How To Deliver

Academic Week 00 - 00

Here you will find procedures for how you are expected to deliver your assignments and projects. There are a few rules that you must follow, such as naming conventions, file formats, image / video resolutions, aspect ratios and more.

What to include

The assignment text should always be read thoroughly.

  • For all assignments and projects, you are asked to deliver a set of files. The assignment text will specify what you are expected to deliver. Normally this is idea development files, work files and assets, finished products, and a report.
  • To make it clean and tidy, you should always name these files a certain way, and put them into separate folders for each category.

NB! Deliveries have a 50mb per file restriction. Should your delivery exceed this limit you can split the zip and deliver up to 500mb as an archive - details can be found below in the Delivery section.

File Categories

Overview of delivery folder structure

  • The completed Zip-file - This means the finished file ready the delivery
      • AssignmentCode_StudentName - e.g. CADm1_JohnDoe (all other folders go into this folder)
      • Documents
        • Sketches, Research, Planning documents etc
        • Report – In depth, reflective summary of every phase in your assignment or project and a detailed self-evaluation. Reports must be delivered as a PDF
          • Hyperlinks/shortcuts (References, Trello, Youtube, etc) - Should be added into the report as either references or inspirational.
        • Files used during oral presentation - E.g. powerpoint-file or similar
      • ProjectFiles – Most often your drawing or model files
        • Never include back-up files or redundant files or folders.
        • Assets also go into this folder, if you are delivering an assignment which has file dependancies; i.e. Visualization..
      • Media – Rendered images and/or video (showcasing your final product)
        • Also add reference images etc here - should be in a separate sub-folder.

If you for some reason need more folders, make sure you follow similar logic when creating folder names.

File Naming Convention

  • Use simple and appropriate naming conventions.
  • You should understand what the file content is by reading the name.
  • Make sure to tidy up your project before submitting it. Don’t submit files that are not used (example: a drawing used for testing purposes, but not in the final product.)
  • Also, make sure to organize into correct folders at once.
    Moving files at the end of your deadline is risky and may cause errors.

Documents

  • For documentation files (Documentation, reports, etc,) use “StudentName” followed by a description of the content. (E.g. DanielTrømp_Report.pdf)
  • For general Documentation, Reports, Design Documents etc. it is very important to deliver PDF's. Open documents can be tampered with, but more importantly it's about how you present yourself and your creations. Always present your products with attention to detail and clearly communicate what your product is about.

ProjectFiles

Most often you are only asked to deliver the final result. Unless specified otherwise you are to deliver your work-files (typically AutoCAD/Inventor/Revit/3DsMax-scenes, export-files, photoshop files etc). However, you should name and organize your work files in a sensible way.

  • Regarding naming of deliverable parts, sub-drawings - you do not need to rename everything (such as part-drawings) following this naming convention, however you should give your files reasonable names, for instance "Train_Engine01.prt" - and not "92fj868ar2136.dwg".
  • Remember to rename imported items before you add them to your main assemblies.

Media

When delivering images or movie clips, unless specified otherwise, you must always use the following specs:

  • Images
    All images must be delivered in the .PNG file format
    Presentation images, use aspect ratio 4:3 with 1440x1080 square pixels (HDV 1080i)
    Landscape, use aspect ratio 16:9 with 1920x1080 square pixels (1080p)
  • Videos
    Deliver videos as a link in your report. Videos can be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, or similar services. Be sure to share a viewable link of your video.
    • All videos, if delivered must be delivered in .MP4 file format, and compressed in H264 for minimal file size and optimal compression.
    Resolution for videos: Use aspect 16:9, and minimum 1280x720 square pixels (720p)

Delivery

Uploading Your Files

All deliveries must be delivered into the correct folder according to the assignment or project. Unless specified otherwise all deliveries must be delivered via the LMS (moodle) as .zip file(s) named the correct way, as specified above.

  • We recommend using 7zip (www.7zip.org)
  • For some assignments you need to split your zip file into several files. 7zip does taht for you when you ask for it to split the archive. Here's a tutorial on how to do that: Split Zip Archive with 7zip

When you click on the delivery-link for your assignment or project, you'll be asked to add your files. You can edit your submission and delete/edit comments, but for your submission to be accepted, it must be submitted before deadline and you are required to acknowledge your submission.

Once you hit that button, the submission will be confirmed and marked as delivered. You can no longer edit or add anything except comments.

Archiving your work files

When you have saved all of your work, and created an organised file structure with appropriate file naming, it is time to prepare it for hand-in.

