admin/environment/custom check/check required entries fields
Due to a bug fix, the behaviour of database activities using the 'Required entries' and 'Required entries before viewing' settings has changed. The tracker isssue number is MDL-16999.
History / Explanation:
Both of the functionalities ('Required entries' and 'Required entries before viewing') have been created at the same time and have been available in the user interface. However their implementation have changed time to time.
Before the 13/02/08: the 'Required entries before viewing' was working as expected, but 'Required entries' settings didn't do anything.
Between the 13/02/08 and the 14/03/08: both of them did the same actions ('Required entries before viewing')
After the 14/03/08 to before the fix is applied: 'Required entries' did what 'Required entries before viewing' should do, and 'Required entries before viewing' did nothing.
After the fix, you should expect your database settings to do:
Required Entries: Users will see a reminder message displayed while viewing if they have not submitted the required number of entries.
Required Entries Before Viewing: Users won't be allowed to view any entries in the database activity if they have not submitted the required number of entries.
As administrators upgrading your Moodle site, you will need to check that database activities using these two settings still work the way that the teacher intends. In the case your Moodle version is dated after the 13/02/08, it will be mandatory to change theses settings. If your Moodle version is dated after the 13/02/08, they would probably need to be changed.
What the worse that could happen if you don't check your database activities settings
If your Moodle version has been released after the 13/02/08 and than you use the 'Required Entries' setting, you disallowed users to see other participant's entries before they submitted the required number of entries. It was a wrong behavior and has been fixed. So if you don't change your settings after upgrade (the fix will be applied during upgrade), the previously disallowed users will be allowed now. These users will still see a message saying they didn't submit the required number of entries but will be allowed to see other participant entries. In order to have the same behavior than before upgrade you need to use 'Required Entries before viewing' setting.
