It might seem convenient to assign 0 points to an assignment in Canvas if you only want to give a letter grade, such as A-F, without using points. However, this is unfortunately not a safe way to work within the system. Canvas is built to handle grading with points. These points can then be translated into letter grades using a grading scheme. If you assign 0 points to an assignment, you risk undesirable effects in Canvas. The following problems may arise:

Incorrect summaries in Grades – total points and grades may be inaccurate.
Export to Excel doesn't work – results from the assignment won't be included.
Anonymous submissions are re-anonymized – complicating continued grading or management.
Future Canvas updates may create more unexpected effects.

Recommendation

Always use points when setting up assignments in Canvas. If you want to display a letter grade, attach a grading scheme to the assignment – this will automatically convert the score to the desired grade. It’s a safer, clearer approach for students and ensures long-term compatibility with the Canvas system.