User Guide

Teaching Assistant’s Buddy (TAB) is an english-only desktop app for NUS Teaching Assistants to help them manage students, optimized for use via a Command Line Interface (CLI) while still having the benefits of a Graphical User Interface (GUI). If you can type fast, TAB can get your student management tasks done faster than traditional GUI apps.

• Quick start
• Features
  • Add a new module: add module
  • Edit a module’s name: edit module
  • Delete a module from TAB: delete module
  • Add a student to a specific module: add student
  • Edit a student’s information: edit student
  • Delete a student from a specific module: delete student
  • Add a new task to a module: add task
  • Edit a task’s information: edit task
  • Delete a task from a module: delete task
  • Mark a task as done: mark done
  • Mark a task as undone: mark undone
  • Find a student: find
  • Go to homepage: home
  • Clear all information: clear
  • Exit the application: exit
  • Saving the data
  • Editing the data file (JSON)
• FAQ
• Upcoming Features planned for Future iterations
• Glossary
• Command summary
• Parameter summary with prefix included
  • Email format

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Quick start

1. Ensure you have Java 11 or above installed in your Computer.

2. Download the latest tab-v1.4.0.jar from here.

3. Copy the file to the folder you want to use as the home folder for TAB.

4. Double-click the file to start the app. The GUI similar to the below should appear in a few seconds. Note how the app contains some sample data.
   

5. Type the command in the command box and press Enter to execute it. e.g. typing add module m/CS2105 and pressing Enter will add the module CS2105 to TAB.
   Some example commands you can try:

   • add module m/CS2105 : Adds the module CS2105 to TAB

   • add student m/CS2103 i/A1234567A n/John Doe t/@johndoe e/johnd@example.com : Adds student John Doe to module CS2105

6. Refer to the Features below for details of each command.

7. Refer to the Command summary below for a quick table of reference to all valid commands.

8. Refer to the Parameter summary below for a quick table of reference to all valid parameters with their respective permitted characters.

9. Experienced users may choose to edit the saved .json data file directly. However, invalid/corrupted data files will result in the initialization of a new, blank TAB.

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Features

Add a new module: add module

Add a new module to TAB.
Module name must be an NUS module code, which consists of 2-4 capital letters, followed by 4 numbers, followed by 0-4 capital letters.

Format: add module m/<module name>

Examples:

• add module m/CS2103:
  • Add module CS2103 to TAB
• add module m/CS2100:
  • Add module CS2100 to TAB

Edit a module’s name: edit module

Edit the name of the module.
Module name must be an NUS module code, which consists of 2-4 capital letters, followed by 4 numbers, followed by 0-4 capital letters. The new module name must not be identical to the old module name.

Format: edit module m/<old module name> mn/<new module name>

Examples:

• edit module m/CS2103 mn/CS2105:
  • Edit the module name of module “CS2103” to “CS2105”

Delete a module from TAB: delete module

Delete the specified module from TAB. Module name must be an NUS module code, which consists of 2-4 capital letters, followed by 4 numbers, followed by 0-4 capital letters.

Format: delete module m/<module name>

Examples:

• delete module m/CS2103:
  • Delete module CS2103 from TAB
• delete module m/CS2100:
  • Delete module CS2100 from TAB

Add a student to a specific module: add student

Add a new student to the specified module by providing the module name, student id, student name, student tele handle, and the student email.
Students in different modules with the same student id are treated as different students.
Also automatically copies over the task list from the module to the student.
Student id must be a valid NUS student id, which starts with the capital letter ‘A’, followed by 7 numbers and ends with a capital letter.
Student name should only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it should not be blank.
Student tele handle must start with @, and followed by 5-32 characters containing only alphanumeric characters and the underscore ‘_’.
Student email must follow the format specified in the Parameter summary section below.
Student id, student tele handle, and student email must be unique for each student in the same module.
Duplicate student names are allowed to cater for students who may have the same name.

Format: add student m/<module name> i/<student id> n/<student name> t/<student tele handle> e/<student email>

Examples:

• add student m/CS2103 i/A0123456A n/John Doe t/@johndoe e/john.doe@u.nus.edu:
  • Add student with id A0123456A to module CS2103
• add student m/CS2100 i/A0123457A n/Amy t/@amylee e/amy@u.nus.edu:
  • Add student with id A0123457A to module CS2100

Edit a student’s information: edit student

Edit a student’s information.
Students in different modules with the same student id are treated as different students.
The identity parameter (student id) must be provided.
At least one optional parameter (name/tele handle/email) must be provided, and only provided parameters will be changed.
If the optional parameters contain the same information as is already present, the edit command will still be executed successfully.
Student name should only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it should not be blank.
Student tele handle must start with @, and followed by 5-32 characters containing only alphanumeric characters and the underscore ‘_’.
Student email must follow the format specified in the Parameter summary section below.

