Converting test to filemaker... is there An easy way to get 93 sets of answers into value lists?

[dan]

I'm redoing a test for somebody. Is there an easy way to get the
answers into radio buttons, I have 93 items on 10 tests. The work
load is overwhleming to put them in by hand.

Thanks,
Dan

[LaRetta]

Hi Dan,

Since you mentioned radio buttons, I assume the answers are two values
(yes or no or true or false) etc.

You can create one Custom Value List called 'Select' with only Y and N
(or whatever you wish).

Place your first 'answer' field on the form. Change field format to
radio button and point to your 'select' Value List.

Copy this field [ctrl-C], double-click to bring up field selection,
change field to your next answer field. You don't have to assign the
radio button or value list again - they share the same one. Repeat with
all of them.

I actually do a copy, then [ctrl]v] and paste, paste, paste until I have
a handful of them, and then re-assign the names. :)

LaRetta

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[Chris Brown]

one small variation you may not have encountered: as an alternative to
copy/paste/paste/paste..., you can use duplicate (cmd D on a mac). If you
dupe the first one, the offset is usually overlapping..., then arrange that
first dupe correctly/adjacent relative to the original, subsequent dupes
will arrange cascaded in a neat list

Chris Brown
Neurosurgery
University of Adelaide




LaRetta wrote:

> Hi Dan,
>
> Since you mentioned radio buttons, I assume the answers are two values
> (yes or no or true or false) etc.
>
> You can create one Custom Value List called 'Select' with only Y and N
> (or whatever you wish).
>
> Place your first 'answer' field on the form. Change field format to
> radio button and point to your 'select' Value List.
>
> Copy this field [ctrl-C], double-click to bring up field selection,
> change field to your next answer field. You don't have to assign the
> radio button or value list again - they share the same one. Repeat with
> all of them.
>
> I actually do a copy, then [ctrl]v] and paste, paste, paste until I have
> a handful of them, and then re-assign the names. :)
>
> LaRetta
>
> --
> Posted via [url]http://dbforums.com[/url]

[LaRetta]

Oh dear :( If your answers are the Value List, you'll have to
consider something else.

Regardless, you'll still have to establish VL's in the main db
from the data:

Create a calc (unstored, text) with: ValueListItems
(Status(CurrentFileName, "valuelist name"). Find only one record -
doesn't matter which one.

Import the calc field into an empty db. Maybe the field name could
identify the VL.

From your new main db, join with new VL db - on constant = 1.

Then create new VL - select 'values from field - all values and point to
this VL db.

Each field in the VL db could be a separate Value List. At least it
would save re-typing each 'answer.'

LaRetta

--
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[eyebrown@mindspring.com]

In article <819c1aba.0307092339.5ad8fdc5@posting.google.com >,
[email]whimsica@aol.com[/email] (dan) wrote:

>Sorry, but all the answers are different. Think of it as like an SAT
>test. There are 5 answers for each problem, all different. Any other
>ideas???

So where is the data at the moment? Are the answers stored somewhere as a
spreadsheet, text document, Access table? If we begin by contemplating
the original data, then maybe a way to handle it will emerge.

Value lists definitely look like what you want. Others have discussed
quicks ways of stacking up a whole bunch of radio button fields, via
copy/paste or duplicate in layout mode. But your problem is to get the
data from wherever it currently is into a value list associated with each
radio button field.

Is it possible to import into a value list? If not, perhaps copy/paste
across applications. If your answers are a text doc, select & copy the
five answers for question one to clipboard, switch to FM where Define
Value Lists is open, define a new list as Question One, then paste
clipboard into the box.

If you have the fields associated with the value lists set up correctly,
then this procedure should take just a few minutes. The result will be
questions on your FM layout magically sprouting sets of possible answers
as you go.

Steve Brown

[LaRetta]

Well Dan, my last post suggested alternatives if the questions are your
value lists. Have you even considered them?

You've said nothing about your structure or where the data resides. A
related dB is the easiest way to capture the data. Why don't you make
your questions a related db, then use a YES 'Select' Value List instead?

Questions would be captured without data-entering again and you'd only
have one Value List to enter. I was assuming you needed to maintain the
same type of structure or setup. If not, then you have no problems.

LaRetta

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Posted via [url]http://dbforums.com[/url]

[dan]

The data resides in a text file. Just like a text of a paper/pencil
test.

