ExamWritePad

[ass17]

Not a major issue, but we've noticed when using Screen Masking through the Read&Write toolbar the Candidate Information Screen doesn't get the mask.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70821[/ATTACH]

 

That is an issue with Read&Write but the easy answer is to use the screen filter in ExamWritePad instead of Read&Write’s.

[ass17]

Hi @ass17. I'm testing this for our upcomming exams season and am loving it so far. I do have a couple of minor issues and one slightly less minor one...

 

So minor it's unbelievable:

• Clicking on 'Assembly Checking' removes the option and brings the next item up to focus
  
• Description text is the wrong way round for 'Disable_KeyCombo_CTRL{O|N}' options
  
• Description text for 'PDFReader_AutoPlayTextSelection' has capital 'I' in 'DIsabled'
  
• Description text for 'PDFReader_SplitScreen' states 505/50, presumably shoud be 50/50
  

(all in the 'EWP Config Editor')

 

More pressingly:

I have set the application to be full screen and set a password to exit so that candidates can't muck about with Windows when they shouldn't be. However, when the password prompt comes up at exit, ALT+F4 closes the application regardless. I have already disabled the Windows keys and looked through any options in the config editor to try to stop this. Any chance you can disable this please.

 

Slighly linked; without the Windows keys disabled and fullscreen enabled, candidates can still press the Windows key to bring up the start menu. Any applications or files opened here open behind EWP, but the taskbar and start menu are visible and accessible at that point. I don't necessarily expect a fix for this as there's only so much you can do I expect, but thought you'd be interested to know.

 

Thanks

 

Assembling checking has been removed, hence why it goes missing. I will sort out the other few things for the next version.

 

The pressing issues I will comment on them later this evening, when I have had chance to digest and give a detailed answer in reply.

[ass17]

Hi @ass17. I'm testing this for our upcomming exams season and am loving it so far. I do have a couple of minor issues and one slightly less minor one...

I have set the application to be full screen and set a password to exit so that candidates can't muck about with Windows when they shouldn't be. However, when the password prompt comes up at exit, ALT+F4 closes the application regardless. I have already disabled the Windows keys and looked through any options in the config editor to try to stop this. Any chance you can disable this please.

 

Slighly linked; without the Windows keys disabled and fullscreen enabled, candidates can still press the Windows key to bring up the start menu. Any applications or files opened here open behind EWP, but the taskbar and start menu are visible and accessible at that point. I don't necessarily expect a fix for this as there's only so much you can do I expect, but thought you'd be interested to know.

 

Thanks

 

First point is correct, you can indeed press ALT+F4 when the password box is active to close EWP, so will fix the for the next build.

In order to stop the start menu from appearing you have to set "Disable_WindowsKeys" to 1. Then you do get the start menu or taskbar.

[ass17]

OK so I have sorted out the ALT+F4 fix for the Password on Exit control. Will be sorted for the next release in a few weeks.

 

I also needed to apply the same fix to the screen filter because ALT+F4 closed the filter, when it is not supposed to.

[Sephiroth]

Amazing, thank you!

[Rob_D]

Can someone confirm what the latest version of EWP is?

[ass17]

Can someone confirm what the latest version of EWP is?

 

It’s 23.12.10.1200 released in December.

 

March 2024 version is being released on Sunday.

[ass17]

It’s 23.12.10.1200 released in December.

 

March 2024 version is being released on Sunday.

 

A grand total of 45 things in the release notes! its a big one!

[ass17]

NEW VERSION NOW OUT!

 

https://examwritepad.com/v24-03-01-1200/

[Claret_and_blue]

We've been using the PDF reader function for our students who need the exam paper read aloud but we have noticed that it doesn't read the Maths or Science papers correctly as it doesn't read the questions or formulas correctly. Have I missed something in the config file? If I can't find a way to read it correctly, I'll need to find an alternative for the Maths and Science papers.

[ass17]

We've been using the PDF reader function for our students who need the exam paper read aloud but we have noticed that it doesn't read the Maths or Science papers correctly as it doesn't read the questions or formulas correctly. Have I missed something in the config file? If I can't find a way to read it correctly, I'll need to find an alternative for the Maths and Science papers.

