QUICK START for Using the JAVA VERSION
of the "Universal Inventory/Test
Scorer"
Note: Unless you are doing bulk scoring, you should use the JavaScript version
Use of this tool is absolutely FREE and
associated with NO advertisements.
You will also be told how to get your own, local, permanent
desktop
copy of this program, so it will be yours to use
forever. The direct address
to this web page is http://online_tools.home.att.net/quick_start.htm
If
you got here indirectly, please come here directly to avoid any ads.
The Scorer
will instantly and automatically score ANY objective
test
or personality
inventory/questionnaire.
This may not become fully clear until you have
read both this quick "directions"
page and the more lengthy directions
page (ANNOUNCEMENT.htm).
Those
using the Scorer for objective test
scoring OR for scoring inventories, etc. that
are OTHER
than T/F will not fully understand how to use it for their
purposes
until they have read both "directions" web
pages. The Quick Start uses
an
example which is a
personality inventory with 2 scales and 18 T/F
items.
The Universal Inventory/Test Scorer involves ONLY a download
from
Sun, Inc. (a most trusted corporation -- the inventor of the Java
language)
and the downloading of an applet into a browser window.
The security of
applets is assured by Sun. For more information
on applets see the last note
on this web page.
The JAVA Scorer program is PC or Linux only -- no
Macs. Sorry.
--------------
|
RECOMMENDED SUN, Inc. Download In order for the Scoring Program to run,
SEVERAL people have reported Finally: To my knowledge, a Java 2 browser plug-in, for
either |
...Now that you have the everything you need to get the
Inventory/Test Scoring
Program up and running properly, it is time
for the "Quick Start" -- a demo
showing you how it scores a sample T/F
Inventory. This will be enough
information for you to know how to
automatically score any T/F
inventory. (For tests or for
inventories that are not T/F, the ANNOUNCEMENT
web
page will explain how to use this utility test scorer for those sorts
of
tests/inventories.) IF you are using the Java version of the
program:
You will have to return to the ANNOUNCEMENT.HTM PAGE
AND
GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE FOR THE LINK TO
THE
UNIVERSAL INVENTORY/TEST SCORER **OR** CLICK HERE.
(NOTE:
Before continuing, you must be running Java 1.4.0.)
One thing you need is a sample scoring
system.
Part 1 of the QUICK START:
Here
between the dashed lines is a small sample scoring system.
Be sure to
copy from the first character to (and including) the last
blank line before
the second dashed line (do not copy either dashed
line).
(This example
is of an Inventory with 2 scales and the Inventory has
18 items which the
client answers. Items may count on more than
one scale and not all items need
be used.) Anyhow, here is the
sample scoring system for you to copy. Copy all
between (but NOT
including) the 2 dashed
lines.
---------
001
0010040050160180
0020150170
002
0030070090170110
0040160180
------------------------
Note:
There are two returns after the last character. This is important
because
the program tolerates NO errors (and does nothing if there are
any errors).
PLEASE NOTE:
*IF* YOU DO NOT COPY AND PASTE THIS
WEB PAGE TO NOTEPAD, YOU MAY
find you have an extra return in the sample
scoring system. SIMPLY CHANGE IT SO
there is exactly TWO RETURNS after the
last visible character in the scoring system.
Do all checking of your
Paste to be sure this is true BEFORE you
hit the Enter button on the
Java scoring application. ALSO:
NO space or Return should be before the
first character.
** ADDITIONAL NOTE ** FOR USERS
OF THE JAVASCRIPT VERSION:
All
'scoring systems' MUST be modified according to the directions at the bottom of
the JavaScript
Scorer program page itself. YOU MAY NOT JUST
CUT-AND-PASTE any of the sample scoring
systems shown on this page OR
the ANNOUNCEMENT.htm page without making the modifications
to the
Scoring System described on the bottom of the JavaScript program web page
itself.
