home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Changes to VAR Grade
-
- This file explains some of the changes from version 5.0 to version
- 6.0 of VAR Grade and lists changes or corrections to the manual.
- The major change was a protected mode version of the program. Other
- changes include drag and drop seating, better attendance, two new tasks
- (user-defined and if), numerous changes to the interface, many more
- report form commands and example forms, and better ability to print out
- grades from more than class one one form. The printed manual is now 174
- pages long.
-
- Changes to the program:
-
- Protected mode (registered users, only): this uses DPMI compliant
- memory, so works much better when you are using more than
- one class at a time, e.g., in Windows. Requires 2 Meg of
- RAM and 80286 or later microprocessor.
- Interface changes: there were numerous changes. The major ones are
- options are now spread throughout the program rather than being
- hidden away, you can display any tasks when entering scores
- (and do grade recalcs on those screens), and better mouse support.
- There are also additional options affecting printouts, data entry,
- and data display.
- User defined task: this new task works like defining cells in a
- spreadsheet (although not as flexible).
- If task: this new task lets you require certain assignments.
- Weight/Highest tasks: enhanced so you can discard in a weight task.
- Sections: you now say whether to use more than one section of students
- rather than saying how many sections to use. You can also print
- out section comments (one per section).
- IDs: you can now print out only the end of an ID. You can also set the
- ID size to 0, reducing memory usage and questions about whether
- to display or print IDs.
- Multiple grading systems: you can now have up to 4 grading systems in
- each class.
- Letter grades: you can now have grades worth less than 0 points.
- Attendance: more attendance categories, two letters are allowed to
- define an attendance category for printouts and data entry,
- and better ability to delete attendance dates.
- Seating charts: you can now do drag and drop seating charts for classes
- without rectangular seating. You can also have up to 2 charts per
- section of students.
- Importing/exporting data: enhanced. You can now export students and
- task scores to another class with one option (simpler than before).
- Whatifs: better calculations.
- Plots: horizontal individual plots have been added. Font sizes on plots
- can be changed.
- Printing: you can now print out grades for a student in up to 10 classes,
- or grades for all the students in up to 10 classes, all in one
- printout. You can print out students who missed an assignment.
- More types of printouts, e.g., for attendance and database items.
- Reports: 30 new commands have been added to help you print out data any
- way you want. Includes statistical commands (including one set
- that is used for averaging grades on report cards). Several new
- forms are included with the program that illustrate the new and
- old commands. Many more examples are also in the manual.
-
- Changes to the printed manual:
- The file GRADE.STR has been moved to VARGRA4.ZIP, while the
- file DPMI16BI.OVL has been moved to VARGRA1.ZIP.
- A new task, IF task, has been added. Details on how it works
- are in GRADE.DOC, and was enclosed with the program.