Custom source file

Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -
Number of replies: 14

I am slowly losing my mind............

I spent 20 solid hours over the last two days removing URL's from my quizzes (I know, I know Joseph and Gordon but whatever I did they caused a problem!) and then removing blank spaces (which I have no idea how they got there).  Never mind, the main thing is this all got my quizzes working so I was happy!

BUT.  I have used Michael Rottemeier's add-ons on some of my quizzes. I have also used another customised source file.  Yesterday I was happy to see that, although nothing else worked, at least Moodle was OK with the add-on's.  But today they don't work!  I thought maybe if I put the altered source files in with my quizzes and uploaded them all it might help.  But it doesn't.  I can't imagine why they worked yesterday and not today.  Please help.

I apologise for driving everyone mad.  I do try for a long time before I resort to the forum. 

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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Mary Cooch -
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I do try for a long time before I resort to the forum I admire you! I sometimes ask too quickly and then find the answer but a couple of minutes after I've posted! First off - are you looking at the quizzes on the same computer or a different one?
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In reply to Mary Cooch

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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.. and second off smile

> Yesterday ... although nothing else worked,
> at least Moodle was OK with the add-on's.
> But today they don't work!

Could you explain what you mean by "nothing else worked".

And a request, if I may ... please upload the quizzes you are having trouble with to my server, so we can understand the situation more quickly and more fully.

thanks
Gordon
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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -

Hi,

Gordon, thanks so much, I have uploaded two files to your server under Deborahtest2.  I wasn't sure if it is always OK to do this which is why I held back till invited?

When I said nothing worked yesterday, you remember I had all those spaces which you told me about and that was why my sounds didn't work.  But the customisations did work. I have no idea what I am doing differently from yesterday to today.  I zipped the customised source files up with the quizzes as I don't know how Moodle will read them otherwise?

With the two files, the JMatch is customised to work with Michael Rottemeier's Introduction page, and the Quiz is customised so that the answers aren't labeled abc and appear in the middle of the page.  The quiz doesn't work atall on Moodle but is fine in my browser. 

Waiting with baited breath for your response.

Thank you,

p.s. Mary, I am so useless at this that I would be driving you all crazy all the time if I posted every time I had a problem.  I don't want my "credit" to run out too quickly. 

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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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Deborah,
thanks for uploading the files.

Because the HotPot module does not know about Michael Rottmeier's "introduction" format for JMatch or your own custom JQuiz format, you need to upload the html files for the quizzes. Then I can investigate why those don't work as you expect.

Gordon
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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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I had a quick look at the quizzes. Here is a list of suggestions for improvements:
  • rename "ACT16(intro).jmt" to "ACT16_intro.jmt"
    file names with parentheses don't travel well across the internet smile
  • ACT16_intro.jmt
    • change all occurrences (including in the instructions) of "speaker black.gif" to "speaker_black.gif"
      i.e. remove spaces from files names
    • remove the extraneous and unfinished <img> tag in left item 1
      <img src="speaker black.gif"
  • ACT22.jqz
    • change all occurrences (including in the instructions) of "speaker black.gif" to "speaker_black.gif"
      i.e. remove spaces from files names
    • in question 3, change "bug.gif" to "ant.gif" and bug.mp3 to ant.mp3
    • in question 4 change "TheSound= cake.mp3" to "TheSound=cake.mp3"
      i.e. remove spaces from files names
There are several files referred to in the quizzes that missing from the folder that you uploaded, e.g. greenarrowleft.png, red_arrow_left.gif.

Please make the above changes, then regenerate your custom versions of JMatch and JQuiz and upload the html files to my server. I don't guarantee they will work with the HotPot module, but if they don't maybe I can at least explain why.

Gordon
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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -

Gordon,

Thanks so much for taking the time to look at the quizzes.

I have made the changes you pointed out and re-uploaded the files with the html's.  I am so sorry but as the quizzes are in a much bigger file with a lot of other stuff I didn't want to bung up your server with such a big file so I moved them to another file and copied the images and audio over.  Therefore some might not be there and also some do not work in the html's, presumably because of my URL problem.  So could I please ask you to overlook bits and pieces that do not work as they work fine when uploaded with the right files.  What I am concerned about is the custom source layouts.  Unless this whole thing has completely stripped me of my remaining sanity, I am CERTAIN that the custom effects were working the first time I uploaded.  I have built my course around these customisations so I don't know what I'll do if Moodle can't handle them.  But I am sure it can......somehow...