Format: edit student m/<module name> i/<student id> [n/<edited student name>] [t/<edited student tele handle>] [e/<edited student email>]

Examples:

• edit student m/CS2103 i/A0123456A n/John Doe:
  • Edit the name of the student with id A0123456A in the module CS2103 to John Doe
• edit student m/CS2100 i/A0123457A t/@amylee e/amy@u.nus.edu:
  • Edit the tele handle and email of the student with id A0123457A in the module CS2100 to @amylee and amy@u.nus.edu respectively

Delete a student from a specific module: delete student

Delete the specified student from the specified module by providing the module name and the student id.

Format: delete student m/<module name> i/<student id>

Examples:

• delete student m/CS2103 i/A1234567A:
  • Delete student with id A1234567A from module CS2103’s list of students
• delete student m/CS2100 i/A7654321A:
  • Delete student with id A7654321A from module CS2100’s list of students

Add a new task to a module: add task

Add a new task to the specified module by providing the module name, task id, task name, and the task deadline.
The new task will be added to all students in the module, as well as for future students who are not yet added. Tasks can be added to modules without students, but will only become visible after student(s) have been added to the module.
Task id must begin with a capital letter ‘T’, followed by a positive integer.
Task name must only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it must not be blank.
Task deadline can contain either the date and time, or only the date, or only the time.
Date must be in the form “YYYY-MM-DD”.
Time must be in the form “hh:mm” in 24-hrs format, and will appear in TAB in 12-hrs format.

Format: add task m/<module name> ti/<task id> a/<task name> d/<task deadline>

Examples:

• add task m/CS2103 ti/T1 a/assignment1 d/2021-10-12:
  • Add the task assignment1 with deadline ‘Tue, Oct 12 2021’ to module CS2103
• add task m/CS2100 ti/T1 a/lab1 d/2021-10-13 16:00 :
  • Add the task lab1 with deadline ‘Wed, Oct 13 2021 04:00 pm’ to module CS2100

Edit a task’s information: edit task

Edit a task’s information.
The task’s information will be edited for all students in the module, as well as for future students who are not yet added. The identity parameters (module name/task id) must be provided.
At least one optional parameter (name/deadline) must be provided, and only provided parameters will be changed.
If the optional parameters contain the same information as is already present, the edit command will still be executed successfully.
Task name must only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it must not be blank.
Task deadline can contain either the date and time, or only the date, or only the time.
Date must be in the form “YYYY-MM-DD”.
Time must be in the form “hh:mm” in 24-hrs format, and will appear in TAB in 12-hrs format.

Format: edit task m/<module name> ti/<task id> [a/<edited task name>] [d/<edited task deadline>]

Examples:

• edit task m/CS2103 ti/T10 a/Final exam d/2021-11-23:
  • Edit the name and deadline of the task with task id ‘T10’ to ‘Final exam’ and ‘Tue, Nov 23 2021’ respectively
• edit task m/CS2103 ti/T10 d/2021-11-23 17:00:
  • Edit only the deadline of the task with task id ‘T10’ to ‘Tue, Nov 23 2021 5:00 pm’

Delete a task from a module: delete task

Delete the specified task from the specified module by providing the module name and the task id.
Also delete the task from all the students in that module.

Format: delete task m/<module name> ti/<task id>

Examples:

• delete task m/CS2103 ti/T1:
  • Delete the task with task id T1 from CS2103
• delete task m/CS2105 ti/T2:
  • Delete the task with task id T2 from CS2105

Mark a task as done: mark done

Mark the specified task from the specified module under the specified student as done.
This means that this student has completed this task of this module.

Format: mark done m/<module name> i/<student id> ti/<task id>

Examples:

• mark done m/CS2103 i/A1234567A ti/T1:
  • Mark the task with id T1 under student with id A1234567A of module CS2103 as done.
  • This means that student A1234567A has completed task T1 of module CS2103.

Mark a task as undone: mark undone

Mark the specified task from the specified module under the specified student as undone.
This means that this student has not completed this task of this module, possibly to correct a mistake by the TA.

Format: mark undone m/<module name> i/<student id> ti/<task id>

Examples:

• mark undone m/CS2103 i/A1234567A ti/T1:
  • Mark the task with id T1 under student with id A1234567A of module CS2103 as undone.
  • Student A1234567A has not completed task T1 of module CS2103 yet.
  • But for some reason (e.g. human error) the task is marked as done.

Find a student: find

Find the student in the module specified along with the student’s information.

Format: find m/<module name> i/<student id>

Examples:

• find m/CS2103 i/A0123456A:
  • Find and show student with id A0123456A from module CS2103

Go to homepage: home

Return to the homepage which shows the complete list of modules and students along with their tasks.

