02/17/94

                           The Test Generator

Thomas B. Wiggers
528 Cliffview Drive 
Brandon, Ms. 39042


The Test Generator is compatible with all  MS-DOS Compatible computers having a color monitor, at
least 512K RAM, and operating with DOS 3.0 or higher.  Test Generator will allow an instructor to store
a bank of test questions from which examinations may subsequently be prepared. Questions may be
randomly or specifically selected, and a key is printed with each examination.  Additionally, questions
may be retrieved in such a fashion that the student may take the examination at the computer, with the
computer performing scoring of questions presented.  Space is provided for storage of references to
questions, should the instructor desire.  All Test Generator options are menu controlled, and should be
self-explanatory.  Initial set-up and general instructions follow:

Prior to Startup:   Copy the Test Generator files from your Distribution Diskettes to the Path and
                    Directory you wish to use on your computer.


Startup of the programs: 

     2 Disk Drive System-     Place the working diskette in drive A and a blank, formatted diskette in
                              Drive B to serve as the Data Disk. Turn on the computer, or "Boot" the
                              system.  At the A> prompt type  "TESTGEN" and press Return.

     Hard Disk System-   At the C> prompt, from the subdirectory containing the Test Generator
                         programs type "TESTGEN" & press Return.  The program will run
                         automatically. If you have included a "PATH=" command as part of your
                         "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file that specifies the Test Generator subdirectory,
                         you do not have to change to that subdirectory prior to typing
                         "TESTGEN"

 
General Notes on Operation: 

1.   When prompted for filenames, use any "legal" DOS filename (see DOS manual).  The pathname
     specified for disk files may be either a hard disk subdirectory (i.e. C:\testfiles) or a floppy drive
     (A:, B:).  Do not type the backslash for a root directory (A:\), just the drive letter designator and
     colon is all that is necessary. 

2.   Test Generator should work with any printer which prints 10 or 12 cpi, and 80 characters per line. 
     No special printer initialization is necessary. 

3.   The programs have been designed so that unexpected errors will be presented in the form of an
     error message stating: "Error X has occurred.Press a Key" Where X is a number.  The meanings
     of the error codes may be found in the MS-DOS BASIC Reference manual.  Normal error
     messages, such as "Drive Not Ready" are indicated as such.

4.   Several example question files are provided with the programs.  These all have the suffix
     ".MCH", and may be moved to a data disk or deleted once they have been viewed. 

5.   All Test Generator question files have the extension ".MCH" appended to the filename.  This
     should facilitate finding them later, especially if they reside on a hard disk which is not divided   
     into subdirectories. The .MCH suffix must NOT be typed by the user as it is appended
     automatically by the programs.

6.   Numbers of files, number of questions per file, and size of the database is limited only by the
     size/capacity of the storage media.  The maximum size of a single test is 200 questions.


 MENU OPTIONS EXPLANATION & FUNCTIONS


                                MAIN MENU

1.   Database Entry Edit|Test Creation| Set Path

     This option takes the user to the Editor Submenu.  This submenu is used for all entry, printing,
and test generation functions, as well as the set path function to inform the program about the location of
the data files.


2.   Database Repair

     This selection is used when or if a datafile becomes corrupted.  To use this option you MUST
know the exact number of questions that exist in the file.  The option can repair most corrupted datafiles
with minimal, if any loss of data.

3.   File Duplicates Elimination

     Use this option for long files in which there might be several identical questions.  The program
performs a question for question comparison, and eliminates any duplicates.  The original file is left
intact, and a new file is created with the filename extension ".DPK".  The original file may be deleted or
moved, and the ".DPK" file may be renamed with a ".MCH" extension.


5.   Exit to DOS

     Selection of this option terminates the program and returns the user to DOS.  Confirmation of all
menu selections including this one is always provided for prior to execution.

 
                         QUESTION EDITOR SUBMENU

1.   Enter New Questions to Files

     Allows entry of new questions to database.  New files are created automatically as needed.  Word
wrap at ends of lines is performed when the ENTER key is pressed.  Questions and Distractors are stored
automatically.

2.   Display Questions

     Selection of this option allows printing the question database to a printer or displaying the
questions on the monitor.  Questions are displayed exactly as they will be printed on the examination.

3.   Edit Existing Questions

     Allows revision of existing questions.  You must know the filename of the question you wish to
edit, as well as the number of the question in the file.  This information is provided when the questions are
entered, displayed or printed, and may optionally be printed on an examination.

4.   Rearrange Existing File Questions

     Allows the selection of multiple specific or random questions from several files and the writing of
all these questions to a new database file.  The original files are left intact and undisturbed, and the new
file(s) contain all of the selected questions in Test Generator Database format.  The new file(s) can then
be renamed as necessary.  If this option is run multiple times without renaming or 

moving the new file from the data disk or PATH, all subsequent question selections are APPENDED to
the file.  If files are to be restructured according to question difficulty, a set of three new files is created
and named according to the following convention:

  Leftmost 6 characters of filename specified + LD + .MCH   TAX 1 Questions
                                                  (Low Difficulty)
  Leftmost 6 characters of filename specified + MD + .MCH   TAX 2 Questions
                                                  (Moderate Difficulty)
  Leftmost 6 characters of filename specified + HD + .MCH   TAX 1 Questions
                                                  (High Difficulty)

If a taxonomic level is not specified for a question in the source file, you are prompted to enter the
taxonomic level before the question is moved.


5.   Prepare Examination

     Question selection may be Specific, with specific questions from specific files retrieved for
printing, or they may be random, with "X" number of random questions retrieved from file "Y".  Or
an examination may be any combination of these two choices.  There is a maximum limit of 200
questions per examination.  Optionally, file and taxonomic information may be printed for each question
on the examination.  This would include the FILENAME from which the question was retrieved, the
QUESTION NUMBER of the question within the file, and the TAXONOMIC LEVEL
(Taxonomy=Difficulty Level)
     Once the examination is printed, a key may then be printed for the examination by selection of
the K)ey menu option.


6.   Exit to DOS

     Terminates the program and returns to DOS.

7.   Change Current Path from "  X   "

     Questions may be stored in any location on floppy disks or on hard drives.  The program defaults
for question storage on Drive A:, and for the programs to be stored on Hard Disk C:, however, the path
may be changed to any drive or directory.  Once changed, the new default path remains in effect until the
program is terminated.

8.   Exit to MAIN MENU

     Returns the user to the MAIN MENU screen without exiting to DOS.

 
Any problems or questions should be addressed to: 

Thomas Wiggers
528 Cliffview Drive, 
Brandon, Ms. 39042

tel:      day     (601)984-6309 
        night     (601) 992-1373 collect.   

The programs carry a lifetime guarantee, and are NOT copy protected.  They MAY NOT be transferred or
given to another party.  Since the programs are being routinely updated and improved, any constructive
suggestions will be appreciated.


program.wp5
February 21, 1994