Thanks again so much.

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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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Deborah,
I found the zip file "deborah3.zip" and unzipped it to create the new "deborah3" folder containing the new quizzes.

I added them as HotPot activities and they seem to work OK to me. The display fine (except for the odd missing graphic) and the results were recorded in Moodle once I had completed all the questions.

Please could you try the quizzes yourself (on my server) and tell me if they behave as you expect, and if not please describe what you expected to happen and what actually happened.

thanks
Gordon
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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -
Hi Gordon!

Yessssss! They do work! So that was it - I need to upload the HTML versions (although I am sure I tried that too yesterday but, as I say, sanity very borderline at moment)!

Thank you SO much for pointing that out. I am off to continue the wonderful task of taking out spaces in code!!! But at least there is a point to it now! Thank you so so much.

BTW sorry I forgot to unzip the files.
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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -

Gordon - I am so sorry, but the quizzes work on your site but not on mine.  I tried both using all the files in my bigger folder and the same folder I sent you but neither work.  It must be something I am doing wrong on the site but I can't see what.

Would it be possible for you to go to my site, courhttp://ddenglish.edumoot.com/ username:debsied     password:morkmindy, course name ACT and see what I am doing wrong?  So sorry to bother you with this and thank you in advance.....

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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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Deborah,
thanks for giving me access to your site.

Rule number one: no spaces in folder names or file names smile, so I renamed "hotpots worksheets" to "hotpots_worksheets". That was enough to make the media players appear in both quizzes.

However ...

  • the A16 HotPot is still using the jmt file as its source. If you want your Rottmerier customizations you should use the htm file
  • the A12 HotPot is using ACT16(intro).htm as its source file. I suggest you do not use parentheses in your files names as they can cause problems when the file moves between computers on the internet. Also, this file contains references to images and mp3 files that have spaces in the name, and that breaks rule number one smile

So to fix these quizzes to work as you expect, I suggest you do the following:

  • use an html file for as the source file for the A16 HotPot
  • remove all spaces from the file names of images and sound files in ACT16.jqz, and then regenerate the htm file, calling it ACT16_intro.htm. Upload the new htm file to Moodle and use this as the source file for the ACT12 HotPot

After that, you should be good to go !

all the best
Gordon

P.S. I changed the password on the account you gave details of above, and sent the new password to your gmail address.

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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Deborah Delin -

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for changing my password.  Thank you also so much for bearing with me and helping me through my muddle.  I had no idea that brackets were a problem.  I had thought I had got rid of them last time but evidently I got mixed up.  Anyway, I followed your advice and it all works now.  Thank you so much. 

It is odd that the quizzes worked on your site yesterday with the brackets and spaces but not on mine.  And they worked on mine the day before, before I fixed the problems, but not yesterday.  Evidently Moodle has mood swings in this area?

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In reply to Deborah Delin

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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Deborah,
You're welcome smile

Just to be clear. The main problem was not the brackets, it was the spaces in the folder name, "hotpots worksheets".

Additionally, the source files of the HotPots on your server were not the same as those on my server which is why they behaved differently.

Now there are no spaces in the folder names and file names, and you are using the regenerated, cutomised html files as the source files for the HotPots, I am very pleased to hear that all is working, and you can get on with the teaching.

All the best, and please "hi" from me to the children in your English class!
Gordon
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In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: Custom source file

by Joseph Rézeau -
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Hi Gordon.

I think we cannot insist enough on the fact that folder names and file names should never ever contain blank spaces, apostrophes, etc. I keep telling my students (who author their own HP exercices) to respect these naming conventions and they keep making the same "error" again and again.

Joseph

PS.- I admire your patience.approve

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In reply to Joseph Rézeau

Re: Custom source file

by Gordon Bateson -
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Dear Joseph,

I agree, naughty chars in file names are fairly common "gotcha". This thread has reminded me of the need for more tutorials, faqs and help documents for both the HotPot module and the QuizPort module.

I have recently downloaded Wink, Camtasia and Captivate so I will be able to use them to begin a library of help videos.

So much to do - appreciate your help and contributions!
Gordon


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