The "handin" process

Some CPE/CSC/SE classes require that various programming assignments be submitted using the handin facility. As with many technologies there is both a novice and an expert way to use handin. The novice approach is easier to use and less intimidating, but actually requires more typing on an ongoing basis than does the more advanced approach.  This description will begin by explaining the novice approach. If this approach meets your needs and the requirements of your course you can continue to use it throughout the term.  If/when you need or desire more advanced features you can learn about them here as well.

The Basic Process

Before you can handin your assignment, you must:

• copy the file(s) you wish to submit to your vogon account (using ssh or putty ), and
• actually log in to your vogon account (using a terminal application).

Then, to use the handin facility at this level, you will perform at least three steps:

1. Change directory:

Use the Unix cd command to move to the location where you have stored the files you plan to submit. For example:

• To submit file(s) saved in your csc101 directory, use cd csc101
• To submit file(s) saved in the Program_4 subdirectory of your csc101 folder that you have placed in a directory called coursework, use cd coursework/csc101/Program_4

 

2. The actual handin process:
   
   To hand in
   for your own coursenumber-section
   to one of the available assignment folders
   your own homework file(s),
   the complete command is, which you enter after the system-generated Unix prompt (%) indicated, is ...

if you are in CSC-101 Section 2:

% handin csc101-2 Assignment file1 file2 ...

or, if you are in CPE-101 Section 5:

% handin cpe101-5 Assignment file1 file2 ...

A First Example:

Once you have logged in, and navigated to the directory in which you previously placed the file you want to submit (here, we'll illustrate with a file called TestProgram.java), and want so hand that in to your course and section's Test folder...

if you are in CSC-101-, type:

% handin csc101-2 Test TestProgram.java

or, if you are in CPE-101-5, type:

% handin cpe101-5 Test TestProgram.java

Notes & reminders:

·         Be sure that you substitute your own couse-section, target folder, and file name with your own details for the handin command, for each handin command you want to execute.

·         Be sure to use spaces and capitalization exactly as shown!

·         Wait for the % prompt: don't try to type it yourself.

·         Press the enter or return key after each line of input.

·         Be sure to logout from your vogon account when you are done.

Some Extra Features:

• Question: Can I handin an assignment more than once?
  
    Answer: Yes. You can handin the same file more than once. The last successfully handed-in file will be the one that is graded.
  
  

• Question: How do you know if your handin has been successful?

Answer: handin will give you some feedback. Once you press the enter key after typing in the appropriate command, you should see something like this:

Submitting TestFile... ok

and then you should see another Unix prompt (%).

• Question: If that little "ok" seems kind of vague, how can you really be sure it worked?

Answer: handin has another feature that lets you check what you actually submitted. If you issue the command to: hand in for your course and section to one of the available assignment folders and you include no filenames, then you'll be told what files have already been submitted.

An example of that: To check what you have already submitted via handin to the Test folder

if you tried to submit work for CSC-101, Section 2, type:

% handin csc101-2 Test

or, if you tried to submit work for CPE-101, Section 5, type:

% handin cpe101-5 Test

Note that this particular command only lets you check what filenames were submitted. If you want to test your files, or replace an earlier submission with a newer version, see the handin FAQ.

• But wait: How are you supposed to know what assignment folder name to use?

Answer: handin has another feature that lets you check which one(s) are currently open. If you issue the command to: hand in for your course and section and just stop there and press the enter key, then you'll be told what folders are currently open for submission.

An example: To check what folders are currently open for handin for your course and section.

if you are in CSC-101, Section 2, type:

% handin csc101-2

or, if you are in CPE-101, Section 5, type:

% handin cpe101-5

The result: You should see something like this, which lists the open folder names and, in parentheses following that, a brief comment about the uses of that folder:

Existing subdirectories (comments in parentheses):
lab1 (Lab1 - Getting to Know the Environment)
lab10
lab2
lab3
lab4
lab5
lab6
lab7
lab8
lab9

That output is telling you that the available folders are: lab1,lab2,lab3,lab4,lab5,lab6,lab7,lab8,lab9, and lab10.

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

A Second Example

In a Unix session in which you want to login and then:

• find out which folder to use for Program #1,
• submit two files, named Something.java and OrOther.java, to that folder, and
• verify that they really did get submitted,

you would:

if you are in CSC101-2, do this:

handin csc101-2

You should see a list of open folders, one of which is Pgm01, so you'll use that in the next command.

handin csc101-2 Pgm01 Something.java OrOther.java

You should see a message saying submission went ok.

handin csc101-2 Pgm01

You should see a listing of the files you submitted.

logout

This should end your Unix session

 

Help!!! I did exactly what you said, but....

Some of the most common issues and mistakes in using the handin facility are described on the handin FAQ (frequently asked questions) page.

There is online documentation available for handin that you can access by typing at the Unix prompt: man handin

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 Phil Nico.
Page created 29 September 2000; last updated by  J. Dalbey 9 Jan 2007.