 

This is something I’ve not tested can you email me at [email protected] with examples and the papers in question please

[ass17]

DOWNLOAD:

https://examwritepad.com/download/

or

use the built-in update feature if only updating a few PC’s..

 

 

Remember to backup your ExamWritePadSettings.json file and logo.png file before applying any upgrade/install, then afterwards replace both files and run the ExamWritePadSettings.json file in the ConFigEditorGUI app to allow it to add in any new config options.

 

What’s New/Fixed?

 

NEW: Shapes – On the ‘insert’ ribbon bar is a new button to allow you to insert any of the 40 shapes on offer.

 

NEW: Interactive PDF’s (ability to fill answers directly onto the PDF where allowed) are now supported. If a box can be filled in, it should be shown in blue. Along with this comes the addition of a Save and Print button. Interactive PDF’s will also Auto-Backup and Auto-Save just like a ExamText file does. The help tab has also been updated. PLEASE NOTE: Please inform students that the text boxes they types their answers into should NOT overflow out of the bounds of the boxes as the text beyond the boundaries will not be saved. Students should type any remaining answers to that question on an ExamWritePad document or in the answer booklet provided.

 

NEW: Once the shape has been inserted into the document you can further edit the shape by right clicking on it and selecting Shape Formatting to display a dialog window.

 

NEW: You can now disable the Cut, Copy, Paste and Select All functions with one simple option in the ConfigEditorGUI called ‘Disable_CutCopyPasteSelectAll’.

 

NEW: Added extra config option to disabled the Full Name on the candidate information window as it not required on the printout header according to JCQ.

 

NEW: Added a new config option should you wish to change the grey area behind the document pages called “DocumentWindowBackdropColour”.

 

NEW: Welsh diacritics have been added to the Accents/Symbols sidebar.

 

FIXED: The header on each page and printed page has also been reformatted to follow the requirements of the JCQ and CAIE boards.

 

FIXED: When making some candidate details not required, clicking on ‘Save & Exit’ would cause the none-required fields to go red displaying that they need to be required.

 

FIXED: When mixing up hidden and required fields on the candidate information window, the header would look unformatted and out of sorts.

 

FIXED: When hiding the candidate number field, the ‘max number of characters’ description would still be visible.

 

FIXED: When setting ‘Override_Option_ADGroup’ to 1, users in the ‘EWP-Spelling’ AD group see the spelling button but nothing happens when you click on it.

 

FIXED: When launching Windows dictation via the addon button, you would always get an error saying “Dictation isn’t fully supported in this app”.

 

FIXED: ConfigEditorGUI would error after first launch when pressing any key.

 

ADDED: The initial Save confirmation message box has returned for those that have requested it. It is turned off by default and can be reinstated using the config option ‘InitialSaveMessage’ set to 1.

 

ADDED: New option added to remove/display to logo branding ‘Disable_BrandingLogo’, added to ConfigEditorGUI.

 

ADDED: New option added to display a logo in a local or network path. Use ‘BrandingLogoFilePath’ for example C:\MySchoolLogo.png or \Server\Share\MySchoolLogo.jpg

 

ADDED: ConfigEditorGUI has had the import older XML config button restored.

 

For a full list or features and fixes read our news post:

https://examwritepad.com/v24-04-01-1200/

[howartp]

There sure is, you can run EWP as Reader only using the December release version.

 

In the config is a setting “PDFReader_StartFullScreenReadersOnly” and set it to 1.

My technician (who looks after EWP etc) was just asking me if this feature existed, as we could get rid of our other ReadWrite software.

 

However - could this feature be expanded so when you launch EWP, it asks you whether you want reading only (as above) rather than it being sent down in config?

 

We have one master config file that we send to all users, then the technician preps the room and opens all the necessary software etc. Being able to click a "Reader mode only" button at start-up and simply open the PDF he's reading would be awesome.

[ass17]

My technician (who looks after EWP etc) was just asking me if this feature existed, as we could get rid of our other ReadWrite software.

 

However - could this feature be expanded so when you launch EWP, it asks you whether you want reading only (as above) rather than it being sent down in config?

 

We have one master config file that we send to all users, then the technician preps the room and opens all the necessary software etc. Being able to click a "Reader mode only" button at start-up and simply open the PDF he's reading would be awesome.

