses math
coprocessor chips (80x87 math chips). There is also a
protected mode version of VAR Grade that eliminates any memory
limitations. The protected mode version requires an 80286 or
later microprocessor, 2 megabytes of memory (RAM), and a DPMI
14
Requirements
compatible operating system (e.g., MS-DOS 5, OS/2, or Windows
3.0 or later). The protected mode version is not distributed
as shareware.
Should you desire "custom" versions of this program, they are
also available. When you register your current version, should
you desire a custom version, indicate so and we will try to
meet your requirements.
C. Networks
This version will run on networks (LAN). It will not, however,
take advantage of special features of the networks, such as
interactive mail or print queues. There are options, discussed
in the Advanced Manual, that explain how to set up for a LAN.
15
III. INSTALLATION OF VAR GRADE
VAR Grade can be installed onto either a hard (fixed) disk
or onto floppy (removable) disks. The program INSTALL will
automatically install VAR Grade. You will need to answer some
questions and follow the instructions, but will not have to worry
about which files are needed. If you prefer to install the
program yourself, directions are given below in Section B.
A. Using INSTALL
To install the program, you can run the program INSTALL.
Follow the instructions below. INSTALL will not modify any
existing files on your computer, except, if you have a previous
version of VAR Grade, it will replace some of the old program
files.
1. Put Disk #1 (the "Program" disk) into a drive. It can be in
any drive. For the instructions below, it is assumed that
the disk is in drive A. If you use drive B, or any other
drive, replace the "A:" in the instructions with "B:" (or
"d:", where "d" is the letter of the drive).
2a. Installing to floppy disks: You will need two blank
formatted 720K 3 1/2" or 1.2 megabytes 5 1/4" disks. If the
disks are not formatted or not empty, they can be formatted
during the installation. NOTE: The program uses the MS-DOS
format command for formatting, and will only format disks of
1.44 Megabytes capacity or less.
Put a blank disk into the drive used for installation.
2b. Installing to a hard disk: You need 1.4 megabytes of disk
space.
3a. Installing in DOS: Type "A:INSTALL". If the VAR Grade
installation disk is in another drive, type "d:INSTALL",
where "d" is the letter for the drive.
3b. Installing in MS Windows: Run a DOS program selecting the
Files menu when in the Program Manager, then "Run" to run a
16
Installation
DOS program. Then type "A:INSTALL". If the VAR Grade
installation disk is in another drive, type "d:INSTALL",
where "d" is the letter for the drive.
4. An opening screen will appear, explaining the hardware
requirements of VAR Grade and how to use the installation
program. If you have a monochrome monitor and the screen is
hard to read, you may need to type "A:INSTALL/b" to force
the program into black and white mode. This may be required
for some monochrome boards, as these boards sometimes tell
programs (erroneously) that they are color boards.
"A:INSTALL/c" will force the program into color mode.
5. Note that you can exit the installation program at any time
by pressing the "Ctrl" and the "C" keys simultaneously
(<CtrlC>). If the program has not completely installed VAR
Grade, it will not run correctly, and you may have to redo
the installation.
6. After reading the opening screen and pressing a key, you
will be asked whether to install the whole program, parts of
the program, or whether to print the README.DOC or manuals.
Choose to install all the program installation (option "A").
7. You will then be asked where to put the program. INSTALL
will probably suggest the directory "\VARGRADE", but you can
specify any drive or directory. To type in a new directory
or drive, just type in a new name. For example, to change
it to drive A, type "a:". After you have specified the
directories and drives to place the program, press <AltS>.
8. The program will now install the program. If it does not
find the disks or ZIP files it needs, it will request them.
If the disk you are installing to does not have enough room
on it for the VAR Grade files, you will be asked what to do.
There are three options: (a) You can format the disk. (b)
You can tell the program to write the files to another disk,
or (c) You can tell the program to write the disk anyway.
