ExamWritePad

[smarties11]

I suppose the other option is that they've saved it, closed it, gone to re-open it, but instead of finding it through File Explorer they've re-opened the software, filled in all the details again, and then gone to Save instead of Open, and then not read the 'do you want to overwrite' prompt?

 

That's a lot of 'doing things wrong' stringed together, but we get it every now and again with Word/etc so I could imagine it happening with any software.

 

We've had this happen twice in the last couple of weeks - not with EWP but with Word! I think today's generation of 'cloud' children are so used to things just saving without paying attention to where they are saved, what the name is, or even reading messages that pop up on screen, that they don't pay attention!

 

@ass17 - is it possible or even worth disabling the ability to overwrite a file in EWP, so that you always have to choose a unique filename when saving via the save dialog? I can't think of a scenario here where we would want students to save over an existing exam file (except for the autosaves of course!)

[smarties11]

Also have a suggestion for a new feature - would it be possible to have an 'open existing exam' button on the candidate information screen that dismisses the candidate info screen and takes you straight to the open dialogue? This would help to speed up the process of getting a student back up and running in the event of an IT failure where they've had to move to another computer etc. Thanks :-)

[ass17]

Also have a suggestion for a new feature - would it be possible to have an 'open existing exam' button on the candidate information screen that dismisses the candidate info screen and takes you straight to the open dialogue? This would help to speed up the process of getting a student back up and running in the event of an IT failure where they've had to move to another computer etc. Thanks :-)

 

Kind of already there if you enable the splash screen

[smarties11]

Kind of already there if you enable the splash screen

 

Ahh sorry, I didn't realise this. It's not an available option in the config editor so I've missed it. I've found it in the documentation though and added manually into the config and that works a treat :-)

[ass17]

Ahh sorry, I didn't realise this. It's not an available option in the config editor so I've missed it. I've found it in the documentation though and added manually into the config and that works a treat :-)

 

I’m working on a way to transfer current values to a new config and save it back.

 

It’s a bit more difficult than a standard XML read/write.

[ass17]

@ass17 - is it possible or even worth disabling the ability to overwrite a file in EWP, so that you always have to choose a unique filename when saving via the save dialog? I can't think of a scenario here where we would want students to save over an existing exam file (except for the autosaves of course!)

 

I can do but why are they doing this? the filename is made up of the details taken from the candidate information. But I suppose if you now disable the required for subject, syllabus, unit codes then the filename is not likely to be unique. And not to mention the user might decide to select an exiting file or type in their own filename....

Im sure I can stop overwrites when using the save dialog.

 

leave it with me...

[ass17]

@ass17 - is it possible or even worth disabling the ability to overwrite a file in EWP, so that you always have to choose a unique filename when saving via the save dialog? I can't think of a scenario here where we would want students to save over an existing exam file (except for the autosaves of course!)

 

Option is now done and will be present in the next release of EWP. Thanks for the suggestion...

[ass17]

The plan is now, if nothing is urgent, to next release EWP at the end of Jan 2020. I need a break and to enjoy christmas with my family and enjoy my birthday also!!

All feedback will still be noted, so please keep posting..

 

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

 

 

EDIT: I have been thinking about this for a while and I think you will all agree that it needs to be implemented. The config file is in plain text XML file and has to be readable to those that run EWP, so it is exposed to students/pupils if they looked at it in notepad etc. They would know where backup paths are or the password on exit, or the encryption key used.

 

Im thinking of re-doing the config file and GUI Editor so that upon saving the config file by the GUI, it will encrypt the config file so cannot be viewed in plain text. Thoughts welcome....

Edited December 11, 2019 by ass17

[smarties11]

Thanks for taking on board the idea about preventing overwrites in the save dialog. I will look forward to testing that when you release in January.

 

Hope you have a fantastic birthday and Christmas - the work you put in to EWP and the speed you turn around fixes and suggestions is immense and very much appreciated. We've been running EWP3 for our mock season which finishes tomorrow and it's been rock solid, not a single crash!

 

In terms of the encrypted config, personally for us I think it would be unnecessary. We run EWP from a hidden share that is not mounted as a drive, so it's extremely unlikely that any student would go looking for a config. We also don't use the password to exit feature. Others might think differently I suppose if they run from c: drive or a mounted network drive or use the password to exit feature.