EXPLANATION of the Scoring System
(essentially the same explanation holds true for the
JavaScript
version):
This Notepad Document represents an Inventory with 18 items
and
just two scales. Scales are denoted 001 and 002. Here is
further
explanation of each of the other lines of the Notepad File
(i.e.
of the small sample Scoring System -- obviously you would save
your
Scoring System, so you wouldn't need to type it each time. Make
sure
you use a raw txt application -- I recommend Notepad which comes
with
Windows). Anyhow, here the explanation of the other lines of
the
above sample:
001
0010040050120160180 (these are item numbers
scoring Scale 001 up for True)
0020100130150170 (these are item numbers
scoring Scale 001 up for False)
002
0030070090170110 (these are item
numbers scoring Scale 002 up for True)
0040060080140160180 (these are item
numbers scoring Scale 002 up for False)
(Please DO note that each
item has three digits representing its item
number **AND** there is an extra
0 (zero) at the end of each line of item
numbers.)
NOTE:
If a scale has NO True Items that score it "up" OR if
a scale has NO
False Items "on it", then code 0000 (4 zeros)
for that line in the
scoring system text file. (Do similarly for
tests or inventories
that have no "a", "b", ... etc. items scoring
them up on a particular
test question or scale. SEE MAIN
Directions Page (ANNOUNCEMENT.htm) for
further info.)
____________________
AFTER YOU ENTER THE
SCORING SYSTEM, PASTING IT INTO THE TEXTAREA
USING CONTROL-V , YOU PRESS THE
BIG BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
APPLICATION INTERFACE. NOW:
Part 2 of the QUICK START.
Obviously you need a set
of client answers. This is also put in
a Notepad document. It begins with NO
spaces before the first character.
Only one RETURN between item responses (18
items). And NO SPACE OR
RETURN after the last character.
As a sample,
again, COPY everything between the first and second
dashed line below (NOT
including the dashed
lines).
----------------
T
F
F
T
F
F
F
F
T
T
T
T
T
F
F
T
F
F
-------------------
These
represent the client answers. Note there is NO space OR
return after the last
character. This is important because program
tolerates NO
errors (and does nothing if there are any errors).
Paste them (USING
CTRL-V) in the same textarea
and click the same button a second
time.
Click the same big button a third time for the raw scores on
each
scale.
END OF QUICK START.
See the more complete directions for
Inventories with more than 2 response options.
(The program can handle any
number of options and varying numbers of
options for the different
items.)
The program can handle scoring systems with over 30,000
characters.
THIS IS WHY A DOWNLOAD OF JAVA 1.4 RUNTIME SYSTEM IS
NECESSARY
FOR THE JAVA VERSION.
P.S. Again (though this
reminder is likely not necessary at this point):
Scales with NO T
or F items scoring them up have:
0000
(4 zeros)
for that line in the
scoring system. see ANNOUNCEMENT.htm for
even
more instructions (as needed)
NOTE: for ultimate efficiency:
If a client types their answers into a txt document (I suggest in
particular using TextPad *
with numbering "on" temporarily so the client
can see what item number he/she is on)
AND if one has translated their
templates into a scoring system text file
(per the directions on ANNOUNCEMENT.htm and
above)
**THEN**
indeed at most it takes a total of 20 seconds to do ALL of
the
following: (1) Turn line numbers off on the TextPad application
the
client answered the items in (2) Copy and paste your Scoring
System into the
Java application. (3) Click a button (and wait
about 1 second) (4) copy
and paste the client answers in the application
(5) click the same button
(and wait another 1 second) and (5) click the
same button a third time for
all the raw scores.
(Directions for use of the JavaScript version are
slightly different, but
very similar -- see notes on the bottom
of the JS app web page.)
AT MOST THIS TAKES 20 SEC. I HAVE DONE IT
SEVERAL TIMES. It might
actually all take 10 seconds if you are
fast.
THIS IS TRIED AND TRUE AND WORKS FLAWLESSLY. It takes longer to go
to the
web site and wait for the Java program to load than the time it takes
to
do the entire scoring process, so maybe it will take a total of 3
minutes.
* TextPad is a free txt document program available over the Internet.
FINAL NOTES:
Limitation of the Java/JS Scoring
Program:
* The program
accepts only one answer (response) per test/inventory
item.
