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Questions of the following six types can be imported into Authoring Manager from ASCII format text files.
- Multiple Choice
- Multiple Response
- Yes/No question
- True/False question
- Likert question
- Explanation question
Before importing questions from an ASCII file, you must specify which marker codes are to be used. Marker codes serve to define the various elements of the questions and are described below.
For detailed information on how to import question content into Perception, please refer to the
Importing content from ASCII files chapter of the Best Practice Guide on Importing Questions and Assessments into Perception.
ASCII import definitions
Marker codes are used to define the various question elements, such as: the question type, the question text, the correct answer choice(s), the incorrect answer choice(s), and the feedback text. For an example of how they marker codes can be used, please download the example below.
Before importing the ASCII question data, you may need to determine if the set of marker codes used in the question data you want to import are compatible with the set that have been defined in Authoring Manager.
To check what marker codes have been set:
- Open Authoring Manager
- Click Tools | Question ASCII Import Definition
- The Question ASCII Import Definitions screen is displayed, which reveals the set of marker codes in use.
The ASCII Import Definitions and their explanations are described in the table below. The default marker codes are listed in the left-hand column.
Default Marker Code |
Explanation |
<TOPIC> |
Note: This marker code can only be used in Authoring Manager 4.3 and later versions
This marker code can be inserted in front of the name of a question topic\subtopic.
'Double backslashes' are used to separate the names of topics\subtopics. For example:
<TOPIC>Geography\\PhysicalGeography\\Geomorphology
If the topic\subtopic already exists in Authoring Manager, then the question will be imported into the topic\subtopic. If the topic\subtopic doesn't exist, then the topic\subtopic will be created and the question will be imported into the topic\subtopic.
A list of topic\subtopic names present in the ASCII file is displayed to the user, and the user is asked to confirm that the topics\subtopics can be created. Invalid topic\subtopic names, topic\subtopic names of more than 50 characters, illegal characters, and subtopics of more than 10 levels deep, in the ASCII file, will cause the file to be rejected and an error message is displayed identifying the problem.
The use of this code is optional. If the <TOPIC> marker code isn't used for a question, then the question will be imported into the topic\subtopic that has been selected in Authoring Manager.
The Authoring Manager security system is maintained: A user can only import questions into a topic\subtopic if they have the permission to do so; topics\subtopics can only be created if they have the permission to do so. |
<T> |
This marker code is inserted in front of the question type
For example: <T>MC
In this example, MC defines the question type as a Multiple Choice question. This is the list of question types that can be imported in ASCII question data, with their abbreviations:
MC Multiple Choice question
MR Multiple Response question
YN Yes/No question
TF True/False question
LKS Likert question
E Explanation question |
<Q> |
This marker code is inserted in front of the text of the question.
For example: <Q>The tallest mountain in the world is: |
<C+> |
This marker code is inserted in front of the text of the correct choice.
For example: <C+>Mount Everest
<C+> scores +1 |
<C> |
This marker code can be inserted in front of the text of an incorrect choice.
For example: <C>Mont Blanc
<C> scores 0 |
<C-> |
This marker code can be inserted in front of the text of an incorrect (negative) choice.
For example: <C->Mont Blanc
<C-> scores -1 |
<F> |
This marker code can be inserted in front of question feedback text
For example: <F>Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world |
<M> |
This marker code is inserted in front of the MIME type
For example: <M>text/plain |
<D> |
This marker code can be inserted in front of the question description text.
For example: <D>Typical Multiple Choice Question
Description text remains in the 'code' of the question and is not displayed to participants. |
<#> |
This marker code can be inserted in front of comment text.
For example: <#>This is a sample Multiple Choice Question
Comment text remains in the 'code' of the question and is not displayed to participants. |
<S> |
This marker code is for shuffled question choices.
For example: <S>
In the question data, it can be inserted above a question. All questions from that point onwards will have all their choices shuffled. |
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