# How do I use the Total column in the Gradebook?

The Total column in the Gradebook displays a running total of all graded assignments in the course, including assignments with hidden grades.

You can customize the Total column in your Gradebook. The Total column can be moved to the front of the Gradebook or sorted to display grades in an ascending or descending order. You can switch your students' total grades from a percentage to a point value in the Gradebook. By default, total grades are shown as a percentage with two decimal places.

**Notes:**

<div id="bkmrk-viewing-total-grades"><div>- Viewing total grades as a point value is available only if you use unweighted assignment groups in your course. When [assignment groups are weighted](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-weight-the-final-course-grade-based-on-assignment/ta-p/746), points cannot be displayed for the total grade.
- Viewing the Total column in the Gradebook may be restricted when multiple grading periods are enabled. This feature also limits viewing the total grade in the student Grades page.
- When Multiple Grading Periods are enabled in a course and grading periods are weighted, points cannot be displayed for the total grade.
- If you do not see the Total column, it may be hidden. Learn more about [view options in the Gradebook](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Gradebook/ta-p/701).

</div></div>## Open Grades

<div data-step-uuid="12806170-AAE2-0135-1697-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk-"><div data-step-uuid="12806170-AAE2-0135-1697-06467EE270FA"><div>![Open Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/009/192/772/original/5503b5e5-26f0-4250-b657-66ab1bad3be3.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In Course Navigation, click the **Grades** link.

## Open Total Column Menu

<div data-step-uuid="12809DB0-AAE2-0135-169A-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--0"><div data-step-uuid="12809DB0-AAE2-0135-169A-06467EE270FA"><div>![Open Total Column Menu](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/490/110/original/2aee472c-3b00-411a-b1ed-ca18794610e3.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Hover over the Total column header and click the **More Options** menu.

## Sort Total Column

<div data-step-uuid="63ed0cc6-7447-4c3a-aa70-90261db7e77c" id="bkmrk--1"><div data-step-uuid="63ed0cc6-7447-4c3a-aa70-90261db7e77c"><div>![Sort Total Column](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/490/112/original/c67eef37-e4a5-4236-bfb7-bf7ed8aa31f0.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>To sort the Gradebook by ascending or descending total grades, click the **Sort by** link \[1\], then select the **Grade - Low to High** or **Grade - High to Low** option \[2\].

## Switch to Points

<div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--2"><div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA"><div>![Switch to Points](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/290/919/original/f4de7395-70e1-4fd5-a82c-5c697cb5199f.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>By default, total grades are shown as a percentage with two decimal places.

If your course uses unweighted assignment groups, you can view your students' total grades as points. Click the **Display as Points** link.

<div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--3"><div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA"><div><div></div></div><div>![View Points Warning](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/000/768/030/original/5e780d76-2af4-4d9e-8658-0be920159e99.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Canvas confirms you want to switch the total grade view. If you do not want to see this warning message for your course again, click the **Don't show...** checkbox \[1\].

Click the **Continue** button \[2\].

### Switch to Percentages

<div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--4"><div data-step-uuid="1280DC80-AAE2-0135-169D-06467EE270FA"><div data-step-uuid="12818EA0-AAE2-0135-16A6-06467EE270FA"><div>![Switch to Percentages](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/290/921/original/1f14179b-46c7-4c94-a210-729df619e0aa.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>You can switch back to percentages by clicking the Total menu icon and selecting **Display as Percentage**.

## Move Total Column

<div data-step-uuid="829c4c42-f38c-48fb-bc06-f22bd6f18b08" id="bkmrk--5"><div data-step-uuid="829c4c42-f38c-48fb-bc06-f22bd6f18b08"><div>![Move Total Column](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/290/924/original/35f76bca-90eb-4c21-87fe-7d41a7743934.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>To move the Total column to the front of the Gradebook, click the **Move to Front** link.

**Note:** Selecting the **Move to Front** link pins the Total Grades column next to the Student Names column, keeping it visible while scrolling through the other grade columns horizontally.

## Message Students Who

<div data-step-uuid="c78c29ba-325c-46bc-a0f2-31feb13057ff" id="bkmrk--6"><div data-step-uuid="c78c29ba-325c-46bc-a0f2-31feb13057ff"><div>![Message Students Who](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/290/927/original/2996f54b-fbe8-460b-afd9-12737e8c503d.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>To send a message to a group of students based on their grades, click the **Message Students Who** link.

## Select Message Recipients

<div data-step-uuid="f9dc40f5-e8b1-401d-a453-1241560a11c6" id="bkmrk--7"><div data-step-uuid="f9dc40f5-e8b1-401d-a453-1241560a11c6"><div>[![Select Message Category](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/490/928/medium/f708c049-12ec-4531-ae9f-7acfd8b9ceda.png)](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/490/928/original/f708c049-12ec-4531-ae9f-7acfd8b9ceda.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Select a group of users to receive the message. By default, the message is for students who have a **Total grade higher than** the Cutoff Value.

To send the message to students whose total grade is lower than a number, click the **For students who** drop-down menu \[1\], and select the **Total grade lower than** option.

Enter a percentage grade in the **Cutoff Value** field \[2\].

To select or deselect users with a given role, click the checkboxes in the **Send Message To** field \[3\].

To view, add, or remove specific users, click the **Show all recipients** link \[4\].

## Enter Message Content

<div data-step-uuid="21a3d4da-b17f-4009-b59d-28f97d3fdd76" id="bkmrk--8"><div data-step-uuid="21a3d4da-b17f-4009-b59d-28f97d3fdd76"><div>[![Enter Message Details](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/654/778/medium/8c356444-96bf-43d7-bf5c-571d9256e867.png)](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/654/778/original/8c356444-96bf-43d7-bf5c-571d9256e867.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>By default, the subject is a message based on your selections. To edit the subject, enter a different subject in the **Subject** field \[1\].

Type a message to the students in the **Message** field \[2\].

To [attach a file to the message](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Colder-Storage/How-do-I-attach-a-file-to-a-message-as-an-instructor/td-p/261063), click the **Attach** button \[3\].

To [create a media recording or upload a media file](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/FRD-Colder-Storage/How-do-I-attach-a-media-comment-to-a-message-as-an-instructor/td-p/262873), click the **Media** icon \[4\].

To send the message, click the **Send** button \[5\].

**Notes:**

<div data-step-uuid="21a3d4da-b17f-4009-b59d-28f97d3fdd76" id="bkmrk-although-one-message"><div data-step-uuid="21a3d4da-b17f-4009-b59d-28f97d3fdd76"><div><div>- Although one message most likely will be sent to multiple students at the same time, each student receives an individual message.
- You can also [message students by individual gradebook assignments](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-send-a-message-to-students-from-the-Gradebook/ta-p/741).

</div></div></div></div>\[Content retrieved from [https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Total-column-in-the-Gradebook/ta-p/788](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Total-column-in-the-Gradebook/ta-p/788)\]