New Features/Enhancements:

1. Registration deactivation is the primary new feature in this version, which allows MicroGrade users to "deactivate" their registration of MicroGrade on one computer in order to install it on a different computer if needed.

MicroGrade 6.1.1
Changes From Version 6.1.0
September 8, 2004

New Features/Enhancements:

1. Blackboard import and export is the primary new feature in this version.

2. Support for a compile time version that does not require registration was added. This only works with site serial numbers.

3. The About MicroGrade dialog now includes the Activation Code (input code) below the serial number.

MicroGrade 6.1.0
Changes from version 6.0.2
July 2, 2004

New Features/Enhancements:

1. The registration and activation system was added in this version of MicroGrade.

2. The OS X version now requires an OS version of 10.2.0 or higher.

MicroGrade 6.0.2
Changes from version 6.0.1
September 3, 2003

New Features/Enhancements:

1. The Palm interface is the major new feature in this version of MicroGrade.

2. The Chariot mail server that allows users to send email without any special configuration is implemented in this version of MicroGrade.

MicroGrade for OS X 6.0.1
Changes from version 6.0.0
May 5, 2003

New Features/Enhancements:

1. Support for the future premium version of WebGrade and for Site License WebGrade was made to dynamically depend on the fourth character of the serial number. A new item in the File menu named Update Registration allows a customer that upgrades from the current “free” WebGrade to be sent a new serial number that they enter in this dialog to enable the new features. For Site License WebGrade MicroGrade also forces the name order in WebGrade uploads to be First Last regardless of the preference in the class file.

MicroGrade 6.0.0
Changes from version 5.0.6
May 15, 2002

New Features/Enhancements:

1. The principal new feature in this version is integration with the WebTest System. Student records can be securely uploaded to WebTest and test results can be downloaded back to MicroGrade.

2. Support for class sizes up to 6000 is now possible in special builds of MicroGrade.

3. The number of student attribute values was increased from 16 to 100. This makes it possible to represent things like instructor or program in very large files.

4. To support the larger number of attribute values on Windows the select students dialog was changed to use combo boxes rather that a pop-up menus.

5. The WebGrade student summary report now shows the curved score for curved assignments. In addition, free format reports and exports that include the percent score of a curved assignment now use the curved percent score instead of the un-curved percent score.

6. MicroGrade now prevents non-printing characters from being entered into student records. Low ASCII characters can cause problems when classes are uploaded to WebGrade.

7. Support for the Site License version of WebGrade was added. From the users point of view this adds the ability to upload multiple classes in a single session. This can be multiple grading periods from a single class or grading periods from several classes.

8. A new serial number scheme was implemented so that providing an appropriate serial number could enable features such as Site License WebGrade or the forthcoming Palm interface.

9. Because passwords for the Site License version of WebGrade are created on the server and not within MicroGrade all references to password are suppressed when a Site License serial number is in use.

MicroGrade for OS X 6.0.0
Changes from version 5.0.6
February 24, 2003

New Features/Enhancements:

1. This is an OS X Carbon version of MicroGrade. No new features are introduced, just OS X native support.

MicroGrade 5.0.6
Changes from version 5.0.5
April 15, 2002

New Features/Enhancements:

1. MicroGrade now writes the version number and release date as part of the class header. This is intended to aid in diagnosing problems in files sent in by users.

2. MicroGrade now writes information in the grading period header to aid in diagnosing problems in files sent in by users.

3. In the mark attendance dialog the active student name and date are highlighted in the color for the roster window.

4. When the window highlight color is set to black, blue, or dark blue the text is written in white making these highlight colors useable.

5. The information written to the grading period header is used to verify class files after they have been saved. If problems are detected the temporary file is left as is and a message is displayed requesting that the original and temporary file be emailed to Chariot to aid in diagnosing the cause of such problems.

6. When creating a summary grading period the options dialog now includes a checkbox to force the summary to use weighted percentages even when all grading periods use total points. This makes it simple to create a summary that, for example, weighs two semesters 40% and a final exam 20%.

