ExamWritePad

[ass17]

Change request: We have found that once you have started the program you are locked into it until you have completed the fields on the Candidate Information Screen of Exam WritePad:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]49251[/ATTACH]

 

We like that students are prevented from looking at other programs once Exam WritePad has started (fills the screen) but our Exams Co-Ordinator said to me this morning that she had started several laptops, due to network issues that sorted themselves eventually and so did not need them all, and found that she could not shut down the surplus laptops unless she put dummy data into the Candidate Information Screen. She asked me to ask if this could be changed.

 

Thanks.

 

I see your using an older version of the software, but not to worry, I’m sure you will update it in due course.

 

I will have a think about the best way to do this.......

 

The easiest answer I can give is simply pressing the power button on the laptop which will override all open applications and shut down. That is what we do here.

[6Foot2]

I see your using an older version of the software, but not to worry, I’m sure you will update it in due course...

I will be updating, probably in the Summer. Our SEN and Exams Co-Ordinator didn't want changes in the middle of exam season in case it caused upset for our supported students.

[Rob_D]

I wouldn't mind a splash screen or something where you can choose to start a new file or open an old one before the candidate details screen.

As we have candidate details and user must save enabled, if someone is opening the program to reopen an old file (or backup) it's a lot of faffing.

[jessica]

Is there anyway to get the program to check for the backup folder before opening, and if it doesn't exist create it? We have had a couple of laptops loosing this folder then error out after a student has started working.

[ass17]

I wouldn't mind a splash screen or something where you can choose to start a new file or open an old one before the candidate details screen.

As we have candidate details and user must save enabled, if someone is opening the program to reopen an old file (or backup) it's a lot of faffing.

 

I think that is a good idea. Added to list [emoji1303]

[ass17]

Is there anyway to get the program to check for the backup folder before opening, and if it doesn't exist create it? We have had a couple of laptops loosing this folder then error out after a student has started working.

 

Added to list [emoji1303]

[RLR]

I wouldn't mind a splash screen or something where you can choose to start a new file or open an old one before the candidate details screen.

As we have candidate details and user must save enabled, if someone is opening the program to reopen an old file (or backup) it's a lot of faffing.

+1. Sometimes we have to re-open an exam file but are forced to enter Candidate Details before we can do anything. We like asking for candidate details before the exam begins but understand it can be turned off.

[Garacesh]

+1. Sometimes we have to re-open an exam file but are forced to enter Candidate Details before we can do anything. We like asking for candidate details before the exam begins but understand it can be turned off.

 

Just as a point, you can associate .EXAMTEXT files with EWP and they open normally without need for doing any bogus details. That's how I do it for when I'm printing their scripts off.

 

A hard-close button on the candidate screen would be good though, that if pressed exits the entire program. That should avoid the potential exam scripts with no candidate details issue, I'd think?

[RLR]

Just as a point, you can associate .EXAMTEXT files with EWP and they open normally without need for doing any bogus details. That's how I do it for when I'm printing their scripts off.

 

A hard-close button on the candidate screen would be good though, that if pressed exits the entire program. That should avoid the potential exam scripts with no candidate details issue, I'd think?

Ya, this is something I have been doing. The main issue is if a laptop needs a restart and then needs logging back into, the exam software automatically loads. I have to fill out the candidate info to then open their work. Not a major issue, just an inconvenience. We also have it set so it prompts the user to save after they fill in their details. This means I need to save a file which isn't going to be used.

[ass17]

Is there anyway to get the program to check for the backup folder before opening, and if it doesn't exist create it? We have had a couple of laptops loosing this folder then error out after a student has started working.

 

Check Save, Open, Backup paths on startup to see if they exist, if not create, if no permission to create then fall back to default directories.

 

I have now done this and it will be released in next new version this week.

[mattpant]

I found that clicking Alt+F4 on that screen closed that window and you could carry on opening files without populating the candidate details - saving time!

