Introduction to the Handin Utility

handin is a utility used to electronically submit programming assignments. The program allows you to submit one or more files until the specified time on the due date. Each student's files are then automatically compared against every other student's files (to prevent a dishonest student from submitting someone else's work), and the files are transferred to the Teaching Assistants for grading.

To use the handin program, follow the procedure outlined below:

Webclient of handin (preferred)

• Login with your CSE username/password to
  http://secure.cse.msu.edu/handin/webclient/client.php
• Select your Course.
• Select the corresponding assignment.
• Use the Browse button to select your work then submit.
• Your work will show up on the right.
• VERIFY the work was submitted properly by clicking on a file on the right.

Command line of handin (still in early development and a little clunky)
The command line handin works the same way as the web. However you need to select your class and assignment using command line arguments. Each time you run handin, it will prompt you with the needed information.

• Execute the command "handin" from a command line
• It will display the list of available courses that use handin and tell you to run handin again with an argument that includes Course:Section:Term
• Execute handin again with that argument (example: handin CSE231:3:FS07)
• Handin will now display the list of assignments. Each assigment has an associated number.
• You can now run handin again with that added argument and the file you want to submit.
• example: handin CSE231:3:FS07 1 proj01.py
• Upon completion, it will display results. You can also view the final results on the webclient listed above.
• Remember, the command line needs 3 arguments:
  Course:Section:Term ( CSE231:3:FS07 )
  Project Number ( 1 )
  File to submit ( proj01.py )

If the assignment deadline has not yet passed, you may replace files which you submitted at an earlier time. That is, if you decide that one or more of the files which you have already submitted for the current assignment are not correct, you may replace those files by following the normal procedure outlined above, as long as you use the same name for each file that you wish to replace. The handin program only retains the last version of any files which are submitted more than once.

As a precautionary measure, you should retain an electronic copy of all files created as part of a solution to a computer project. Do not modify any of those files after the assignment deadline in case there is a problem with the files you submitted for grading. To insure that you do not inadvertently change the "last modification" time recorded by the operating system for your files, you may wish to create a special subdirectory and move your files into it prior to the assignment deadline.