Choose option c if you have changed to a new disk or if you
are installing VAR Grade over a previous version of the
program. If a previous version of the program is present,
the installation program will ask if the existing files
should be replaced (overwritten). Note that you will only
be asked this once: if you say yes, all the duplicate files
will be replaced. NOTE: INSTALL does not delete all the old
17
VAR Grade files, but does replace those that have the same
name as the new files.
During the installation, the program will ask you to pick
your printer. To do this, you will need to know the name
and model number of your printer, and if it emulates any
other printers. Most dot matrix printers emulate the Epson
FX printer. Most laser printers emulate the HP LaserJet
printer. Use the <Arrow>, <Page up>, and <Page down> keys
to traverse the list and find your printer(s). Then press
"Y" to select it. You can repeat this process until you
have picked up to 5 printers. When you have picked all your
printers, press <AltS>. The program now asks if the listed
printers are the correct ones. To continue, press "Y". To
change the list, press "N".
9. You will return to the screen that asks whether to install
the whole program, or just part of it. If desired, you can
print the documentation from this screen. Press <Esc> or
"X" when you are finished.
10. When the installation has been completed, a message will be
displayed. If you installed onto floppy disks, the message
will explain how to label the disks and how to start VAR
Grade. If you installed the program from MS Windows, the
message will quickly disappear.
If you install onto floppy disks, when you run VAR Grade,
the disks containing the overlays (GRADE.OVR) and text
(GRADE.STR) must be in the drive at all times. Part of the
program is in "overlays", which means that some of the
program is on the disk and is read into the program only
when needed. NOTE: If you have removed the overlay disk,
the program will print a message asking you to reinsert the
overlay disk, as it needs the overlay file to continue.
Also, do not move the disk with the overlays from one drive
to another. It must always be in the same drive.
The protected mode version doesn't need the GRADE.OVR file,
but instead needs the RTM.EXE and DPMI16BI.OVL files.
11. Installing in MS Windows: After installing the program, you
want a program icon to be created. VAR Grade includes the
file GRADE.PIF, which suggests an icon and standard
conditions to use for the program. To create a new group
window, select the Files menu when in the Program Manager,
then select "New". Select "Program Group", and then "OK".
18
Installation
Next, enter a description of the program, e.g., "VAR Grade".
Next, move to the next line, "Program File", and type
"VARGRADE.GRP". You now have a window, but no program in
it. To add the program to that group window, again select
"Files", then "New", and "OK". Select "Browse", then the
directory where VAR Grade is located, probably
"C:\VARGRADE". Then select the filename "GRADE.PIF". The
icon should appear in the group window. An alternative way
to add the program to the group window is to select "Files",
then "New", and "OK". Then, type in a program description,
e.g., "VAR Grade, Version 6.0" and a program command line,
e.g., "C:\VARGRADE\GRADE.PIF".
B. Installation without INSTALL
To install the program without INSTALL, you need to follow the
instructions found in the Advanced Manual. In general, you
need:
1. Up to 1.4 megabytes of disk space, including at least one
720K drive, and the program PKUNZIP (available either on BBS
systems or from disk vendors).
2. To know you video adapter (Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA).
3. To know the type(s) of printer(s) you have.
19
IV. TUTORIALS
In general, you move around the program by choosing options
on menus. The "Main Menu" is the menu that appears after
specifying a class name. If you choose one of the options on the
Main Menu, the program goes to another set of menus ("secondary
menus"), etc. Below is a short description of how to enter data
for a new class, as well as a list of some of the features of the
program.
A. Starting the Program
1. Type "GRADE" when in DOS (i.e., at the prompt: A> ). If
you have a monochrome monitor and the screen looks weird,
you may have to type "GRADE/B".
2. The opening screen will appear. It identifies the program,
and shows a list of classes. If you have a mouse attached,
a colored block will appear in the center of the screen:
that is the mouse cursor.
3. The program asks for the name of a class. The first class
listed will be highlighted on the screen. Press <Rtn> to
select that class, or use the <arrow> keys on the keypad to
move the highlight to a new class before pressing <Rtn>.