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Ya, this is something I have been doing. The main issue is if a laptop needs a restart and then needs logging back into, the exam software automatically loads. I have to fill out the candidate info to then open their work. Not a major issue, just an inconvenience. We also have it set so it prompts the user to save after they fill in their details. This means I need to save a file which isn't going to be used.

 

I found that clicking Alt+F4 on that screen closed that window and you could carry on opening files without populating the candidate details - saving time!

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

+1. Sometimes we have to re-open an exam file but are forced to enter Candidate Details before we can do anything. We like asking for candidate details before the exam begins but understand it can be turned off.

 

I found that clicking Alt+F4 on that screen closed that window and you could carry on opening files without populating the candidate details - saving time!

[Garacesh]

Congratulations on joining the useless error message club

 

Not sure what caused this, would've been happy to troubleshoot if it were a mock but alas, not the case.

I set a default printer manually and then it worked, but in hindsight, I got the error once then did the printer, so it may have just worked the second time anyway and changing the printer didn't have any effect

[ass17]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]49270[/ATTACH]

Congratulations on joining the useless error message club

 

Not sure what caused this, would've been happy to troubleshoot if it were a mock but alas, not the case.

I set a default printer manually and then it worked, but in hindsight, I got the error once then did the printer, so it may have just worked the second time anyway and changing the printer didn't have any effect

I have just looked through all code and I cannot find where that error box appear of the text within it so I can only assume that is an error generate d by the printer driver. So not my problem per say, which printer are you using and what driver is it? PS, PCL5, PCL6?

[Garacesh]

Probably then, yeah.

 

Same printer/driver I've been using for the past however-long though. And the same printer I printed to after I'd set the default printer. HP LaserJet 600 M602, PCL6 driver.

[ass17]

Probably then, yeah.

 

Same printer/driver I've been using for the past however-long though. And the same printer I printed to after I'd set the default printer. HP LaserJet 600 M602, PCL6 driver.

OK, you might have to uninstall the driver and re-install it, other than that I'm not sure with you trying it on another computer.

 

I test here at my end using a combination of printers for example:

 

Konica Minolta via Follow-Me Print Queue

HP Laserjet 3015

Primo PDF

HP Laserjet 1006

 

No issues ever from my end...

[Garacesh]

Nah, like I said, I clicked print, that error came up, I manually set a default printer, clicked print again, printed to the printer, paper came out as normal.

One of the big printers in Reprographics is offline at the moment, engineer's rooting around its innards, so it's possible that having Windows manage my default printer had set it to that one, and that caused it.

Or not. Dunno. I think at this point all we can do is speculate.

 

If it crops up again I might give a bit more time to debugging it, I hate not being able to give any useful information about it. But I've been printing scripts off for the past couple of weeks and this is the first time I've had that pop up, so I don't think it's going to be a big deal.

[ass17]

Nah, like I said, I clicked print, that error came up, I manually set a default printer, clicked print again, printed to the printer, paper came out as normal.

One of the big printers in Reprographics is offline at the moment, engineer's rooting around its innards, so it's possible that having Windows manage my default printer had set it to that one, and that caused it.

Or not. Dunno. I think at this point all we can do is speculate.

 

If it crops up again I might give a bit more time to debugging it, I hate not being able to give any useful information about it. But I've been printing scripts off for the past couple of weeks and this is the first time I've had that pop up, so I don't think it's going to be a big deal.

 

Ok no worries, let me know if you have anything worth sharing with others [emoji1303]

[fiza]

Was a new version released this week?

[ass17]

Was a new version released this week?

 

Delayed because of workload, I’ve just come back from holiday and had a bit to catch-up one, also writing EWP too!

 

I’m looking to release it tomorrow but I won’t be using it until after the exam period is now finished, but on second thoughts I will throw it to the lions on the final week of word processor exams so it’s been tested even though it will only be in two exams.

 

I would advise anyone to put it into a live environment until you have done your own tests, as the disclaimer always says. [emoji1]

 

I have one final bit to test now that I have added a splash screen, which is, does EWP still work as expected when the splash is turned off in the config.

