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CREATE A QUIZ Version 1.0 Description: CREATE A QUIZ is a simple yet comprehensive program that can be used to create and take multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes. This one program can be used by both the teacher and student. Teachers can create on-screen quizzes that can be used by students, or create hardcopy quizzes if a printer is available. Special features: A) Pop-up menus, mouse support, full line text editing capabilities make using CREATE A QUIZ simple and fun. B) Both multiple-choice and fill-in-the blank questions can be used in the same quiz. C) Quizzes and/or questions can be printed out in several formats to meet the needs of both teacher and student. The solutions to each question can be suppressed or displayed on a printout. Students can receive an echo printout of each question they take on- screen. Teachers can review their database of questions by printing out all the questions or by defining a range (from # to #) to print. D) Several command line instructions allow the program to be "fine-tuned" by a teacher to meet the needs of a student. These command line instructions can force a student to answer "x" number of questions before they are permitted to exit the program. Or the teacher can set up a time limit for the student where after "x" number of minutes have elapsed the program will quit. E) Progress charts are kept for each quiz that will record the best 10 students' quiz results. This is an excellent way for a teacher to track the progress of a student. A separate progress chart is maintained for each quiz created. F) Up to 9 students can participate in the same quiz at a time. Great for contests! G) Businesses and organizations can use a command line instruction that will turn CREATE A QUIZ into a stand-alone display for customers or prospects. This can make a great advertising tool and counter display, testing a prospect's knowledge of your product. The program will even prompt each user for his name, address and phone number that can be retrieved later for follow- ups. H) The quizzes that are created can be password protected and encrypted to prevent students from altering a teacher's questions. Requirements: No special requirements are necessary for most computers. A DOS version of 3.0 or higher is necessary (although it is possible that some 2.x versions will work, but not guaranteed). The program can be used on both monochrome and color monitors. A printer is the only option that is required IF you wish to create quiz printouts. To start: To start the program type ---> QUIZ then press the [ENTER] or [RETURN] key at the DOS prompt. The program will load itself into memory in seconds. After an opening screen or two, a Main Menu will appear. Menus: Selections from the Main Menu (or any menu) can be made by moving the highlighted bar to the selection of your choice, then pressing the [ENTER] or [RETURN] key. Selections also can be made by pressing the corresponding first letter for each option in the menu list. If you press the [ESC] key instead, the user will be taken to the previous menu (if any). To create a quiz: From the Main Menu the user can create a NEW quiz by choosing the "Create a quiz" selection. The user will then be prompted for a filename, under which all questions will be stored to disk. The filename entered will automatically receive the extension ".QZ". Do NOT enter the ".QZ" extension! Pressing the [ESC] key at this filename prompt will take the user back to the Main Menu. After a new filename has been entered, the user must give the quiz a title and description, and may elect to enter their name as the quiz creator. Once this preliminary information has been entered the user will be prompted to enter a question. Questions can be up to four lines in length. You can move from one question line to another by using the cursor control keys (the keys with the up and down arrows), or by using the [ENTER] key. To move to the answer field, press the [F10] function key. This key will cause the input prompt to leave the question field, allowing the user to enter possible answers to the previous question. Should the user need to jump back to the previous question to make any necessary changes then press the [F9] function key. Pressing the [F10] function key from the answer field will instruct the program to continue to the next step (if any). Multiple choice questions: The multiple choice question format is the default format when you enter questions. Each multiple choice question can have up to 5 possible answer choices and as few as 2. After entering the desired number of answer choices, the quiz creator must verify which of the possible answers is in fact the correct answer. This verification step will display the question and possible answers in a play screen. After verifying the correct solution, the user can proceed on to the next question entry if they so desire. Fill-in-the-blank questions: Fill-in-the-blank questions are different from multiple choice questions in that only one possible answer can be entered. The way CREATE A QUIZ distinguishes between a multiple choice question and a fill-in-the-blank question is that the latter has an UNDERSCORE "_" character (ASCII 95) somewhere in the question. This underscore character is NOT to be confused with a "dash" or "hyphen". If an underscore character exists ANYWHERE in the question, then that question automatically becomes a fill-in-the-blank question, and will as a result accept only one answer when the time comes to input an answer when creating the quiz. You can enter one "_" underscore by itself or a string of underscores (e.g., "______"). The result is the same - one word will be prompted for during the quiz. The following are acceptable in creating a fill-in- the-blank question: George _ was the first