When any user initially loads the Grader tool, the screen appears as shown in .

Initial screen.

The initial display consists of a menu bar and a button to add a new class. Processes for adding a new classes are covered later in this documentation. For instructors, this button can be used to create a new class (see Section 2.2). For TAs and students, this button can be used to connect to an existing class (see Section TBA).

The menu bar commands are broken down as shown in .

Expanded command menus.

The File menu consists of commands for managing classes and the application as a whole.

• The New Class command opens the dialog for creating a new class (see Section 2.2).
• The Save command saves the current class to an existing class file, or opens the Save As... dialog if the class has not yet been saved.
• The Save as command opens the dialog for saving the class to a specific file.
• The Save all command initiates the Save command for all currently open classes.
• The Import command opens the dialog for importing an existing class (see Section 2.3.3).
• The Import Students command opens the dialog for importing students to the class from an existing record (see Section 2.3).
• The Export command opens the dialog for exporting the class to an interexchangeable file format.
• The Sign Up command opens the dialog for connecting with an existing class (see Section 2.7.1).
• The Quit command closes the Grader program.

The Item menu consists of commands for managing classwork items in the current class (see Section 2.4).

• The New Item command opens the dialog for adding a new classwork item to the class.
• The Edit Item command opens the dialog for editing an existing classwork item in the class.
• The Delete Item command deletes a classwork item from the class.
• The Grade Scheme command opens the dialog for editing the current grading scheme.

The Edit menu consists of commands for editing the current work environment (see Section 2.5)

• The Statistics Bar command opens the dialog to enable and disable elements present in the Statistics Bar.
• The Undo Curve Adjustment command reverts the last change to the curve adjustment for the class.
• The Roles command opens the dialog for modifying user roles.

The View menu consists of commands for managing the visible components of the interface.

• The Item Explorer command opens the item explorer (see Section 2.5.3).
• The Statistics Bar command toggles the visiblity of the Statistics Bar (see Section 2.5.1).
• The Students by... command opens the dialog for sorting student rows.
• The Sort by... command opens the dialog for sorting the gradebook.

The Tools menu consists of commands which open grading tools.

• The Manage Students command opens the dialog for managing students.
• The Prediction Mode command enables prediction mode in the current class.
• The Curve Adjuster command opens the dialog for adjusting the grading curve for the current class.
• The Turn In Assignment command opens the dialog for submitting an assignment to the class.
• The Historical Trends command opens the dialog for viewing previous quarters' grades.

The Help menu consists of commands for aiding the user in using the Grader tool.

• The Manual command opens the user manual.
• The About command opens a window with information about the Grader program.