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ClassRoom GradeBook ™ (former ClassRoom Windows / Portals)

1.  What is the main idea behind ClassRoom GradeBook? 2.  The program has two editions--a Freeware and Pro Edition. What exactly does this mean for me? 3.  How do I obtain the program?  4.  How do I install Version 8 on a computer now running an earlier version of the program? 5.  I've used an earlier edition of ClassRoom GradeBook. What's new and improved in Version 8?   6.  What are some features carried over from previous versions? 7.  I am a registered user of an earlier edition of ClassRoom GradeBook. How can I upgrade to Version 8? 8. Should I upgrade to Version 8 now? 1.  What is the main idea behind ClassRoom GradeBook? Note: Beginning with version 7 (the first Windows XP compatible version), the program's title was changed from ClassRoom Windows to ClassRoom Portals. Beginning with version 8 (the new Windows Vista compatible version), the title has become ClassRoom GradeBook. ClassRoom GradeBook, the Windows-based gateway to easier classroom records management, has one basic premise. You, the teacher, are entering a huge, enchanted "ClassRoom" filled with many portals through which you must pass as the term progresses. But you are not alone; your computerized "GradeBook" will guide you through these doorways at different times during the school year to make your record keeping and grading much more efficient. ClassRoom GradeBook Help, and an Adobe Acrobat readable Documentation file, will guide you to the right portal to accomplish the task you wish to perform. Some features of the program are listed on the HomeRoom page. And if ClassRoom GradeBook makes your life a little easier, then we will have accomplished what we have set out to do. Back to Top 2.  The program has two editions--a Freeware and Pro Edition. What exactly does this mean for me? After you download and install the program, you can choose to activate the FREEWARE Edition. The FREEWARE is a fully functional edition that gets the job done--and done well; if this is the edition you'd like to run, select FREEWARE. The following statement may sound like it's against our best interests, but here it is anyway: the Freeware Edition is a complete gradebook/class management program unto itself.  It lacks certain Pro Edition bells and whistles that you might very well enjoy and use, but, for the most part, you could probably survive without them. And that is how the program was planned. ClassRoom GradeBook is primarily a freeware program designed to help make your life as a teacher a little easier! However, if you would like to explore some of the nice additional features that have been built into the PRO Edition of the program, you may choose the "Pro Ed. Evaluation" option; you may then "evaluate" the PRO Edition features FOR 45 DAYS. (Note that if you choose FREEWARE at first, you may later try out the PRO Evaluation option at ANY time.) If you decide you like the added features of the Pro Edition, you can register your copy and continue using it. (When you register, you will be given a registration key number.) If you decide not to register the PRO Edition, the program will metamorphose itself back into the FREEWARE edition after 45 days, thus enabling you to continue to use virtually all the data you've entered. YOU WILL LOSE NO DATA IF YOU RETURN TO THE FREEWARE EDITION AFTER THE 45 DAY EVALUATION. Some of the added features in the PRO Edition appear on our HomeRoom page. And registered users may contact us for support through our "reguser" e-mail. To see a full comparative list of features in the two editions, see our Features page. Back to Top 3.  How do I obtain the program?  To get your copy, simply download it from one of our download sites.  If you later choose to register the PRO Edition, just follow one of the simple procedures outlined on our Registration page.  Back to Top 4.  How do I install Version 8 on a computer now running an earlier version of the program?   Version 8 of the program is designed to be installed in a DIFFERENT default subdirectory (Program Files\ClassRoom GradeBook\CRG8) than previous versions of the program. Therefore, it is not necessary to uninstall a previous version before installing version 8. Data (.CRW) files will remain in the previous subdirectory, and will continue to be accessed from that subdirectory. However, since Version 8 has new features, you will probably want to uninstall version 5, 6 or 7 from your machine before or after installing version 8. (Be sure to backup your data [.CRW] files before uninstalling.)   Back to Top 5.  I've used an earlier edition of ClassRoom GradeBook (ClassRoom Portals/Windows).  What's new and improved in Version 8?   NEW PRO EDITION EVALUATION PERIOD FOR PREVIOUS USERS OF VERSION 5, 6 OR 7. Since the program has a number of nice new and improved features, those using the Freeware Edition of Version 5, 6 or 7 and who have used their 45 day evaluation period for the Pro features of that version, will be able to try out the new features of Version 8 for another 45 days. If they like the Pro features, they may become registered users; if not, they can, as always, return to the freeware edition after the 45 day Pro evaluation period has expired. Registered users of Versions 5, 6 and 7 remain registered users of the new version 8 IMPORTANT CHANGE IN DATA FILE STRUCTURE.  