president of the United States. George Washington was the first _____ of the United States. Name the first president of the United States?: __ Keep in mind the difference in formats between multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions: "DECEMBER 25 IS:" This will result in a multiple- choice question. "DECEMBER 25 IS _" This will result in a fill-in- the-blank question. Edit a quiz: If the user wishes to modify, change, or add a question to an existing .QZ quiz file, then select the "Edit a quiz" option from the Main Menu. This feature will permit the user to change any question or answer that had been previously entered. If the user has dozens or hundreds of questions in a .QZ file, and wishes to edit just one question, but is uncertain as to its position in the file, the user can "list" all the questions in the file quickly by pressing the [L] key. A pop-up menu list will appear that will list all the questions in sequential order. If more questions exist than can appear in the menu, use the cursor control keys to scroll down the menu list. Once the question is located in the menu, press [ENTER] and that question and its corresponding answers will be displayed in their entirety. Press the [C] key to make any necessary "changes". Note: Once a question has been entered as a "fill-in- the-blank" type question, it is possible from within the program to convert it to a multiple-choice question. To make the switch, remove the "_" underscore character. This will allow the user to add the usual five possible answer choices. You can also make the switch from an existing multiple-choice to a fill-in-the-blank question by simply inserting an "_" underscore character anywhere in the question itself. Quiz printouts: There are two ways to obtain printed quizzes using CREATE A QUIZ: 1) Before taking an actual quiz, the user can select the "Print quiz:" choice from the "Take/use a quiz" sub- menu. Once the "Print quiz:" option is toggled "ON", all questions that are displayed on the screen during the course of the quiz will also be echoed to a printer attached to port LPT1: The solutions to these printed quizzes will appear after every two pages of questions. 2) From the "Create a quiz" and "Edit a quiz" selections from the Main Menu, the user can press the [P] key to print a range of questions. The quiz creator can then enter the beginning question number and the ending question number. This range will then be sent to the printer. The quiz creator also has the option of displaying the correct answer on these printouts, or to suppress the correct answer. Correct answers are marked by an asterisk symbol "*". Repeat errors: Before taking a quiz, the user can select the "Repeat errors:" option from the "Take/use a quiz" sub- menu. When the "Repeat errors:" option is toggled "ON", then questions that have been answered incorrectly will be saved into memory and recalled at random during the remainder of the quiz session. Scoreboard: When a user has finished with a quiz and wishes to exit to DOS, their score will be entered into a scoreboard file and then displayed on the screen in a "Top-Ten" chart if they have one of the ten best records for that quiz. Each quiz that you create has its own scoreboard ".SCB" file. For example, if you have a student using a quiz named "MUSIC.QZ" then the student's quiz results will be kept in "MUSIC.SCB" as he finishes the quiz. Command line options: The "command line" refers to what was typed at the DOS prompt before loading CREATE A QUIZ into memory. For example, if your CREATE A QUIZ disk is located in drive A:, your screen should display "A>QUIZ" before you press the [ENTER] key to begin the program. "A>QUIZ" can be referred to as the "command line". Additional text can be appended to the command line after the key word "QUIZ" that will instruct CREATE A QUIZ to perform certain functions not available through the menu selections. QUIZ filename.QZ If a name of an existing .QZ file is added on the command line after the key word "QUIZ", then that .QZ file will be automatically read and used to quiz the user/ student. In such cases the "Main Menu" will be skipped, and the student will be greeted with a prompt to enter his name, followed by the quiz. In the above example replace the word "filename" with the actual name of the quiz you wish to use. If your quiz is called "MATH.QZ" then you must enter "QUIZ MATH.QZ" on the command line before running the program. An example of this command line option in action can be seen by using or viewing the "QUIZ1.BAT" file on this disk. QUIZ filename.QZ RESTRICT The additional word "RESTRICT" on the command line will prevent the student/user from reaching the "Main Menu". This is useful if you have given the program disk to a student and have created a batch file to force the student to use a particular quiz, but you do not want the student to gain access to the "Main Menu" where he may be able to change your questions or answers, or peek and cheat. QUIZ STOPAT=x The above "STOPAT=" command line option can be used to force CREATE A QUIZ to stop and return to DOS after "x" number of questions have been attempted by the student. You can replace the "x" with any positive number that you wish. For instance, "QUIZ STOPAT=2", "quiz stopat=150", "QUIZ stopat=9000" are all acceptable command line instructions. Do NOT forget to separate the key word "QUIZ" and the "STOPAT=" option with a space! If the user wishes to see an example of a .BAT file with this option at work then see the "QUIZ2.BAT" file on this disk. QUIZ TIMEOUT=x The above "TIMEOUT=" command line option can be used to force CREATE A QUIZ to stop and return to DOS after "x" number of minutes have elapsed since the first question was attempted by the student. You can replace the "x" with any positive number that you wish. For instance, "QUIZ TIMEOUT=5" will