eTMAHandlers for Mac! For Open University Associate Lecturers who mark eTMAs and wish to use
a Mac to do so!
JAVA version: will also run on Linux and Windows XP (and seems OK with Windows 7!). Requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher, and is fully compatible with Leopard (10.5). I've also tested it on Snow Leopard (10.6) and it seems to run fine!
This is the version I am now maintaining. You can download it here.
The current version is 1.9.7 (5 March 2010. Significant bug fix - please update).
****Users of the Monitorhandler with OS 10.6 please click here for important info****.
If you'd like to be informed by email of updates, please click here.
There is an older Applescript version which is also OS10.4/10.5/ compatible, and will "sort of" run on OS 10.3. You can download the Applescript package here. Even this version doesn't work well on 10.3 but can be usually be made to work with a bit of "fiddling".
NOTE: OS10.4 - 10.6 Users of the Applescript version must install the version of Satimage (3.5.0) included in the package. 10.3 users must install a much older version of Satimage (3.0.6), not 3.2.0b. Get it here
The application has been tested, and is being used successfully, over many months by current ALs. Some comments:
"Having once again used this elegant program for my latest batch of assignments, I can only restate what a difference it has made "
I've just finished marking my batch of eTMAs using your filehandler.
So, I just thought I'd drop you a note to say.........FANTASTIC !
"Thanks a million again for creating this wonderful application. I am now using it and everything has been working fine."
"Mike's Mac system is must-try material - it's user-friendly, seamless, and the support he provides is second-to-none. Simply brilliant."
"Just to let you know that all is working swimmingly and in particular the autoimport bit, which is making life a lot easier - thanks!"
Requires Microsoft Word for Mac or equivalent (for the actual marking),
and the Applescript version requires the scripting addition Satimage.osax
(included).
(If you don't wish to purchase Word, NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org are perfectly workable absolutely free alternatives. I actually prefer them to Word!)
The Applescript version is compiled as a Universal Binary (so will run native on
Intel Macs), but requires at least OS 10.4 (Tiger). It will "sort of" run on
10.3, but I don't recommend it! The Java version runs fine on 10.4 and 10.5, but will not run on 10.3.
Documentation is included in the download.
I will try to offer some support where possible, but do not accept any obligation
(legal or moral!) to do so! PLEASE read the instructions
carefully!
There is no charge for the package, but if you find it
useful, an
appropriate donation to a charity such as World Vision or OUSET
would be appreciated. I'd also be glad to
hear whether it's worked well for you - please do email me.
If you'd like to be kept informed of any updates please let me know by email. If you do email me, I'll add you to the emailing list; if you don't wish to be on the list, or you wish to be removed at any time, just let me know.
Please note that
this application has been developed for my own
convenience! I am very happy to share it with other ALs who may find it
useful, but I accept
no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage of
any kind that the program may cause. Please read the disclaimer!
Good luck! Mike Hay (AL 00516109)
***If the application won't launch, it may be because your Java implementation is out-of-date. Please go to System Preferences->Software Update and see if there's anything involving Java to be installed. You may need to "Restore ignored updates" in the Software Update menu. Please note too that the updates are incremental, so that when you've installed one, another check may reveal a further version to be installed!
If it still won't launch, try going to Applications/Utilities/Java and launch Java Preferences.app. Make sure that J2SE5.0 or Java SE 6, not J2SE1.4.2, is shown as the priority environment (ie at the top of the list in both windows)
I have put copies of reasonably up to date source code on this page. Professional programmers please don't laugh too much; I know it could do with a lot of refactoring, and more use of accessors, etc! Maybe someday.... (not to mention comment statements!)
Windows version: if you want to try a Windows build, there's one here. As usual, use it at your own risk !
There is also a Mac version for eTMA-monitoring which some monitors are using. Download it here. (But please note that this is by no means bug-free yet!) This is an updated version 4.0b2 which fixes an obscure bug preventing completes files being zipped properly to return to the OU, and also includes the updated rubric and format announced recently by the OU. Since the way the monitoring system is set up has posed a number of challenges in producing a Mac-based application, I STRONGLY suggest that you contact me before using it "for real". Just email me with your phone number and I'll give you a ring - there are several traps for the unwary!
If you're using the monitoring package with OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) , you need to install the latest version (64 bit) of the Satimage.osax, which is now included in the above package. It should go into /Library/ScriptingAdditions and /Users/yourname/Library/ScriptingAdditions. Please discard all previous versions of Satimage.