You can also type the name of the desired class and then
press <Rtn>. If the program cannot find the class, it will
make a new class with that name. Typing can be corrected
with the <Backspace> key. After a class has been selected,
the Main Menu then appears. This chapter describes both how
to start a new class and how to use the class supplied with
the program. The tutorials assume that you installed the
entire program (including the sample classes), and that you
are in the beginner mode.
20
Tutorials
B. Using an Existing Class: Tutorial
Start the program as described in Section A, above. Next, you
will see four classes highlighted: GSample, A, B, and C. Move
the highlight to GSample with the arrow keys, and press <Rtn>.
If you have a mouse, you could also select GSample by moving
the mouse cursor to it, and then pressing the <Left button>.
VAR Grade will now read the students into the program.
A menu will appear. This menu is called the Main Menu. On the
menu are several options. These options are separated into
four categories. First, there are several options involved
with entering data. Second, there are options regarding
analyzing the student data. Third, there are other options,
such as changing how parts of the program work, seeing the help
screens, and running other programs. Last, there are options
for leaving the class and program.
You can use the arrow keys to move the highlight to a different
menu choice. To pick a choice, either move the highlight to
the desired choice, then press <Rtn>, or just press the key
shown on the left side of the option. If you have a mouse, you
can move the mouse cursor to the desired choice, then press the
<Left button>.
1. Entering data
Press "D" on the Main Menu. You will see a list of students
in the class and scores for several of the tasks that have
been defined. You can use the arrow keys on the keypad to
move around the class, or a mouse. If you have a mouse, and
there are more students or tasks than fit on one screen,
mouse bars are shown on the right and/or bottom of the
screen.
(a) Names
Use the <Down Arrow> to move to the second name, "Bimson,
Keith". The cursor will be at the end of the name. Press
the <Backspace> key. Next press an "s". The name will
now read "Bimson, Keits".
21
(b) Number tasks
Move down one name to "Crick, Francis". Now move right
four cells to the number "85.0". If you look to the top
of that column, it will say that it is task #3, with the
name "Number 2". The cursor will be at the end of the
number. Type an "86". The number should read "86".
Notice that, when you typed the "8", the previous score
disappeared. When you move to a cell, and, for a first
keystroke, type a regular character (letter or number),
the data in the cell will disappear. If the first key you
type is a <Backspace>, function key, cursor key, or <Alt>
key, the previous data is not cleared. NOTE: If you
accidentally type something, and decide that you want the
old one back, press <AltU> (undo) before leaving that
cell. This returns the cell to its original value.
Move down one cell with the down arrow. Notice the 86
stays in the previous cell. You do not have to type a
<Rtn> to signal the end of input; just moving to another
cell with the cursor keys is sufficient.
NOTE: Scores higher than the allowed points for a task
will not be accepted. A beep or noise will tell you this
has happened.
If you are entering scores from a test, you can use to
add up the scores on the test. Move to the cell where
"86" was entered, above. Now, type "+". You will see a
tiny window pop up. It will have the 86 on the left, then
a +, and is waiting for another number. Type "5", then
"=". The tiny window will disappear and "91" will appear
in the cell. This is the inline calculator. It pops up
any time that you type in a +, -, /, * (multiply), or =,
and can be used like any other simple calculator.
(c) Letter tasks
Now move to the name "Darwin, Charles". Move right three
cells, to a "B". This is under the column header task #2:
"Lette". The "Lette" is the first five letters of "Letter
2", the name of task #2. Only the first few letters of
each task name is shown (to show all the letters takes
more screen space, but there is an <AltO> option that can
be used to change the width of the columns). To change
the task score, use the <Backspace> key to delete the B,
then put in a new grade, from A to F. Notice that if you
22
Tutorials
type any letters other than A to F, they will be ignored
by the program, as the only letters that are in letter
grades are accepted. You may enter a + or - after the
first letter, if needed.