 

Take it easy!

[ass17]

Thanks for taking on board the idea about preventing overwrites in the save dialog. I will look forward to testing that when you release in January.

 

Hope you have a fantastic birthday and Christmas - the work you put in to EWP and the speed you turn around fixes and suggestions is immense and very much appreciated. We've been running EWP3 for our mock season which finishes tomorrow and it's been rock solid, not a single crash!

 

In terms of the encrypted config, personally for us I think it would be unnecessary. We run EWP from a hidden share that is not mounted as a drive, so it's extremely unlikely that any student would go looking for a config. We also don't use the password to exit feature. Others might think differently I suppose if they run from c: drive or a mounted network drive or use the password to exit feature.

 

Take it easy!

 

Thanks for the great comments and I will take aboard your suggestions regarding the config file. [emoji1303]

[Garacesh]

EDIT: I have been thinking about this for a while and I think you will all agree that it needs to be implemented. The config file is in plain text XML file and has to be readable to those that run EWP, so it is exposed to students/pupils if they looked at it in notepad etc. They would know where backup paths are or the password on exit, or the encryption key used.

 

Im thinking of re-doing the config file and GUI Editor so that upon saving the config file by the GUI, it will encrypt the config file so cannot be viewed in plain text. Thoughts welcome....

 

I'm honestly not so sure. It's anecdotal, but I'll try and explain from my view at least..

 

Since the exam boards bringing in new regulations about work needing to be printed with the pupil present etc, we're moving to giving them locked down as all hell exam accounts. These accounts will be networked machines. Because of this, we can implement all the usual restrictions like not giving them the right-click menu/removing 'new shortcut' from the ribbon bar, and stopping them browsing to C:, so as far as I'm concerned they can't get to the config file (nor %PROGRAMDATA%) in the first place.

 

We're testing this setup with the mocks and it appears to be working very well, even as a pupil EWP can backup to %PROGRAMDATA%. The only hiccough is that the 'recover an exam' option either doesn't show up, or doesn't show up if they log off.

[ass17]

I'm honestly not so sure. It's anecdotal, but I'll try and explain from my view at least..

 

Since the exam boards bringing in new regulations about work needing to be printed with the pupil present etc, we're moving to giving them locked down as all hell exam accounts. These accounts will be networked machines. Because of this, we can implement all the usual restrictions like not giving them the right-click menu/removing 'new shortcut' from the ribbon bar, and stopping them browsing to C:, so as far as I'm concerned they can't get to the config file (nor %PROGRAMDATA%) in the first place.

 

We're testing this setup with the mocks and it appears to be working very well, even as a pupil EWP can backup to %PROGRAMDATA%. The only hiccough is that the 'recover an exam' option either doesn't show up, or doesn't show up if they log off.

 

Ok thanks for the feedback.

 

The recovery from facility available on the splash screen is only available for t he first 15mins after the last backup was taken, otherwise you will have to go into the software and use the previous history button for anything up to an hour.

 

Anything else after an hour will only be available to recover by an IT techie to recover by manually going into the programdata folder...

Edited December 12, 2019 by ass17

[Garacesh]

Gotcha, good to know, thanks

[Boredguy]

We mainly run it on stand alone laptops, so finding the config isn't an issue as like others we are not using the password to exit.

If we did run it on the network for students, it's on a locked down account with no visible access to the network location it would run from, and they can not see the local stations hard drive so while encrypting it might be a good idea, it might not be something that's high on your tweak list.

[Rob_D]

Hope you have a relaxing Christmas and birthday.

 

With regards to the encrypted config file. I'm leaning away from it. Right now, it's pretty simple to copy the settings from an old config file (say after a big update) by having two copies of notepad open side by side, compared to the GUI settings console which I personally find kind of clunky. (I'm sure there are other people who have the opposite opinion)

Besides, if it's on the C drive, don't most places restrict/hide the C drive, and equally with a network share, you can hide it and I'd expect most places to block being able to type a unc path into the explorer address bar.

