It is possible to take the scores and answers from computer given quizzes and load them into a spread sheet program like Lotus 1-2-3. Once there you can use the spread sheet program to analyze the quiz data, make a mail-merge file to load the answers into other documents, load the data into a database program, or any other task that YOU and your spread sheet program are capable of.
Once the data is loaded into a spread sheet program you are on your own, I can no longer help you. Unfortunetly my experience with spread sheet programs is nil.
If, when taking a computer given quiz, you choose to "Record score on disk" after the quiz is over, the quiz scores and all the answers will be recorded to the disk in a file. Every time someone takes another quiz their score and all their answers will be added to this file. By using "Quiz management" (see previous chapter) you can combine the quiz score files from many floppy disks into one file on your hard drive.
The bad news is that this score file CANNOT be loaded into a spread sheet program! The good news is that "Quiz management" can use the score file to make a data file that you can load.
Once in "Quiz management" choose "Manipulate quiz scores." Once you have copied the scores from other floppy disks (if any), choose "Make spread sheet readable file."
The program will then use the quiz score file to make a spread sheet readable file. The quiz original score file will remain intact, it will still be there.
The screen will show you the name of the new file and where on the disk (in which directory) the file is located. You must now exit this program, locate the spread sheet readable file, and copy it onto the same directory as your spread sheet program. Now load your spread sheet program.
The following instructions for loading the data file into a spread sheet program are specific for Lotus 1-2-3. They may also work on other spread sheet programs, or may require modification. Please refer to the manual for your program.
To load the file...... 1. Load your spread sheet program. 2. Press the slash key / to view the command line. 3. Choose WORKSHEET then GLOBAL then COLUMN - WIDTH. 4. Set COLUMN - WIDTH to 22 and press [ENTER]. 5. Press the slash key / to view the command line. 6. Choose FILE then IMPORT then NUMBERS. 7. Type in the file name and press [ENTER]. |
"","","Total","Numb.","","","Access",,,,, "Name","Score","Quest","Right","Date","Time"," Code","Q1","Q2","Q3","Q4", "HARRIS, DALE","100"," 3"," 3","06-12","01:23",""," A","+B","+APPLE","+A", "LEE, AMY"," 67"," 3"," 2","06-12","01:28",""," C","-A","+APPLE","+A", "JONES, D."," 33"," 3"," 1","06-12","02:01",""," B","+B","-PEAR","-D", |
"Splitting a file" actually means using some of the questions from an existing list to make a new list. The old file is not changed. "Merging a file" means that you take questions from an existing list and put them into another existing list.
SPLITTING A FILE.
You can start a new question list from any selection screen, either "Print
questions", "Print a test", or "Make a quiz". First select the questions as if
you were going to use them for a test or quiz. Now press [F11]. (Or [CRTL] /
[F1] on some computers.) Now choose "A new question list". The name you choose
to give the new file must not already be in use on the disk, if it is, you will
be told to choose a different name.
The new question list you are making does not have to have the same maximum question length as the original question list. If you choose to make a larger list your questions will copy intact. However if you choose to make a smaller list only the first 408 characters, out of a maximum of 880, will be copied. The new file will have the same course name and password as your old file. When you use your new file you can use the "Change password / Course name." option to make any changes.
MERGING A FILE.
From an existing file choose the questions as noted above. After pressing
[F11] choose the "A file to merge...." option. If you choose an existing file
name you may choose to over-write the old file.
Now exit that question list and load the target question list. Go to one of the selection screens. If you wish to place the merge question list into the middle if this target list, jump to the first question that you want the merge questions to be written. Example; if your target list has 100 questions and you wish to place 15 merge questions as questions 31 to 45 you must jump to question 31.
Now press [F12]. (or [CRTL] / [F2] on some computers.) Type in the name of the merge file you just created, and press [TAB]. You will now be given 3 options to load the merge questions.
1. At the end of the file. This option places the merge questions after the existing questions. Note; since the maximum number of questions in a list is 999, if your current questions and your merge questions add up to more than 999 you will not be offered this option.
2. Start here and write over the existing questions. This option will replace the existing questions with the merge questions. Note; using this option means that the questions that are over-written will be GONE, GONE, GONE, you will never see them again!
3. Start here but move the existing questions back. This option will slide the current questions back, and then place the merge questions. Again, if the current questions and the merge questions add to more than 999 you will not be offered this option.
