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    1: \label{Cascading_Parameters}
    2: 
    3: LON-CAPA uses a powerful and flexible {}``cascading parameter''
    4: system. A {}``parameter'' is anything that can be set for a problem
    5: in a course, such as a due date. LON-CAPA parameters can be set for
    6: the {}``entire course'', for {}``all problems in a particular sequence'',
    7: or for an {}``individual problem''. Fully independently of that,
    8: they can be set for {}``everyone in a course'', for {}``everyone
    9: in a section'', or for {}``a single person''. More specific parameter
   10: settings override more general ones.
   11: 
   12: Some of the more common parameters include {}``open date'' (when
   13: a problem becomes visible for the student to complete), {}``due date''
   14: (the time the student must have the problem done by), {}``answer
   15: date'' (an optional date where the solution to the problem becomes
   16: visible if they did not complete it earlier), and {}``weight'' (the
   17: point value of the problem). Different problem types can also take
   18: different parameters; for instance, the instructor can override the
   19: {}``tolerance'' for a numerical problem (how close the student must
   20: come for a numerical problem to be considered correct), or control
   21: the style of the problem (for instance, the system has an {}``exam''
   22: mode where it will give the student multiple choices for a numerical
   23: problem, which is useful for printed exams). Problems can also export
   24: arbitrary other parameters, which may give instructors the ability
   25: to control the difficulty level or select a specific varient of the
   26: problem, depending on how the problem was authored.
   27: 
   28: This parameter system makes most common manipulations of these parameters
   29: very easy. If a specific section missed a lab because of a fire drill,
   30: that section can have its due date extended for the week without affecting
   31: any other section with a single operation. A single student can have
   32: their problems opened earlier if they're going to be gone for some
   33: excused reason. An entire self-paced learning course can have a global
   34: due-date set at the beginning of the course.
   35: 
   36: On a technical level, the parameter setting is handled by \texttt{lonparmset}.
   37: \texttt{lonnavmaps} provides an easy-to-use interface to most of the
   38: common parameters while doing much of the bookkeeping for you. See
   39: documentation for those things in the appropriate section below. A
   40: function called {}``\texttt{parmval}'' in \texttt{Apache::lonnavmaps::navmap}
   41: and \texttt{Apache::assesscalc} handle the computation of which parameter
   42: is in effect and can be consulted for precise details on the cascading.
   43: