I have written the following context-bound Google App Script, bound to a (dummy) form containing a single question:

function setNewGrades() {
  const form = FormApp.getActiveForm();
  const items = form.getItems(FormApp.ItemType.TEXT);
  const responses = form.getResponses();

  for(const response of responses){
    for(const item of items){
      let itemScore = response.getGradableResponseForItem(item).getScore();
      Logger.log(itemScore);
    }
  }
}

The problem is that a:

blank score:

and a score of zero:

both return the same output:

For me, a blank score represents an ungraded response while a score of zero represents an incorrect response, and I need somehow to be able to distinguish between the two. Can you help?

So far, I've tried (itemScore === null), (itemScore === undefined) and (itemScore === 0) but in all cases a blank score and a score of zero evaluate identically.

I have written the following context-bound Google App Script, bound to a (dummy) form containing a single question:

function setNewGrades() {
  const form = FormApp.getActiveForm();
  const items = form.getItems(FormApp.ItemType.TEXT);
  const responses = form.getResponses();

  for(const response of responses){
    for(const item of items){
      let itemScore = response.getGradableResponseForItem(item).getScore();
      Logger.log(itemScore);
    }
  }
}

The problem is that a:

blank score:

and a score of zero:

both return the same output:

For me, a blank score represents an ungraded response while a score of zero represents an incorrect response, and I need somehow to be able to distinguish between the two. Can you help?

So far, I've tried (itemScore === null), (itemScore === undefined) and (itemScore === 0) but in all cases a blank score and a score of zero evaluate identically.

• google-apps-script
• google-forms

• Can you clarify your end goal for your current requirements? What you want right now is not supported with Google Apps Script, however I cannot help but wonder what is the reason why you need this? Based on the test runs I made the blank score only happens on the Paragraph type of question maybe detecting a paragraph type of question is really what you are looking for and got focused to other things? – Babanana Commented Apr 1 at 11:12
• 1 @Babanana Of course I can clarify. When the student hits submit on the quiz, I want to update the grades on some text items. To do so requires using form.submitGrades(responses), which comes with the following caveat from Google: If your code includes an onFormSubmit trigger, calling submitGrades() triggers the onFormSubmit condition and causes an infinite loop. To prevent the infinite loop, add code that checks whether grades already exist before calling submitGrades(). In short, I'm trying to "add code that checks whether grades already exist", – stöpsel_neaty Commented Apr 1 at 12:01
• I understand now, as what I mentioned a while ago this blanks only happens on a paragraph type of question I think you have already found that out, moreover the question needs to be incorrect for it to produce the blank. So for this you would just need to detect an essay type of question. A workaround I can think of for you is on your questions Essay or Paragraph type of question should start with something like "Essay:" this will make this infinitely easier qualify and detect blank grades. Let me know what your thoughts are so I can construct a work around I can suggest as an answer. – Babanana Commented Apr 1 at 12:18
• I'm interested in any kind of workaround. I workaround for submitGrades(responses) would also be interesting. – stöpsel_neaty Commented Apr 1 at 12:28
• 1 One way would be to store the id of the response(in cache or properties) and check the id on trigger. – TheMaster Commented Apr 1 at 12:51

1 Answer 1

Detecting Blanks

For starters the scenario you are looking for is not available directly with Google Apps Script Form App.

However, the situation it happens has 2 criteria based on the series of test runs I have created. First, it only happens on Essay type of questions and Second, it is an incorrect answer. To create a workaround You have to detect this first. You can check the type of question using Form API or you can use a marker on the question like the word Essay.

To detect these Essays with a blank score on the GUI.

function setNewGrades() {
  var form = FormApp.getActiveForm();
  const formResponses = form.getResponses();
for (const formResponse of formResponses) {
  const gradableItemsResponses = formResponse.getGradableItemResponses();
  for (const gradableItemsResponse of gradableItemsResponses) {
    var title = gradableItemsResponse.getItem().getTitle();
    var score = gradableItemsResponse.getScore();
    if(title.includes("Essay")&& score == 0){
      console.log("Screaming Blanks Here")
      // Do your logic, once you detect what you want to do?
    }
   }}
}

Additional Information: Your concern with the infinite loop can be fixed by utilizing .1 as a score point and round down methods this way the set score submit score logic stops I cannot provide more detailed information in these parts as this falls as another question and there is really no definite information on how you are grading and information around this additional workflow

References:

Google Forms - Items Responses