cause the program to end after 5 minutes of play have elapsed. An example of this command line option in action can be seen in the "QUIZ3.BAT" file on this disk. Command line instructions can be combined or placed in any order. In other words, the following command line instructions are all acceptable: QUIZ TIMEOUT=10 STOPAT=100 The command line instructions above will cause the program to end after 10 minutes of play have elapsed or 100 questions have been attempted, whichever comes first. QUIZ filename.QZ DISPLAY The above command line instructions force CREATE A QUIZ into a continuous loop using "filename.QZ". When a player is prompted for his name, the program will insist that the user input his FULL name, AND address, city, state, zip and phone number before they can participate in the quiz specified by "filename.QZ". This "DISPLAY" command line instruction (with .QZ file) turns CREATE A QUIZ into an excellent sales or promotional tool for businesses and organizations. For example, a company that specializes in selling and installing home water filters can create a "WATER.QZ" file that presents several questions that tests a prospective client's knowledge of tap water, chlorine, heavy metals, cost comparisons, etc. If CREATE A QUIZ has been started with the "WATER.QZ DISPLAY" command line instructions, then WATER.QZ will be presented to each client that approaches the company's computer display. Each user's name and address are stored in a file called "USER.LST". The "USER.LST" file can later be retrieved and used to print out mailing labels or possible client list. Should you wonder how to stop CREATE A QUIZ from looping into eternity in the "DISPLAY" mode, enter "GOODBYE" when the input window prompts for a user's full name. Of course you could reboot your computer, but that's not very graceful... Disclaimer: The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the quality of performance of this program. The author will not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of CREATE A QUIZ. Your use of the program constitutes your agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the author from any form of liability or litigation. Shareware and distribution: CREATE A QUIZ is being distributed as shareware. Shareware is a "try before you buy" software marketing concept that allows the user to obtain fully functional copies of programs for evaluation. The distribution and copying fee that you may have paid to obtain this disk does not cover the cost of the software contained on this disk. Shareware programs such as the one that you are about to try require separate payment to the author if it is found to be a useful product and if it is used beyond a reasonable evaluation period. Individuals can make copies of this program and pass them on to friends and acquaintances as long as the program is NOT sold and the concept of shareware is made known to them. Commercial distributors and vendors should contact the author BEFORE distributing CREATE A QUIZ publicly. Contact the author with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Distributors and vendors who wish to receive the latest unregistered version of CREATE A QUIZ can do so by contacting the author AND SUBMITTING A COPY OF THEIR PRODUCT CATALOG. Site licenses: Businesses, groups and schools must obtain a site license for CREATE A QUIZ. Teachers who plan on making more than one copy of their registered version of CREATE A QUIZ must likewise obtain a site license. Contact the author for more details. Program Author: Philip Kapusta P.O. Box 5423 Falmouth, Va. 22403 Other programs: If you are interested in other programs written by the author, a demo disk and catalog is available. Most of our programs are family or Bible oriented and very affordable. Mail five U.S. first class postage stamps to cover materials and shipping to the above address, and request a demo disk and catalog, and specify disk size format desired. .QZ quiz collection and offer: As a service to you, a collection of .QZ files will be maintained that can be purchased or exchanged. Each .QZ file will contain a minimum of 125 questions. Here is how the service works: 1) For every .QZ file mailed to the author the user will receive a voucher to receive one .QZ file in exchange. 2) A database disk of all .QZ files can be obtained once a user has mailed in five .QZ files or more. Or the database disk listing all available .QZ files can be obtained separately in exchange for six U.S. first class postage stamps. Specify disk format desired. 3) Individual .QZ files can be purchased if the user does not wish to exchange or mail in their .QZ files. 4) Only .QZ files that have a MINIMUM of 125 questions are eligible for inclusion into the database collection. All .QZ files must contain your name, quiz title, and quiz description (these are automatically entered as you create each .QZ file within CREATE A QUIZ). Only .QZ files with useful educational questions are permitted. We will not accept trash! All .QZ files are scanned and anything vulgar or objectionable will be refused. Here is just a sample of acceptable .QZ file subjects: automotive, business, foreign language, vocabulary, math, religion, computer, environment, music, nutrition, trivia, financial, history, sports, politics, current events. The list can go on and on... But again, NOTHING VULGAR OR OBJECTIONABLE. These .QZ files MUST be WHOLESOME and USEFUL. 5) .QZ files sent to us on a disk MUST INCLUDE SUFFICIENT RETURN POSTAGE or else we will not be obligated to return your voucher or exchange .QZ files. This is a service, not a charity! We will, however, provide the return envelope. Your feedback: We welcome all feedback - positive and negative. We will consider your suggestions for future program enhancements. If you desire a reply, enclose a self- addressed stamped envelope when writing.