Custom question slide won't advance without a score

[TVP_C5944]

Despite having used various forums extensively over the years, this is the first time I've had to resort to posting a question myself - sorry about the length of the post!

I'm running Captivate version 9.0.0.223 on Windows 8.1 (please don't judge!). I am aware that there are bugs with this release, which I guess might be the cause of my problem - I'm trying to get my IT department to install the hotfix. I will be publishing to SWF/HTML5 for use in Moodle.

I am a complete Captivate novice - this is my first project using the software.

I've created a standard non-responsive quiz using custom question slides rather than the master slides and will need the quiz results to be passed to Moodle. Having experimented with trying to do that through the use of user variables, I understand that getting the scores/results to Moodle will require JavaScript (which I don't have time to learn for this project).

Instead, I've now tried a different approach. I realise that this hardly an elegant solution, but I have a number of (smart shape) submit buttons on each slide that are set as 'Include in Quiz', each with a score value attached. The submit button that gets displayed will be the one that corresponds to the score the user achieves (for example if the user scores 2, then the submit button that shows will be the one with a score of 2 attached to it)

So in a straight forward true/false type question, if the user selects the right answer, a submit button appears that has a score of 1 attached to it. Clicking on that button displays a custom feedback object with a 'correct' state shown. Clicking on that object then moves to the next slide.

So far, so good.

The problem comes when the user selects the wrong answer.

In these situations, the user scores zero, but I can't include the button in the quiz with a score value of zero (I don't understand why that is, but it's immaterial), so instead the submit button in this case is not included in the quiz and just displays the same feedback object in an 'incorrect' state.

Now though, when the user clicks on that feedback object, nothing happens. Its only action is 'Go to the next slide'.

It's as if Captivate is saying you can't move on because there is a button included in the quiz which has not been pressed. If I include the submit button in the quiz with a score, it all works - just like the 'correct' submit button does - but this obviously defeats the object of having a wrong answer!

All of the buttons and objects are set to display for the rest of the slide, except for one hidden button which pauses to prevent premature progression.

What am I doing wrong? Let me know if there's anything else I can add...

Thanks in advance,

Ben

[Lilybiri]

Sorry, but you are indeed on a pretty buggy release. 3 patches were offered for 9, present version is 9.0.2.437

I don't understand why, as a newbie, you don't want to use the included question slides? It is perfectly possible to create custom question slides, I have lot of examples on my blog, but those need an in-depth knowledge of system quizzing variables, custom variables, advanced/shared actions. Scored objects can indeed be included in the values reported by the quizzing system variables, but to allow multiple attempts, reset, review, retake functionality you'll need a lot of work. I don't see any mention of an advanced action in your text. This cannot be solved only with adding scored buttons or other interactive objects/widgets.

[TVP_C5944]

Thank you for the prompt response.

The main reason for not using the built-in slides was because I need to include 'fill in the blank' questions that use multiple dropdowns and scoring for each one (i.e. a paragraph with three dropdowns worth a point each) which isn't, as I understand it, possible with the built-in slides. I'm also have a specific aesthetic that I want to achieve that I was struggling to replicate in the standard question slides.

I can get the quiz to work using user variables to record the scores, but as you say, the difficulty kicks in with those other parameters.

I am indeed using advanced conditional actions to facilitate all this (I'm new to Captivate, but not to the concept of macros which is broadly the same thing) - apologies for not making that clear.

The actions use user variables to store the status of the clickable options and therefore work out what the score should be. Then, based on that score, it shows the relevant submit button that corresponds with that score.

Is it your view then that this problem is most likely to be due to the bugs, or might there be a different reason?

[Lilybiri]

You don't need user variables to have a FIB custom question with partial scoring. Just use scored TEB's for each of the to be filled in fields. That will save you a lot of trouble because those TEB's can be validated. Quizzing system variables are read only, the score of a TEB on Success will automatically be added to the variables, with user variables you will indeed need to use JS.

Have a look at: Using Quizzing System Variables - Captivate blog

Report Custom Questions - part 2 - Captivate blog

I am not sure your problems are due to the bugs fixed with the patches. I could have a look at the advanced actions if you insert them as screenshots.

As for estethics, just edit the quizzing master slides, lot can be done and they are part of the theme.

[TVP_C5944]

Generally, the advanced actions are doing exactly what I want them to do - the question is whether the 'incorrect answer' one is somehow disabling the feedback object's button function... here's the 'incorrect answer' action:

• varQ3A2Selected is the variable with the answer status: 0 = unselected
• The user can only select one answer, so if the status is already 0 then the answer background for the other option is formatted as 'unselected' (BG_answer_Q3A1 = Normal) and this one is formatted as 'selected' (BG_answer_Q3A1 = Selected_Answer).
• Likewise, the answer status for each (varQ3A1Selected and varQ3A2Selected) are change accordingly (to 0 and 1 respectively)
• varQ3Score is the user variable that stores the score for this question (set to zero here because it is the wrong answer being selected) - that's being used for something else later on.
• Then the two possible Submit buttons are shown/hidden - Submit_Button_Q3_Score1 is hidden because that's the one with a score attached (correct answer).
• The Else section triggers if the user has already selected the answer (varQ3A2Selected = 1). This just deselects the option and resets the various variables and buttons.