(d) Scrolling to the right
From "Darwin, Charles", task #2, move right four cells
with the right arrow key. Notice that when you moved to
the third cell, the screen shifted. The names are still
listed on the left, but a slightly different set of tasks
is shown. If you want, you can change the score as above.
If you have a mouse, you can scroll to the right by moving
to the bottom line, then pressing the <Left button> on the
right arrow. Pressing the <Left button> on the stippled
area moves the cursor to that relative position in the
tasks.
(e) Scrolling down
Just as in the previous example, you can also scroll down.
This time you will see more names. Use the down arrow on
the keypad to go all the way to "Watson, Jim": the last
person in the class. Notice that the screen shifts as you
do so. You can scroll through the students and tasks
until you find the data you want to change. If you scroll
down one more time, you will be back at the beginning of
the class.
You can scroll the names down with a mouse by moving to
the right side of the screen, then pressing the down
arrow.
(f) Changing which data is displayed
To change which data is listed on the screen, press
<AltC>. You will see the "Items to List", which asks
whether to display the name or ID. A "Y" means yes, an
"N" means no. They are both set to "Y", so both are
displayed. Move down one cell to the ID, then choose "N".
The ID will no longer be displayed. Press <AltS> to leave
this menu.
If there had been more than one section of students in
this class, you would have been asked whether to display
section numbers. In GSample, there is only one section of
23
students. In advanced mode, you would be asked, on this
list, which database items to display.
Next, you are asked which tasks to display. The list at
the top of the screen is all the tasks that have been
defined that accept input (letter, number, or extra credit
tasks). Type "1 3:2 ", then <Rtn> (or
"1<Rtn>3:2<Rtn><Rtn>" also works). You have told the
program to list tasks 1, 3, and then 2 on the screen, in
that order. You can display any tasks, in any order.
If you have a mouse, you could have picked the tasks by
moving the cursor to the task, then pressing the <Left
button>. The task number where the mouse cursor was
located appears below. At the end of the list of tasks,
"End of tasks" is listed. If you select this with a
mouse, it is equivalent to entering a "0"--it signifies
the end of the list.
You now see the names and task scores for tasks 1, 3, and
2. You could now alter the data, if you wished.
(g) Adding a new input task
You can add a new task by pressing <AltT>. Move to the
second task column (task #3). Now, press <AltT>. You
will see a list of all the tasks, and the Define Task Menu
that allows you to define number, letter, or extra credit
tasks.
Press "N". You are then asked for the new number. You
can enter any number. For example, type in "5", then
<Rtn>. Since task 5 is already defined, you are asked
whether to replace the old task, insert the new task
before task 5, or to exit without defining a task. Pick
"I". You are now asked for the task name. Notice that,
above, tasks 5 and 6 both look like the same task. You
are asked for the new name, with "Number 3" suggested as
the new name. Delete the name with <F10>. Now type in
"Number 4", then <Rtn>. Next, you are asked for the total
points for the task. The program uses the total points
for calculations, and for checking data input. Press
<Rtn> (which causes the 100 to be accepted as the total
points for the task). You now return to the Define Task
Menu. You could define as many tasks as you want here.
However, for this tutorial, press "X".
24
Tutorials
The new task is listed just after the one where the cursor
was. You could then enter data if you had some student
scores.
(h) Exiting
To leave this part of the program, type an <AltS>. The
data you changed is saved into memory. It isn't saved to
disk unless you press "S" on the Main Menu or exit the
program.
2. Analyzing grades
We can see a plot of the scores on task #1 by pressing "P"
when we are on the Main Menu. A list of all the tasks is
shown, and you are asked which task to plot. Type in a "1",
then a <Rtn>. The program automatically determines the high
and low scores for the plot. If you want to pick your own
high and low scores, you need to go to the "O" (Option) part
of the Main Menu (see the Advanced Manual).
You next see a menu, the Print Menu, that will list several
options, such as printing to a printer, disk file, etc.
