Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/w3_apps/gradebk.arj/README.DOC

Text File | 1992-04-12 | 22KB | 366 lines

                         GRADEBOOK for Windows

  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 Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a
CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to the ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.

Program Description:

  GRADEBOOK allows you to keep student scores and calculate grades
automatically.  Because every instructor records and calculates grades
differently, the program was designed to be flexible.  GRADEBOOK can be used
by elementary, junior high school, high school and college instructors.  It
sets no practical limit on the number of terms, classes, students or tasks.

  GRADEBOOK keeps track of student scores on various tasks in up to ten
different categories.  All categories except extra credit are user-definable.
GRADEBOOK will keep your student list in alphabetical order or you may place
the students in any desired order to agree with a manually kept grade book.
Student names and optional ID numbers may be entered manually or optionally
imported from an ASCII file.  All program input is checked for validity as it
is entered.

  Using GRADEBOOK, you can calculate your grades by summing the raw scores or
by assigning weighting factors to particular categories of tasks.  You have
the option of ignoring low scores in each category when you calculate the
final grade.

  GRADEBOOK can calculate and plot the distribution of scores for a single
class or for several combined classes, for a single task or for all the
tasks.  Based on this distribution, you specify the interval of scores for
each letter grade.  GRADEBOOK then automatically calculates the final grade
for each student.  GRADEBOOK can assign either A, B, C, D, and E grades, or
plus and minus grades.  GRADEBOOK can also calculate and plot the
distribution of grades for a single class or for several combined classes.
Grades and scores may be printed on an instructor summary sheet for your use
or as individual student reports.  You can issue progress reports any time
during a grading period and GRADEBOOK will automatically calculate the
appropriate interim weights.  If you wish, reports can be printed for posting
using student ID numbers.  GRADEBOOK allows you to revise any data including
student and task order at any time.  GRADEBOOK will quickly calculate what
score would be required on the final exam to get a particular term grade.

  GRADEBOOK will work with any printer (optional) that is supported by
Microsoft Windows.  Full font support is provided for Window's printer and
screen fonts.  GRADEBOOK may easily be interfaced with other programs.
Student names and ID numbers may be imported from ASCII files.  Student names
and ID numbers, score lists and grade lists may be exported to ASCII files.
In addition GRADEBOOK allows you to use the Windows clipboard to export
GRADEBOOK data and charts to other Windows applications.  You may copy term
lists, class lists, student lists, score lists, score distributions, grade
lists, grade distributions, interim weight reports and required final scores
using the clipboard to programs such as Excel and Word for Windows.  The
score distribution charts and grade distribution charts may also be copied
into other applications.

  GRADEBOOK includes commands for easily backing up and restoring your
student data for extra security.  GRADEBOOK will keep its data files on the
hard disk, or if you prefer, it will keep your data files on floppy disks for
added security.  GRADEBOOK allows the data files to be kept in separate
subdirectories if several instructors must share one computer.

System Requirements:

  GRADEBOOK requires Windows version 3.0 or later running in standard or
enhanced mode.  Microsoft recommends at least a 10Mhz 80286 computer with 2
MB of memory for running Windows applications.  GRADEBOOK requires 768 K of
extended memory.  Because memory is usually added in .5 MB or 1 MB or 2 MB
increments, this requires a computer with 2 MB of memory installed.  Windows
3.0 may operate in three modes, real, standard or enhanced.  Real mode is the
only mode available for computers with less than 1 megabyte of memory (640K
conventional, 256K extended).  Enhanced mode requires at least 1024 K of
extended memory and a 386 or 486 computer.  You may determine what mode
Windows is operating in by clicking on Help from the program manager and then
clicking on About.  Please refer to your Windows manual for more information
on how to change modes.  Note that in version 3.0 of Windows it is possible
to start Windows when Windows is already running.  If you start Windows and
then double click the DOS icon, you are returned to the DOS prompt.  Typing
WIN to start Windows from the DOS prompt will then start a second instance of
Windows.  Even though the first instance of Windows was in standard mode, the
second instance of Windows will start in real mode.  The correct way to
return to Windows from the DOS prompt is by typing EXIT.  If you get an error
message saying that this program needs Windows in standard or enhanced mode
you need to restart Windows in the correct mode.