(Creative
individuals can think of a couple of "workarounds" for this
limitation.)
Things the Program can
"Handle":
* Items with any number
of options (T or F or a, b, c, d, e, ...).
*
Differing numbers of options for test/inventory items (the program is totally
flexible
here -- see main
directions, ANNOUNCEMENT.htm, for the necessary
information).
* Weighting of items
(simply code the item number multiple times in the appropriate line of
the
scoring system text file).
The JAVA Program is written using the most modern
and
useful aspects of Java 1.3 ("Java 2", 2001
edition)
Enjoy. -- Brad Jesness, Sun Certified Programmer
for
the Java 2 Platform
You will need to return to the main Directions (ANNOUNCEMENT)
page to get to the link for the Java Scoring Tool (link is at the bottom
of that page).
CLICK THIS
LINK to find places you can download TextPad
-- a free text document utility that allows you to temporarily
turn line
numbers on so students/clients can see which test
or inventory item they are
presently answering. This
application provides a raw txt document
ready for copying
and pasting student/client answers into the Java
application.
(Though the application appears to be a temporary trial,
all editions I am familiar with NEVER
expire.)
--------------
Except
for some final notes at the bottom of this web page,
material hereon
applies only to the JAVA version.
--------------
There is a fancier version of the Scorer
you can use by
clicking THIS
LINK.
This version will NOT work unless you
have the
proper Java download from Sun
(the same as is true of the other
version).
NOW, Have Your OWN Copy of the
JAVA
Inventory/Test Scoring Program
AFTER you have run the online copy
and
made sure you have the necessary Sun
download,
you may obtain YOUR
own lasting
copy of the program and thus be sure to
have
access to it forever.
Simply follow these
procedures:
(1) Call up http://online_tools.home.att.net/ScorerUser2FPC.html
in your IE5+ Browser and VIEW the Source (see Browser menus)
(2) Copy the Source code of that html page and
Paste it into a NotePad
document.
(3) Save that NotePad document to your desktop as
ScorerUser2FPC.html
(WHEN SAVING MAKE SURE TO
HAVE THE SECOND TEXTBOX
IN THE
SAVE DIALOG BOX SET TO "ALL FILES" AND BE
SURE
TO SAVE THE DOCUMENT EXACTLY
WITH THE NAME,
ScorerUser2FPC.html
)
(4) Call up http://online_tools.home.att.net/ScorerUser2FPC.class
in your IE Browser (i.e. put this
address in the address area of the
browser just as you would put a web address there). A dialog box should
come up allowing you to save this java
program file. Save it to your
desktop (where the corresponding html file is). Make sure the file
is
saved simply as
ScorerUser2FPC.class (again setting the second
textbox
in the "Save As" Dialog
Box to "All Files" and giving this program file
the
full name yourself may facilitate this -- make sure the file is
saved with the
exact name and the
exact .class extension in any case).
THE PROGRAM WILL NOW RUN FROM YOUR
DESKTOP
JUST BY DOUBLE-CLICKING ON THE HTML
FILE'S
NAME! (Copy and Paste the
Scoring System text file into the
application when it appears.
Then copy and paste the client
scores. Click again and
your inventory/test is scored and
it all works just exactly as
it did online !!!!)
Final Note: Assurance of the Safety of the Java Applet Program
** ALL ** applets without special permissions, explicitly and expressly granted, are guaranteed safe programs by Sun. (No one would ever let anything run in a browser that could affect system files or anything without express permissions, asked for and then granted. My program ASKS FOR NO PERMISSIONS and is thus 100% safe and could not be malicious.)
Again, unless an applet expressly and explicitly asks for permission to
access files
SOURCE CODE WILL BE PROVIDED TO ANY
RESPONSIBLE INTERESTED
PARTIES. It has been examined by several third
parties and
no problems with the code have been found. (CLICK HERE
for
an image-view of the source code of the scoring
program.)
Email me if you are interested in the .java file (source code),
so you can modify the program to suit your needs (e.g. for
bulk scoring of large numbers of answer files).