FAQs

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CXG Digital Technical Support
Q: How do I request a GDP online account for my school, how do I receive support via telephone or e-mail, who is my sales representative, and  how do I request online training?
Visit the Troubleshoot page for support information.
 
Q: Is there a publisher Web site with FAQs and information?
Yes. Visit the Troubleshoot page for support information.
 

GDP—MAP+, Skillbuilding, & Ten-Key Numeric Keypad
Q: Does GDP include enough skillbuilding in Lessons 1-20?
GDP offers unlimited, always-new content in Lessons 1-120 due to the availability of MAP+ from Lesson 1 forward. The Lessons 1-18 button in MAP+ generates unlimited, always-new skillbuilding drill lines for these lessons that include keystrokes learned through each respective lesson. In addition, Enrichment pages are available for Lessons 1-20 for remediation and review. MAP+ diagnostics and unlimited, always-new skillbuilding drills are available from Lesson 17, 19, and 20 forward for alphabet, numbers, and symbols diagnostics respectively. Clicking any key on the MAP+ live keyboard generates unlimited, intensive practice for that key. Skillbuilding drills with the lessons and in MAP+ are systematic and based on extensive keyboarding research. See Skillbuilding & MAP+ and review Dr. Scot Ober's publications list and Dr. Jack Johnson's publications list for details.

The table in Comparison of Alphabetic-Key Drill Lines analyzes the total number of drill lines (including the Enrichment lesson pages in GDP) found in the introduction of the alphabetic keys in South-Western’s 18th edition of Keyboarding and Word Processing (SW/18) to McGraw-Hill’s 11th edition of Gregg College Keyboarding & Document Processing (GDP/11).
 
Q: Where can I create a Custom Timed Writing?
 Click here for all steps to create Custom Timed Writings via Course Manager.
 
Q: Where can I find Ten-Key Numeric Keypad routines and how do students use them?
View the GDP movie INSTRUCTOR: Ten-Key Competency for details. Supplementary lessons for the ten-key numeric keypad follow Lesson 20. These lessons introduce touch typing of both the number keys (Supplementary Lesson, pages 70-71) and arithmetic operators +, -, /, and * (Enrichment, page 72). Content for these two lessons can be found in both the textbook and on GDP screens.

Additional Timed Practice and Pretest>>Practice>>Posttest reinforcement drills are found in GDP immediately after the Supplementary and Enrichment Lesson. These drills can also be accessed via the Skillbuilding button, Drills tab, Ten-Key Numeric Keypad Timed Practice and Numeric Keypad Pretest>>Practice>>Posttest. Review Ten-Key Numeric Keypad Routines [PDF] for all details.
 

GDP—Software, Registration, & Log On
Q: Where can I go to practice with GDP?
 Visit the GDP demo site at https://mhdemo.gdp11.com. Contact the CXG Digital Technical Support for the log-in credentials.
 
Q: Do you need CDs or software to use GDP?
No. GDP course software is entirely Web-based. Each school has an online account with a unique URL where students go to log on and begin working. You do need Word 2007 or Word 2010 for Windows installed in order to complete document processing jobs.
  • Click here for details on minimum hardware and software requirements.
  • Click here for details on managing Classes.
  • Click here for details on managing new students.
Q: Will GDP run on a Mac?

  • GDP course software is entirely Web-based. You can complete all skillbuilding on a Mac by logging in to the GDP Web site using a high-speed Internet connection.

  • To complete any document processing jobs in Lessons 21 to 120, you must use Microsoft Word for Windows, Version 2016, 2013, 2010, or 2007. Consider using Boot Camp to create a Windows bootable partition on the Mac hard drive where the Windows version of Word could be installed. For details, visit http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/.

  • Alternatively, if you have access to a PC with Word 2016, 2013, 2010, or 2007 installed, you could use the Mac to complete skillbuilding and the PC to complete document processing activities.
Q: Will GDP run on the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Microsoft Surface RT, and what type of keyboard should be used?