Shareware Information:

  GRADEBOOK is a shareware program.  You can think of shareware as try before
you buy software.  If you like the program, you can purchase the program by
sending in payment with the registration form.  The shareware version of
GRADEBOOK has all the features and capabilities of the registered program.
You may make and distribute copies to others and are encouraged to do so.
You should distribute the self extracting GB.EXE file which is a compressed
file containing the GRADEBOOK distribution files.

  Although the unregistered version is fully functional, there are several
advantages to registering the program.

1.  Registered users may obtain program support directly from the author.
Please contact the author at the following address.

       Russell Stevens
       5191 Pine Grove Dr.
       Spruce, MI 48762

  The author does not provide telephone assistance for the program.  Comments
and suggestions are welcome.  If you have a problem with the software, report
what you did (the steps or procedures you followed) leading up to the
problem.  Also report the exact error message, if one appeared and any
pertinent information about your hardware or software configuration.  You may
also contact the author by leaving a message on CompuServe to Russell
Stevens, 70150,323.  Program disk updates may be obtained from the author for
$3.00 or may be downloaded from the Edforum, library 2 on Compuserve (file
GB.EXE).

2.  Registered users receive a laser printed, illustrated and indexed user
manual.  The manual includes an extensive tutorial to help get proficient at
using the program.  The manual also includes samples of all the different
types of reports and charts that may be generated.

3.  The unregistered version starts up with a copyright notice (nag screen)
stating that it is an unregistered copy.  This notice will stay on screen for
a few seconds or you may press any key to bypass it.  Registered versions of
the program contain your name in the copyright notice.

4.  The program author appreciates the support.

  You may register the program by sending in the registration form with a
check for $29.  You may print out a registration form by selecting Help from
the GRADEBOOK menu bar and then selecting Registration.

Installation Instructions:

  The shareware version of GRADEBOOK is contained in a compressed file named
GB.EXE.  It may be downloaded with a modem or supplied on a floppy disk.  To
minimize download time and disk space the shareware version of GRADEBOOK does
not include the automatic install program or the Visual Basic dynamic link
library VBRUN100.DLL.  This file is available on most bulletin boards and may
be downloaded separately if you do not already have a copy.  It is also
available in the Windows 3.1 Resource Kit.  Copy the GB.EXE file to a
separate subdirectory on your hard disk such as \GRADEBKW.  The GB.EXE file
is a self extracting file.  Extract the GRADEBOOK files by running the GB.EXE
file from the DOS prompt by typing GB.  The following files should be
included in your copy of GRADEBOOK:

  GRADEBK.EXE       GRADEBOOK executable program
  GRADEBK.HLP       GRADEBOOK on-line help file
  FA90_1.DAT        Sample class file
  README.DOC        This file
  VENDOR.DOC        Vendor information file

  You also need to copy the VBRUN100.DLL file to your Windows subdirectory if
you have not previously installed it.  The GB.EXE file may be deleted after
the files are extracted.  Then start Windows in standard or enhanced mode.
You may then use the Windows program manager and manually add the program to
a group such as the Windows applications group.  To run the GRADEBOOK
program, just double click its icon from the Windows program manager.
Additional information on how to use a command line parameter to store your
data on a floppy or separate subdirectory may be found in the manual or in
the on-line help.

How to Use the Program:

  GRADEBOOK has extensive on-line help.  You may press the F1 key in any
dialog box or window to get context sensitive help.  You may also press the
Shift-F1 key combination to get help on any menu command.  You may also
select the Help Index, Help Commands or Help Using Help menu commands.

  The retail version of GRADEBOOK includes an extensive tutorial.  However,
the following is a description of the basic program steps needed to start
using GRADEBOOK.

  After installing GRADEBOOK you should be able to start the program by
double clicking the program icon.  The program will start with an empty main
window displayed.  The title of the main window will display the currently
selected term and class.  If there are no classes for the current term the
title bar will say "No Classes".  If you have not used GRADEBOOK previously
the current term will be the current season of the current year such as
Winter 1992.  You should first select the term that you want to use by
clicking on the Term Select menu.