Given an incorrect answer, the Submit_Button_Q3Score0 button is shown. Clicking on that triggers this action:

The first part checks whether an option has been selected, and if not briefly displays a warning.

Because this button displays when the wrong answer is selected, the Else block adds the individual question score to a running total variable (again, for use separately later on) before displaying the feedback objects and setting the state for one of them to the 'Incorrect' colour scheme.

This all seems to be working exactly as intended - the feedback objects have a standard 'Go to Next Slide' action which doesn't work unless the correct answer has been selected.

I really hope this makes sense!

[Lilybiri]

Please use the Review button to show a conditional action. It is the first button on the top right control bar.

How will you report the score if you are only using user variables. Everything looks very complicated, and I would need a lot more information to be able to check this. Where is the pausing point of the button, are you sure that the playhead remains in the active paryt of that button?  If I knew what you want to do, is still not clear at all. In one of your previous posts ou talked about a FIB question, but this seems something different.

[TVP_C5944]

I mentioned the FIBs because you asked why I wasn't using the templates, and that was the main reason. I am trying to get this to work on a different, simpler question first before applying it to the others (including the FIBs).

I'm not only using user variables. The scoring comes from clicking on the relevant Submit button which, for a correct answer, is included in the quiz with (in this case) a score of 1. I know that works, because the next slide has a caption on it (for testing purposes) displaying the $$cpQuizInfoPointsscored$$ variable in it.

I'm using user variables for two purposes: as triggers/status' in the advanced actions; and to store the scores for displaying a score breakdown on the final slide so users can remind themselves of where they went wrong (I don't want to provide a Review option).

I appreciate it is complicated (as I said originally, it's hardly an elegant solution), and I appreciate your patience and help.

I'm not clear on whether you wanted me to re-post the screenshots in the desired format, but here they are:

[Lilybiri]

Why? Instead of having to open two images I can now see both THEN and ELSE in one screenshot.  I don't understand that action, whether the var ==0 or not, the score is always set to 0? If the var == 0 you decide to set the answer to Selected. My logical mind gives up.... I don't know what you want to achieve at all. Sorry to repeat my question: how will you transfer the score to the quizzing system variables?

Is this a T/F question or a MCQ with two answers?

Whar about the timeline? Where are the pausing points? They play a crucial role in any interaction.

[TVP_C5944]

I feel your frustration and can only reiterate my gratitude for your continuing patience whilst I try to explain in writing - I can only assure you that it would make more sense if you were sat next to me while I explain!

That action triggers when the user selects the wrong answer, hence the score needs to be zero. The advanced action that triggers when the correct answer is selected is different in that it sets the score to 1 (although that's the only difference in principle).

It is effectively a T/F question - 2 options, only one can be selected (managed by the 'Check for Response' advanced action above).

Would it help if I posted a video showing the problem?

On the timeline, the only pause point is on a hidden button. Currently it's set at 0.5 seconds on a 1 second slide, but I have also tried making the slide longer and having the pause point right at the end, to no avail. But if that were the cause, I would have to wonder why it only happens when the wrong answer is selected, since the process is the same for both that and the right answer.

Incidentally, I think you may have misunderstood me - I wasn't asking you why you wanted the screenshots in the preview (that would be rude), just saying that I wasn't clear on whether you wanted me to correct myself or just note it for future reference...

[Lilybiri]

If I had to create a T/F question I would either use the Radiobuttons widget, or have two shape buttons on the slide. A shape can be styled as you want. Give a non-zero score to the correct answer, a 0 score to the wrong answer. Both buttons can trigger an action which allows you to show a feedback message and the Next button. Why bother with all those user variables?

I always point to the Preview button for conditional actions, it is so much easier to evaluate an action when you see everything at once, even multiple decisions, not just one decision as in your case.

Pausing points are the most misunderstood feature: if you have that button hidden, the pausing point will not be active at all. There is a real chance that when you show the button, it is already in its inactive part and cannot be used anymore. I have written a lot about the Timeline and the ways to pause it because tons of questions on this forum result from that misunderstanding.  This is the last one, I posted it yesterday:

Timeline - Advanced Workflows - Captivate blog

[TVP_C5944]

Thank you...

That's pretty much exactly what I've done (but failed to communicate sufficiently to you) - most of the user variables are there to allow the shape buttons to be 'de-selected' or the answer changed prior to submission.

Thank you for your help on this - I've now managed to identify a work around that should prevent my original issue from occurring (it's certainly working for the question we've been discussing), although I remain none the wiser as to what the problem actually was - maybe the patches will correct it.

[Lilybiri]

OK, but I still believe you do make it more complicated than necessary, allow me that last comment. I have many years of experience creating custom questions of all type and don't spend that much time on one question slide.