Four.Zero
Copyright © 2000 Mobile Generation Software
All Rights Reserved
Tip
- Need
help downloading, unzipping, or installing Four.Zero or any other
3rd-party Palm software? Visit the software installation wizard
at www.nearlymobile.com.
Tip
- If you like Four.Zero, "beam" it to your
palm-friends! Using the standard Palm beam functionality, FPZ will
be beamed as the unregistered version to the user and it will not
beam any of your data.
1. Four.Zero
Overview
Four.Zero
Overview
Features
Four.Zero
System Requirements
How
to install Four.Zero
Limitations
Known
Bugs
Possible
Future Upgrades
2. Four.Zero
Instructions
Start
Up
Coursework
List View
Add
a New Class
Maintain Instructor Information
Maintain
Textbook List
Maintain
Coursework Types
Maintain
Class Grading Policy
Add
Coursework
View
Coursework
Export
Coursework to the Datebook
Institution
GPA Setup
Grade
Prediction (What if..)
Report
Card
Options
3. Version
Information
4. Purchasing
/ Registration
5. License
6. Company
Information
Four.Zero
Four.Zero
Overview
Four.Zero (pronounced four-point-zero) is the award-winning Palm software
developed to enable students to track their class details, coursework,
and current grades on their PalmPilot, Palm III series, Palm V series,
Palm VII, or any PalmOS compatible device such as the HandSpring Visor.
Class Information Management
Use FPZ to track class details such as instructor information, textbooks,
grading policies, and detailed course information. Now students have
access to vital class information such as class time and room, instructor
office hours, phone, and email, as well as the class web page right
at their fingertips.
Coursework Management
Four.Zero contains
extensive coursework management functionality to enable students to
track homework and test details including due dates, scores, coursework
types, and even related textbook information. Coursework is sorted
chronologically and can be viewed by the class, due date, or type
of work. FPZ
also enables users to export coursework due date information to the
Palm datebook automatically or at their discretion.
Grade Tracking
and Prediction
Students will never again be surprised by a final grade as the Four.Zero
grade tracking functionality provides visibility to class grades
as well as overall GPA. Users may perform "what if.."
scenarios to predict their final grade for a single class by entering
their grade prediction for each class work type.
Features
- Track
class details, grades, and coursework information for up to 15 classes
- Quick
access to instructor information including phone numbers, office
hours, email, etc..
- Display
coursework as a todo list and check them off when complete
- View
all coursework due today, this week, on a specific date, or by coursework
type
- Define
grading policies for each class with or without coursework type
weighting
- View
the current grade in a class or the GPA
for all the classes combined
- Grade
prediction functionality to perform "what if" scenarios
through the end of the term
Four.Zero
System Requirements
Four.Zero is compatible with the PalmPilot Professional, Personal,
Palm III series, Palm V series, Palm VII, or any other PalmOS compatible
device using the PalmOS 2.0 or newer, such as the Handspring Visor.
The compatibility of any new devices can be verified at the Four.Zero
product page located at www.mobilegeneration.com/products/fourzero.
How
to Install Four.Zero
Use
the Palm Computing Installation tool to install the fpz.prc file.
For more information on using your Palm Computing Installation tool,
consult your Palm Computing Device instructions or see the Palm
software installation wizard at www.nearlymobile.com.
Limitations
Only 15
classes may be tracked simultaneously.
Known
Bugs
There
are no known bugs in Four.Zero at this time. If you notice any bugs
please check our Four.Zero support page at www.mobilegeneration.com/custsupp
to see if it has already been reported. If it has not been reported,
please email us with detailed bug information at support@mobilegeneration.com.
Possible
Future Upgrades
You can
email us at support@mobilegeneration.com
to give us your input on what features you would like to see in future
upgrades. You may also want to check the planned enhancements at the
FPZ support page at www.mobilegeneration.com/custsupp
to ensure that we are not already planning to add the functionality.
Currently, we are working on FPZ 3.0 which will include usability
enhancements to follow the UI standards of Palm OS software.
Usage
Startup
The unregistered version of Four.Zero will launches
with the "bugme" screen informing the user that the version
of FPZ is unregistered. Just tap the "Register Later"
button to enter the FPZ application. The registered version allows
for full
functionality of the application for a single class. Once FPZ is
registered then the application will
no longer display the "bugme" screen and it will allow
the user to track up to 15 classes.