  After selecting the term, you may add a class using the Class Add menu.
You may then indicate if you want to use plus and minus grades, social
security numbers instead of names on printouts and whether you want to blank
incomplete scores.  Incomplete scores are usually printed with an "NA".  If
you use the blank option you can print out reports that you may use as data
entry forms (blank gradebooks).  You may also indicate the distribution
spacing you want to use for score distributions.  If you grade on a straight
curve, you will not need to do score distributions.  If you adjust your
grading curve based on student results (you want 10% A's, 15% B's, etc.) you
can set the spacing as desired.  If you are using plus and minus grades you
will need to use a finer spacing than if you are using straight letter
grades.

  After adding a class, you may then add students to the class by selecting
the Student Add menu.  The only required entry is the last name.  You may add
students in any order.  You may alphabetize or reorder the students by
selecting the Student Reorder menu.  A student list may also be imported if
you have an ASCII file available containing their names.

  After adding students, you may add tasks using the Task Add menu.  You may
add the tasks as you go or add them all at the beginning of the term.  For
each task, you enter the task name, its category and its perfect score.  You
may locate the task in any position - normally new tasks would be the last
task.  There are 10 task categories.  You may redefine all of them from the
Misc Category Name menu except for the extra credit task category.

  After a task has been added, you may add scores for that task using the
Score Add menu.  The add scores dialog box has been designed to minimize the
keystrokes required to enter scores.  Some instructors prefer to sort their
papers or to record the scores on a sorted list prior to entering the data
into GRADEBOOK.  The sorted list may be a regular gradebook or a gradebook
that you have printed from GRADEBOOK using the Blank Incomplete Scores
Option.  If you are entering sorted scores, very few keystrokes are required.
The Random Entry Check Box should not be checked when entering sorted scores.
The default student shown in the Student List Box is the first student.  The
Score Edit Box shows the existing score for the student highlighted in the
Student List Box.  Just Press the Tab key to shift the focus to the Score
Edit Box and enter the score for the first student.  Since the Add Button is
the default key, just press the Enter key to enter the score for the first
student.  The focus will stay at the Score Edit Box and the highlighted
student will automatically increment to the next student in the list.  Enter
the next score and press the Enter key or just press the Enter key to skip
the student.

  Some instructors find that sorting the papers or recording the scores on a
sorted list prior to entering the data into GRADEBOOK is not worth the extra
effort.  GRADEBOOK allows you to quickly locate a student by entering in a
search string.  The first letter of the search string would be the first
letter of the student's last name.  If there is only one student whose last
name begins with that letter, GRADEBOOK narrows the search to that student.
If several students have a last name that begin with the same letter, just
enter the next letter of the last name to narrow the search.  You may
continue until the desired student is located.

  To use this method, first check the Random Entry Check Box and then pick
the desired task from the Task To Add Score To List Box.  Then start entering
the search string for the first student.  The search string is listed after
the Search Text Label.  As you enter the search string, the highlight in the
Student List Box will shift to the first student that matches the search
string.  If it is the desired student, press the Tab key and enter the score.
If not, enter the next letter of the search string.  If you enter a search
string for which there is no match, the Search Text will not be revised.  If
you enter an incorrect search string, you may use the Backspace key to
correct it.  When you enter a score by clicking the Add Button or by pressing
the Enter key, the Search Text will be reset.  The Search Text will also be
reset if you click on a student in the Student List Box.

  You may also just use the Student List Box to select the student directly.
Click the down arrow to drop down the list box, use the scroll bar controls
to locate the student and then click on the desired student.  The cursor
control keys may also be used to locate the student.

  Fractional scores such as 82.37 are permitted.  You may also enter "NA" for
a score.  It is not necessary to enter "0" for incomplete scores.  The
GRADEBOOK program will treat "NA" scores as zero scores if you have elected
that option on the Misc Category Weights menu.  You may also enter letter
grades instead of scores.  The program will assign the mid point score for
that letter grade based on your grading curve.

  You next need to input your grading method using the Misc Final Category
Weights menu.  You may use the total points method or the task weights
method.  If you use the total points method you do not have to enter category
weights.  Relative weights are then based on the perfect scores (points)
assigned to each task.  The term average is determined by summing the
individual scores except for discarded scores, dividing by the total perfect
score and then adding on the extra credit.  Extra credit is the only category
that may have a weight when using the total point method.