Is there a way to dynamically assign value lists. Say -- if I
imported all the questions into a separate database as record
1,2,3,4,5 etc...with the A,B,C,D,E,F as field 1,2,3,4,5,6, then maybe
I could use a script to assign them all to the appropriate value list.
But I don't think that function exists.

thanks for suggestions.

Dan

[dan]

LaRetta <member30258@dbforums.com> wrote in message news:<3097867.1057878214@dbforums.com>...

> Hi Dan,
>
> Thanks for clarifying it for us. Now that I understand you're not
> restricted (you have the data as text), it will help.
>
> Your questions should be in one db. Your 'multiple' possible answers
> should be in another (1:n). They can be joined on Question#.
>
> Your answers db would contain:
>
> Question#
> Answer
> Select (which will be just yes or no)
>
> So you'll want to import two fields (Question# and Answer) as separate
> lines into the Answers db. Then add the field Select.
>
> Then, from within your Question db, create a Value List Custom named
> 'Select' as I described above but, since it currently has no values,
> let's make it easier. Only put one value in the Value List - a '1'
> which means they selected that answer.
>
> That's all you need! Oh so happy it'll be easier for you!!! Yep, many
> people make the design mistake of including multiple 'same-type' fields
> within one main db. I'm glad we caught yours in time. You almost
> inherited a nightmare! :)
>
> LaRetta

I'm confused. Could you be more explicit in exactly what to do,
because I'm quite new at this. If it works I'll be unduly impressed.

Remember the 93 questions look something like this:

1. What is your favorite food:
A) Catsup
B) Meat
C) Candy
D) Garbage

2. What is your favorite book
A) Harry Potter 1
B) Harry Potter 2
C) Harry potter 3
D) Harry Potter 4

Thanks for the effort so far...
Dan

[LaRetta]

No problem Dan! We'll get through this. You will need to import this.
However, it will need to be converted first. It [can] be done without
question, so you'll be fine. I'd be happy to write that import script
but I'm backed up with projects until Monday. If you need it before
then, maybe someone can write it for you.

Also, if you email me , I will send you a Questionnaire demo by a
friend, Andy Gaunt. It's a fabulous demo and it will show you what your
dB should look like (the underlying structure). It's a Super Bowl game
or something, but you'll see the question/answer part. It only has one
answer for each question but that won't be a problem.

You also need to consider what to do about the person taking this test.
You will need a Person dB to store their names. You will need to add
that (each person's PersonID (auto-enter serial is fine) as a field in
Answers. Type text.

What you want to end up with is this:

Questions db:
FieldName: QuestionID (type number) 1
FieldName: Question (type text) with 'What is your favorite food' in
the field.

Repeat with each Question. Only Questions should be in the Question dB.

Your Answers dB should contain:
FieldName: AnswerID (type text) A
FieldName: Answer (type text) Catsup
FieldName: QuestionID (type number) 1 (this needs to be imported into
both files because it will join them.
FieldName: Select (type number) will be blank until person makes a
selection.

Field Select is what you will base your ONE Value List on in Answers.
You will attach the same VL to every 'Selection' field (see above about
multiple-pasting and assigning).

We'll get your text imported, for sure. Go ahead and create these two
or three dBs with the fields as I've described. When I get your email,
I'll email the demo to you if you request it. Can you email me the text
file? Zip or StuffIt if possible. [email]laretta@nu-world.com[/email]

I'll get you the script you need.

Cheers!
LaRetta

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[LaRetta]

Hi Scott,

Thanks so much for those ideas! :) Excellent points for sure.

Also, I've been pretty pressed for time and I got side-tracked and
neglected to respond to your suggestion on the Value List (pasting into
box). I haven't tested it yet but it's a great idea!! I appreciate it.

LaRetta

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[dan]

I still don't understand how these are all going to be in one
filemaker layout.
so they can display on a web page all at once...


Like

question1: how are you doing?
a) not very good
b) pretty good
c) so-so
d) all right

question2: what is your name
a) bob
b) joe
c) fred
d) noman

I was going to use the instant web publishing to try it on the web,
but all the questions have to be on the same web page. I suppose they
could all be on separate pages, but that might mean a lot of loading,
unloading. Hmmmm.

Dan