7. When creating the WebGrade upload file MicroGrade now opens the WebGradeTemplates file read only. This allows MicroGrade to work in network environments like Mac Manager.

MicroGrade 5.0.5
Changes from version 5.0.4
June 15, 2001

New Features/Enhancements:

1. Support for a 600-student version was dropped and support for a 2000 student version was added. Now 480, 800 and 2000 student versions are supported.

2. On the Macintosh it is necessary to set a program attribute in order for MicroGrade to be accessed by multiple users from a server. Previously this was done if the serial number started with an “N”. This was changed to make all site license versions network capable. Now serial numbers starting with “S” cause the change for network support to be made.

3. File import now automatically recognizes all three common end of record formats, Carriage Return (Mac), Line Feed (UNIX), and Carriage Return + Line Feed (DOS). Previously UNIX format was not automatically recognized.

4. New features were added to allow MicroGrade to work easily with those using WebCT. The ability to export basic student data to WebCT is provided by a new item in the File -> Export menu. This creates a file containing the required fields to populate a WebCT student database, First and Last name, user ID, and password. Options to support common ways WebCT users seem to do ID and password are provided. A more complete export capability is provided in general export. The save options dialog was changed to have a pop-up menu of supported formats including WebCT. This allows advanced WebCT users to export and upload any data that MicroGrade has about students. MicroGrade can also import data downloaded from WebCT. The existing use defined import of student or scores data can be used with files downloaded from WebCT (the UNIX change described above is required to support WebCT since it uses the popular Apache web server). To further simplify the process a new WebCT item were added to both the Students -> Import Students and Scores -> Import Scores menus. These items shortcut the initial steps of the user defined import process.

5. The Grade Book report was enhanced to allow both the Name and ID to be displayed. Several users that are required to turn in a final grade report with both name and ID requested this. The appearance of the report with letter grades was improved by moving the grade closer to the center of the column when the “Flag Excused, Dropped, Late” option isn’t used.

6. To comply with legal requirements a new check box was added to the edit student dialog. The box is labeled “Exclude This Student From WebGrade Reports”.

MicroGrade 5.0.4
Changes from version 5.0.3
October 30, 2000

New Features/Enhancements:

1. The ability to export multiple header lines is the major new feature in this version. This feature was added specifically to support the Parlant system but should make support of almost any other system possible. In “general” export each line terminated by a return is treated independently. If a line contains no student specific items (within «») then it is sent to the output file once and discarded. Once a line that contains student specific items is encountered any following lines are discarded and the line with student specific items is used repeatedly to export each selected student in the class file. Two new student export items were added. They are named “Attendance Date” and “Attendance Code”. If either of these is used in an export (normally they are used together) then a dialog requesting the range of dates to report attendance is displayed. As students are processed each date in the specified range is checked and a record is exported for every day on which the student has attendance marked as not present. This is any attendance code other than the first (representing present) that does not have “Counts as Present” checked. The field “Attendance Date” shows the date of the event and the field “Attendance Code” shows the Attendance abbreviation.

2. The undo feature was made more general by allowing the information about the last change to be remembered even when the window loses focus. This means that you can make a change in the summary window, click in the roster window to switch to another student, return to the summary window and still undo the last score change. As a result of this change the summary and scores windows can have different students that can have their score undone at the same time. For example, you could change student A’s score in the summary window and student B’s score in the scores window and, by switching from one window to the other continue to undo and redo the score change for both students.

3. When doing a save as it is now possible to save the seating chart configuration even when students records are not saved. A teacher requested this who had a user defined seat arrangement that did not change from class to class. Previously, when a new session started she had to redefine the seat arrangement. As students are added to the new class they are automatically assigned to a seat. The following change makes it simple to assign students to the correct seat.

4. The seating chart was changed to allow seat swapping to work in user defined as well as snap to grid mode. Now if the mouse is over another seat when it is released while moving a seat the students in the two seats are swapped in either mode.

