Versions
There have been three versions of the grading programs so far. In reverse order:
- 2011: as of October 2011, the "new" one. If you're using an older version, please consider switching. We try to talk you into it in the next section.
- 1998: installed on CS Lab and CDF. The existing documentation is included in this web site.
- 1988: no longer available, but its documentation is also included here, for historical interest. It includes some introductory comments written in 1998, which refer to the 1988 version as "old".
The very first version was in fact even older — written in about 1984 — but that one is lost in the fog of years.
Everything here is about the 2011 version unless it's explicitly labelled otherwise.
Why you should switch to the 2011 version
If you're using the 1998 grading programs, you should really begin using the 2011 programs.
The major reason for switching is that by the university has run out of nine-digit student numbers and has started using ten-digit numbers. (That is, we were already using ten-digit student numbers, but they all started with 0. Now there are some that start with 1.)
The 1998 grading programs can't handle ten-digit student numbers. You will have to switch either to the 2011 version or to something else such as a spreadsheet program.
However, there are reasons more positive than simple compulsion that might make you want to change now:
- The 2011 version is written in Java, so you can install it on your own computer without having to compile it. Installing is just a matter of copying a single "jar file" and creating (automatically) some very simple command-line programs. You do need to have Java 1.6 installed, but you probably already do.
- All of the 1998 commands (except genter) have 2011 equivalents that accept 1998-style grades files. The error messages are different, but if there aren't errors you won't notice a difference. The 2011 programs happily accept nine-digit student numbers, so you don't have to change your files. (If you want to produce nine-digit student numbers, there's an option for that.)
- I know you really like the 1998 program genter, but there's a new program grades in the style of a simple spreadsheet that lets you edit grades files in a more modern way ... much like what you'd have been hoping for in 1984, perhaps.
Is it hard to switch?
No. All the programs you're used to work the same way. Well, except for genter, and we hope grades is a reasonably easy replacement.
There are a number of changes, which are described in the 2011 version's "Changes since the 1998 version" page, but nothing to stop you doing what you're used to.
What's a grading program?
If you're not using the DCS grading programs, here's a brief discussion about why you might consider them.
A grading program should help a course instructor carry out the activities related to marking students: recording, calculating, publicizing (to the students), and reporting (to some university authority) the marks earned by the students. It would be good to be helpful to teaching assistants too, but that is not the first priority.
You could use a spreadsheet, probably Excel, to perform all these tasks. In fact, Excel has decades of careful development behind it, and presents a sophisticated user interface and all kinds of built-in features that no back-garden tool like our grading programs can offer.
Our programs do provide some features that can be helpful:
- A file format that can be read and edited with any text editor (vi, emacs, Notepad, Textedit, TextMate, ...).
- "Mark definitions" (for the entire class) kept separately from "mark values" (for each student). This makes it easier to keep your calculations clearly in line with the grading scheme you announced to your class.
- Per-student adjustable calculations for special cases such as illness.
- Display formats (as text files) that deans, office staff and students can all read.
- Built-in functions for formulas that make it difficult to break the rules about allowable calculations. You can still misbehave, but you get the idea you shouldn't.
It's not too hard to switch from Excel to the grading programs if you like. And it's not too hard to switch back to Excel if you decide to. Consult Working with Excel for advice on making those conversions.