Press "S" (screen only). The plot is displayed. The mean,
median, and mode are shown, along with +1 and -1 standard
deviations from the mean. At the bottom right of the screen
is a message: "Press any key to continue." When you are
through looking at the plot, press any key on the keyboard.
You will return to the Plot Menu. Press <Esc> to return to
the Main Menu.
The advanced mode offers many more options.
3. Writing scores
If you want to list some of the task scores of the class on
the screen, press a "W" when on the Main Menu. You will see
another menu, the Write Data Menu. To print out grades for
all the students in the class, press an "S". You can then
choose to display task scores, attendance, or an attendance
summary. Pick "T", task scores. You are then asked for the
list of tasks to display. Type "<F1>", then <Rtn>. You
have just told the program to list all the tasks in the
class. <F1> is used frequently in the program to designate
"all of the above". Next, you are asked if you want to
25
display the student names, and/or IDs. Press "B" to display
both. Last, you will see the Print Menu. Press "S" on the
Print Menu to see the scores.
The first screen shows a list of all the tasks, the points
that are possible, and part of the class. The listing will
stop after every screenful of students. When the screen
stops, press a key to see some more data. Since only 7 of
the tasks fit on the first listing, the program will repeat
with tasks 8 through 14, and then 15 and 16. When you have
seen all the scores, the Write Data Menu will appear again.
Press "X" or <Esc> to go back to the Main Menu.
4. Defining Special tasks
Press "T" on the Main Menu. You will see the Define Task
Menu, with several different options. We can define three
different special tasks, averages ("A"), percentages ("P"),
and sums ("S"). In the list of tasks, there is a column
labeled "Type". This is the letter used to define the task
type. Task #1 is "N" (number), task #2 is "L" (letter),
etc.
If you want to define an average, you type an "A". The
program asks for the number of the new task. Type a "16",
then <Rtn>. The program then asks for the name of the task.
Type "New average", then <Rtn>. The program then asks for
the tasks to average. Type in "1 3 5 ", then <Rtn>. You
are now asked if this is correct. Type "Y". You are now
back at the Define Task Menu, except that task #16 is
listed. Sum and percent tasks are done the same way. In
the advanced mode, several other special tasks are
available, including weights, attendance, and discarding the
lowest of a group of tasks.
5. Defining attendance
Press "A" on the Main Menu. To define some attendance days,
then press "D". You can either define single days, or, by
pressing <F2>, define a lot of them. For this tutorial,
press <F2>.
You are asked which days of the week the class is held. For
a class held Monday through Friday, press "23456", then
<Rtn>.
26
Tutorials
Next, you are presented with a calender, and are asked for
the month of the first class. Use the <Page Up> and <Page
Down> keys to find the first month for the class, then enter
the number. Next, enter the number for the first day for
the class. Next, enter the month for the last day of class,
then the number of the day. If you have a mouse, you could
have picked the first month and day by pressing the <Left
button> on the correct day, and picked the last day the same
way.
The program now puts you back to the Attendance Menu. If
you want to check if the days were correctly defined, press
"D".
(a) Attendance Options
You can alter the names of the attendance, and the keys
used for entering the data by pressing "O" on the
Attendance Menu.
(b) Entering attendance
Press "C" when on the Attendance Menu. Shown listed will
be the students in the class and the attendance days you
just defined. Near the top of the screen are all the
possible keys to use for entering data. Data is entered
just like when entering task data. Press <AltS> to save
the data when you are finished.
6. Quitting the program
Press "Q" on the Main Menu to leave the class. Since we
changed some of the data, the program will ask you if you
want to save the data before exiting. Press "N" (don't save
the data).
C. Starting a New Class
To start a new class, start the program as in section A, by
typing "GRADE". This time, instead of moving to a class and
pressing <Rtn>, type in a name of a new class (one not listed--
27
like "Math"). The Main Menu will then appear. At the bottom
left of the screen is listed the words "New class".