5. Macintosh Views was modified to treat a mouse click with the control key down as a right button click. This was done to be consistent with the increased use of control click in the Macintosh OS since the release of System 9. Previously an option click was treated as a right button click.

6. A new preference was added for WebGrade on the Macintosh. A check box labeled “Save WebGrade File with class” is available in the preferences for Display and Sorting dialog. If this is checked the “WebGrade_Upload_File” is saved in the same folder with the open class rather than on the desktop. This was added to accommodate schools that use security software to prevent files from being saved except in a designated folder.

7. Skyward import/export was updated to be compatible with their current software version.

8. A change was made to the Windows printer code in Views so that an error number is reported when it is not possible to connect to the printer. This will simplify support.

9. When a class is opened MicroGrade verifies the saved printing preferences more thoroughly. A class from a user would not open because of corruption in this area. With this change the users file opens without problems.

MicroGrade 5.0.3
Changes from version 5.0.2
April 25, 2000

New Features/Enhancements:

1. A “New Class Assistant” that will step a user through the process of creating a new class is the major new feature in this version.

2. User defined import will now allow passwords to be imported.

3. User defined import will allow import into a student attribute. The names of student attributes are appended to the pop-up used to assign import fields to database items. Assigning an attribute to an import field causes the value for that field in each import record to be compared to the attribute values and, if a match is found, giving the student that attribute value. If no defined attribute value matches the import field value an error message is generated and that student is not imported.

4. User defined import will allow multiple import fields to be assigned to either Notes 1 or Notes 2. This is accomplished by allowing the two “Notes” menu items to be used on multiple input fields. A note below the MicroGrade fields menu explains that this can be done. Each field associated with a note is put on a separate line. The order is that used to assign the fields to a note. In the list of fields a note is shown as “Notes n (line m)->field name” where n is 1 or 2 and m is the one relative line number for that field.

5. Tile Windows will tile just the open windows. Tiling will recognize the useful width of windows like roster, summary, and categories and not give them unneeded width. The default widow arrangement will be without the categories & assignments window.

6. In new classes Highlight scores is set for ‘F’ and window highlight color is set to light yellow for all windows.

7. Improvements to the Views printer code were made to allow better response to problems such as a printer not being selected.

8. Four hidden grading period items used for Skyward import and export were made available for general import/export use. The fields are named “Code 1” to “Code 4”. Typical usage of the fields would be for items like instructor ID, class code, section code, and room number. Most school systems require items such as these to be included in every student grade record that they import. These fields are available for editing in the add and modify grading period dialogs. An option there allows them to be used in user defined import. If they contain data they are available in general export. Each of the four fields can hold up to 15 characters.

9. The Help menu item “Quickstart New Class…” was made available at all times except when in a dialog. This is more consistent with the way the “New” menu item works and should cause less confusion for users.

10. The sequence in which windows open when the “New Class Quick Start” is not used has changed. As soon as a new class is created the Roster window opens. No other window is opened until at least one student and one assignment has been created. Then, the Student Summary and Scores windows open and all windows are tiled properly. This results in the same three-window arrangement that the Quick Start creates.

MicroGrade 5.0.2
Changes from version 5.0.1
March 10, 2000

New Features/Enhancements:

1. Cancel of a WebGrade upload now closes and removes the incomplete upload file.

2. The same password can no longer be manually entered for two students in the Edit Students dialog.

3. The error message when a phone number is longer than 29 characters is now correct.

4. The MicroGrade export of students no longer includes a middle name field.

5. If a MicroGrade import header includes a long unrecognized field name a more meaningful error is given.

6. User defined import of email 2 now works correctly.

7. The limit of 256 characters on the combined length of Notes 1&2 and Email 1&2 is now properly checked during a user defined import.