  Incomplete scores may be treated as zeros or incomplete.  If treated as
zeros, they are included in score distributions and grade distributions.  If
you want to know what the distribution of scores is without including the
incomplete scores (to prevent skewing the average lower) you can select the
Treat Incomplete option.

  If you use the task weighting method, the term average is determined by
averaging the percent scores for all tasks in a category except for discarded
scores, and then adjusting each category by its category weight.  Extra
credit is then added.  The task weights, except for extra credit, must add up
to 100%.

  The final category weights dialog box is used to enter the task weights you
want to be in effect at the end of the term after you have entered scores for
all the tasks.  However, if you are printing a progress report in the middle
of a term, all the tasks will not yet be entered.  For example, you may want
the final to be weighted at 20% at the end of the term, but you will not have
a final score available in mid term.  The final category weights need to be
adjusted when doing a progress report.  You can do this using the Misc
Interim Category Weights menu.

  You may select the number of tasks you want to include using the Misc
Selected Task menu.  You may calculate grades and do grade and score
distributions for a single task or for all the tasks.  If you select all
tasks you may specify how many of each task type you want to discard.  The
Misc Grading Curve menu is used to adjust your grading curve.  You may use
the Score Distribution and Grade Distribution menus to calculate
distributions.  Distributions may be plotted after they are calculated using
the Score Chart and Grade Chart Options.  Scores and grades may be printed
using the Score List and Grade List menus.

  Additional information on the above topics and other program features may
be found in the on-line help.

Common Questions:

1.  May I run GRADEBOOK without installing it on my hard disk?

    GRADEBOOK may be run completely from a high density (1.2MB or 1.44MB)
floppy disk.  The disk needs the GRADEBK.EXE, GRADEBK.HLP and VBRUN100.DLL
files.  The program will also keep its data files on the floppy.  Operating
GRADEBOOK in this manner will noticeably slow the program down due to the
frequent disk accesses required.  If all you want to do is keep your data on
a floppy for security purposes, you should run GRADEBOOK from the hard disk
but start it with a command line parameter so that only your data is stored
on the floppy.  The VBRUN100.DLL file is not required on the floppy if it is
in your Windows subdirectory or in your DOS PATH.

2.  I have other Visual Basic applications already installed.  Do I need to
install the Visual Basic dynamic link library?

    If you currently have the Visual Basic dynamic link library VBRUN100.DLL
installed in your Windows subdirectory or in a subdirectory that is included
in your DOS PATH, you do not need to install the Visual Basic dynamic link
library.  You only need one copy of the library installed on your hard disk.

3.  May GRADEBOOK be installed on top of itself?

    Yes.  You may install GRADEBOOK on top of itself by replacing all the
distribution files.  You may need to do this if you have a new program
revision.  Reinstalling the GRADEBOOK distribution files will not delete or
alter any of your existing class data.

4.  What must be done to remove the GRADEBOOK program?

    Delete all the files in your GRADEBKW subdirectory and then remove the
subdirectory.  If you have no other Visual Basic applications, you may also
delete the VBRUN100.DLL file from your WINDOWS subdirectory.  If you have
existing class files you may use the File, Backup command in GRADEBOOK to
make a backup copy of your existing classes before you delete the program.

5.  My computer has 2 MB of memory but when I start GRADEBOOK I get a UAE
(unrecoverable application error) or an out of memory error message?

    You have enough memory installed but it may not all be available for
Windows applications.  If you have reserved some memory for a ram disk or for
use as expanded instead of extended memory, it will not be available to
Windows.  Revise your CONFIG.SYS file to make more memory available to
Windows.  You can determine your free memory by clicking on Help and then
clicking on About from the Windows program manager.  Windows should report at
least 600 K of free memory prior to starting GRADEBOOK.  You may determine
how much memory GRADEBOOK requires by starting GRADEBOOK and then clicking on
Help and then clicking About to see how much memory is free after loading
GRADEBOOK.

6.  How do I use the supplied sample file?

    The sample class file is named FA90_1.DAT.  To make this the default
class, first do a Term, Select and select the Fall 1990 term.  Then do a
Class, Select and select the Physics 121 - College Physics M, W, F @ 2:00 PM
class.