Beginning with Version 8.0 of the program, you can now enter names (first AND last together) of up to 30 characters and IDs of up to 12 characters; also you can enter the number of times a student is late. In addition, you can save all grading options--not just weights--when making up grades. (Also, in the Pro Edition, you can now change the names of modifiable type categories.) These changes, together with previous changes allowing for the entry of decimal points up to two places for all grades under 100, and removing limits on the number of students, number of grades and length of comments, have necessitated a modification in the structure of the program data files (.crw). Any file produced by earlier versions of the program (5 through 7) can be read by Version 8 or later, and will be automatically converted to the new file format. However, once the file has been converted and saved in converted form, it can no longer be read in any version of the program earlier than 8. (Upon saving of the converted data file, a backup of the pre-converted data file will be saved in your program subdirectory with the extension .OLD).  Here, then, are some of the new and/or improved features in Version 8. Every item in this list is available in the Freeware. The TOTAL length of a name you can enter has now been increased to 30 characters. This 30 character total is for combined last and first names, divided up as needed. For example, you may have students with short first names and very long last names--or vice versa. You can now easily enter name information for a student with a last name of 20 characters and a first name of 10--or a first name of 12 characters and a last name of 18, etc. Just remember the 30 character TOTAL for both names. The ID field has now been increased to accommodate values up to 12 characters. When you open a class file, you will now see a new main screen on which you can directly perform many functions which were previously accessible only through the pull-down menu or toolbar.  On the Main menu's Roster tab, you could decide to sort your files by Name or ID. Now you have a viewing option based on your sort choice. You can view screens sorted by Name displaying Name alone or Name and ID. If you chose to sort your roster by ID, you can view screens displaying just ID or ID with Name. If your school (or you) keep your records only by ID and not by name, you no longer have to enter a first and last name for students. Just enter a dash (-) or another symbol when you're prompted for first or last name. If you decide to do this, remember to choose "Sort Roster by ID" and "Display without Name" from the Roster Menu. There is now a new option if you use points to make up grades. You can choose to make up grades using points and weighted types. First you choose which testing instruments you want to include in your average and then you can give each type category a weight. Once you make up a grade, the options you chose in computing the average (method selected, drop lowest grade option, rounding option, etc.) will be saved and can be viewed on a summary form; therefore, you won't have to go through the preliminary make up grades screens again unless you change values that will affect your choices. You can now make up to three sets of your own rounding values and save each of them. The Extra Credit option has been strengthened. When calculating averages using Individual Items or Types, the total weights WITHOUT extra credit will equal 100. The extra credit item or type can then be given its own additional weight. When entering testing instruments, if a majority of the class received a certain grade, or just a few papers came in early and you have some "missing" grades, you can now use the "fill button" to fill in any "missing" grade with ABS, CUT, NON, EXC, or any grade you choose. You can now enter the number of times late (tardiness) for all students. Changes in printing: -- All print forms can now be printed by Name and/or ID. -- You can now print out all attendance periods entered, not just a single attendance period. -- An individual testing instruments can now by printed in Rank order (highest to lowest or lowest to highest) showing name, ID or both. -- When you print out grades for individual students, you can now include a summary of the grades showing how the student did in each type category. -- On individual student printouts, you can now ask for a parent signature. You can also print summary attendance. In addition to all the changes mentioned above, the Pro Edition includes the following enhancements in version 8:  A full testing instrument can now be transferred between classes. This is especially useful for teachers who keep more than one file for each class. You can now set margins for your printouts. At the print preview portal, you can not only e-mail your data, but you can now save most forms in HTML format for possible posting on a web site you might have. You can now print your rollbook with full titles instead of only the 3 letter codes which identify each title. You can now edit the names of modifiable type categories. So now, for example, the category wouldn't have to read S1 - Subject 1; you could change it to MA - Math. When entering daily attendance, you now have the option to view--by day and/or by student--a summary of Abs., Cut, Late, Note, and Excused. In addition to importing and exporting names, ID's and supplementary information as text files, you can now import and export testing instruments (i.e., grades).  