If everyone sets up PowerGrade using the same folder names and filenames, when you start PowerGrade it should automatically open your data file.
On occasion, you may get a "Open" or "Open which datafile… " window. If you do, you need to find your data file manually.
This window is most likely looking at the powergrade folder on your C: drive. You need to find your data on your H:\ drive.
Find the arrow on the right end of the "Look in:" drop down box.
Click on it and find your "H:\ drive". It is the one that begins with your User Name.
The "Look in" drop down box should now display your H: Drive:
Now find your "powergrade" folder and "double click" on it.
The "powergrade" folder should appear in the "Look in:" drop down box.
Now "Double Click" on your data file "pg0405.4dd".
Most teachers use a variation of two different grading
methods:
If you use the Points system, you need
to define only two categories:
If you use the Percentage system, you
need to define all your categories plus "Semester Exam"
Define the category you will use the most first.
In this example I will use the following Percentage system:
I will define the following categories:
Open the Class you want to work with.
Go to [Windows] on the menu bar and then select [Categories…] in the drop down menu list.
If the right side of the window is not blank, click
the [New Category] button which creates a new category. Fill in
the text boxes. This is sample data only. Use your own categories.
Click the [Accept] button.
When entering category names use proper capitalization - remember parents will see this.
After you click the [Accept] button, the category name appears on the left-side of the window and the other text boxes are cleared.
If the right side of the window is not blank, click
the [New Category] button which creates a new category. Fill in
the text boxes for your next category. This is sample data only. Use your
own categories.
Click the [Accept] button.
If the right side of the window is not blank, click
the [New Category] button which creates a new category. Fill in
the text boxes for your next category. This is sample data only. Use your
own categories.
Click the [Accept] button.
Enter all the rest of your categories.
If the right side of the window is not blank, click
the [New Category] button which creates a new category. Fill in
the text boxes for your last category. You MUST have this category exactly
as shown.
Click the [Accept] button.
When you finish all your categories, close the "Categories" window by clicking the "X" in the upper right hand corner.
For Semester 1, establish Final Grades Setup for Q1, Q2, R1, and S1
For Semester 2, establish Final Grades Setup for
Q3,
Q4, R2, and S2.
Go to [Windows] on the menu bar and then select [Final Grade Setup…] in the drop down menu list.
Click the drop down arrow next to "Which Final Grade" and select "Q1" or "Q3".
Click on the drop down arrow to the right of "Total Points"
Select [Category Points]
Highlight the category and click the [OK] button.
Type in the weight for that category.
Enter the drop factor. For example if you drop the
lowest quiz, enter "1" for category "Quiz".
Click on the [+] button to add a new line to the weighting table.
After entering all your categories, check to see if they add up to 100, and then click the [Accept] button. Note that this window displays the date range for this marking period.
If you use the Points system, your quarter weights will look like this:
Complete this process for Q1 and Q2 or Q3 and Q4.
Click the drop down arrow next to "Which Final Grade" and select "R1" or "R2".
(R1 is the first semester exam. R2 is the second semester exam)
Then setup "R1" or "R2" as shown here.
Click the [Accept] button when done with "R1" or "R2".
Click the drop down arrow next to "Which Final Grade" and select "S1" or "S2"
(S1 is the first Semester Average. S2 is the second Semester Average)
Then setup "S1" or "S2" as shown here. Use "% from another final grade" for factor type.
(Note: You will need to use the [+] button
to add the lines for "Q2" or "Q4" and "R1" or "R2".
Click the [Accept] button when done with "S1" or "S2".
Close the "Final Grade Setup" window by clicking the "X" in the
upper right hand corner.
Click on the "Assignment" 
button.
Click the [New] button. Beware: If
you don’t click [New] you will change the properties of another
assignment.
Fill in the data:
Category. Select the appropriate category from the drop down list
Name: Use a descriptive name for the assignment
Abbrev: A short abbreviation that will appear at the top of the column on the spreadsheet.
Pts poss: Points possible. This will get filled in from the default possible points in the
where you set the point value for each assignment. If you use a Percentage
system, this is usually 100.
Due date: This date must be with the date range for the marking period. The "Final Grade
box and not use the Month and Day drop down boxes.
Web Link: If you have a web page with further information about this assignment, you
Click the [Accept] button when done. Click the [New] button to add another assignment.
Click the [Close] button when you are done
entering assignments.
A new column will be added for each assignment. The
column heading includes three values: Assignment abbreviation, Due date,
and Category Abbreviation. The "( )" means the assignment is unrecorded.
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If you want the assignment
to appear on progress reports as "UpComing", fill the column with
the code "UC".
Click on one of the "( )" codes in the column. Go to [Utilities] on the menu bar and select [Fill Scores …]. Verify the Assignment name. Enter UC in the "Fill value" text box and click the [OK] button.
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When the assignment is corrected, fill in the assignment column with the appropriate number grade. The Q1 and S1 fields will be automatically calculated. Note that there are two "averages" in the Q1, Q2, R1, and S1 columns. These must always be identical. One value is printed on report cards and the other is used to calculate GPA. Note: S1 will not be correct until the semester exam grade is entered.
Repeat this process for each class.
Open the desired class.
Suppose I want to give an incomplete or override the Quarter 1 average for a student. Hold down the <ctrl> key on the keyboard and then "Click" on the "Q1" grade for the student to be changed. You can also "Double Click" on the Q1 grade.
You will get a popup dialog box. Make sure it has the correct student name and marking period. Put a check mark in the "Manually override this grade" box.
For an Incomplete replace the current "grade" with a capital "I" and the current "percent" with a zero.. Then click the [Save] button.
Do NOT use lower case "i" or any other code such as "in", "IN", "INC" or "inc".
To override a grade, enter the new numeric value in the "Grade" text box and the "Percent" text box. Then click the [Save] button.
Note: Both value must be the same. The Grade is what appears on report cards and the Percent is what is used to calculate GPA.
When you return to the spread sheet that grade will appear in with a light blue background indicating a manual override.
To remove an incomplete. Finish entering missing assignment grades. Suppose I want to remove an incomplete from the Quarter 1 average for a student. Hold down the <ctrl> key on the keyboard and then "Click" on the "Q1" grade for the student to be changed. You can also "Double Click" on the Q1 grade.
Remove the check from the "Manually override this grade" checkbox. Powergrade will calculate the student’s grade and fill in the text boxes. The text boxes become disabled. Click on the [Save] button.
Hold down the <ctrl> key on the keyboard and then "Click" on the number to the left of the student’s name. You can also "Double Click" on the number.
Be sure the 
tab is selected. You can either compose your own comment or select a comment
from the comment bank.
To compose your own, simple type it into the large text box at the top of the screen. Click the [OK] button when done.
To use the comment bank:
In the middle of the window select "School Comment" from the "Comment Type" drop down box.
Click on a number on the left to see the corresponding comment on the right. Double Click on the number to add the comment to the top box. Note: comment 022 shows as ^022 in the top comment text box.
Note: Comment 022 is the "Circle 70" comment. It does say Credit Awarded. Since we only assign credit on the semester, Circle 70’s should only be given for S1 and S2 grades.
There is only one set of comments per student. Comments stay with the student until you delete them. If you put in a comment for a progress report and don’t remove it - it will be printed on all subsequent report cards and progress reports until youremove it.
To remove all old comments, you can use the 
button.
The following are the school comments:
The following are the attendance codes.
Upper case - Submitted by Teacher
Lower case - Updated by Office
