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Exercise: Auto-Save for Text Assignments

Page Overview

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1 Initial Problem

If working on longer text in the text assignments, students may lose their input if they accidently navigate to another page.

2 Conceptual Summary

The text assignment input view should automatically save the user input each 30 seconds. A status message box thould show the last save action in minutes (e.g. saved 3 minutes ago). If the input is not changed, to auto-saving should be done.

3 User Interface Modifications

3.1 List of Affected Views

  • Exercise: Text Assignment Input View

3.2 User Interface Details

The view will get a message box on top for showing the last save message.

3.3 New User Interface Concepts

No new UI concepts.

3.4 Accessibility Implications

The message box will not get any live-area for screenreaders since this would disctract the user too much.

4 Additional Information

4.1 Involved Authorities

If this request is related to multiple components, please list both authorities for all related components.

4.2 Technical Aspects

No technical issues.

4.3 Privacy

Killing, Alexander [alex]: We will not save any additional data. However data will be "saved sooner" by auto-save. I do not consider this being a privacy issue.

4.4 Security

No security issues.

4.5 Contact

Person to be contacted in case of questions about the feature or for funding offers: Killing, Alexander [alex]

4.6 Funding

Funding status and funding parties are listed in the block 'Status of Feature' in the right column of this page.

If you are interested to give funding for this feature, please get into contact with the person mentioned above as 'Contact'.

5 Discussion

05 JAN 2026, Lowe, Simon [simon.lowe]: Thanks a lot for this feature request, which users of the Test already be familiar with and appreciate it. After looking at the FR a few questions came up to me:

  • Will there be a setting in order or de-/activate the autosave function (globally or for every Exercise itself)?
  • Will there be a setting for changing the intervall of the autosave?
  • Is it possible to have a delta between the autosave text and the version of the text, which is finally handed in? Or is just always the newest version of the text handed in as submission and shown at the tab "Submissions and Grades"?

07 JAN 2026, Giercke-Ungermann, Annett [Annett_Giercke]:

Thank you very much for this feature request. From an accessibility perspective, it is understandable and appropriate that the message box does not use a permanently active live region for screenreaders, as repeated announcements during regular automatic save cycles could significantly disrupt the user experience. In this context, I would like to ask two questions regarding the planned implementation:

  • Is it intended to provide a one-time screenreader announcement upon the first successful automatic save, informing users that changes will be saved automatically from that point onward? If not, are alternative solutions being considered to ensure that this information is reliably accessible to screenreader users?
  • Are there any plans to trigger a screenreader announcement for relevant events, in particular when changes could not be saved?

Thank you in advance for your feedback and for discussing possible accessible solutions.

6 Implementation

Feature has been implemented by {Please add related profile link of this person}

6.1 Description and Screenshots

{ Description of the final implementation and screenshots if possible. }

6.2 Test Cases

Test cases completed at {date} by {user}

  • {Test case number linked to Testrail} : {test case title}

6.3 Privacy

Information in privacy.md of component: updated at {date} by {user} | no change required

6.4 Approval

Approved at {date} by {user}.

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Last edited: Yesterday, 14:34, Giercke-Ungermann, Annett [Annett_Giercke]