Reviewing Your Results

1. Score

You can view the score for a project after you have uploaded and submitted it for grading. Your grade will appear as a percentage as well as a fraction to indicate how much of the project you are comfortable with and what you may still need to work on.

For your reference, you may download the file submitted for grading.

The name of the file you submitted appears underneath your score. The file name contains your unique name signature, the project name, and the file type.

If your instructor has permitted one single project submission attempt, the attempt number will be 1. If your instructor has permitted multiple attempts for the submission of the project, this number will change depending on how many times you have submitted a file for grading.

Finally, the application that was required to complete the project will appear, to indicate whether you used the recommended program to complete the project.

Each part of the project instructions cover a different learning objective for that chapter within the textbook. As you complete the project, you are graded according to whether you completed the instructions associated with the objectives correctly, incorrectly, or partially.

The solution file is a pre-created document that represents what the end file of the project should look like. This representation will point out the areas that should have been changed as well as the objectives associated with the change made to that part of the document.

When your project is graded, it is compared to this file. If it is made available to you, you can download the solution file as a PDF by clicking the Download Solution File button.

Project assignments for SIMnet 2019+ can be viewed directly in your browser. If you would prefer, they can be downloaded to your computer to review offline. To save your project instructions to your computer, click the Print/Download icon in the upper right corner of your project instructions.

Before you begin your first project, you'll need to review the Best Practices guide. This guide will help you complete each step of your assignment successfully.

• Always use the project instructions provided online and follow them in order.

• Always begin a project with the Start file; do not start using a file that you created yourself.

• Always use the correct version of the MS Office software to complete your project.

• Always use a single space after punctuation at the end of sentences; do not use two spaces.

• Do not open your Start File with Office Online unless it is specifically required in the instructions.

• Do not copy and paste any part of the project unless specified in the instructions.

• Do not switch between Windows and Mac computers while completing your project.

• Do not include the SAMPLE SOLUTION watermark in your solution file.

Determine Your Version of Office

Different versions of Microsoft Office have different features, menu options, themes and styles. Use the correct version of the MS Office software to complete your project. All 2016 Word, Excel and PowerPoint projects have been adapted for Mac users.

To Complete a Project

Step 1: Download the Project Files and follow the instructions

​​🏁 Step 2: Complete the Project

Open your downloaded start file and follow the Instructions to complete your project in the start file. Use any Resources as instructed to complete the project. Be sure to complete all instructions carefully!

NOTE: Your start file will be renamed automatically to include your name. Change the project file name if directed to do so by your instructor, and save it. Do all your work in this file and only this file!

​​⬆ Step 3: Upload & Save the Project

Once you have finished your project file, you need to upload & save it to SIMnet. Click the Upload my file button under 2. Save file. section. Select your file in the File Explorer, and click Open to upload it.

In the Submit Uploaded file? dialog, click No, I’m not ready, to save your file to SIMnet. If you have uploaded a file previously, this new file will replace it. Once you’ve uploaded your file, you can download it again from the CURRENT FILE section, by clicking the file name link.

​​📥 Step 4: Submit your Project for Grading

Once you have uploaded your project file, the Submit Uploaded File wizard will also let you grade your file immediately by clicking Yes, submit the file. If you select No, I’m not ready in step 3, you can just click the Grade my file button to submit your project for grading.

Once the project is graded a Project Results page will open. You can filter the results by Correct, Partial or Incorrect answers. You can also view the feedback for the partially correct and incorrectly completed instructions by clicking the arrow to the right of the instruction number.

You will need to save files to your computer to complete Project assignments. Review those steps for your browser before attempting your project.

Some Project assignments include .zip files to download. Review the steps for downloading and extracting .zip files for your project.

Canadian Users

SIMnet Projects allow users to enter dates in Canadian style. To function correctly, users must have both their browser and Microsoft Office set to use the English (Canada) language option. Canadian users may use either English (United States) or English (Canada) for their browser and Office language. However, both browser and Office must be the same to work properly.

