                  Guide for Multiple Choice: Maths
                  ================================

This application is shareware - you may evaluate it for 30 days. If you
continue to use it beyond this time then you must register!

Introduction
------------
Multiple Choice is a quiz. You are presented with a series of questions,
each of which has three possible answers. You must choose the correct
answer from the three. Unlike other similar types of software, with
MChoice if your first attempt is incorrct you keep going until you find
the correct answer. The score reflects the number of attempts you make.

Questions can have images associated with them, which are sprite or draw
files. Three difficulty levels are also provided, which vary the amount
of time you have to answer in.

Using Multiple Choice
---------------------
Multiple Choice is installed in the normal RISC OS way, and begins as
soon as the icon is clicked on the icon bar.This opens the main window,
with the default test file displayed.

The top section of the window is the question area, which along with
the question shows how many questions there are in total in this
particular test. Below the question are three alternative answers, with
buttons labelled A, B and C at the start of them. An answer is chosen by
clicking on the appropriate button (NOT the text of the answer). 

If you are correct a large tick will be displayed on the answer you
chose, and after a short delay the next question will be displayed. If
you were incorrect, a cross will be shown - you must now try again
with one of the remaining answers.

Some questions will have images associated with them. When this is so,
a small window will be opened which contains the image. If the image
obscures the text you may wish to move it or close it down. At a later
point you can reopen this window by clicking on the picture button.

Icons Explained
---------------
a) Generally the picture icon is 'greyed out' and clicking on it will have
no effect. However if the question has an image connected with it, then
selecting this icon will either bring the picture window to the front of
all other windows, or open it, if it has been closed. 

b) Multiple Choice has three difficulty levels, altered by selecting the
difficulty icon (button with steps & 1,2 & 3). The difficulty level affects 
the time limit. On level 1 (easiest) the timer is off; level 2 has a 30s
time limit & level 3, just 15s.


c) The files icon (hand holding paper) allows you to select a new set of
questions from the  question bank directory (this can be set to any
directory - see later for details). Selecting a new file from the menu list
will reset the score back to zero.

d) To reset the score back to zero, and begin the test again, select the
trash icon:

NB. If you close the main window, while working on a test, and then
later reopen the main window, then the test will reload and begin again.

Loading Question Files
----------------------
When Multiple Choice loads, it uses a default set of questions. A set of
questions is simply a list of questions and alternatives, created as
Text files with Acorns Edit program (an Editor program is also available
for registered users). To load a new set of questions click on the files
icon (hand & paper), and select from the menu.

When you select the files icon, the question sets shown are read from a
default directory. To use a different directory, simply drag your new
directory containing the questions onto the Multiple Choice window. From
then on, clicking the files icon will show the question sets in your new
directory (providing they are the appropriate Edit Text files). See later
on how to set up appropriate files & directories. An additional directory
of tests is provided - Maths_2.

Menu Options
------------
Clicking menu over the Multiple Choice window opens the Options
menu:

Reset path - this sets the directory used for the files icon back to its
previous setting (see Word Banks)

Save As Default - When Multiple Choice loads, it uses a default word
bank. If you wish to make the current word bank the default one then
select this menu item.

You can select the level of sound (or none at all) by selecting the
appropriate menu item. If the sound level is not very loud even with
the 'loud' setting, then your machine is probably configured with a
quiet sound option.

The delay between finding the correct answer to the display of the next
question can be changed. By default the longest delay is chosen.

Making New Question Banks
-------------------------
As well as using the banks of questions that came with Multiple Choice,
you may wish to create your own. The questions are in Text files created
with Acorns Edit application. To see how the data should be entered, you
should load an existing test into Edit and use this as an example
(alternatively registered users can make use of a simple editor supplied
when you register).

These files are stored in various directories, the structure of which
is explained below...

1. Create a new directory for your bank of questions
2. Inside this new directory, create a directory called: Images

Place any sprite or draw files inside the Images directory. If you are
using sprites, save each one separately and make the sprite internal
name the same as the main file name.

Place your Edit Text files inside the main directory you have created,
NOT inside the Images directory.

The best way to create an Edit Text file is to study an existing one
first, however the guidelines on the next pages may be useful:

1. Begin a question with the @ symbol, and do not worry about
word wrap.
2. If your question needs an image, place the image name (no path
necessary), preceeded by the hash symbol, on a separate line after the
question.
3. Type in your three alternatives. Put the correct one first, and begin
a new line for each new alternative.
4. Repeat the process for the next question; you can leave a blank line
when you begin a new question if you wish.

Registration
------------
The registration fee for MC_Maths is 5.99 - this will entitle you to be
kept up to date about upgrades as they become available as well as removing
the 'unregistered' windows that pop up. You will also receive an editor
program allowing you to create or modify tests. To register make a cheque
to M. Smith for 5.99 and print clearly your address as well as who you want
the program to be registered to. Also write the name of the application on
your note (ie MC_Maths).

M. Smith
19 Tulip Road
Awsworth
Nottinghamshire
NG16 2RS

Feedback
--------
It is always gratifying for an author to get feedback on their work, both
positive & negative (providing it is constructive critism!). Please do let
me know what you think and what you use the software for etc.

Copying
-------
You may not disassemble or reverse compile this software. You may make
backup copies and pass on copies to third parties providing you:

(a) Copy all files, including this one
(b) Charge no fee (except for P.D libraries who may charge distribution
    costs & magazines who may include it on 'cover disks')

Disclaimer
----------
This software is supplied 'as is'. The author is not liable for any loss or
damage resulting from the use of this software.