Warning; if the question list the merge file is being merged TO has a maximum question length of 408 characters, and the question list the merge file is FROM has a maximum lenght of 880, then you will lose the last 472 characters of each question.
After merging, you will be offered an opportunity to erase the merge file. This is a good idea, old merge files will just clutter your disk, taking up disk space. Also remember that merge files are in the "public domain", they do not have a password and can be loaded by anyone. Remember, use them and lose them.
This is the function that allows you to delete files from a disk or to copy files from one disk to another.
At the top, left corner of the screen you will find the "Read from drive". This is the drive that files will be deleted from or copied from. To change this drive hold down [CTRL] and press the letter for the drive that you want to read from. When you change the read from drive the program will read that drive.
Also near the top, left corner of the screen you will find the "Write to drive". This is the drive that your files will be copied to. To change this drive just press the letter for the drive that you want to copy to.
Delete files.
The programs "TEST", "QUIZ", "QREADER", "INSTALL" and the documents
"INSTRUCT" and "TESTDOC" cannot be deleted by this program. To delete any other
file listed, use the arrow keys to move the light bar to the file you wish to
delete and press [DELETE]. After pressing [DELETE] you will be asked to press
[F4] to confirm the deletion.
Copying files.
All files listed can be copied. To copy a file, use the arrow keys to move
the light bar to the file you wish to copy and press [TAB] to mark the file. An
"*" will appear before the file name to mark the file. If you press [TAB] on a
file already marked, that file will be unmarked and the "*" will vanish. As you
can see, in figure 39, "QUIZ" and "CHAP11" have been marked for copying. This
is how you make a "Quiz" disk.
Read from drive C: Write to drive A: |
Hold down [CTRL] to select "Read from" drive [DELETE] deletes file. [F1] begins copying. [TAB] marks file for copying [ESC] quits |
Programs Quizzes Quizzes Quizzes Quizzes Quizzes Quizzes | |
If the "Write to drive" does not have enough space available you will be warned. If you are copying files that have the same file name as files already on the "Write to drive" then the new files will overwrite the old files. You may wish to try the copy anyway.
It is important to use this program to copy files from one disk to another because for the programs to find the files, they must be in the proper directories. If you wish to copy them some other way a sample directory structure is in figure 40. Notice that since they are in different directories, that both "HISTORY" and "MATH" may have a quiz named "MIDTERM".
R|MSDOS.SYS C|CHAP11.QIZ
O|IO.SYS H|CHAP11.SCR
O|COMMAND.COM |-----E|MIDTERM.QIZ
T|TEST.BAT | M|SNAPQUIZ.QIZ
|QUIZ.BAT | |SNAPQUIZ.SCR
D| | D|
I|---------| | I|
R| T|TEST.EXE | R|
| E|QUIZ.EXE |
S|QREADER.EXE |
T|TESTDOC.DOC | M|CHAP3.SCR
E|INSTALL.BAT | A|MIDTERM.QIZ
R|CHEM.TST------| T|CHAP3.QIZ
|INSTRUCT.DOC H|MYQUIZ.QIZ
D|MERGE.MRG |TESTQUIZ.QIZ
I|MATH.TST------------D|
R|MATH.BAT I|
|MATH.DOC R|
|
.EXE = Program .SCR = Scores .DOC = Document .QIZ = Quiz .TST = Question list .MRG = Merge file |
360K Disks (5 1/4" low density)
1st disk TEST, INSTALL
2nd disk TEST, INSTALL
3rd disk QREADER, INSTALL
4th disk TESTDOC, INSTALL
5th disk QUIZ, INSTRUCT,
INSTALL, Questions
|
This program runs best when in the \TESTER directory. If the program asks, always allow it to make a \TESTER directory.
This program supports ALL printers by having almost NO printer support at all. Every printer can "grind out" text. Some printers have several "modes", the one we need to use here may be called "text" or "data processing" mode on your printer. This will print out one letter after another on a line and one line of print under another, forever.
However it will not print graphics, underline, change fonts, proportionally space letters or do other neat-o stuff. To do that you must send to a printer "control codes" or graphic data (even for text), AND EACH PRINTER USES DIFFERENT CONTROL CODES! That's why when you install a new printer on your system you must also install a new printer driver for your software, the printer driver contains the control codes and formatting information for your printer.
Why don't I write some printer drivers? 1. There are thousands of printers and I would have to write drivers for every one of them to make sure that I wrote one for you. 2. To write and debug the drivers I would have to HAVE every kind of printer, want to donate yours?
