Online Assessment System FAQ

Setting up your PC to use OAS

1. First ensure you have an up to date internet browser (Minimum requirements are IE 5 and Netscape 6). To get the latest version of Internet Explorer please visit here.For Netscape please visit here.
2. Secondly you will need to get the Sun Java plugin. This can be found here (Click on the 'Get it now' button)
   If you have Mac OSX then you can also get the latest Java plugin from software updates. Read here to find out more.
3. Once you have an up to date browser and the Sun Java plugin installed you should be ready to use the OAS. Click here to try it out. If you have any problems please refer to the below guidelines.

General Usage Questions

1. Q: When I login with Internet Explorer, all I see is a grey screen and in the status bar at the bottom of the browser it says "Done".
   A: This probably means that you don't have the Java Plug-in installed, only the Microsoft version. Look under Start->Settings->Control Panel and see if there is a "Java Plug-in" icon. If there is, double click on it and select the "Browser" tab. Ensure that all the browsers listed in this tab are ticked. Close all your browser windows and restart your browser. If the icon is not there, you will need to install the Sun Java Plug-in version 1.4. If it is ticked, and the applet is still not working, then in Internet Explorer's menu select Tools->Internet Options->Advanced and see if there is a "Java (Sun)" "Use Java 2 v1.4 for <applet>" entry. If it is not ticked, then tick it and restart your browser.


2. Q: What is the minimum version of the Java Plug-in required?
   A: Version 1.4 of the Sun Java Plug-in is the minimum required. This is necessary to ensure encrypted communication between the applet and the server. Any earlier version of Java will not work correctly and you will not be able to continue past the login screen.


3. Q: Why should I grant you permissions when the dialog comes up?
   A: If you don't grant permissions, then you cannot submit an assessment. Applets cannot normally read from your hard drive without you granting them permission, thus you will not be able to select a file to upload.


4. Q: I have Java 2 installed. Is that enough?
   A: Java 2 is a marketing term from Sun which encompasses any Sun Java version greater that 1.2. You must have 1.4 or greater installed. To check your version, press the "Start" button, then "Run...". In the dialog that appears, type command and then press the "Enter" ("Return") key. In the black window that appears, type java -version and then press the "Enter" ("Return") key. The version will be output on the next line. Alternatively, you could press the "Start" button, then Settings->Control Panel. In the resulting window should be an entry titled "Java Plug-in 1.4.0" or something similar. The numberat the end is the version.


5. Q: How do I obtain the Java 1.4 Plug-in?
   A: There are a few options. You can go to http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html and follow the instructions. Also the Plug-in will be included on the FIT Software CD, which is available at the QUT Bookshop. The Plug-in clocks in at around 9Mb and would take some time to download with a dial-upconnection.


6. Q: I use the <insert favorite browser name here> browser. Will it work with my browser?
   A: Officially we will only support Internet Explorer 5 and above on the Windows platform and Netscape 6 and above on the Unix platform, both using the Sun Java Plug-in 1.4. Unofficially, we have successfully tested the following browsers in their latest incarnation: IE, Netscape (both platforms), Opera (Windows), Mozilla (both platforms), Galeon.


7. Q: I can't access the OAS from work or I am behind a firewall. What should I do?
   A: Most organisations provide access to the internet from behind a firewall. OAS works on ports 40404, 40405 and 40406. You will need to speak to your system administrator to allow tcp traffic on these ports.


8. Q: I'm getting a class oas.applet.student.StudentApplet not found error. What am I doing wrong?
   A: Check to see if you have any previous versions of the Java plug-in installed on your machine. If you do, remove all of your Java plug-ins and only install Java plug-in 1.4.


9. Q: I am receiving an error saying I am not a FIT student, even though QUT Virtual shows me as enrolled.
   A: FITSIS, the FIT Student Information System, receives data from QUT Virtual once per day. Retry your request in 24 hours and, if you are still unsuccessful, visit Infrastructure Services Section on Level 7 S Block to request further help.


10. Q: The applet loads properly but, when I login, I immediately get a Fatal Error stating that, "There was an I/O error communicating with the server."
    A: If you are getting this error logging in from somewhere outside of QUT, it probably means that you are behind a firewall. See question 7 above. It could also mean that the OAS server is down.


11. Q: I have lost all the original files I submitted to the OAS. Can I get them back somehow?
    A: It is your responsibility to keep a copy of you assessment files. Please make regular backups to ensure you don't loose any more.

Summary Page

1. Q: Why don't some of my assessment items have marks?
   A: Firstly, no mark may have been entered. Secondly, the unit coordinator may have withheld marks from viewing. Thirdly, assessment items that are of a type "Final Exam" or "Project" are never viewable (in accordance with Faculty Policy).


2. Q: Why do some of my assessment items not have "Submit" or "Re-submit" buttons?
   A: The assessment item may not be an OAS submitted assessment or you may have submitted and it is now past the due date.


3. Q: How can I see my marks?
   A: Select the "View Marks" check box and any "Marked" field(s) in the summary will display the relevant mark.