 

I can certainly put it on the splash screen as a button for the next version [emoji1303]

[howartp]

I can certainly put it on the splash screen as a button for the next version [emoji1303]

 

Awesome!

 

He also mentioned... when it IS a read&write session, being able to pre-load the PDF for reading (and for him to test the headphones), prior to filling in the WhoAmI boxes, would be useful so we don't have to rely on the kids browsing to the PDF after they've filled in their details?

[ass17]

Awesome!

 

He also mentioned... when it IS a read&write session, being able to pre-load the PDF for reading (and for him to test the headphones), prior to filling in the WhoAmI boxes, would be useful so we don't have to rely on the kids browsing to the PDF after they've filled in their details?

 

There is already a config option for preloading. ;-)

 

PDFReader_PreloadFile

And

PDFReader_PreloadFile2

 

For the main question paper and supplementary paper respectively…

Edited April 26, 2024 by ass17

[howartp]

There is already a config option for preloading. ;-)

 

PDFReader_PreloadFile

And

PDFReader_PreloadFile2

 

For the main question paper and supplementary paper respectively…

 

But again, you’re assuming modifying profiles each day/exam or having multiple profiles - we currently have one static profile with fixed settings in :-)

[ass17]

But again, you’re assuming modifying profiles each day/exam or having multiple profiles - we currently have one static profile with fixed settings in :-)

 

So do we and just one exam account they all use, but the home directories are mapped to a share based on their computer name and a date time stamp.

[howartp]

We have approx 20 accounts and there could be 3 exams going on at once, some using reader, some using writer and some using both.

 

So 1 profile with preloaded PDF path wouldn’t work. Unlesss... the path said “[MyDocs]/MainPaper.pdf” and /SupplementaryPaper.pdf then we renamed the various papers as we dropped them in the user area.

 

Does it fail silently if the paper doesn’t exist (if they’re non-reader students)?

[ass17]

We have approx 20 accounts and there could be 3 exams going on at once, some using reader, some using writer and some using both.

 

So 1 profile with preloaded PDF path wouldn’t work. Unlesss... the path said “[MyDocs]/MainPaper.pdf” and /SupplementaryPaper.pdf then we renamed the various papers as we dropped them in the user area.

 

Does it fail silently if the paper doesn’t exist (if they’re non-reader students)?

 

It should do yes, then when launching the PDF reader it will browse as normal, if it doesn’t let me know.

[michaeljbrewis97]

We are getting the delay when typing issue as well at our school - has the issue with auto save to network locations been addressed? We are on the latest paid version.

[ass17]

We are getting the delay when typing issue as well at our school - has the issue with auto save to network locations been addressed? We are on the latest paid version.

 

Typing delay when auto saving or generally all the time?

 

The auto saving is related to availability of the network share and the function waits for a max of 3 seconds before defaulting back to a temporary path if it doesn’t exist. All this is done on a background thread so not to halt the main thread and the document typing.

[michaeljbrewis97]

Typing delay when auto saving or generally all the time?

 

The auto saving is related to availability of the network share and the function waits for a max of 3 seconds before defaulting back to a temporary path if it doesn’t exist. All this is done on a background thread so not to halt the main thread and the document typing.

 

It appears to be all the time as soon as you start typing. Turning off auto save and auto backup seems to resolve the issue.

[ass17]

It appears to be all the time as soon as you start typing. Turning off auto save and auto backup seems to resolve the issue.

 

We have noticed this on a few schools but the issue isn’t related to ExamWritePad directly but indirectly via, in most cases, badly configured Windows or windows updates to the dotnet framework have caused issues. Those schools have re-installed windows and all is Ok.

 

The autosaves and autobackups when running are literally just background thread countdown timers that run and fire save events based on the amount of time specified in the config.

[michaeljbrewis97]

We have noticed this on a few schools but the issue isn’t related to ExamWritePad directly but indirectly via, in most cases, badly configured Windows or windows updates to the dotnet framework have caused issues. Those schools have re-installed windows and all is Ok.

 

The autosaves and autobackups when running are literally just background thread countdown timers that run and fire save events based on the amount of time specified in the config.

 

Unfortunately that doesnt seem to be the case for us - I have reinstalled windows on a few effected devices as well as reinstalling exam writepad and it hasnt made any difference.