  • GDP course software is entirely Web-based. You can complete all skillbuilding on the Surface Pro by logging in to the GDP Web site using a high-speed Internet connection. The author team recommends building keyboarding skill using a standard-sized, mechanical-touch keyboard for optimal skillbuilding results. The Surface Pro tablet allows you to connect a full-size USB or Bluetooth mechanical-touch keyboard via a USB port or wirelessly, or you could use their mechanical-touch “Type Cover” keyboard. Using a tablet’s on-screen keyboard or a pressure-sensitive touch cover does not provide equivalent keyboarding practice and is not recommended. The Microsoft Surface RT is currently not supported in GDP.

  • To complete any document processing jobs in Lessons 21 to 120, you must use Microsoft Word for Windows, Version 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2016.

Q: Where can I find out about GDP registration codes and setting up temporary courtesy access to GDP for new students?
Visit the Troubleshoot page, Registration Codes. GDP's Courtesy Access feature allows students to use GDP for a limited period of time when they are waiting for financial aid or other registration card delays.
Q: How can I provide access to GDP Placement Tests to potential new students?
Special Proficiency Codes are available from the CXG Digital Technical Support or your representative to provide student access solely to Placement Tests via My GDP, Placement Tests, and any other options available there such as Portfolio, Resources, and My Info. Placement Tests must be enabled via Scheduling and when enabled, will appear under My GDP, Placement Tests. Refer to Scheduling & Report Strategies for Testing & Document Processing, “Scheduling and Placement Tests,” for details. Alternatively, Placement Tests are enabled and available from the GDP demo site at https://mhdemo.gdp11.com. Contact the CXG Digital Technical Support for the log-in credentials.
 
Q: What information will an instructor need to pre-enroll a new student in GDP?
See Managing New Students in Course Manager for details. Briefly, the following information is required:
  • First and last name.
  • Student ID. This must be unique and could be the ID the student uses at your school, or you could assign any unique number you like.
  • E-mail address. If you don't have a student's e-mail address, you can assign a fictitious one until the student has a working e-mail address; for example, zz@mail.com. However, keep in mind that when you pre-enroll any student, an automatic e-mail that includes the student's username and password is generated. If the e-mail address is fictitious or incorrect, that e-mail will bounce and you will need to inform the student of the username and password for GDP log on.
  • Username (case sensitive/unique) and password for GDP log on. Either you or your student, depending on Class Preference settings, can change these later as needed.
 

GDP—Manage Students
Q: How can I get students started in my keyboarding course during the first few days when they don't have a textbook or a registration code?
A: Instructors may request temporary expiring codes from their sales rep or from the CXG Digital Technical Support. When the temporary registration code expires on the first minute of the first day after the expiration date and the student logs in, he will be prompted to enter a new code. When the permanent registration code is entered, all work will transfer seamlessly.

Unit 1, Lessons 1-5: Instructors may duplicate these pages for the first five lessons of the textbook to use until students have a textbook. Consider posting this as a File Resource. See Managing Resources in Course Manager [PDF] for details.
 
Q: How do I reassign a returning or continuing student to a different keyboarding course?
A: Use Course Manager to transfer and reassign a returning student to the new course and instructor. See Student Portfolio—Archive & Empty, on the Updates page for details. See Managing New Students in Course Manager [PDF] on the Getting Started page for details.
 
Q: I want to reassign a returning student, but I can’t find that student on the Student tab. Where can I access a former student who no longer appears on the Students tab?
A: Archived students will no longer appear on the Students tab in Course Manager. To reassign an Archived student, you must first activate the student via Course Manager. Once the Archived student is on the Active Students list, reassign that Active student to a Class Section. See Managing New Students in Course Manager [PDF] on the Getting Started page for details.
 
Q: How can I remove a student who dropped my class?
A: Students who logged in with a valid Registration Code cannot be deleted from GDP per se. However, they can be moved off the list of active students on the Students tab (thereby removing all access to them via Course Manger) by archiving them. If a student never logged on with a valid Registration Code, you can delete that student from the Students tab by using the Actions menu and clicking Delete. See Managing New Students in Course Manager [PDF] on the Getting Started page for details on archiving and deleting students.
 

GDP—Testing & Academic Dishonesty
Q: How can I prevent cheating on document processing jobs and timed writings?
A: See the Resources Tests page, Academic Dishonesty link and Scheduling and Report Strategies for Testing links and review the information in these documents.
 
