Blackboard Vista: Modifying Grade Book Column Settings

PDF version of this document: 06ColumnSettings.pdf [359 KB].

Column Settings determine how information appears in the columns. They allow you to adjust attributes such as column label, column type, alignment, number of decimals and whether the column is released for students to view. Depending on the column type, you may not be able to change specific settings. In this section, you will change a column label.

Step 1: Open Column Settings

From the Grade Book screen, click Grade Book Options.
In the drop-down menu, click Column Settings. The Column Settings screen is displayed.

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Step 2: Select a Column

To change a column label, click a linked label. The Edit Column Value window is displayed.

NOTE: You cannot rename columns automatically created when a new assignment, quiz, survey or gradable discussion topic is added to the course. Default columns also cannot be renamed (Last Name, First Name, User ID and Role).

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Step 3: Change the Column Name

In the Edit Column Value window, type the new column label in the New Value: text box.
Click Save. The column is renamed and the Column Settings screen is displayed (not illustrated).

If you want to change the Type, Decimals or Maximum Value for a single column, click the linked value in the column. A pop-up window opens, allowing you to enter a new value. In Steps 4-5, you will change the Maximum Value for one column.

To change the Alignment for a column, click the L/C/R toggle link. If you want to change the Released to Student or Grade Column settings, click the Yes/No toggle link. In Step 6, you will change the Grade Column to No in one column.

In Step 7, you will change Alignment, Decimals and Grade for multiple columns.

Step 4: Change One Column

Click on the Maximum value: link in the column you want to edit. In this example, we are editing the Project 1 column.

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Step 5: Edit Column Value

In the Edit Column Value window that pops up, type the new value in the New Value: text box.
Click Save. The new value is displayed on the Column Settings screen (not illustrated).

Step 6: Change One Grade Column

In the column which you have decided to make nongrade-related, click Yes. It will change to No (not illustrated).

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Step 7: Change Multiple Columns

To edit multiple columns at one time, check the columns’ header check boxes.
Select the desired Align, Decimal or Grade option from the drop-down lists at the bottom of the screen. In the example, we are changing Alignment to Left.
Click the Go button. The change is applied to the three selected columns (not illustrated).

NOTE: You can also use the Delete, Release and Do Not Release buttons for multiple columns.

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