lang/en_utf8/help/quiz/import.html

   1 <h1>Importing new questions</h1>
   2
   3 <p>This function allows you to import questions from
   4    external text files, uploaded through a form,
   5    or by choosing a suitable file already in the
   6    course Files area.  </p>
   7
   8 <h2>A note about character encodings</h2>
   9
  10 <p>If your file contains non-ascii characters then it must use UTF-8 encoding.
  11    You may be able to select or convert to UTF-8 using your favourite editor,
  12    or it may be an option in the exporting software.
  13    Be particularly cautious with files generated by Microsoft Office applications,
  14    as these commonly use special encoding which will not be handled correctly.
  15    XML based import formats will be handled
  16    automatically provided your Moodle server is running PHP 5.</p>
  17
  18 <p>A number of file formats are supported:</p>
  19
  20 <h2>GIFT format</h2>
  21 <ul>
  22 <p>GIFT is the most comprehensive import format available for importing
  23    Moodle quiz questions from a text file.  It was designed to be an easy
  24    method for teachers writing questions as a text file. It supports Multiple-Choice,
  25    True-False, Short Answer, Matching and Numerical questions, as well as insertion
  26    of a _____ for the "missing word" format.  Various question-types can be
  27    mixed in a single text file, and the format also supports line comments, question names,
  28    feedback and percentage-weight grades.  Below are some examples:</p>
  29 <pre>
  30 Who's buried in Grant's tomb?{~Grant ~Jefferson =no one}
  31
  32 Grant is {~buried =entombed ~living} in Grant's tomb.
  33
  34 Grant is buried in Grant's tomb.{FALSE}
  35
  36 Who's buried in Grant's tomb?{=no one =nobody}
  37
  38 When was Ulysses S. Grant born?{#1822}
  39 </pre>
  40
  41 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formatgift.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "GIFT" format</a></p>
  42 </ul>
  43
  44 <h2>Aiken Format</h2>
  45 <ul>
  46 <p>This is a simple format for importing multiple choice questions from a text file.</p>
  47 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formataiken.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "Aiken" format</a></p>
  48 </ul>
  49
  50 <h2>Moodle XML format</h2>
  51 <ul>
  52 <p>This Moodle specific format imports quiz questions that have previously been
  53 exported in the same format. The format is straightforward and is best demonstrated
  54 by exporting a category in the Moodle XML format. The XML format is capabable of
  55 importing image files.
  56 </p>
  57 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formatxml.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "Moodle XML" format</a></p>
  58 </ul>
  59
  60 <h2>Missing Word</h2>
  61 <ul>
  62 <p>This format only supports multiple choice questions and
  63 short answer question, depending on the number of answers. One
  64 answer generates a short answer question, two or more answers
  65 generate a multiple choice question.
  66 Each answer is separated with a tilde (~), and the correct answer is
  67 prefixed with an equals sign (=).  Here is an example of a multiple
  68 choice question:</p>
  69
  70 <blockquote>As soon as we begin to explore our body parts as infants
  71 we become students of {=anatomy and physiology ~reflexology
  72 ~science ~experiment}, and in a sense we remain students for life.
  73 </blockquote>
  74
  75 <p>Here is an example of a short answer question:</p>
  76
  77 <blockquote>As soon as we begin to explore our body parts as infants
  78  we become students of {=anatomy and physiology},
  79  and in a sense we remain students for life.
  80 </blockquote>
  81
  82 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formatmissingword.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "Missing Word" format</a></p>
  83 </ul>
  84
  85 <h2>Blackboard</h2>
  86 <ul>
  87 <p>This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's "POOL" type export
  88 format.  It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP.
  89 Note that you must first unpack the exported zip file and provide Moodle
  90 with the appropriate .dat file.
  91 Note that this version <strong>does not</strong> work with Blackboard
  92 Version 6 and newer.</p>
  93 </ul>
  94
  95 <h2>Blackboard V6+</h2>
  96 <ul>
  97 <p>This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's export
  98 format. It provides limited support for Blackboard Version 6 and
  99 7. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP. You
 100 must upload the zip file exported from Blackboard.</p>
 101 </ul>
 102
 103
 104 <h2>WebCT</h2>
 105 <ul>
 106 <p>This module can import questions saved in WebCT's text-based format.</p>
 107
 108 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formatwebct.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "WebCT" format</a></p>
 109 </ul>
 110
 111
 112 <h2>Course Test Manager</h2>
 113 <ul>
 114 <p>This module can import questions saved in a Course Test Manager test bank.
 115 It relies on different ways of accessing the test bank, which is in a Microsoft Access
 116 database, depending on whether Moodle is running on a Windows or Linux web server.</p>
 117 <p>On Windows it lets you upload the access database just like any other data import file.</p>
 118 <p>On Linux, you must set up a windows machine on the same network with the Course Test
 119 Manager database and a piece of software called the ODBC Socket Server, which uses XML
 120 to transfer data to moodle on the Linux server.</p>
 121 <p>Please read the full help file below before
 122 using this import class.</p>
 123
 124
 125 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=formatctm.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "CTM" format</a></p>
 126 </ul>
 127
 128
 129
 130 <h2>Embedded answers (Cloze)</h2>
 131 <ul>
 132 <p>This special purpose format imports just one type of question, the
 133 Embedded Answers (also known as Cloze) format.
 134 </p>
 135
 136 <p align="right"><a href="help.php?file=multianswer.html&amp;module=quiz">More info about the "Cloze" format</a></p>
 137 </ul>
 138
 139 <h2>Learnwise format</h2>
 140 <ul>
 141 <p>This format can import multiple choice questions saved in Learnwise's XML
 142 format.</p>
 143 </ul>
 144
 145 <h2>Examview format</h2>
 146 <ul>
 147 <p>This format can import from Examview 4 XML files. Note that the older
 148 versions of Examview are not supported.</p>
 149 </ul>
 150
 151 <p>Import and Export formats are a pluggable resource. Other optional formats may be available in the
 152    Modules and Plugins database.</p>