A student asking for help

Some students need a lesson in manners. There are times when I wonder why I bother doing this at all.

The default behaviour of each property of a .NET 2.0 datatable is that if the value in the database is null, the dataset will throw an exception. My students have run into this problem because some properties can legitimately be null. You can change the behaviour by changing the NullValue property to actually return a value (like an empty string), rather than throwing an exception. Now, I discussed this problem in the lecture, and also gave them a one page hints file for the assignment where I explained what the problem was and how to solve it.

Then, the day before the assignment is due, I have this series of exchanges with a student.

[Posted Sunday 6:20pm to discussion forum]

I have got alot of errors for the auctionassistant DataSet designer. Not sure why i have them would you be pls help me. I am uploading it on my q drive.

Alot of errors, eh? Yes, I'll bet you have. Unfortunately, I left my psychic hat at home today, so I'm not sure why you have them either. I don't even know if they are build errors or runtime errors.

[Posted Sunday 6:27pm to discussion forum]

it is under assg 3 folder in my Q drive. please have a look and let me know asap

ASAP? Sir, yes, sir! I took a look and found the classic error messages that I'd explained in the hints file. I replied to the student about 20 minutes later (telling me to do something ASAP is a good way to get a slower response - I'm perverse that way), saying that the only errors I could see were the runtime errors I'd talked about in class, and politely suggesting that the student look in the hints file I so kindly provided. What kind of student starts the assignment without reading the lecturer's hints?

[Sunday 7:24pm, emails me directly]

I am currently experiencing errors in my code.  More specifically i am getting errors in the auctionAssistantDataSet.Designer I would appreciate <p>it if you would check it and reply.

Um, I already did about 45 minutes ago! I very politely repeated my previous reply, this time s-l-o-w-e-r and without so many big words.

[Sunday 8:17pm to discussion forum]

I have change the default values but still it is giving me same amount of errors

Dumbass! The DefaultValue property isn't the problem, it's the NullValue property! Yet again, I very politely suggested they read the explanation in the hints file and follow what it suggests.

[Monday 9:44am, emails me directly]

These because it is just giving me more and more errors. when ever i tried to change something. pls let me know  what time u will be availabel as if i cannot fixed this i cannot proceed with my assignment

For f*ks sake, the only problem I see in your code are the goddamn runtime errors in the dataset that you had since yesterday. Just fix it like I told you three times already. cries*

[Monday 10:27am, email directly to me]

It is sorted now.  But now I have some other problem ...

Gee, you're welcome.