Q: Are the Objective Tests and Placement Tests found in the Tests and Solutions Manual available online via GDP?
Yes. The objective tests are available from the GDP lessons menu sequentially after Unit 4, Test 1; Unit 8, Test 2; Unit 12, Test 3; Unit 16, Test 4; Unit 20, Test 5; and Unit 24, Test 6. You must enable them using the Scheduling feature for them to appear on the menu. On the Resources Tests page, go to Scheduling and Report Strategies for Testing. In that document, see the section "Scheduling and Objective Tests" for details.

Placement Tests are also online and available via My GDP, Placement Tests, when you enable them via the Scheduling feature. Click here for information on enabling and administering Placement Tests.
 

GDP—Blackboard
Q: Can McGraw-Hill content (text, tools, and homework) be accessed directly from within your Blackboard course?
Yes. McGraw-Hill Higher Education and Blackboard® have teamed up! What does this mean for you? Now all McGraw-Hill content (text, tools, and homework) can be accessed directly from within your Blackboard course’seamlessly, automatically and all with one sign-on. Even if you are not currently using Blackboard, we have a solution for you. Read the press release "Blackboard and McGraw-Hill Partner to Integrate McGraw-Hill Digital Content & Tools into Blackboard's Learning Management Systems" or contact your sales representative for details.
 

GDP—Microsoft Word & Format Assistant Scoring
Q: What are the key differences between Word 2013 and Word 2016 features users need to understand as they migrate from Word 2013 to Word 2016?

Moving From Word 2013 to Word 2016, 11e [PDF] is a description of the differences between the Word 2013 and Word 2016 features used in document processing jobs in the 11e. This handout explains each feature and the differences in the two versions of Word in their order of appearance for each command in the Microsoft Office Word 2016 Manual, 11e, which will publish on June 24, 2016.
 
Q: What are the key differences between Word 2010 and Word 2013 features users need to understand as they migrate from Word 2010 to Word 2013?

Moving From Word 2010 to Word 2013 [PDF] is a description of the differences between the Word 2010 and Word 2013 features used in document processing jobs in the 11e. This handout explains each feature and the differences in the two versions of Word in their order of appearance for each command in the Microsoft Office Word 2013 Manual, 11e.
 
Q: What are the key differences between Word 2007 and Word 2010 features users need to understand as they migrate from Word 2007 to Word 2010?

Moving From Word 2007 to Word 2010 [PDF] is a description of the differences between the Word 2007 and Word 2010 features used in document processing jobs in the 11e. This handout explains each feature and the differences in the two versions of Word in their order of appearance for each command in the Microsoft Office Word 2010 Manual, 11e.
 
Q: Do students need to install Microsoft Word, are any special Word settings required, and can Microsoft Office 365 be used?

To complete document processing jobs, students must use the full version of Microsoft Word. A few special Word settings are required’see Appendix A in the Word Manual for details.

If your school has an agreement with Microsoft, your students can get Office 365 (Microsoft's subscription version of Office, which includes Word) for free—click here for details. Students must use the desktop version of Word installed via Office 365, not the Word Online version or app version of Word—those versions do not include full Word functionality. Microsoft offers a free one-month trial subscription and monthly subscriptions. Click here for details.

Q: Does the 11e of GDP use 12 pt. font size, a line spacing, and 0 pt. spacing after paragraphs?
Yes. The most efficient way to streamline the production of mailable documents that conform to conventional styles is to use the conventional format settings used in Word 2003. Please read GDP 2013 Default Style Rationale for a thorough explanation. Also see Appendix A, Using Microsoft Word in the Workplace, in the Word Manual for the 11e for details on using Word outside of GDP.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING WORD DEFAULTS USED IN GDP DOCUMENTS: In GDP when students click Start Work to begin a document processing job, GDP downloads and opens a Word file in which 12 pt. font size, single line spacing, and 0 pt. spacing after paragraphs settings are in place for that document only. The Word settings used by these downloaded documents have absolutely no relationship whatsoever and do not interact or interfere in any way with the Word settings in use at your school's workstations and vice versa.
 