  1. Ensure that your submission folder includes all required files
  2. Ensure that your submission folder does not include any archives (zip-files)
  3. Create an archive using 7zip by following this guide
  4. Check if the file size of the archive to see if it is below 500MB (maximum file size)
  5. If the file size is larger than 500MB, use this guide to try and minimize it
  6. Once the archive is less than 500MB, split the file using 7zip by following this guide

We cannot stress enough the importance of following the information provided here, when working in your semester assignment. It will lead to structured and well-written report, together with an organised and structured delivery.

Reducing the Size of ZIP Archives

Reducing the size if you exceed the 500mb limit will most likely become applicable during this course. The first encounter of splitting an archive is usually during the Visualization topic. It may be applicable to reduce the size of the total archive during that topic, but the most frequent encounter is during the projects - Project Assignment and Project Exam.

You can follow this guide to reduce its size:

  • Check if the application has a purge function to remove unwanted geometry, layers, families etc.
  • Review 3ds Max files, as they tend to be very large. Keep an eye out for unnecessary files that can be excluded from your delivery, such as all unnecessary .max files (only deliver last version).
  • You can use the Clean Utility (search for it through the online help portal) in 3ds Max as well, but it will not remove everything automatically.
  • Check your acquired bitmaps and external image files. If they surpass 2048x2048px or 5mb, then consider reducing their resolution or converting to .jpg.
  • Ensure still-images of your animation is not included in your delivery.
  • Reduce the resolution of your Photoshop files by 50% (keep layers and deliver png files in resolution according to the how-to-deliver guide.
  • If you have worked on multiple 3ds Max files, you can select some for submission. Minimum one 3ds Max file must be submitted (but remember to deliver all renderings).

Here are some recommendations when working on major projects:

  • Keep track of the various file sizes throughout the project, ensuring you have sufficient time to compress them prior to delivery if needed.
  • Check the folder structure and make sure that good naming and correct file formats are used.
  • Ensure that all files open without warning messages (links are intact and linked files attached).
  • Check any DWF files before submission.
  • Check and update the project plan, as well as reading the project report one last time. Use some time to fine-tune your reflection and conclusion.

Do not wait until the last minute to export your files, ensuring you have sufficient time to check them for errors.

This moves us to the next step...

Deadlines

All assignments must be delivered according to the deadline specified. The deadline is specified in the “Course Plan” located on the LMS. Ask your teacher if you are unsure about a deadline.

Files should be completely uploaded before the deadline has expired. The system itself allows delivery after deadline, but it is your own responsibility to make sure it will not happen.

The time and date of the delivery is always registered in the system. If a delivery is submitted too late within the same day, your grade will most likely be affected. If the delivery is more than 24 hours late the following week, it will be regarded as "not delivered". Worst case scenario is that you will have to do the assignment or project all over again. See the school regulations and price list for delivering new projects.

If you should require more time, you will need to apply via e-mail to your main teacher,
at least 48 hours (2 days) before deadline.

You'll need very good reasons to get an extension, in example sickness documented by a doctor. If you don't have one, you'll be asked to deliver what you have done. Why 48 hours? In a real-world job, you will probably be fired if you show up 5 minutes before deadline and ask for an extension. If you give a good warning in advance, you might be allowed the extra time.

On module assignments you are allowed to use the weekends to complete the delivery. Final deadline is always sunday before 23:59, but we strongly encourage you to deliver on the regular deadline. Should you need to use the weekend to finish you do not have to ask for an extension, as delivered assignments are not checked before monday morning after deadline.

COMPUTER CRASH (and similar reasons, cat ate your mouse, etc) WILL NOT be accepted as a valid excuse. You are responsible for your own equipment, and responsible for keeping daily backups!

Assignments

Assignments are something you'll have to do to pass your course. Assignments must be delivered in the same way as projects, and has to be delivered on time according to your course plan.

You are also encouraged to upload your work to the forums, so that other students can see and come with constructive criticism. Be sure to comment on other student's work as well.

Assignments will be given a Passed, Re-Deliver or Not Passed grade, along with some feedback so that you may improve upon your work.

How grades are defined:

Not Passed - is literal. You either forgot or didn't submit any assignment.

Re-Deliver - This means your assignment is not passed, but is still redeemable. Just follow the feedback and deliver again with the necessary improvements.

Passed - The assignment has been assessed to fulfill the critera of the scope. The feedback you receive should be contemplated and taken into play for future assignments.

The projects are the only character graded deliveries during this course, but you need to pass all assignments in order to receive the diploma.

All assignments must be delivered according to the deadline. Refer to your course plan if you are unsure of the exact delivery date, or contact your teacher. The worst scenario is that your delivery is not passed. In the case of a project, then that means an automatic F. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to have a good dialgoue in due time with your teacher if you are experiencing problems. If you are struggling with the content, do not be afraid to contact your teacher or tutor so that he/she may consider your progress and find out if any measures needs to be implemented.

 

© Noroff Education 2019