PRINTER SETUP
The only printer control this program offers is to set the number of lines
that will be printed on each page for the top margin, text, and bottom margin.
It is important to choose correctly otherwise the text on each page will
begin on the page higher or lower on following pages.
Printers that use fan-fold paper (a long continous sheet, perforated every 11 inches, with feed holes on both edges) will generally use 3 lines for each margin and 60 lines of text.
Printers that use single sheet paper (laser or ink jet) will generally use 0 lines for margins and 60 lines of text. The printer will provide the top and bottom margins automatically.
If your printer is set to accept input from a page description language program, like Aldus Pagemaker, then it is set to accept graphic data from your computer that it will then convert into text. Since this program sends text to your printer this will not work. You must switch your printer over to a text or data processing mode.
SPECIAL NEWS BULLETINS
The user's guide for this program can only be printed with 58 - 66 lines of
text. An attempt to print the user's guide with 51 - 57 lines of text will
print with 58 lines. You may set the margins 0-3.
Previous versions of this program (up to 5.08) had a printer setup that would only allow you to choose between LASER and LINE settings. Question lists and quizzes prepared by an old version will load into this current version however the printer setup will be invalid. When first loading a question list into this new version you must enter a new printer setup. Old quizzes should have a new printer setup entered by using "Manage a Quiz" or by recompiling the quiz.
WARNING!!! A question list or quiz prepared by this new version of the program will cause a fatal error (the program will die) if you attempt to load it into version 5.08 or earlier. However you may change the new printer setup to fool the old versions of the program by setting the current printer setup to 2-55-0 (old style LINE) or 3-55-0 (old style LASER).
PRINTER ERRORS
If you are printing, or are about to, and a printer error occurs you will
be shown the "printer error screen". There are 8 basic errors.
1) You don't have a printer. Don't laugh, if you are in a room with many computers and printers, are you sure that any of the printers are hooked up to your computer?
2) Printer is turned off. Is the "Power" light on?
3) Printer is off line or not selected. Look for an indicator on your printer that says "Ready", "Line", "Selected", or "Sel". If the light is off, hit the button.
4) Printer is unplugged. Is the "Power" light on?
5) Printer is out of paper. Put some in.
6) Cable to printer is unconnected. Check the plugs at both ends.
7) Wrong comm. port. There are several connectors at the back of your computer. Your printer data could be being sent to the wrong port. If other programs will also not print have a tech person check the ports.
8) Quick printer error trap is bad. See next section.
If you can fix the printer error press [1] to try again, if you can't, press [2] to cancel the print job. Press [3] only after reading the next section.
QUICK PRINTER ERROR
When this program is about to send data to your printer it will ask the
printer if it is ready. The printer will send back a number. If it is ready a
printer will usually send back number 223. If another number comes back the
program will stop and display the "Printer error" screen. The number your
printer is currently sending will be displayed in the upper right corner.
Some printer / computer combinations will use a different number for "ready". To see if yours does, when the "Printer error" screen shows, check your system, and if everything is alright press [3] to turn off the quick printer error trap. If the printer prints then you are getting the wrong number for "ready".
There are two things you can do. 1) Hit [3] the first time you see the "Printer error" screen, once off it will stay off until you exit the program but it will still detect an actual error if it occurs, it just takes longer.
2) Reprogram to accept a different number. To do this, from the main menu press [F1] for "Program printer code." You will be shown the code that your printer is currently returning and the code that this program is currently accepting as "ready".
If they do not match check to see that your printer is actually ready to print. Is it turned on, does it have paper, is it on line or selected, cables OK, etc? If it is not ready then get it ready and then press [1] to reread the printer's code.
If the codes still do not match then press [2] to reprogram Harris Test's printer ready code to match the code that your printer is currently sending. Pressing [3] will reprogram Harris Test to once again use the default code of 223 as the printer ready code.
If you or the program makes an error in most cases the program will display an "Error message" to tell you what went wrong. Sometimes the program does not know what went wrong, or does not even know that anything is wrong and is happily having electronic hallucinations. And sometimes you and the program will not agree on what is supposed to be happening. To help you, (and the program) through these difficult situations please read the following.
1. Program does not show you the question lists on the disk and asks you to
make a new file.
At the "Welcome to Harris Test" screen did you select the correct drive? Is
the correct disk in the drive? Is the current directory the one containing your
questions?