Coursework
List View
The main view of the Four.Zero application is the Coursework
List View. There are two types of views into the coursework
list, a view into "All" the classes and a view into a specific
class. To switch between the two views, select the class at the top
right of the screen or select "All" to see view into all
the classes. For more information the functionality of this screen,
see the view coursework section.
Add
a New Class
To add a new class select "New" from the "Class"
menu. You will be asked to add the basic class information such
as the class name, department, section, course #, classroom number,
class time (and date), the class web page, as well as any freeform
notes that you would like enter for the class. To modify this information
in the future, ensure that the class is selected at the top right
of the screen and then select the "Class Info" item from
the "Class" menu.
Note that you
will only be able to add a single class to the unregistered version.
If you find Four.Zero useful enough to track more than a single
class, you will need to register it. Please see the purchasing
and registration section for more information on registering
FPZ.
Maintain
Instructor Information
To add Instructor
information, make sure that the class is selected at the top right
and then choose the "Instructor" item from the "Class"
menu. Then enter the instructor name, office location, office hours,
phone, and email.
Maintain
Textbook List
To maintain the
textbook list for a specific class, make sure that the class is
selected at the top right and then select "Textbooks"
from the "Class" menu. To add a textbook, tap the "add"
button and and enter the name of the textbook. To rename a textbook,
select the textbook from the list, tap "Rename", and then
enter the new name. If you rename a textbook then all associations
to that textbook will remain intact. To delete a textbook, select
the textbook and tap "Delete". Note that when you delete
a textbook it will break the all the associations
(coursework, etc..) with that textbook.
Maintain
Coursework Types
Coursework types are used to categorize the coursework
for each class into tests, homework, reading, quizzes, labs, etc..
These are user-defineable as each class has different coursework types.
Defining coursework types will allow the user to view the coursework
list based on the coursework type, assign different grading weights
for each coursework type, and show the overall grade for a specific
coursework type.
To
create and modify coursework types, ensure that a class is selected
at the top right of the screen and select "Coursework Types"
from the "Class" menu. To add a coursework type, tap the
"add" button and and enter the name of the coursework type.
To rename a coursework type, select the coursework type from the list,
tap "Rename", and then enter the new coursework type. If
you rename a coursework type then all associations to that textbook
will remain intact. To delete a coursework type, select the coursework
type and tap "Delete". Note that when you delete a coursework
type it will break the all the associations
(coursework, etc..) with that textbook.
Maintain
Class Grading Policy
To change the Grading Policy for a Class it
is important to understand the difference between the GPA setup
and the grading policy. The GPA setup, available from the Tools
menu, enables users to define the grade point average and corresponding
letter grades for your entire institution. The
Grading Policy, accessible by the "Grading Policy" item
in the "Class" menu, enables the user to define the percentages
necessary to reach a letter grade in a specific class. Users may
also enter the weights used for each coursework type to calculate
the final grade for a specific class. FPZ allows each class to use
a different grading policy but when the user creates a new class
it defaults the values to that of the first class created.
To use the weighting
functionality, select the "weighting" checkbox on the
Grading Policy screen. Then select "By Type" or
"Per Item". If the class grading policy is weighted by
coursework type (homework, quizzes, tests, etc..) then tap the "Type
Setup" button to enter the weight for each work type. Users
may also enter the number of items to drop from each coursework
type. If all the coursework types are not available for your class
then then you will need to go back to the "Coursework Types"
menu item in the class menu to add all the necessary coursework
types.
To weigh items
individually (per item) select the "Per Item" weight.
Once this is selected, FPZ will display an entry field for the weight
of each item in the Edit Coursework screen. The weights you enter
are always relative to the other values so it is not a requirement
to enter a percentage.
Extra Credit
A note on extra credit: with no weighting, extra credit is just
added to the total. For "By Type" weighting extra credit
is added to your total for the coursework type and then it weighs
the type normally. For "Per Item" weighting, FPZ will
add the score to the total weighting percent. Therefore, if you
earned 3% extra credit out of 5% possible then put 5% for your weight
to remind you that was how much was possible (it doesn't actually
affect the weighting) and then put 3 in the score. You will now
have 3% extra credit.