Format: home

Clear all information: clear

Clear all information stored in the TAB application.

Format: clear

Exit the application: exit

Exit the TAB application.

Format: exit

Saving the data

TAB data are saved in the hard disk automatically after any command that changes the data. There is no need to save manually.

Editing the data file (JSON)

TAB data are saved as a JSON file [JAR file location]/data/assistantbuddy.json. Advanced users are welcome to update data directly by editing that data file.

FAQ

Q: How do I assign tasks to students?
A: Adding the student to the module will automatically add the tasks in the module to the student.

Q: How do I see the full TAB after executing the find command?
A: Use the home command to return to the homepage showing the full TAB.

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Upcoming Features planned for Future iterations

1. Undo previous commands.
2. Navigate through command history.
3. Edit the information of a Student in multiple modules simultaneously.
4. Remind the user when a Task’s deadline draws near.

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Glossary

Alphanumeric: Any characters from [0-9], [a-z], or [A-Z].
TAB: Teaching Assistant’s Buddy.
Tele handle: A telegram user handle that must start with @, and followed by 5-32 characters containing only alphanumeric characters and the underscore ‘_’.

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Command summary

Optional parameters are surrounded by square brackets ‘[]’ in Format, and may be omitted from Examples to show they are optional.

Action	Format, Examples
Add Module	add module m/<module name> e.g., add module m/CS2103
Add Student	add student m/<module name> i/<student id> n/<student name> t/<student tele handle> e/<student email> e.g., add student m/CS2103 i/A0123456A n/John Doe t/@johndoe e/john.doe@u.nus.edu
Add Task	add task m/<module name> ti/<task id> a/<task name> d/<task deadline> e.g., add task m/CS2103 ti/T1 a/assignment1 d/2021-10-12 12:00
Clear	clear e.g., clear
Delete Module	delete module m/<module name> e.g., delete module m/CS2103
Delete Student	delete student m/<module name> i/<student id> e.g., delete student m/CS2103 i/A1234567A
Delete Task	delete task m/<module name> ti/<task id> e.g., delete task m/CS2103 ti/T1
Edit Module	edit module m/<old module name> mn/<new module name> e.g., edit module m/CS2103 mn/CS2105
Edit Student	edit student m/<module name> i/<student id> [n/<edited student name>] [t/<edited student tele handle>] [e/<edited student email>] e.g., edit student m/CS2103 i/A0123457A t/@amylee e/amy@u.nus.edu
Edit Task	edit task m/<module name> ti/<task id> [a/<edited task name>] [d/<edited task deadline>] e.g., edit task m/CS2103 ti/T10 a/Final exam d/2021-11-23
Exit	exit e.g., exit
Find	find m/<module name> i/<student id> e.g., find m/CS2103 i/A0123456A
Home	home e.g., home
Mark Done	mark done m/<module name> i/<student id> ti/<task id> e.g., mark done m/CS2103 i/A1234567A ti/T1
Mark Undone	mark undone m/<module name> i/<student id> ti/<task id> e.g., mark undone m/CS2103 i/A1234567A ti/T1

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Parameter summary with prefix included

Parameter with prefix	Permitted characters
m/<module name> m/<old module name> mn/<new module name>	Module name must be an NUS module code, which consists of 2-4 capital letters, followed by 4 numbers, followed by 0-4 capital letters.
i/<student id>	Student id must be a valid NUS student id, which starts with the capital letter ‘A’, followed by 7 numbers and ends with a capital letter.
n/<student name> n/<edited student name>	Student name should only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it should not be blank.
t/<student tele handle> t/<edited student tele handle>	Student tele handle must start with @, and followed by 5-32 characters containing only alphanumeric characters and the underscore ‘_’.
e/<student email> e/<student email>	Student email must follow the format specified in the Email format) section below.
ti/<task id>	Task id must begin with a capital letter ‘T’, followed by a positive integer.
a/<task name> a/<edited task name>	Task name must only contain alphanumeric characters and spaces, and it must not be blank.
d/<task deadline> d/<edited task deadline>	Task deadline can contain either the date and time, or only the date, or only the time. Date must be in the form “YYYY-MM-DD”. Time must be in the form “hh:mm” in 24-hrs format, and will appear in TAB in 12-hrs format.

Email format

Emails should be of the format local-part@domain and adhere to the following constraints:

1. The local-part should only contain alphanumeric characters and these special characters, excluding the parentheses, ( +_.- ).
2. The local-part may not start or end with any special characters.
3. This is followed by a ‘@’ and then a domain name.
4. The domain name is made up of domain labels separated by periods.
5. The domain name must:
   5.1. End with a domain label at least 2 characters long.
   5.2. Have each domain label start and end with alphanumeric characters.
   5.3. Have each domain label consist of alphanumeric characters, separated only by hyphens, if any.