FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the "handin" process

This document provides additional information on some of the most common problems encountered by students using the handin facility. Be sure you read the general description of the process before you try to use this page.

Response: Well, I cannot confirm exactly what you did, but I do know two things:

 

·                Submitting FILENAME.java... failed: rcvhandin: subdirectory "AAAA" doesn't exist
·                Existing subdirectories (comments in parentheses):
·                Test    (Use this ONLY to test use of the "handin" system!)
·                Pgm1    (Program Assignment 1: Due 11:59 pm on Sunday, October 1.)
·                Late    (Submit here when taking an authorized "Credit Day" for late work.)

Response: Well, the system is telling you exactly what went wrong: You tried to submit to assignment folder AAAA, and the only ones currently open for submission are Test, Pgm1, and Late.

Response: Well, the system is telling you exactly what went wrong: You tried to submit a file called FILENAME.java, and somehow the system couldn't find it or couldn't use it. Make sure you have a good, clean copy in the directory from which you are issuing the handin command.

Response: No problem (as long as you discover this before the assignment deadline). Just run handin another time, and it'll overwrite your previous submission with the newer file(s). Note that I am assuming here that you are submitting files that use the exact filenames indicated in the assignment write-ups: you cannot delete a file you previously submitted, you can only overwrite it with a newer one of the same name as long as handin is enabled for a particular assignment folder.

Response: Of course there is! .

So, right there in the terminal window to your Unix account (e.g., using QVT/Term), you can just use the standard compile and execute commands, e.g.,

% javac Something.java

% java Something

to test your files before you hand them in. If they don't work on unix, well, then you still have to figure out where things went wrong. But, if you always test your files before you use handin, you will significantly reduce the risk that you'll later find out that the file you submitted was not the one you intended to handin.

Response: Absolutely! Start by compiling your .java file(s) into .class file(s) as described above. After that, though, the best approach to take next depends on the level of your understanding of HTML and web pages:

Alternatively, you can follow the same process suggested for the HTML-novice above.

Finally, please remember this safety rule: since you had to log in to your unix account to run handin, you have to logout from it when you are done.


Copyright © 2000 by Carol Scheftic. All rights reserved.
(Thanks to Professor Phil Nico for assistance in setting up this "handin" process.)
Requests to reuse information from this page should be directed to Carol Scheftic.
Page created
29 September 2000; last updated by J. Dalbey 1 Apr 2013.