9. On Windows it is now possible to type the maximum number of characters in the following fields: In the e-mail setup dialog: Instructor e-mail address, SMTP server name, and student e-mail domain In the edit students dialog: phone 1, phone 2, e-mail 1, and e-mail 2.

11. When a class is converted from an older version passwords are now automatically created for all students. This seems like the correct thing to do since the default preference is to require passwords and create them automatically. This resolves some user issues involving attempting to drop a student with no password.

12. When registering MicroGrade the default button in the alert asking if the information entered is correct is now the “Yes” button. This should reduce the likelihood of uses clicking the wrong button and thinking they can’t register the program.

13. If a free format report contains no student specific items (i.e. items within chevrons) it is printed only once and not repeatedly and identically for each student. This same behavior incorrectly occurred for an e-mailed free format report. This is corrected so that a free format report consisting of just simple text can be e-mailed to all students.

14. In the student summary report there was no check for available space on the page before printing comment codes. Now space for a small gap, the comments label, and the first line of comments is checked for and if not available the comments are moved to the next page.

MicroGrade 5.0.1
Changes from version 4.6.3
February 11, 2000

New Features/Enhancements:

1. A second E-mail address is supported. Reports can be sent to E-mail 1, E-mail 2, or E-mail 1&2. Both E-mail addresses can be imported or exported and students can be selected based on either E-mail address. Together, the two E-mail addresses can be up to 112 characters. Previously the single E-mail address was limited to 35 characters.

2. The instructor E-mail address, the domain to add to unqualified addresses and the SMTP server name can now be up to 63 characters each. Previously, these were limited to 35.

3. The existing home and work phone numbers are now referenced as Phone 1 and 2. In addition, the maximum length of each phone number is increased from 15 to 29 characters.

4. A password can now be specified for each student. The Preference for Student information dialog allows the password to be designated as required and as either manually entered or automatically generated. Automatically generated passwords are six digits long with no zeros to prevent confusion of the digit “0” with the letter “O”.

5. A new menu item named WebGrade has been added. It presents a dialog to specify options for HTML reports and upload them to Chariot’s web site. A tool bar button to invoke the upload WebGrade dialog was added. A menu item named “WebGrade Tutorial…” is the second item in the WebGrade menu. Choosing this item asks if you have an Internet connection and, if you answer yes, launches the default Web browser to a Chariot page that provides an overview of the WebGrade process.

6. The previous use of WebGrade as an output option in reports has been changed to HTML. The “Output To:” pop-up in reports now offers the following options: Printer, Screen, Disk, HTML, E-mail 1, E-mail 2, E-mail 1&2.

7. The Help menu now includes a hierarchical item named “Web Resources”. Three items appear: “Chariot Home page…”, “Chariot Tech Support…”, and “MicroGrade FAQ…”. Choosing these items asks if you have an Internet connection and, if you answer yes, launches the default Web browser to an appropriate Chariot page.

8. A new file format is required for the above new features. Older files are converted when opened. A message indicating the version and platform of the file is presented and the user can either allow or cancel the conversion. The user is asked for a name for the new file. The original file is not modified.

9. A more detailed validation of category and assignment data is performed when a grading period is opened. This made it possible to open some corrupted files sent in by users that previously received errors and refused to open.

10. The serial number dialog has been modified to have separate input areas for the three parts of the serial number. The input focus automatically moves to the next input area once the proper number of characters have been entered.

11. The Windows 32-bit version now includes appropriate information in the version tab of the properties window for the MicroGrade application.

12. The Windows version now uses the suffix “eml” when saving e-mail to a file for later transmission. The file previously had a suffix of “txt” but was not a text file.

13. When editing student attributes and the last value in a list is deleted the previous value instead of the first value is now selected.

14. When importing MicroGrade will strip leading and trailing quotes from any import field and will recognize field separators only if they are not within quotes. This makes SASI II import using the “User Defined…” option work correctly.

15. When importing students in variable length records using the “User Defined…” option a middle name is accepted. It is appended to the first name with an intervening space.