GradeL 0.9.1 Released.

GradeL 0.9.1 has been released. This release includes bug fixes and minor improvements. I have included a .deb package as well. Please try it out and report problems. You can download the release or get more info in the website.

Take care.

Compiling and Installation Problems

Apparently, when I completed the conversion to Gambas2 from Gambas1 I neglected to pay close attention to the compile and installation scripts I provided with the source package. They contain bugs. The next release of GradeL will include the correct scripts, but in the meantime, I have included them here:

compile.sh:


#!/bin/sh

# This shell script compiles and archives GradeL using Gambas2.
# The result is the binary archive gradel, which can be run
# by typing ./gradel from the source directory or installed
# using sudo sh ./install.sh.

echo ""
echo "GradeL Compile Script"
echo "----------------------------------------"
echo "Checking for compiled components..."

if [ -d .gambas ]
then
echo "Removing old files..."
cd .gambas
rm *
cd ..
rmdir .gambas
fi

if [ -f gradel ]
then
rm gradel
fi

echo ""
echo "Compiling GradeL with gbc2 -p -a ..."

# It is important to include the -p and -a flags
gbc2 -p -a

echo "Creating executable archive \"gradel\" with gba2 ..."
gba2

# Rename executable archive
mv gradel-0.9.1.gambas gradel

echo "Done!"
echo ""
echo "To run gradel type: ./gradel"
echo "or"
echo "sudo \"sh ./install.sh\" to install on Ubuntu."
echo ""

install.sh:

#!/bin/sh

# This shell script installs GradeL to the system.
# Be sure to run compile.sh first.
# Gradel can be removed from the system with uninstall.sh.

echo ""
echo "GradeL Install Script"
echo "------------------------------------------------"

# GradeL binary installs in the /usr/bin directory
echo " Copying GradeL program to /usr/bin"
cp gradel /usr/bin

# Gradel icon installs in /usr/share/gradel directory
if [ -d /usr/share/gradel ]
then
echo " Copying GradeL icon to /usr/share/gradel"
cp images/gradel.png /usr/share/gradel
else
mkdir /usr/share/gradel
echo " Copying GradeL icon to /usr/share/gradel"
cp images/gradel.png /usr/share/gradel
fi

# INSTALL, README, ChangeLog and COPYING install in /usr/share/doc/gradel
if [ -d /usr/share/doc/gradel ]
then
echo " Copying INSTALL, README, COPYING, and ChangeLog to /usr/share/doc/gradel"
cp COPYING /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp INSTALL /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp README /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp ChangeLog /usr/share/doc/gradel
else
mkdir /usr/share/doc/gradel
echo " Copying INSTALL, README, COPYING, and ChangeLog to /usr/share/doc/gradel"
cp COPYING /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp INSTALL /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp README /usr/share/doc/gradel
cp ChangeLog /usr/share/doc/gradel
fi

# Done

echo "Done! To run type gradel. Enjoy the program."
echo ""

uninstall.sh:

#!/bin/sh

# This shell script removes GradeL to the system.

echo ""
echo "GradeL Uninstall Script"
echo "------------------------------------------------"

# Remove binary
echo " Removing binary."
if [ -f /usr/bin/gradel ]
then
rm /usr/bin/gradel
fi

# Remove icon
echo " Removing icon."
if [ -s /usr/share/gradel ]
then
rm /usr/share/gradel/*.*
#rm /usr/share/gradel/*
rmdir /usr/share/gradel
fi

# Remove docs
echo " Removing documents."
if [ -s /usr/share/doc/gradel ]
then
#rm /usr/share/doc/gradel/*.*
rm /usr/share/doc/gradel/*
rmdir /usr/share/doc/gradel
fi

# Done
echo " GradeL has been removed from your system."
echo ""

Keep the bug reports and questions coming!

Homepage now up to date!

It has taken me six days since releasing GradeL 0.9.0 to get the homepage at gradel.sf.net updated. Since I last used the shell service provided by SourceForge they have changed the way I access my web files. In the past I just used gFTP with SSH2 and I was able to connect. Now that's not enough. The server now requires SSH key authentication, which took me a while to configure.

SourceForge provides documentation, which explains things pretty well, but I was still hitting a road block. The step I had been missing was uploading my public key to the server. The documentation seemed to say that I would have to upload several files, but in the end I was only required to paste the contents of my id_dsa.pub file to my account page.

During this process, I also learned to use Nautilus to browse the remote server just as I do my local drive, which I find very cool. Anyway, I'm mainly writing this entry to remind myself of the process and also to assist others like me who have trouble reading something right under their nose!

Take care.

GradeL goes Gambas2 with 0.9.0 release!

Just uploaded release 0.9.0 of GradeL to the SourceForge site. In addition to changes that I've made over the last few months, this version is targeted at Gambas2. It has been successfully tested on Gambas2 2.4.1 on an Ubuntu Gutsy box. If you need Gambas2 packages for Gutsy, check out packages available here.

A .deb package of GradeL 0.9.0 may follow. Stay tuned!

For now, feel free to download the source here.

Take care!

Development Continues

Although this is a busy time of year, development of GradeL is still slowly proceding. Currently, I have added the ability to export the current marking period data to a tab-seperated file appropriate for importing into a spreadsheet program.

The program now also trims long student names so that they do not overrun the adjacent columns.

GradeL 0.8.14 Released

This release includes several improvements and bugs fixes. I think that the weighted grades are finally under control. If you use weighted grades, please keep in mind that the extra credit is added on after the regular weighted grade is calculated. The extra credit will not exceed the weight you assign. For example, if a student earns all possible extra credit points and the weight is 0.03, then that students get 3% added to his marking period grade.

The rest of the changes are listed here:

gradel-0.8.14 - 31 Oct 2007

Bug Fixes:
----------
- Adjusted some text labels on forms so that text shows correctly.
- Header labels positioned correctly in both grade mode and attendance mode.
- Long assignment names no longer over-write points in Progress Report screen view and printout.
- Moving and sorting assignments now check validity prior to action.
- Weighted grades tweaked again. They seem to calculate correctly now.
Extra credit is added on after grade calculation per its weight.
- Attendance spreadsheet no longer crashes program when no days have been added.

Improved & Updated Features
---------------------------
- Improved appearance on many dialogs.
- Absences and tardies now included with progress reports.
- Student number now shows in attendance mode as well as grade mode when selected in Preferences.
- Recent Files selection added to File menu and start up dialog window.

As usual, you can download GradeL here.

Report Card Time!

Well, if your school calendar is anything like mine, report card time is fast approaching. Some bug reports have started trickling in, especially in reference to weighted grades and manipulating assignments. I plan to address these issues as soon as possible so that teachers aren't left in a bind as deadlines approach.

This is also a good time to remind everyone that GradeL is still in development. Some features seem to be pretty solid, especially the straight points grading system. However, some parts are still unstable. Users are advised to keep backup records to avoid disasters. Many users have stated that they are running GradeL side by side with various Windows programs as a trial run - not a bad idea!

I would like to see that GradeL advance to a point where it is stable and useful as an option for teachers looking for a desktop gradebook app that runs on Linux. Keep you fingers crossed! ;)