1. First, if there are more than one section of students in
your new class, you will need to tell the program to use
more than one section. You can have as many sections as
there are students. Press "N" when on the Main Menu. On
the second menu, press "U" (change the number of sections).
Type in the new number, then <Rtn>. Then exit back to the
Main Menu by pressing "X" or <Esc>. If you have several
classes that use the same tasks and turn in the same
assignments, calling them different "sections" of the same
class lets you easily compare them. The program allows
printing and statistics of each section separately, or of
all of them.
2. Next, you want to enter the names of the students. Enter
the names by pressing "N" on the Main Menu. There are two
choices. You can type in only names ("N") or type in both
names and IDs ("I"). The advanced mode also allows input
from text files. Names, IDs, and sections of students can
be changed at any time. After you choose "N" or "I", you
will be asked for the section in which to add students.
If you are typing in the names, just type in the names
(ending each name with <Rtn>). If you are also typing in
ID's, type them in the second column. If a name was entered
incorrectly, you can change it by using the cursor keys to
move back to it, then changing it. When you have finished
entering names, press <AltS>. By default, names have up to
20 characters, and IDs 15. These sizes can be changed in
the advanced mode.
Example: If you are on the Main Menu, type an "N", then "N"
again. The program will ask for the section number. Type
in "1", then <Rtn>. You can now type in names, ending each
with a <Rtn>. If you misspelled a name, but did not notice
until you were on the next name, press <Up Arrow> to move to
the previous name. Retype it in correctly. After the last
name has been entered, press an <AltS>, and an <Esc> when
the program asks for the section number.
NOTE: The program can sort the names alphabetically. If the
names are entered last name first, they will be sorted by
last name. If they are entered with the first name first,
they will be sorted by first names. The program will
check for duplicate names., so you cannot put the same
28
Tutorials
name into the same section twice. In the advanced mode,
you can print the names "flipped", where the last and
first names are reversed, or with first names, only.
3. Tasks are assignments for students. They can be exams,
tests, homework, projects, etc. If you have task scores to
enter into the program, press "T" when on the Main Menu to
define the new assignments. Initially, no tasks are listed.
The program requires you to define a task before you can
enter data into it. This is like most database programs,
but unlike spreadsheet programs. Making you define the
tasks saves memory and ensures correct calculations of
grades.
The Define Task Menu is shown. To define a task, you first
choose a task type. You are then asked the name and, if it
is a number or extra credit task, the total points. You can
continue to define as many tasks as you like. There are six
types of tasks that can be defined in the beginning mode,
twelve different types in the advanced mode. You must
define a task before you can enter task scores for it. Note
that if you are grading with numbers, scores cannot be
entered that are higher than the total points of the task
(NOTE: you can change this). If you are using letter
grades, only letters defined by you can be used (the
"default" grades are A to F, with + and - grades, but these
also can be changed).
Example: Press "N" to define a number task. Type in a "1",
then <Rtn>. You are then asked for the name of the task.
Type "New". You are then asked for the total points. If
you want it to be worth 100 points, just type a <Rtn>,
otherwise, type in a new number, then <Rtn>. For tasks
worth 100 points, it is easier to use the <F1> key to pick
the next task, and give it 100 points. You only need to
type in the name of the task.
4. Next, you can enter the scores. You may enter scores for
multiple tasks or for only one. You can enter the scores
"by individual" ("I" on the Main Menu), or "by section" ("D"
on the Main Menu). "By individual" lists all the tasks for
one student, while "by section" or class lists for every
student in the class only those tasks that you have chosen.
With either method, the program lists the students in order.
You can use the cursor keys (up, down, etc.) to move to a
new task or student. Pressing <Rtn> will cause the program
29
to move to the next task, while using the cursor keys will
move you up, down, or over to new tasks. Use <AltC> to pick
new tasks to put into the columns.
NOTE: The program can switch between "using" or "not using"
edit keys. Using edit keys will let you use the left and
right arrow keys to move between the letters within a cell.
