Test Creator Software
 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 Last Update: October 2002

This document should be able to answer some of the more frequently asked questions about installing the Social Studies Test Creator and World History Test Creator software, as well as some general use questions. Just click on a question and you will jump to that answer. This FAQ is updated with questions as they are encountered, so check back with it periodically.  If after scanning this FAQ your questions have not been answered, you may contact Technical Support.  Please note that Technical Support is provided on a fee basis.  


Installation & Setup


General Use

 

Installation & Setup


What are the system requirements for the software?

The system requirements are the same as for Microsoft Access 2000, namely:

  • Pentium-level PC running Windows 98 or better
  • At least 32MB of RAM
  • Sufficient hard drive space (about 5MB for the software itself and 70+ for Access 2000 Runtime if not already installed)
  • Microsoft Access 2000 or the Access 2000 Runtime (provided on install CD)
  • Microsoft Word 97 or Word 2000 (it is currently unknown if it can use Word XP)    

How do I install the software?

To install the software on any PC, run SETUP.EXE from the installation CD-ROM.  The install program will walk you through the installation, including the installation of the Microsoft Access 2000 Runtime if your system does not already have Microsoft Access 2000.  Once the installation is complete, a group of icons will be available from your Windows Start menu, and you can click on these to run the software and related features. 


When I run the software the first time, it tells me that Microsoft Word is not installed on the system. 

Although you can run the software, and create and edit tests, the software works in conjunction with Microsoft Word (97 or 2000) to generate the tests and answer keys.  The software "sends" the formatted data to Word, from which you can then save, print or modify the test and key.  Microsoft Word is required for this process.  The software detects your version of Word when it starts, and if either Word 97 or 2000 is not found, it will prompt you.

If you know that Word 97 or 2000 is installed on your system, it may be that you have inappropriate registry entries for the software, or that the Word Library (OLB) is corrupted or missing.  The software gets a reference to Word's CLSID from the following key:

            HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Word.Document\CLSID

It then uses that key to locate the CLSID key containing the path to the Word program (WINWORD.EXE), which is:

            HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxx}\LocalServer32

Next, the program will then locate the Word Library within that same path.  The Word Library will be in the format of MSWORD*.OLB, regardless of the version.  This is the library that is referenced from within the software.  If this file cannot be referenced, or the appropriate path cannot be determined by the Registry keys shown above, then the software cannot make the link.


I ran the program by double-clicking on the TEST CREATOR.MDB file, but I get an error message saying "Unrecognized Database Format."

The installation program should have created a set of shortcuts under your Windows Start menu to run the program.  The shortcut for the program includes command line parameters as well as the path to either full Microsoft Access 2000 or the runtime.  This is necessary for running the program properly.  If you have a different version of Microsoft Access installed (like Access 97) and it is the default program to run an MDB file with, you will get the "Unrecognized Database Format" message.  In addition, there are other command line parameters that need to be passed to the program when it runs (see the next question).  For this reason, you should not run the program by double-clicking on the MDB file.  Use the shortcut that was installed.  



When I run the program, it prompts me for a login.

The installation program should have created a set of shortcuts under your Windows Start menu to run the program.  The shortcut for the program includes command line parameters that are necessary for running the program properly.  Without the correct parameters, you may be prompted for a login.

If you need to manually create a shortcut for the software, you will need to specify the required parameters.  Here is the general format for the shortcut's target line:

    "[Path to Access]\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\Program Files\Test Creator\Test Creator.mdb" /wrkgrp 
    "C:\Program Files\Test Creator\Test Creator.mdw" /user user

The [Path to Access] is either the path to Microsoft Access 2000 or the runtime, and depends on where it is installed on any given system.  


After I install the software, the Insert Clipart feature from Word 2000 will not work, and results in an Invalid Page Fault error.

This might happen if you install the software to Windows 98, and results from that operating system's inability to "protect" its system files from being updated to newer ones that are incompatible.  This problem should not happen with Windows 2000, ME or XP.  To fix the problem, follow these procedures:

  1. Quit all running programs.
  2. Insert the Office 2000 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
  3. Click Start, point to Programs, and then select Windows Explorer.
  4. In the Office 2000 CD-ROM, browse to the SYSTEM folder and copy OLEAUT32.DLL and OLEPRO32.DLL to C:\.
  5. Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode.  This can be done by restarting the computer and pressing the F8 key before the Windows screen appears.  Then, choose Command Prompt Only from the menu.
  6. Type the following at the MS-DOS prompt, and then press Enter:

                Copy c:\oleaut32.dll c:\windows\system\oleaut32.dll

                Copy c:\olepro32.dll c:\windows\system\olepro32.dll

    You will be prompted about overwriting, and you should choose to overwrite.