The author team advises against using any  Word settings other than those used by GDP for the reasons noted above. However, if you decide to use one of those styles, you should use the "No Spacing Style" option to adjust spacing in the Word Style Set. Doing so changes multiple line spacing from 1.15 to single spacing and spacing after paragraphs from 10 pt. to 0 pt. GDP will then score for keystroking as expected.

These files are examples of a business letter, business report, and memo that were formatted using the "No Spacing Style" option for documents.
 

  These files are examples of a business letter, business report, and memo that were formatted using Shift+Enter to create single-spaced lines. If you use this approach, GDP will not score for keystroking as expected.
 

Q: Does GDP score for formatting?
Yes, GDP assists in format scoring if you enable format scoring by enabling the Formatting Assistant. Click here for details.
 

GDP—Student Portfolio
Q: Is it possible to generate a list of required exercises and a list of exercises that a student has not completed and make those lists accessible to students?

Yes. If you have enabled and set up the Interim Gradebook feature, your students can filter their Portfolio using the Advanced Filter button to display only required exercises, locked exercises, exercises requiring manual grade, exercises pending a manual grade, and exercises with completion grading. However, the Portfolio does not have a way to display pending (never completed) required exercises. The Required Exercises List feature (REL) can be used to display missing work, but only instructors have access to that list via Course Manager. Here are some steps you can take to generate a list of missing work via the REL and export and post a generic REL as a File Resource accessible to students via My GDP. See these sections in Setting Up an Interim Gradebook [PDF] for details: "To display the Required Exercises List (REL)," "To export a generic REL," "To post a generic REL as a File Resource," and "Identify Missing Required Exercises (pending work) via the REL." For more information on the Interim Gradebook, click the GDP Movie Channel link and view these movies: INSTRUCTOR: Interim Gradebook [PDF] and INSTRUCTOR: Interim Gradebook (Part 2) [PDF].
 
Q: In the Student Portfolio, speed (WPM) and errors cannot be viewed without expanding each timed writing. Is there an alternate way to view WPM speed and errors for timed writings?

Yes. You can export the Student Portfolio Report as explained in the next FAQ. However, it is more convenient to use the Detailed WPM Table Report in Course Manager. See Course Manager Tips, the section "Using the Detailed WPM Table Report" for details and view the movie "INSTRUCTOR: Detailed WPM Report" on the GDP Movie Channel. These are the basic steps:

  1. Under USERS, click GPS, Reports tab.

  2. Click the Report Type list arrow, Detailed WPM Table.

  3. Click Include Results from Student (to view one student at a time), Campus (to view all students across the campus), or Class and Section—All (to view one class and all sections), or Class and Section (to view the desired Class and one specific Section of a Class).

  4. Enter the number of best timings to include per segment—the higher the number, the more inclusive the results and the slower the display.

  5. Set the number of errors per timing to allow—the higher the number, the more inclusive the results and the slower the display.

  6. Uncheck Select All and check Timed Writings to view only timed writings.

  7. Click Segment timings and choose either Textbook, Part, Unit, or Lesson (All, to get the broadest results, Part, Unit & Tests, or Lesson).

  8. Click View Report.

If you then want to view the best timed writings from a given day, scroll to the right and click on the Date column to sort by date. Or type a day in the Date box (or open the Calendar pop up and choose a date and a time); then click Greater Than to show all timings taken on the desired date from 12:00AM onward and click Filter. Remember, at any point, you can click the Edit icon and change any desired parameters—perhaps go back and change your sort from Class to Student and click Refresh Report to narrow your results to one particular student.

 
Q: Is it possible to export the Student Portfolio Report to Excel and use Excel's sort and SUM features?

Yes. In Course Manager, use the Student Portfolio Report, Export—Excel feature. See the Course Manager Tips, "Exporting and Sorting the Student Portfolio Report" for details on sorting and Time Spent and Total Time in the Portfolio [PDF] for details on the SUM feature.
 

GDP—Time Management, Time Tracking, & Practice Exercises
Q: How long can students expect to spend on lessons, including skillbuilding, document processing, and ten-key drills?
 
