If you enter data that is not recognizable by Grades or try a command that is not available "Grades" will Beep. You can then ask the program for an explanation of the error by pressing Command-Y or selecting the "Why" from the Apple Menu
FIELDS:
Student ID: Grades let you assign letters, numbers or any other combination as a student ID
e.g: A1000, A1001, ...
BA-1901, BA-1902,...
Section: Grades supports large classrooms that are divided into sections. If more than one section is defined, Grades will add the option of reporting grades per section. The default is 1 section.
Surname: Student's last name.
First name: Student's given name.
Comments: This is a scrollable field to record any comments for the students. This field is for reference only and it is not reported anywhere else in the program.
BUTTONS:
 
Load: Select this button to import a student list into the program. In most Universities and Colleges an electronic student list is provided to professors thus eliminating the need to enter each student name and ID manually into the program.
 
In order to import the data successfully you need to make sure that it is loaded in the right order. Open the Student Data file (provided by your College/University) with a word processor to see its data order. Select the right order from the LOAD window.
Note: You might need to modify the Data file for Grades to load it successfully. Make sure that the data file is written in the following format:
Student List: Click this button to open a side window that list students entered into Grades. The list is sorted alphabetically by students' surname.
 
Print Std. List: Click this button to print the student list.
 
Control: Click this button to open a side window that shows:
- Total number of students
- Total number of sections
- Total number of examinations scheduled
- Total number of examinations already given
- Course name
- Today's date.
* Click on the info icon (at the top right hand corner) to update the window.
 
Delete: Deletes the currently displayed records. This operation is not undo-able.
 
Clear Form: Clears and prepares the window to enter additional data. If you have made changes to previous records, click on this button to clear the window.
 
Navigation buttons: Move from one record to another.
|<: Find first record.
< : Find previous.
> : Find next.
>|: Find last record.
COURSE DETAILS
Here is where you define how many exams you will give during the course and how much weight each will have towards the final grade.
 
Exam ID code: This is a reference consecutive number for each exam. The default for the first exam code is 1. You can re-assign any number i.e.: 1000. Grades will use it as the base for coding new exams code (i.e. 1001, 1002, etc.).
Type: Grades recognizes 3 types of exams:
- (%) grading: These are examinations that will be marked on a percentage basis (0% to 100%).
- (A/F) grading: These examinations will be marked with a letter grade (A+ to F).
- Extra Credit: Extra Credit exams could be graded on percentages or letter grades. They carry a final weight value as defined under the preference window (the default is 5 points out of the 100 points of the final mark).
Title: Enter in this field the exam title. The title is used on the examinations reports.
Percentage: Here you assign the weighted average of each exam towards the final grade. The total sum of the weighted averages of exams must be 100%.
BUTTONS:
 
Control: Click this button to open a side window that shows:
- Total number of students
- Total number of sections
- Total number of examinations scheduled
- Total number of examinations already given
- Course name
- Today's date.
 
Delete: Click this button to delete the currently displayed record.
 
Clear Form: Clears and prepares the window to enter additional data. If you have made changes to previous records, click on this button to clear the window.
 
OK: Accepts all weighted average exams records and closes the window.