2. Cannot type lowercase letters.
File names, passwords, and some other data can only be entered in uppercase.
3. Question does not format correctly or program dies when trying to display
question.
Are answer identifiers, ie; A}, B}, C}, etc., in uppercase? Is there a
space in front of them? Are there curvy brackets "}" in the question or answers
that are not part of the answer identifiers? Did you use "[" or "]"? Is there a
number other than 0 set for essay lines?
4. Will not print "Correct answer".
Are "Print Multiple Choice answers" and "Print correct answers" both set to
"YES"?
5. "Auto select range." did not select a question.
Is question blank? If you are making a quiz, have you set a "Correct
answer" for that question?
6. Cannot "Jump to question".
Is question number higher than the last question in your list?
7. "View questions selected" does not display any questions.
Are any questions selected?
8. Prints lines instead of multiple choice answers.
Are the "Essay lines" for this question set to a number other than "0"?
Does the question have multiple choice answers? Is "Print Multiple Choice
answers" set to "YES"?
9. Does not print multiple choice answers.
Are the "Essay lines" for this question set to a number other than "0"?
Does this question have multiple choice answers? Is "Print Multiple Choice
answers" set to "YES"?
10. Only uses some of the questions selected.
Is "Use n questions of those selected." set to "0"?
11. Does not number questions from "1".
Is Number questions sequentially set to "YES"?
12. Cannot get "Time limit / Question" to work on quiz.
If you can review your answers, and thereby answer them again, there is no
point to having a time limit. If time runs out, you can just go back to that
question. Therefore to set a time limit, "Review your answers" must be "NO".
13. Cannot change my answer to quiz question.
If "Show correct answer" is set to YES you cannot change your answer to a
question once it has been answered even if you go back to that question.
14. Quiz management will not print access numbers.
This quiz does not have any access numbers.
15. Quiz will not accept correct access number.
Access number has been used. To check, use quiz management to printout
access numbers. If number is negative, number has been used.
16 Screen displays "INCORRECT DOS VERSION" or "COMMAND INTERPRETER MISSING
OR BAD"
The most probable cause is that you have someone else's copy of
"COMMAND.COM" on your disk.
17 Text drifts up or down on subsequent printed pages, or no top or bottom
margins.
From "Printer setup" change the values for the top and bottom margins or
text lines per page. Less if the text drifts down, more if the text drifts up.
18. Does not print footnotes.
Does question have footnotes. Footnotes cannot be printed on a test. When
printing questions, footnotes will only be printed when "Print Multiple Choice
answers" and "Print correct answers" are both "YES". On a quiz, footnotes
appear only after the question is answered and then only if "Show correct
answer" is "YES".
19. Will not print on printer.
If you are shown the "Printer Error" message and there is nothing wrong
with your printer, the problem may lie with the program. Before your document
begins printing, the program asks the printer if it is ready. Some printers
will return the wrong code even if it is ready. To bypass this, choose the
"Turn off quick printer error" function when the printer error message is
displayed. Once this function is turned off it will remain off until you exit
the program or turn it back on. While the "quick" printer error function is
off, the program will still detect an actual printer error.
20. Cannot print user's guide with less than 58 lines of text.
While you can use printer setup to set text lines to 51 to 66 lines, the
user's guide requires at least 58 text lines per page to print. All other areas
or the program will print from 51 to 66 text lines.
21. Cannot load quiz file into a spread sheet program
The file made by "Take a quiz" or "Harris Quiz" cannot be loaded into a
spread sheet. "Quiz management" will use the quiz score file to make another
file that is loadable into a spread sheet program.
22. F11 and F12 keys.
Some computers do not have F11 or F12 keys which are required by some parts
of the program. Some Tandy computer F11 and F12 keys will do nothing. To
simulate F11 hold down the CTRL key and press F1. To simulate F12 use CTRL /
F2.
23. While making a quiz, program says that it cannot find a document or
graphic.
To find a document or graphic the program must know it's PATH. The PATH is
the directory your document or graphic is in. From either the screen where you
type in questions or from any screen where you may select questions, press
CTRL/F4 to load the "document/graphic viewer". Now enter the PATH and press
[F1] to save it.
24. The unknown.
The above are mistakes that I have made. I know that some of these errors
are stupid, but when I am writing software at 3:00 AM I get pretty stupid. If
you find a new error please let me know, and I will add it to the list. I may
even fix the program so that it cannot happen again. Or not.
Thanks,
Dale Harris