If you are "using" edit keys, you move between students with
<Ctrl>-cursor keys. Pressing <CtrlE> when entering data
will change back and forth between "using" to "not using"
edit keys.
5. When you are finished entering data, press <AltS> to exit
the section and save the data to memory. Next, when on the
Main Menu, type an "S" to save the data to a disk file. The
program will ask for the class name. Most of the time, you
will just type <Rtn>. If you want to change the name of the
class or the directory in which it is located, you can do so
before pressing <Rtn>.
D. Entering Data
In general, if the program asks you to "enter" data, end it
with "<Rtn>" or a cursor key, and when you are asked to "press"
a key, only one key needs to be pressed (no <Rtn>).
1. Menu choices
The program accepts as input only the keys listed on the
menu, and will respond to the key when it is pressed.
When you are asked for a menu choice, to select it you can
(a) press the key, OR (b) use the cursor keys to pick the
correct choice and press the Return or Enter key, OR (c) use
a mouse to select the choice and press the left mouse
button.
2. Entering numbers
When you type numbers in, you must press the return key
(<Rtn>) or, a cursor key (arrow, page up and down, etc.) to
signal the end of your data.
30
Tutorials
A <Rtn> alone, with no number, tells the program:
(a) do not change the current value; OR
(b) end current input of the number; OR
(c) let the program choose the appropriate number.
Which possibility (a, b, or c) that the program will use is
stated when the data is requested.
3. Selecting and entering names
When you enter words or names, you must press either <Rtn>
or a cursor key (arrow, page up and down, etc.) to signal
the end of your data.
When names of classes or students are listed on the screen,
the cursor keys can be used to select the student or class
name. Select the desired name with the cursor keys, then
press <Rtn>.
E. If You Are Lost or Want to Leave a Section of the Program
If you are lost, or want to return to the Main Menu, you can
usually reach it by repeatedly pressing the <Esc> key. The
<Esc> key can also be used to exit a section of the program
that you don't want to be in.
F. Starting Another Class
Elementary school teachers teach several different subjects to
the same students. It is convenient to keep grades for each of
the subjects in different classes. VAR Grade has features that
allow you to combine and separate the subjects.
To write the current students to a new class, pick option "W"
on the Main Menu. Then, type "V". You will be asked for the
name of the new class. Type it in. The current students,
including names, IDs, and section numbers will be written to a
new class. Task scores will not be written.
To write out scores for more than one subject for a student,
type "W" on the Main Menu, then "N". Next, pick a name of a
31
student. You will be asked whether to display task scores,
attendance (if it is being used), or "designate subjects to
list". Pick "D". Shown is a list of up to ten subjects. You
need to specify each one you want to use. When finished, type
<AltS>. You will now return to the "Print by Name" Menu. If
you print out task scores, you will display or print scores for
each of the classes you chose in addition to the current class.
G. Advanced Mode
Although some advanced features were mentioned in these
tutorials, there are many other features as well. After you
are familiar with the beginner's mode, you are strongly urged
to type "B" on the Main Menu. This will put you into advanced
mode. The Main Menu will look only a little different, but the
other menus will have more significant changes. For example,
if you type "P", for plots, there is now a large number of
different plots you can try. You can change fonts, and so
forth. Until you use the advanced mode, you haven't fully
tried the power of VAR Grade.
H. Exiting the Program
Normally, you exit the program by going through the Main Menu.
To exit, pick the "Q" (quit the program) option. If any data
has been changed since the last time the it was saved, the
program will ask if you want the new changes to be saved. You
can also exit from almost anywhere in the program by pressing
<CtrlC> (the Control key and the "C" key simultaneously).
Again, if student data has been changed, you will be prompted
about saving it before leaving the program.
I. Using a Mouse
If you have a mouse, it is used by the program. The mouse
cursor is a box, larger than a character, and is seen on the
screen as having different colors than the surrounding text.
Both two and three button mice are supported. NOTE: Mouse
drivers over two years old may not work correctly: you should
get a newer version from the manufacturer of the mouse.