    Note    : This assumes the default path for the Windows system files.  Your path may vary.
  7. Restart in normal mode and run Office Setup from the CD-ROM.  When prompted, choose to Repair Office.


General Use

When I create a test, and it is opened in Microsoft Word, can I make changes to what is displayed?

You can make changes to the layout of the test and/or answer key while it is open within Word.  You can also save or print these documents.  However, when you make changes, these are not reflected within the software itself, but only in the saved Word document.  The next time you generate a test from within the software, none of your layout changes will be reflected.


If I lose the key for a test, can I just generate another one and use that?

No.  Each time you generate a test by clicking on the button from the Saved Tests screen, it randomly shuffles the order of the answers.  So, although the questions will remain in the same order as a previous generation, the answers will not.  If you lose your original printed copy of the key (or did not save it while in Microsoft Word), then you will need to generate another test and key and use those.


Can I add or edit questions within the system?

You cannot add or edit questions within the system, nor the answers provided.  However, you may edit the output that is generated within Microsoft Word.  If you find typos or incorrect content, please refer to the next question for reporting these.


What if I find a typo or an incorrect answer, or I think a question should be added to the system?

Please send any content-related inquiries or recommendations either:

Agnes Dunn
Stafford County Public Schools
(540) 658-6674
dunn_agnes_co@scps.k12.va.us		 Rebecca Mills
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
(540) 898-6032
mills@spotsylvania.k12.va.us

Please include the Question Number and as much detail as possible when reporting problems.  Do not contact Technical Support regarding content issues.  

In the meantime, you may manually correct any typo from the generated Microsoft Word document.


When I go to the screen to pick and choose questions for my test, either by clicking on Create New Test or by clicking View/Edit Test from the Saved Tests screen, there is no button to close the screen.  I can see the Search button, and the two white boxes, but nothing else.

The Exit button is at the bottom of that screen, along with the View Picture, Clear All and Save buttons.  If you cannot see them, it is likely that your screen resolution is set too low on your computer and they are just off of the lower edge of the viewable area of your screen.  The software is optimally designed for a screen resolution of 800x600 or better.

To change your screen resolution, click on the Windows Start button, then choose Control Panel.  Double-click on the Display icon.  Then, click on the Settings tab.  The screen resolution is displayed on the right side.  Move the slider to adjust it, then click on OK.  Windows may require a reboot to affect the settings.

NOTE: If you find that you cannot change your screen resolution to at least 800x600, you likely have incorrect video display drivers installed on your computer.  Most computers, even several years old, can handle this resolution.  Please seek technical assistance from your support staff for display issues.  

 

When I generate a test, I get a message saying that the formatting is too complex for the document, and that I should save it now.  When I choose to continue, I get the same message again.

This can happen if there is not enough free memory on your computer to generate the test within Microsoft Word.  Generally, this can happen when you have a lot of questions with quite a few pictures.  There is no exact cutoff point as far as the number of questions you can have within a test before this will happen.  Each question and picture on a test takes a different amount of memory and the amount of free memory available on a computer system at any given time is variable.  

When you are prompted about saving your document, you can click on OK to continue.  Try this several times and see if the document finishes.  If it does, you should look it over because some of the questions and/or pictures may be missing.  If, however, you click OK more than ten times and you still keep getting the message, then you should probably terminate the process manually by following these steps:

  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to bring up the Windows Task Manager.  With Windows 2000 or XP, you'll also need to click on the Processes tab.

  2. Highlight the WINWORD.EXE process and click on END PROCESS.  You may be prompted to confirm this.  After you end the process, control should return to the Test Creator program.  If not, click on its window.

  3. A message should appear within the Test Creator program stating that there was a problem while creating the test, and do you want to continue generating the test.  Choose NO. 

You may find that the program will continue to create the answer key, but the test itself will not appear.  If so, you should close the open Word document with the answer key --- and there is no need to save or print it.

To avoid this problem in the future, follow these tips:

  • Rebooting prior to running the program (of after generating lengthy tests) may free up memory.  Reboot and try the same test again.

  • Close other programs that may be running, including ones in the background.

  • Generate tests with fewer questions and/or pictures.  There is an arbitrary 125 question limit for any test, but that does not mean that your system can handle a complex test that large.

  • Add more memory (RAM) to your computer.  64MB should be more than sufficient.

 

 

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