"POWERGRADE 2.3.2 IS THE MOST POWERFUL GRADE AND CLASS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM I HAVE SEEN...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." MAC HOME JOURNAL 6/93
Dear Macintosh User,
Thank you for downloading this special demo of the latest version of PowerGrade™. This demo version has all the same powerful features as the highly rated full version, except that it is limited to classes containing 10 students or less (the full version allows 1000 students). Please experiment fully with it and give us a call if we can answer any questions for you. You will find it a very efficient and powerful tool for managing grades and attendance. You may copy and distribute this demo version of PowerGrade as long as you include this "read me" file and the sample class. To get started using this demo right away, see the "Quickstart" section below.
ONLINE SPECIAL $39.95. If you like the program, you can use your credit card and a toll-free telephone call to get an activation code that will immediately convert this demo into a FULL WORKING COPY of PowerGrade for $39.95. This offer includes no printed manuals, disks, or other materials, however it does include PowerGrade's extensive on-line help feature which can answer just about any question you are likely to have about the program. This offer is intended for those users who rarely need or use printed manuals and who would like to save the money we must normally spend on these and other production costs. There is no additional shipping or handling charge, so $39.95 is the total price you will pay unless you are in California in which case sales tax will be added. You can find more information on this offer (as well as information on our full packaged version that includes a manual) at the end of this document along with our toll-free sales number and address.
QUICKSTART
This section contains information and helpful hints about PowerGrade you may find useful.
However, the program is extremely easy to use and if you prefer you can skip this and jump right in to PowerGrade by double-clicking on the "Sample PowerGrade Class".
FIRST OF ALL. Always remember that a short explanation of just about every PowerGrade feature can be found in the on-line help file. To use on-line help, select "Help..." from under the Apple menu. You will see an alphabetical list of topics, each of which can be clicked on to bring up information about that topic. Most of the information in this "read me" file is also available in the on-line help window.
SPREADSHEET WINDOW. Once you have opened the "Sample PowerGrade Class" file (by double-clicking on it) you will see the Spreadsheet window. This is similar to the window offered by virtually all gradebook programs and allows you to change and record scores by simply clicking on a score and typing. Double-clicking on a student name in the spreadsheet brings up a student summary window, and double-clicking on an assignment title brings up the assignments window.
THE 'WINDOWS' MENU. You can access and modify any information at any time using the "Windows" menu. For example, to add or delete students from the class, use the "Class Roster" command on the "Windows" menu. Similarly, the "Categories," "Assignments," "Grade scale," and "Attendance" commands on this menu open up windows that allow you to easily review and change these areas of class information.
ATTENDANCE. The "Attendance" command under the "Windows" menu brings up the attendance window which automatically opens to the week containing the current date. You can take attendance by clicking on a "cell" where a date and a student's name intersects. Click on the same cell again to move to the next attendance code. You can modify the attendance codes using the "Attendance Codes" command under the "Edit" menu. A full array of attendance reporting features is available using PowerGrade's powerful reporting capability.
TO SET UP A NEW REPORT. PowerGrade gives you extreme flexibility to set up and name reports any way you wish, and then remembers your settings. To experiment with setting up new reports, select "Create New Report" from the "Reports" menu then click on the box that says "click here to select report type." While holding the mouse down on this box, you will see a selection of 13 different report types. Choose one (the Individual Student Report is a good one to start with) and release the mouse. Now type in a name for the report and set the options on the screen as you wish. Then click OK, and select the report from the "View Report" item on the File menu, and the report will be displayed on the screen. The report can be modified or deleted by selecting it from the Reports menu. (This demo comes with two sample reports already set up, but you can set up many more -- up to a total of 25.) You can modify reports or delete them at any time.
TO VIEW A REPORT ON-SCREEN. Select a report name from the "View Report" item on the "File" menu.
TO PRINT A REPORT. Select a report name from the "Print Report" item on the "File" menu.
CUSTOM COMMENTS IN REPORTS. You can include comments in your reports that are personalized for each student through the use of "wildcards." See the on-line help topics "Comments" and "Comment Codes" for more information. (On-line help is available under the Apple menu using the "Help..." command.)
MORE REPORT INFO: For more information on reports, see the on-line help file under the Apple menu and click on the "Reports" topic.
BACKUPS. If you convert this demo into a full version of PowerGrade, as with all software you should make frequent backups of your data (class files).
TO CONVERT THE DEMO INTO A FULL WORKING COPY OF POWERGRADE. Select the "Convert into Full Version" command from the "File" menu and follow the instructions on the screen.
••••••••••••••••
HOW TO CONTACT US
••••••••••••••••
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any help or answer any questions for you in your evaluation. Additionally, we are very interested in any ideas or suggestions users have for new features so please pass them along if you have any!
PRICING. An individual copy of PowerGrade (with manual and disk) is available for $59.95 plus shipping, handling and applicable sales tax (if any). As mentioned above, you also have the option of converting this demo version of the software to a full working version of PowerGrade for $39.95 (select the "Convert into Full Version" command from PowerGrade's "File" menu for more information.) We also offer economical site licenses for schools and districts as well as quantity discounts on bundles of 5 and 10 copies of PowerGrade. Call the ordering number below for more information.
Loma Development Company
4 Main Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Pricing information and ordering: (800) 735-8855
Technical support and questions about features: (801) 563-8418 or (415) 949-4800