 

I have also stopped the ALT+F4 from closing the software, but by having the splash screen on, doesn’t matter as there is an exit button.

 

I’m probably saying too much but I’m always open and like people to feel part of the EWP community. Without everyone’s help and support this project would not be where it is today! So big thank you to everyone!!

[pamplemousse123]

May I make a suggestion for an enhancement? We use the option ShowCandidateInfoScreenOnLaunch so that Invigilators & Candidates are forced to enter this early, which is great. However, there are times when we just need to launch the application and, for example, get to the auto-saved files as soon as possible and it adds a bit of delay completing that form again. I think it would be very helpful if there were a backdoor way of dismissing that Candidate info screen. Maybe Control-Click the OK button??

Many thanks.

[ass17]

May I make a suggestion for an enhancement? We use the option ShowCandidateInfoScreenOnLaunch so that Invigilators & Candidates are forced to enter this early, which is great. However, there are times when we just need to launch the application and, for example, get to the auto-saved files as soon as possible and it adds a bit of delay completing that form again. I think it would be very helpful if there were a backdoor way of dismissing that Candidate info screen. Maybe Control-Click the OK button??

Many thanks.

 

Currently ALT+F4 will bypass the candidate screen.

 

But when the new version comes out later today, the splash screen is enabled by default which will allow you to open existing file without the need to fill in candidate info.

[pamplemousse123]

Yay! Well done! Thank you.

 

Is there a resource for information like that? And maybe a candidate user guide?

 

Many thanks.

[ass17]

Yay! Well done! Thank you.

 

Is there a resource for information like that? And maybe a candidate user guide?

 

Many thanks.

 

I normally leave it to the exam officer to compile as they see fit.

 

The beauty of EWP is it’s probably the easiest software to use you don’t need instructions [emoji23]

[6Foot2]

...The beauty of EWP is it’s probably the easiest software to use you don’t need instructions [emoji23]

Clearly you haven't met our staff/students!

 

[ass17]

Download Link

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=18o6BcYPl840IVnYtuTvhVZpg2LUQ8Cqz

 

Change Log

 

2.1.6.0

FEATURE: Splash Screen available via config option “EnableSlashScreen”, default is 1 for ON, use 0 to turn it OFF. The splash screen allow you to start a new exam or open an existing exam file. There is also an Exit button. It gives the software a cleaner approach.

 

2.1.5.3 - 2.1.5.9 Build Skipped / Code Clean-up / Comments Added

 

2.1.5.2

FIXED: Opening an existing file will no longer bring up the Candidate Screen on some rare occasions.

 

2.1.5.1

FIXED: Folder Path checking on Start-up

Check Save, Open, Backup paths on start-up to see if they exist, if not create, if no permission to create then fall back to default directories.

 

2.1.5.0

FEATURE: Application Debugging

New Config option called "DebugApplication" has been created with default of 0

If you are having issues on start-up change the option to 1, re-run EWP and please post the log file so I can see what is going on. Eventually the whole program will capture ALL events for debugging but for the time being its only start-up. The log file is created within the TEMP folder of user that runs EWP.

 

2.1.4.9

FIXED: Ordering or backup previous versions

The ordering in number order is being confused with the lack of a preceding 0 on single numbers which has now been addressed.

 

2.1.4.8

ADDED: Config option to display so many previous versions

New config option "PreviousVersionsRecoveryMinutesDisplay". This allows you to specify the maximum allow time of previous versions to display within the last “xx” given minutes. The default is set to 60 but you can change to suit your needs.

 

2.1.4.7

FIXED: issues with all formatting reverting back to normal

Formatting text options and line spacing options, including config double line spacing options would reset back to normal after printing, issue has now been addressed.

 

2.1.4.6

ADDED: More help on HELP Window

Tips like CTRL-TAB will indent writing or CUT COPY PASTE right mouse click on text window.