Computer Science 2574 |
Intro to Data Structures & Soft Eng
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DOG, or Data Opscan Grader, is an opscan interpreting program that allows a user to take two types of input files and build a merged test data file, using the merged file to build a database of information for the user to manipulate. One input file contains student test result data, including name, social security number, number correct, number omitted , group number , form letter, seat number, grade, and T-score. The other type of input file needed has different test information.It contains other test information such as a test memo that tells the instructor name, the name of the class, the date the file was created,and the number of questions on the test. It also contains all of the answer keys for the test,as well as the student social security number,form number,group number, and answers for the test.
These two files are merged into a single ODB (opscan database) file which contains all of the information of the two data files. DOG allows a user to use a previously saved ODB files if they do not need to build a new one from data files.If the user does wish to use a previously saved ODB file, they can open it in two different ways. The user can open their file by typing the name of the file, with its ".odb" extension, on the command line after the name of the program. This will bring up the first (display number) students in View Results mode. Or the user can simply open their odb file from the File Menu with the Open command. Using the ODB file, DOG manipulates the test information so the user can view and/or edit it in a variety of ways.
In this manual we go into detail about all of the features implemented by DOG. We describe extensively the procedures for performing the various options made available by this current version of DOG.
There are quite a few different menus and sub-menus in DOG. They are used to execute the features of DOG. To access each of the different menus, the user must hit the key that is in parenthesis (a capitol lettter). We will discuss each menu in turn, starting with the main DOG menu and working our way through all of the sub-menus.
The main menu consists of five options: Program, File, View, Keys, and Calculate. These are the main options and how the user gets around in DOG. Most DOG operations return to the Main Menu.
1. Program tells the user a little bit about the program through a Help Screen and an About Screen.
Help Screen - The help screen gives a general overview of what DOG does.
About Screen - The About Screen simply tells the name of the program and the version.
2. File allows the user to access the files used to build the database of test information, whether it be to open or close them, to build a new database of information using different data files, or to save the current test information to a database file. There is also a quit option under the File menu.
Decipher - Decipher promts the user to enter the name of the results and decode input files, as well as the database file that will be created. It then parses the input files and stores the file test data in the new database file.
Open - The open command asks the user to input the name of the previously saved ODB file. The user should type the name along with the extension ".odb". If the user does not type the ".odb" extension, DOG will respond with an error message stating that the specified file does not exist.
Save - The Save option saves the currently open ODB file with any changes that have been made to it, overwriting the old copy.
SaveAs - SaveAs works almost the same as Save, except that it prompts the user for a new name by which to save the currently open ODB file.
Close - The close command closes the currently open ODB file.
Quit - The Quit command exits the program, after asking the user if they are sure they really wish to quit.
3. View menu allows the user to see the student test information, either as their results or as their answers, as well as the test answer keys and the statistics calculated on the test data.
Results - The Results command displays the students' test results, twenty students at a time, in a labeled tabular format. At the bottom of each screen of twenty students a Scroll/Edit menu is displayed. This menu is discussed on Scroll/Edit Menu.
Answers - The Answers command displays each students' test answers in a labeled tabular format, fifteen students at a time. Just as at the end of each results screen, a Scroll/Edit menu is displayed. This menu is discussed Scroll/Edit Menu.
Keys - When the Keys command is chosen, all of the keys ( a DOG maximum of nine ) are displayed in a labeled tabular format.
Statistics- Displays the test memo (class information), and the current computed values of average and the standard deviation for all test scores.
4. K eys The Keys menu only has three options to choose from. The purpose of the Keys menu is to allow the user to add alternative answer keys, to assign partial credit to selected answers, and to change the current test keys.
Alternative - This option is not available in this version of DOG.
Change - Change allows the user to change selected answers in the answer key(s).
Partial - This option is not available in this version of DOG.
5. Calculate The Calculate menu lets the user regrade the test and recalculate the statistics on a particular test. It also displays a histogram of the test results.
Choices - This option is not available in this version of DOG.
Grades - DOG regrades the test changing the grade that is displayed when the results are displayed, as well as updating all of the other relevant fields that may have changed.
Histogram - This option is not available in this version of DOG.
Statistics - DOG recalculates the average test grade for the test as well as the standard deviation. The standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:
When the student data is displayed, it is represented as a list of all the students in the class or section or group (all the entries in the ODB file). The Scroll/Edit Menu grants the DOG user access to all the student test information, whether it be to simply view test grades, or to change a student's name or social security number. The Scroll/Edit Menu has six selections to choose from: Top, Up, Down, Bottom, Edit, or Stop. These commands allow a user to traverse the list of records in either order, displaying either fifteen or twenty student records at a time, depending on whether student test results or answers are being displayed. In this manual we refer to this fifteen or twenty number as the display number. When chosen, the Edit option brings up a Edit Menu. This menu is discusses on pages 6, 7, and 8.