32
Tutorials
Mouse button(s) Meaning
<Left button> Select. If the button is pressed while the
mouse cursor is at a menu choice, that choice
will be selected. If the mouse cursor is at a
number or name, the cursor will move to that
place. If the mouse cursor is outside the
current window, this will usually cause that
window to close. If the mouse cursor is inside
a window, but at no choice, number, or name,
nothing will happen. If there is more
information than can be seen on one screen,
"mouse bars" will appear on the right and/or
bottom of the current window. Pressing on these
bars will move you the screen to a different
part of that information.
<Right button> Escape. This is equivalent to pressing the
escape key.
<Center button> [Three button mice, only.] Clear the name or
number. Equivalent to pressing the <F10> key.
J. How Special Keys are Used
These keys are not used in all parts of the program, but will
be used in most parts. Other keys are also used, but these are
listed on the screen when they can be used.
Key Name of key(s) Program Function
<Esc> Escape Exit this program section.
<Rtn> Return, Enter End of input.
<Pg Up> Page Up List previous screen.
<Pg Dn> Page Down List next screen.
<Home> Home Go to the first screen.
Key Name of key(s) Program Function
<End> End Go to the last screen.
<Tab> Tab Move to the next entry (cell).
<ShftTab> Shift+Tab Move to the previous cell.
<F1> Function key 1 Use all choices, or select the next
available choice.
<F10> Function Key 10 To delete the current entry.
<AltH> Alt+H HELP--always available.
<AltU> Alt+U Undo a cell when entering numbers
or words.
<AltV> Alt+V Run a designated program.
33
Key Name of key(s) Program Function
<CtrlC> Control+C Exit from the program. If data has
been changed, you will be asked
whether it should be saved before
exiting the program.
<CtrlE> Control+E Switch between how the cursor keys
work.
<CtrlS> Control+S Stop writing to the printer or
disk.
K. How the Cursor Keys Work
You have options as to how you want the cursor keys to work.
If you do not redefine the functions of the cursor keys, they
will work as follows:
Key(s) Movement
<Home>,
<Ctrl-Pg Up> Go to the first name or cell
<End>,
<Ctrl-Pg Dn> Go to the last name or cell
<Pg Up> Go up one screen
<Pg Dn> Go down one screen
<Left Arrow> Go left one cell or column
<Right Arrow> Go right one cell or column
<Ctrl-Home> Go up one half column
<Ctrl-End> Go down one half column
<Up Arrow> Go up one name or line
<Down Arrow> Go down one name or line
<Ctrl-Left Arr> Go left two columns
<Ctrl-Right Arr> Go right two columns
<Backspace> Delete previous character
You can switch between using or not using edit keys by pressing
<Ctrl-E> (simultaneously press the "Ctrl" and "E" keys) anytime
you are entering numbers or names (strings of characters).
Furthermore, if you choose to use edit keys, you can use
"insert" or "overstrike" modes. Just press the <Ins> key to
switch between these modes. In insert mode, the characters are
inserted at the position of the cursor, with the rest of the
characters pushed to the right. In overstrike mode, the
character typed replaces the one that was at the cursor. The
cursor is fatter in the overstrike mode, so you can tell which
mode you are in.
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Tutorials
If you "use" edit keys, by redefining their functions, you will
be able to move left or right in the data with the cursor keys
functioning as they would in a word processor. If you switch
to "using" the edit keys, they will be redefined as below.
Edit key(s) Movement
<Home> Go to the first character of a cell.
<End> Go to the last character of cell.
<Left Arrow> Go left one character in a cell.
<Right Arrow> Go right one character in a cell.
<Ctrl-Left Arr> Go left one name or cell.
<Ctrl-Home> Go left four names or cells.
<Ctrl-Right Arr> Go right one name or cell.
<Ctrl-End> Go right four names or cells.
<Del> Delete the character at the cursor.
<Ins> Switch between insert and overwrite.
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