Add
Coursework
To add coursework (homework, quizzes, test dates, etc..)
ensure that you have the correct class selected at the top right
of the screen then select "Add Coursework" from the "Class"
menu or tap the "Add" button at the bottom left of the
screen. Enter the name of the coursework, the due date, the coursework
type, and free-form notes about the coursework, and the textbook
for which it relates. This is also where you will enter your score
on the coursework. Optionally, use the shortcut "copy"
icon to add the coursework type to the name of the coursework. Therefore,
if the coursework
name is "Quiz #1" and"Quiz" is set up as a coursework
type then just tap the copy button to place the word "Quiz"
in the name field.
View
Coursework
There
are multiple views into the coursework so it may take a few minutes
to get comfortable with the different views. Use the "View"
dropdown at the bottom left to select the view for the coursework.
View coursework by "Due" to view all due items, "Due
By" to view items due by a certain date, "Past" to
view past due items, and by "Coursework Type" to view
all the coursework by coursework type (homework, tests, etc..) The
Daily and Weekly views sort all coursework by date and display all
the items that are due that week or day for each class. Note that
this view will automatically switch your class selector at the top
right to "All Classes."
To view completed
items completed coursework items as well as uncompleted items select
the "View Done" checkbox. Note that if you check an item
as done and you do not have "View Done" selected the item
will not disappear until the next update to the page.
The grade displayed
at the bottom is the current grade for the entire class unless you
are viewing a specific coursework type and then it is the grade
for that coursework type. Note that the grade is calculated only
for scored items. To edit a coursework item just select it. If you
have more than 10 items then use the scrollbar or hardware buttons
to scroll or page up and down.
Export
Coursework to the Datebook
There
are two options for exporting your coursework to the datebook, automatically
or manually. To manually export the items just press the "Add
to Datebook" button when you create a new coursework item.
To automatically export each coursework item to the datebook as
it is created, select "Datebook" from the "Sync"
menu and then check "Automatically add coursework to the Datebook."
The rest of the options on the "Datebook Sync" page are
independent of whether you automatically or manually export the
coursework to the datebook. Select the "Alarm" checkbox
if you would like an alarm set in the datebook and the repeat selector
if you would like to add repeating datebook entries for your coursework.
Note that once the entries are exported to the datebook, FPZ has
no visibility to those entries. Users must use the datebook application
to modify or delete datebook entries created by FPZ.
Institution
GPA Setup
The
GPA setup, available from the Tools menu, enables users to define
the grade point average and corresponding letter grades for the
entire institution. So, if your institution doesn't use + or -,
then uncheck them and they will not be be utilized. Users can also
define the GPA next to the corresponding grade and choose "E"
or "F" for the fail grade.
Grade
Prediction (What if...)
Choose
"What If" from the tools menu to predict your grade in
the class. Select your predicted grade for the rest of the
term for each coursework type. If either no grade or no
type is selected then that grade/workload type is not factored in.
FPZ displays a range of grades if there is not a grade selected
for every workload type.
Report
Card
From the "tools" menu choose the "Report Card"
item for a view of the current grade point average (GPA). This screen
displays the percent grade, letter grade, and GPA for each class
as well as the overall GPA with and without hours calculated in.
Options
To modify the FPZ options, choose the "Options" menu item
from the "Tools" menu. The options allow users to set
the behavior of the hardware arrows: scroll up and down coursework
items, page up and down items, change the view, or change classes.
If the option is set for "Change the View" then it will
skip the "Due By" selection. To display the class name
in the "Daily" and "Weekly" views then select
the "Show Class Name in Daily\Weekly". To use FPZ as left-handed
with the scrollbar on the left side then select the "Left-handed"
item.
Version
Information
Version
3.0 (not yet available)
3.0 will contain significant usability enhancements to Four.Zero in
order to make it a more "standard" Palm interface.
Version 2.9
This
is the first public release of Four.Zero from Mobile Generation
Software.
Purchasing
/ Registration of Four.Zero
Mobile Generation Software has released the unregistered
version of Four.Zero for general distribution. The unregistered
version allows for full FPZ functionality for 1 class. To register
FPZ, purchase a registration code from Mobile
Generation Software and enter the code in the Four.Zero registration
screen to "register" it. Once registered, the application
will remove the 1 class limitation and allow you track up to 15 classes
simultaneously. Unregistered, FPZ
also contains a 'bugme' screen at each startup to remind you that
you are using the software as unregistered.
A Four.Zero registration
code can be purchased for $14.95 through any of the methods below.