4. Q: How do I submit an assessment?
   A: If your assessment is to be submitted through the OAS and it is before the due date, then there will be a "Submit" button in the Action column of the summary page, corresponding to the relevant assessment. Press this button to start the submission process.


5. Q: How do I retrieve an assessment?
   A: If the assessment has been marked and uploaded to the OAS, then a "Retrieve" button should appear where the "Submit" button was.


6. Q: Why do I have a "Re-Submit" button?
   A: This means you must have made a previous submission of this assessment.


7. Q: I downloaded my marked zip file, but why are there no files in it?
   A: All the files are compressed with the most current zip standard. If you are using a zip program using the old standard (e.g., WinZip version 6.2 or earlier), it will show the zip file as being empty. You must get a more recent zip program. I would suggest the evaluation version of WinZip.

File Selection Page

1. Q: The file I selected has the right name, but the applet won't accept it. Why?
   A: Firstly, the selection is case sensitive, so ensure the names match exactly. Secondly, if the required file is a zip file, and your file is corrupted, the applet will detect this and not allow you to select it. Thirdly, if the file you selected has zero size, it will not be accepted. Fourthly, your file may be too large and outside the constraints set by the lecturer.


2. Q: My Access database is too big to submit. How can I make it smaller? (ITB115/CTB225 specific question)
   A: Before you submit the file you need to Compact & Repair your database. To do this, in Access (optionally open the database) and choose Tools->Database Utilities->Compact and Repair Database. Always do this on your fixed drive, do NOT do this on a floppy disk. If your database is still too big then this means you have included something that doesn't need to be there. For example, you may have used some graphic as a background for your Forms. Remove the graphics, then Compact & Repair your database.


3. Q: I'm not submitting a database, but my file is still too big to submit. Why is this? What can I do?
   A: Unit coordinators set the file size limits with generous allowances. If your file is too large, I would think seriously about what you put into it, and consider what you can remove. If it is not below the maximum size, you cannot submit, it's as simple as that.


4. Q: Do I have to include all the "Required Files"?
   A: Yes. Each time you make any submission, all of your previously submitted files will be removed and then only those files that you are now submitting will be seen (and marked). However, the system will accept a submission of less than the total "Required Files" listed, but it will warn you that this may result in a loss of marks due to an incomplete submission. For example, 2 files are required, say Ass1a.bmp and Ass1b.doc. You have already submitted Ass1a.bmp. Now you want to submit the last file, Ass1b.doc. You must submit both required files (i.e., Ass1a.bmp and Ass1b.doc). If you only submit Ass1b.doc thinking that you have already submitted the first file, then the marker will only get the last file that you submitted (i.e., Ass1b.doc) because the other one will have been removed.


5. Q: So can I make a submission of zero files?
   A: No. The system will not allow this.

Submission Page

1. Q: I think I submitted my assessment, but didn't receive an assessment number. Is this OK?
   A: No. If you do not have an assessment number, then you are considered to have not submitted an assessment. Like a receipt when you purchase something at a shop, without an assessment number, you have no proof that you submitted. You must keep trying until you get an assessment number. If you are unable to get an assessment number then you should use the contact details at the bottom of the OAS page to seek more help.


2. Q: It's 11:50pm, I have 10 minutes till it's due, and I can't submit my assessment. What should I do?
   A: As a student enrolled in an IT unit at QUT it is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your assessment on time. One way of achieving this is to submit well before the due time (e.g., the day before) or at least several hours before the due time. If you find that you are having a problem then you have time to sort it out with the submission desk on level 3 in the library. If you leave it to the last minute, you may find that everyone else has the same idea, slowing performance on the OAS. This could mean that submissions take longer than usual, making you go over the cutoff time. Also, you should ensure that you know how to submit (i.e., how to use the OAS) and that you are able to use it (i.e., that it works from your office/home, etc.). It can be particularly frustrating if you live a long distance from campus and you think you can rely on the computer system only to find that it doesn't work from where you intended to submit (e.g., firewall problems). Sort it out before it's due!


3. Q: Now I've got my assessment number, what should I do with it?
   A: Write it down in a safe place and keep it until you have checked your results on FITSIS. The OAS provides the facility to print out a page with the number on it, so take advantage of this. The assessment number is also emailed to you, and it is shown a second time in the OAS after a successful submission. If you have any queries regarding the marking of your assessment you will need that number so that the lecturer/unit coordinator can trace your submission. As stated elsewhere, without your assessment number there is no proof that you submitted at all. So if you lose it and later discover that your mark was not entered into FITSIS (i.e., you don't have a mark) then it is difficult (if not impossible) for you to prove that you submitted an assessment.


4. Q: How many times can I submit my assessment?
   A: Before the due date, you may submit as many times as you like. Each new submission will overwrite the old one, so ensure you include all the required files each time. After the due date, if you HAVE NOT submitted previously, you will still be allowed one and only one submission (penalties may apply). If you have submitted previously, then you CANNOT submit after the due date.


5. Q: When is the cutoff time?
   A: Midnight on the day the assessment is due. Also, FITSIS is backed up around 1:00 am. This takes about an hour, thus the OAS will also not be available.