 

If you went this rout, I'd be tempted to say have the ability to save a plain text XML as well (as a backup or export) Similar to how Smart Install Manager works. Although I don't know how much extra work that would be.

[ass17]

We mainly run it on stand alone laptops, so finding the config isn't an issue as like others we are not using the password to exit.

If we did run it on the network for students, it's on a locked down account with no visible access to the network location it would run from, and they can not see the local stations hard drive so while encrypting it might be a good idea, it might not be something that's high on your tweak list.

 

Noted, thanks.

[ass17]

Hope you have a relaxing Christmas and birthday.

 

With regards to the encrypted config file. I'm leaning away from it. Right now, it's pretty simple to copy the settings from an old config file (say after a big update) by having two copies of notepad open side by side, compared to the GUI settings console which I personally find kind of clunky. (I'm sure there are other people who have the opposite opinion)

Besides, if it's on the C drive, don't most places restrict/hide the C drive, and equally with a network share, you can hide it and I'd expect most places to block being able to type a unc path into the explorer address bar.

 

If you went this rout, I'd be tempted to say have the ability to save a plain text XML as well (as a backup or export) Similar to how Smart Install Manager works. Although I don't know how much extra work that would be.

 

Note, thanks.

[bald_pig]

Perhaps it might be easier to verify the config instead of encrypting it? My method for this would be to check the MD5 of the config file against an MD5 stored in the registry, and write the MD5 to the registry whenever EWP is run as administrator (for small deployments) or it's trivial to push a reg file with the key (for large deployments).

 

This would give the flexibility of enabling plaintext xml editing, and securing the config from changes/corruption.

[ass17]

Just a little response with regards the hiding of drives etc...

 

I think the point I was trying to say is that it is easy to get you hands on the config file, and regardless how you lock down, I would stop the user from right mouse clicking EWP and selecting Open File Location, to reveal all the files including the config.

 

I think I was trying to meet you guys half way by obfuscating the config from prying eyes.

 

I’ve had a night to sleep on it and I’m started to lean down the JSON route for the config as I can make the GUI config less clunky and have the ability to transfer settings from older config a to a new config.

[ass17]

Perhaps it might be easier to verify the config instead of encrypting it? My method for this would be to check the MD5 of the config file against an MD5 stored in the registry, and write the MD5 to the registry whenever EWP is run as administrator (for small deployments) or it's trivial to push a reg file with the key (for large deployments).

 

This would give the flexibility of enabling plaintext xml editing, and securing the config from changes/corruption.

 

Noted, thanks

[enash]

Hi,

 

Sorry if this has been asked before.

We have just moved to the new version of the software and was wondering if there was a way to remove the open file option.

We like to keep the backup files around on the laptops, in case of the documents being lost and we don't want students to open backup exams.

If not but you have another suggestion that can help, please let me know.

 

Thanks

[ass17]

Hi,

 

Sorry if this has been asked before.

We have just moved to the new version of the software and was wondering if there was a way to remove the open file option.

We like to keep the backup files around on the laptops, in case of the documents being lost and we don't want students to open backup exams.

If not but you have another suggestion that can help, please let me know.

 

Thanks

 

Yep, just disable the previous history button in the config.

[ass17]

Yep, just disable the previous history button in the config.

 

My mistake, there is no option to disable restoring backups, I will put it in the next version of EWP.

 

It’s never been in as it’s a fundamental part to EWP, being able to recover previous work, but never fear, I always aim to please.

 

I will put in a config option to disable the button but autobackups WILL still happen, just not directly accessible to pupils.

[enash]

Perfect,

 

This is exactly what want, to still have backups but them not to be accessible to the students taking the tests.

 

Many thanks!

[smarties11]

Hi,

 

Sorry if this has been asked before.

We have just moved to the new version of the software and was wondering if there was a way to remove the open file option.

We like to keep the backup files around on the laptops, in case of the documents being lost and we don't want students to open backup exams.

If not but you have another suggestion that can help, please let me know.

 

Thanks

 

I thought the regs prevented you from doing this? My understanding is that once the file has been printed and signed by the student, the electronic copy must be deleted. It's certainly how we operate here anyway. Plus if you keep old documents on the laptops, students will be able to open these by browsing to the documents area where they are saved and simply double clicking them?