As always, Mobile Generation Software will supply you with free
upgrades to Four.Zero for the lifetime of the product. Note
- for any of the registration procedures below, you will need to
provide your Palm Username so we can generate a valid FPZ registration
code for your device. Your Palm username is available on the hotsync
screen of your Palm or on the PC hostync dialog displayed when you
Hotsync.
Purchase
On-line
Purchase a Four.Zero
registration code securely
with a credit card from the Mobile Generation
Software on-line Store available from the Mobile
Generation Software web site. Your Four.Zero
registration code will be emailed to you within 1 working day after
entry of the order.
Purchase by
Phone
Purchase a Four.Zero
registration code
with a credit card through PalmGear H.Q. at 1-800-741-9070.
Your Four.Zero
registration code will be emailed to you within 2 working days after
receipt of the order. PalmGear charges an extra $2 for phone orders.
Purchase by
Mail
Purchase a Four.Zero
registration code by
sending a check or money order for $14.95 made out to Mobile Generation
Software to the address below. Also include the name of the
software you are registering, your PalmOS username, and your email
address. Your Four.Zero
registration code will be emailed to you within 1 working day after
receipt of the order.
Mobile Generation
Software
PMB 149
368 S. McCaslin Blvd
Louisville, CO 80027
License
Four.Zero
Copyright © 2000 Mobile Generation Software
All Rights Reserved
For registration
procedure information, see the registration procedures section
License Agreement
You
should carefully read the following terms and conditions before
using this software. Unless you have a different license agreement
signed by Mobile Generation Software, your use of this software
indicates your acceptance of this license agreement and warranty.
Governing Law
This agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado.
Disclaimer
of Warranty
THIS SOFTWARE
AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES
AS TO PERFORMANCE OR MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Because of the various hardware and
software environments in which Four.Zero may be utilized, NO WARRANTY
OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED.
Good data processing
procedure dictates that any program be thoroughly tested with non-critical
data before relying on it. The user must assume the entire
risk of using the program. ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL
BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE
PRICE.
Evaluation
and Registration
Four.Zero
is not free software. Subject to the terms below, you are
hereby licensed to use Four.Zero
for evaluation purposes for 30 days only. If you use this
software after the 30 day evaluation period, a registration fee
of $14.95 is required. Please see the registration process section for more information
on registering Four.Zero.
Unregistered use of Four.Zero
after the 30 day evaluation period is in violation of U.S. and international
copyright laws.
Distribution
You
are hereby licensed to make as many copies of the this software
and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original
version to anyone; and distribute the software and documentation
in its unmodified form via electronic means. All the original
documents and files must remain intact and unchanged. There
is no charge for any of the above.
You are specifically
prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such
copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or
documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without
prior written permission.
Registered
Version
One registered
copy of Four.Zero
may only be used by a single person on one Palm Computing Platform
Device. Since the registration code is derived from the PalmOS
user name, a new registration code is required for each Palm Computing
Platform device.
Send comments
and requests about this information to mailto://info@mobilegeneration.com
or visit the Mobile Generation Site at: http://www.mobilegeneration.com/
Company Information
Mobile Generation Software is
a privately held company located in the Boulder, Colorado area.
MGS was founded on the principle that the next generation of hardware
and software will be the "Mobile Generation." Mobile Generation
Software is committed to serving this new generation by becoming
the industry leader for consumer handheld solutions. For more information
on how Mobile Generation Software can provide cost-effective handheld
solutions to you or your business, visit the Mobile Generation Software web
site at www.mobilegeneration.com.
Also
check out the following software from Mobile Generation Software
Mobile Account
Manager - Safely and securely store all your passwords, pin
numbers, login ID's, checking accounts, credit card numbers with
the original security application.
MobileDB
- View and edit any small database, table, or spreadsheet data on
your Palm. MobileDB also includes a free PC version of the software
to create and access MobileDB databases on your PC.
Annual Event Manager
- Track all your automobile expenses including gas, services, and
billable miles then export them to excel to print out.
Mobile AutoLog
- Count down the days to all your annual events including birthdays
and anniversaries.
Mobile LinkDoc
- You got to have a good text document (doc) viewer to round out
your Palm. This great doc viewer allows you to create bookmarks
and links from one doc to another.
Plus, check out
all our freeware software including Mobile Checklist Lite, clones
of PacMan, MIssle Command, Space Invaders, and more!
Looking for Custom Palm development? Search for experienced Palm
developers at our sister site, http://www.mobilecoders.com/
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