Completing Timed Projects

When you open a timed project assignment for the first time, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read the best practices guide before you can continue to the timed project. View the Best Practices section for details.

After you have acknowledged that you have read the Best Practices guide, the Timed Project Start page will display the number of given attempts, attempts you have left, the time limit, and the Start Timed Project button. When you click the Start Project button, the timer will begin to count down from the given amount of time to zero.

Completing a Timed Project

When you first start your timed project the start file automatically downloads. You can also begin working on a timed project by clicking the Start File link to download the file you will be working with.

The date and time by which the project should be completed appears at the top of the instructions page of the timed project. The timer appears below this, and counts down to zero from the given amount of time for the project.

When you have finished the timed project and it is time to submit, you can upload your work for a grade by dragging your saved file onto the page, or by clicking the Upload and Submit button. This will submit your Timed Project to your instructor.

Before you begin your first project, you'll need to review the Best Practices guide. This guide will help you complete each step of your assignment successfully.

• Always use the project instructions provided online and follow them in order.

• Always begin a project with the Start file; do not start using a file that you created yourself.

• Always use the correct version of the MS Office software to complete your project.

• Always use a single space after punctuation at the end of sentences; do not use two spaces.

• Do not open your Start File with Office Online unless it is specifically required in the instructions.

• Do not copy and paste any part of the project unless specified in the instructions.

• Do not switch between Windows and Mac computers while completing your project.

• Do not include the SAMPLE SOLUTION watermark in your solution file.

You will need to save files to your computer to complete Project assignments. Review those steps for your browser before attempting your project.

Some Project assignments include .zip files to download. Review the steps for downloading and extracting .zip files for your project.

Canadian Users

SIMnet Projects allow users to enter dates in Canadian style. To function correctly, users must have both their browser and Microsoft Office set to use the English (Canada) language option. Canadian users may use either English (United States) or English (Canada) for their browser and Office language. However, both browser and Office must be the same to work properly.

Other Non-English (US) Users

Microsoft allows for a wide range of local customization for thinigs like date styles and currency. SIMnet Project assignments are written to English (US) regional settings. Your web-browser settings and your computer's language and regional settings must match English (US). For more information about how to set your browser and operating system:

You are using the wrong version of Microsoft Office

SIMnet Project assignments must be completed on Microsoft Office 2016 or newer and must not use the online version of Office. Review 👉Your Office Version to determine if your version is correct.

Your uploaded file does not match what is on your computer

Many students have inadvertently submitted files that do not contain their work! Make sure you save your file and that you know the name and location of that file. SIMnet can only grade the work you submitted. SIMnet does not ever change the contents of your file after it is submitted.

Your file is too large to upload

All SIMnet Project assignments are small files. Each correctly completed project file is designed to be smaller than 10MB. If your file is larger than 10MB you will not be able to upload it. You will receive an error saying:

The page was not displayed because the request entity is too large.

Your instructor may only allow you to submit Project files that are easy to prove are yours. If you get an error indicating your file does not contain your unique signature, you may have:

• Downloaded from somewhere other than your SIMnet assignment page.

• A file that may contain work copied from another file.

• A file obtained from an incorrect class assignment.

• A file that has been edited in non-Microsoft Office software like Google Docs or Apple Pages.

You will need to complete the work from your project assignment page. Review the 👉Best Practices guide about downloading the appropriate files for Project assignments. The error message is:

Error: The file does not contain your unique signature. Ensure that the uploaded file was obtained by downloading the project start file from SIMnet.

Files for Access Database assignments cannot be uploaded if they contain the Large Number file type or the Date/Time Extended data type. Files that have this data type will receive an error message saying

This database has fields with the Large Number data type or the Date/Time Extended data type. Update Large Number fields to Number. Update Date/Time Extended fields to Date/Time. Use the Compact & Repair feature in the Backstage View then save.

To fix this issue, complete the following steps:

• Open your database and open each table in Design View.

• Review each Field's Data Type and determine which fields have the Large Number data type or the Date/Time Extended data type. Change all Large Number data types to Number. Change all Date/Time Extended data types to Date/Time.