Top - When Top is picked from the Scroll/Edit menu, DOG displays the students in the list according to the display number. The list is ordered alphabetically by the students' last names. If the first (display number) students in the list are currently being displayed when Top is selected, DOG flashes an error message telling the user they are already at the top of the list.
U p - When Up is picked from the Scroll/Edit menu, DOG displays (display number) student records in the list above the currently displayed records. DOG allows a user to use Up to traverse the entire list of student records, (display number) at a time, until the top of the list is encountered. As with the Top command, when the first (display number) students in the list are being displayed and the Up command is chosen, DOG flashes an error message telling the user that they are already at the top of the list.
Down - The Down command is exactly like the Up command, except that it scrolls down the list instead of up it. As with Up and Top, and error message is displayed if the user tries to go beyond the bottom of the list.
Bottom- The Bottom command takes the user right to the bottom of the list of student records, displaying the last (display number) students. If the student tries to use the Bottom command to go down more, an error message is displayed.
Edit - The Edit command display the Edit Menu, which is discussed in detail on Edit Menu.
Stop - The Stop command enables the user to exit from the viewing part of the Main Menu and returns them to the Main Menu.
The Edit Menu is the heart of DOG. Through the Edit Menu the user has access to all the test or student data and can change any of it. There are seven options available through the Edit Menu, each of which allows editing of a different part of the student information. The editing choices are: SSN, Name, Form, Group, Chair#, Answer, and Memo. The Answer and Memo options are only available if the student answers are being displayed. If the student results are being displayed and either Answer or Memo are chosen, DOG responds with an error message saying "Invalid operation. Press enter to continue.", whereupon the user can pick a different editing option. Each screen displayed while viewing student data has all the lines numbered from one to (display number).
SSN - When the user chooses SSN from the Edit Menu, DOG prompts the user to enter the line number of the student that is to be edited. Once the user enters the line number they wish to edit, DOG asks the user for the new social security number. Once the new social security number has been entered and the return key has been pressed, DOG tells the user that their change has been made. DOG then returns to the Main Menu, where the change can be viewed by selecting View from the Main Menu and then Results or Answers. If the user decides they do not wish to change the social security number after all (maybe they picked the wrong line number, etc.) then they can simply press enter to go back to the Scroll/Edit menu without making a change. This is the case for all the Edit Menu commands.
Name - Just as with the SSN edit option, as well as the other edit options, when the user chooses Name from the Edit Menu , DOG prompts the user for the line number of the student they wish to change. If the user does not enter a valid line number, DOG responds with an error message. Once the user has input a valid line number DOG asks them for the new Name. Again, the user can simply press enter to exit the Edit Name screen without making a change. When the user has entered the new name and pressed enter, DOG tells the user that their change has been made and then returns to the Main Menu.
Form - The user enters the line number they wish to change. DOG prompts them for the new form letter and tells them when the change has been made.
Group - Editing the group number for a student is done the exact same way editing of the social security number, name, form letter, and chair number are done. Refer to one of the above for detail on how it is done.
Chair# - Editing the chair number for a student is done the exact same way editing of the social security number, name, form letter, and group number are done. Refer to one of the above for detail on how it is done.
Answer- This option is only available when the student answers are being displayed on the screen. When the user chooses the Answers option in the Edit Menu, DOG allows them to edit one or more student answers. DOG prompts the user to enter the line number of the student that they wish to change an answer on. Once a valid line number is entered, DOG asks the user for the question number that they wish to change. The question numbers are displayed at the top of the screen for reference. The user must enter a valid question number or DOG responds with an error message. Now DOG asks the user for the new answer, and again, this must be a valid test answer (a digit 0-9) or DOG flashes the appropriate error message. Once the answer is input, DOG makes the change and tells the user the change has been made. Now DOG returns to the Main Menu and waits for further instruction.
Memo - The Memo is two descriptive lines of text at the top of the results input file. When the input files are processed by DOG, these lines are stored in what we call the Memo. The user can view and edit this memo and then save it to the ODB file of their choice. When the user selects Memo from the Edit Menu, DOG displays the current memo and asks the user to input line one of the new memo. The user can put anything they wish here. Once the return key is pressed, DOG prompts the user to enter the second line of the new memo. Once this has been done and the return key has been pressed again, DOG informs the user that their change has been made and after the enter key is pressed, returns to the Main Menu. The only way that DOG allows the user to view the memo is through this Edit Memo command, but if the user doesn't wish to change the current memo, they can simply press enter without entering any new text and DOG returns to the Main Menu and awaits further instruction.