Here are some general guidelines regarding how much time you can expect the average student expect to spend on lessons, including skillbuilding, document processing, and ten-key drills:
  • SKILLBUILDING: The average student can expect to spend approximately 50-60 minutes on each lesson in Lessons 1-20 and 15-20 minutes on each lesson in Lessons 21-60 to complete skillbuilding. Unlimited skillbuilding drills are provided via MAP+ and keystroking remediation drills are available in GDP for additional skillbuilding if WPM requirements are not being met. Advise students to visit the MAP+ & Skillbuilding page at the Computer Keyboarding 1 course Web site for details on using any GDP skillbuilding drill to address keyboarding weaknesses. Students should also review the Keystroking Remediation section of this form for appropriate use of any GDP skillbuilding drill for remediation: Technique Self-Assessment [PDF].
  • DOCUMENT PROCESSING: For each of Lessons 21-120, the average student can expect to spend a minimum of 45 minutes on document processing. Optional Practice exercises in the Word Manual would increase this time spent.
  • TEN-KEY: The average student can expect to spend a minimum of 6 hours completing 50 ten-key drills three times each. Such drills should be repeated if DPM requirements are not being met.

See Time Spent and Total Time in the Portfolio [PDF] for details on:

  1. Time management guidelines and time tracking for skillbuilding, document processing jobs, document formatting, and Practice Exercises.

  2. Understanding GDP Total Time.

  3. Exporting Student Portfolio to Excel, and using sort and SUM features to calculate Total Time in Excel.
Q: How does GDP record Time Spent and Total Time in the Portfolio for document processing jobs, formatting screens preceding document processing jobs, and Practice exercises?
See Time Spent and Total Time in the Portfolio [PDF] for a detailed response to this question.
 
Q: Does GDP save Practice exercise files and record their completion in the Portfolio?
No. Click here for details.
 
Q: Does GDP record time spent on a Practice exercise?
Yes. Click here for details.
 

GDP—Miscellaneous
Q: Are any certificates of keyboarding achievement available?
Yes. Download these password-protected files and edit them as needed.
Q: How can instructors communicate with students in GDP11e?

Use GDP's Message Center. You can communicate internally via GDP's Message Center via message blasts or individual messages. This is a great way to archive all communication between instructors and students in one place and eliminate e-mail. You could also consider these alternatives:

  • Use GDP's Resource feature to post your general class announcements. See Managing Resources in Course Manager [PDF] and the movie INSTRUCTOR: Managing Resources for details and examples. When you use the Resource feature, you can post a class announcement and if desired, schedule it to "appear" and "disappear" from the student list of resources on any given date and time. When a new resource is posted, students will see a red Resources “alert bubble” with a number indicating how many new resources have been posted next to the My GDP button when they log in. When they click the Resources link, they will see a “New” icon on the Open button indicating new, unopened items.
  • Use GDP—s General Comment and Annotation feature to communicate with students individually regarding a given assignment. Use the Comments Library [PDF] as an instructor resource as explained on the Resources Tests page. The library includes a detailed database of titles and comments (general comments and annotations) you can copy and paste to create your own Comments Library in GDP. Specific references to lesson numbers and Reference Manual pages are included to encourage students to use their textbooks and GDP as learning resources to find their own answers. See the movies INSTRUCTOR: Annotations and INSTRUCTOR: Comments Library for details and examples.

  • Consider using a master list of student e-mail addresses, which you can paste into the Bcc box of your e-mail message, for class e-mail blasts.
Q: What is the significance of the green checkmark and caution icons on GDP menus?
  • The green check mark means that the student has completed that item and clicked Next on the GDP screen, which saves the item and stores it in the Portfolio. At that point, the green checkmark is added.
     
  • The caution icon (yellow circle with the triangle) indicates that the student has visited, but not yet completed the item.
 
Q: Where can I find the optimization settings for network, firewalls, lab computers, and system requirements for GDP?
Open Course Manager, and click Help; from the Help window, click View All Entries; from the GDP11 Instant Help window, in the left pane under Best Practices, click Optimization.
 
Q: Are memos still relevant in today's office?
Yes. Memos are usually sent to individuals in the same organization. E-mail in recent years has replaced memos as an efficient means of informal interoffice communication. However, memos are better suited when detailed messages of a more formal, authoritative nature requiring more permanent documentation are necessary. Click here to read "Why Should You Use a Business Memo?" by Luanne Kelchner.