• Use the Compact & Repair feature in the Backstage View.

• Now you can Save and Submit your file for grading.

My app has grayed out Groups on the Ribbon

When you open a presentation in PowerPoint or database in Access, no content is selected. Without content like a text box selected there are no Font or Paragraph settings that apply. Without a database object to review there are no settings to apply. To edit Font or Paragraph settings select any content in your file. Once content is selected you will be able to use the Font and Paragraph groups.

Microsoft does not currently offer the Access application for Mac computers. Access Project assignments can only be completed on computers using the Windows operating system.

Your Microsoft Access software is Blocking Macros

Microsoft released a change at the end of February 2023 that switched the default behavior of Office applications to block macros in files from the internet. When users open a file that came from the internet, such as a SIMnet Start File that contains macros, a red warning message will appear below the Ribbon: "Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted."

Users should open the Properties for their file and select the Unblock check mark on the General tab for each SIMnet file they download.

The Project assignment view allows you to download, upload, and submit a Project for grading.

Viewing the Best Practices Guide

When you open a project assignment for the first time, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read the best practices guide before you can continue to the project. View the Best Practices section for details.

1. Acknowledgement of Best Practices guide

Before you begin a project, you will be expected to read the Best Practices guide to improve your experience of completing a project. It will inform you of what is expected of you while completing and submitting a project for grading. For more information, you can view the Best Practices section.

2. Print Best Practices

If you wish to access the Best Practices guide for offline reference, the Print button will allow you to print or save to PDF.

Completing Project Assignments

Project assignments require three basic steps: 1. Downloading the required files, 2. Completing your project in Microsoft Office and uploading to SIMnet, 3. Submitting your project for grading.

You can begin working on a project by clicking the Start File link to download the file you will be working with.

You can save your in-progress work as well as your completed work by clicking the Upload my file button. You can also drag the file you want to upload onto the Projects page, which will automatically upload it.

After you have uploaded your completed project file, you can submit it for grading. Once you have submitted your project, SIMnet will immediately grade and submitted the result to your grade book.

Viewing Project Instructions and Results

You can toggle between Windows and Mac instructions for a project depending on what kind of computer and operating system you are working on. The instructions are located on the lower portion of the screen, and you can document your progress by checking off the steps you have completed. The next instruction will be highlighted for you.

SIMnet users in different regions have different standard methods for inputting certain information like dates. SIMnet Projects are designed to be used with English (United States) or English (Canada) regional settings. It is very important that, whichever regional setting you use, your browser and your Office installation use the same setting. A number of users who have inadvertently set their browser and Office to use different regional settings have not been able to get certain steps on certain projects, especially in Excel and Access.

Setting your Operating System Language Option

Installed versions of Microsoft Office use your computers Operating System (OS) language settings. You will need to set the language for your whole computer to change your Office Installations language setting.

Setting your Browser Language Option

Microsoft Office Installed on Your Computer

Completing SIMnet Projects requires having Microsoft Office 2016 or Office 2019/365 installed on your computer. Most SIMnet projects are not compatible with Microsoft Office Online. You can determine your version of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac with a few clicks:

Some SIMnet users have installed Microsoft Office in other countries. This may cause your Date or Currency options to be different than what is required. To remedy the issue you will need to use English (US) options. In Excel, use the Format Cells dialog (Home tab, Number group launcher). Navigate to Accounting in Categories. Select the Symbol drop down, select the $ icon and select $ English (United States) or $ English (Canada). You can do the same thing for Dates as well. Open the Format Cells dialog and choose English (United States) or English (Canada).

Microsoft Office In Your Browser

SIMnet has released a set of Microsoft Office Online compatible projects. If your instructor has assigned these projects to your course you can use the web browser-based Microsoft Office Online to complete your project. Each of these projects specifically mentions Office Online in the title:

If your project assignment does not include Office Online in the title, it is not designed to work with Office Online and you will not have all of the required features to complete the assignment.