Iridium Range
-------------
Shown below is a brief description (E & O.E) of applications by the same
author. Virtually all are of an educational nature, running under the WIMP.
Most work on RISC OS 2, all work on RISC OS 3. I have not tried them on a
RISC PC, but they ought to be ok!

Geography:
* Where & Grid - Designed for Key Stage 3, Where & Grid are two
  complementary applications. They test locations of countries (Europe &
  Africa), towns, counties (UK only) rivers, montains, bearings, four and
  six figure grid references. Currently the set covers the UK, Europe
  & Africa.
* OS_Symbols - Designed for Key Stage 3, OS_Symbols tests knowledge of a
  range of OS Map symbols. A particular symbol is displayed and the correct
  description must be found - time limits can be set.
* Forecast - Produce your own weather maps just like on TV with symbols and
  isobars. Variety of maps supplied; wind chill can be determined.
* Predict - Predict the weather for the next 24 hours by supplying data
  such are pressure and wind direction.
* Link - A 'blockbuster' type quiz game, where all the words are connected
  with Key Satge 3 geography.

Science:
* Circuit symbols - Tests knowledge of circuit and electronic symbols
  against the clock.
* Assist: Science AT4 - Produce a wide range of worksheets for topics on 
  AT4. Each topic has a wide range categories including word searches,
  crosswords, True or False, Anagrams and Missing words. Worksheets are
  created from a databank, so they are different each time they are printed.
* Assist: Equations - Produce four types of worksheets based on chemical
  equations. Categories are Balancing equations, Missing product, Missing
  reactant and Right or Wrong. Because a databank is used, worksheets are
  different each time they are printed.
* Assist: Periodic Table - Print a customised Periodic Table. Displayed data
  can include mass number, density, boiling point, melting point,
  radioactive isotopes, atomic radius, atomic volume, covalent radius,
  ionisation energy, & electronegativity. Graphs and periodic trends can
  also be produced.
* Periodic Table - Click on a particular element to display relevant data. 
* ArcMedia: Space - A simple hypermedia system on the Solar System. Designed
  to be 1Meg RISC OS 2 friendly. Variety of NASA images.
* Multiple Choice Chemistry - Several hundred multiple questions (some with
  pictures) covering GCSE Chemistry. Time limits can be set.
* Multiple Choice Physics - Several hundred multiple questions (some with
  pictures) covering GCSE Physics. Time limits can be set.

Word Puzzles:
* Word Search - Application for creating word searches. Control over grid
  size, displayed fonts, grid shape & borders is provided.
* Do Search - Compliments the Word Search application. Data files from Word
  Search can be dragged into Do Search, allowing the word search to be done
  on screen
* X-Word - Creates and prints crosswords from words and clues provided by
  the user. Control over grid size, displayed fonts & borders is provided.
* Do-Word - Compliments the X-Word application. Data files from X-Word can
  be dragged into Do Word, allowing the crossword to be done on screen.
* Anagram - Reconstruct the jumbled up word by solid dragging of the
  letters. Hint feature is also provided.
* Guess - Guess the word chosen by the computer. Hint feature provided.
* Bottle - Hangman type game, but with bottles. Hints also provided.
* Cloze - Removes words (user can determine how many) from a passage of
  text. User must then reconstruct the entire text by entering words into
  gaps in the text. Add your own passages of text easily. Summary can be
  printed.

Picture Puzzles:
* Blocksaw - Jigsaw type application, using blocks for the pieces. Accepts
  sprite and draw files. Size of the grid can be varied to cover a wide
  range of abilities.
* Tile - Picture is broken into a series of tiles, and then the tiles mixed
  up. The picture must be recreated by swapping tiles. Uses sprite or draw
  files; allows the number of tiles to be varied and has three difficulty
  levels.
* Slide - Sliding block puzzle. Uses sprite or draw files; allows the number
  of tiles to be varied and has three difficulty levels.
* Rows n Cols - Recreate a picture (either sprite or draw) by sliding rows
  or columns into their correct positions.

Miscellaneous:
* Link - A 'blockbuster' type quiz game for up to three players. Database
  can be easily modified to include your own words.
* Multiple Choice (General) - Multiple choice quiz, some with pictures. Many
  general knowledge topics covered. Editor also available so you can create
  your own tests.
* Multiple Choice Maths - Several hundred multiple questions (some with
  pictures) covering GCSE Maths. Time limits can be set.
* ArcMedia (Cats) - A simple hypermedia system on the Cat Family. Designed
  to be 1Meg RISC OS 2 friendly. 
* Word Tester - Tests knowledge of the correct word for numbers from one to
  one hundred in various languages. Played against the clock.
* Facemaker - Use your computer to design a face, then either print or
  export as a sprite file.
* Desktop Turtle - Create on screen graphics with a 'Turtle' within a
  desktop window. Wide range of commands supported including numeric
  variables as well as sprites and sounds. Other features include variable
  line thickness, auto symmetry and backdrops.
* Birthday & Today. Produce an A4 sized poster on events taking place in
  history either on your Birthday or any particular day. Information
  displayed includes Famous Birthdays on the same day, events, films, songs
  and sporting events. Variety of borders/watermarks provided.
* School CV & CV+. School leavers (CV) or sixth form students (CV+) can
  quickly create a CV by entering data. Layouts can be chosen from a
  predefined set, and fonts changed. DTP style output without having to use
  a DTP application.