The following items were modified in revisions to version 8.0: 8.01 - corrects a problem where information was sometimes printed twice on certain multiple page printouts. Back to Top 6.  What are some features carried over from previous versions? If you would like a quick introduction to the structure of the program, you can check out ClassRoom GradeBook' Roadmap in the Help file. The package contains a model class (called "Sample") to help new users become better acquainted with the program. Those new to the program (as well as our more experienced users) can  be guided through the process of creating a new file using ClassRoom GradeBook' "Start a New Class" Wizard. As a matter of fact, teachers using the program for the very first time will be met by the wizard shortly after they enter the door! In the PRO edition, information can be exported in two ways: by  (1) creating a text file with Names and ID's, or (2) creating a text file with Names, ID's and any Supplementary Information you've entered. You can print mailing labels addressed either to the parent or to the student in the Word Processor module of the PRO edition. You can  view most forms on the screen before you print them. In the PRO edition, it is possible for you to save the forms that you may view in Print Preview (such as an individual student's record) to text files.  You may then use the data saved in these files to easily prepare personalized letters--or even e-mails--to communicate with parents. You can enter a variety of additional optional Supplementary Information into your ClassRoom GradeBook data file.  This "Class Information" includes:  -- A designation or title for your class;  -- Teacher's name;  -- Term start and end date;  -- Time or period the class meets; and  -- Room number. When you enter grades, you can classify each grade according to type, e.g., test, quiz, homework, etc. In the Pro Edition, you can change the order of your testing instruments--they don't have to remain in the order entered. The popular Roll Book feature has a number of useful view and print options. In the PRO edition, you can view and print your students' grades with different sort options; you can also choose to print only certain types of grades.  Your "roll book" may be printed by Name or ID. Using the program's Statistics feature, you can gather useful information about your students and their grades. In addition, in the PRO edition, you can view and/or print a graph of a student's progress.  The Statistics provided by the program include standard deviation.  In the PRO edition, you can compare grades among several classes and produce relevant statistics. In the PRO edition, ClassRoom GradeBook can be used to keep a full record of your Daily Attendance. You can view the results of any one grade (test, etc.) in a rank sorted order (i.e., highest grade to lowest grade or lowest to highest). The program supports the Total Points System of Grading. You can produce seating charts in the PRO edition. Features from previous program versions include incorporation of greater compatibility with non-USA Regional Date Settings, and, in the PRO edition, a routine to send emails to students and parents. When you choose to print computed averages, all grades, missing grades or attendance, you may do so for multiple selected students at one time.  You can enter decimal points up to two places for all grades under 100. The Pro Edition allows you to make up grades by assigning weights to individual items while observing the cumulative effect of those weights in relevant type categories. The program allows you to drop a student's lowest grade when making up grades. And, of course, we've taken care of a few minor bugs reported to us by our registered users. Back to Top 7.  I am a registered user of an earlier edition of ClassRoom GradeBook (ClassRoom Portals/Windows). How can I upgrade to Version 8? That's easy.  Simply download the file, and follow the directions for registered users of versions 5.xx through 7.xx on the Updates page.  Back to Top 8. Should I upgrade to Version 8 now? That depends. It's worth repeating that Version 8 has been designed with compatibility for the new Windows Vista operating system in mind (as well as continued usability with XP and later flavors of 9x). Since the changes are extensive, and the structure of the program's data files has substantially changed, current users might wish to stay with the previous version (7) for their present classes; they can always pick up on the new version when (a) beginning new classes or starting a new term, (b) acquiring a new computer, and/or (c) upgrading to the new Vista operating system. On the other hand, current users who wish to update immediately to Version 8 to take advantage of the program's new features should keep in mind that the program's data file structure has changed; once the data files have been converted to Version 8's format, they can no longer be read by a computer running Version 7 or earlier. Back to Top [ Home ] [ Download ] [ Updates ] [ Register ] [ FAQs ] [ Add Student/Enter Grades/Statistics Portals ] [ Rounding/Grades/Help Portals ]