Help Contents screen

Choose the topic you want help on.

	Using Help Registration and tracking Screen types Question types Taking the test Keyboard commands About CBT Systems


Answering questions

You answer questions by selecting one or more answers from a list of options, or by typing a word or phrase as requested.

When you have answered the question to your satisfaction, you confirm your answer by clicking the OK button (or by pressing Alt+O, or double-clicking your selection, or pressing the Enter key). You will then be given feedback on your answer and the correct answer will be indicated.

At any point before you click OK (or otherwise confirm your answer) you may choose to Cancel the question or, for double fill-the-blank questions, to Redo the question.

If you choose Cancel, your attempt at the question (if any) will be ignored, and you will be given the correct answer. Then you can click OK to close down the question window and continue with the course. You can choose Cancel as soon as the question appears, or at any stage before confirming your answer.

If you choose Redo, your attempt(s) so far at the question will be wiped out and you will be able to start the question all over again.

A Help option is always available in questions. This accesses context-sensitive help on the particular question type. It does not give you any hints or clues to answering the question.

A Hint option is available in some questions. If you choose to access the hint, you will get extra information or a clue that should help you to answer the question. After you have read the hint, click OK to close the hint window and then proceed to answer the question in the normal way.

The Cancel and Hint buttons are never available in test questions.

You can move a question window by clicking on its title bar and dragging it to another position on the screen.

You must respond to a question and then close the question window before you can proceed with the course.

See also:

Questions

Buttons in question windows

Taking the test


Multiple choice questions (one or more correct answers)

To answer a question of this type:

1.	Select one or more options by clicking on it/them. When an option is selected, its checkbox is marked with an "x". You can deselect any option by clicking it a second time; the "x" will then disappear.

2.	When you are satisfied with your selection(s), click OK to confirm your answer(s).

3.	After the feedback displays, click OK (or press Enter) to close the question window and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Fill-the-blank questions (typed input)

To answer these questions, type the missing word or term in the blank and then press Enter or click OK to confirm.

Note

In the case of long or difficult words, small spelling errors are usually ignored. However, a correctly spelled answer is necessary with short and easily spelled words, and input such as programming code. You can backspace to delete characters and correct your typing before confirming your answer.

Correct answers

If your input is correct, you will get feedback to that effect, and when you click OK (or press Enter) the question window will close.

Incorrect answers

If your input is incorrect, you will get feedback to that effect, and be asked to try again. If your input on the second attempt is incorrect, the correct word or term will be inserted in the blank when you click OK. When you click OK again, the question window will close and you may proceed with the course. (Test questions of this type do not allow you to make a second attempt.)

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Buttons in question windows

The following buttons are displayed in all course question windows: OK, Cancel, Help, Hint, Redo. However, not all these buttons are active in all question types.

	OK  Cancel Help Hint Redo

See also:

Answering questions

Questions


True/False questions

To answer a question of this type:

1.	Select either True or False and click OK to confirm your answer. Alternatively, double-click on True or False.

Tip: If you change your mind about your answer at any point before you confirm it select the other option.

2.	After you have confirmed your answer, feedback will display. To close the question window and continue with the course, click OK again.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Yes/No questions

To answer a question of this type:

1.	Select either Yes or No. Click OK to confirm your answer. Alternatively, double-click on Yes or No.

Tip: If you change your mind about your answer before you confirm it, select the other option.

2.	After you have confirmed your answer, feedback will display. Click OK to close the question window and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Multiple choice questions (one correct answer only)

To answer a question of this type:

1.	Select the appropriate option. Click OK to confirm your answer. Alternatively, double-click the chosen option.

Tip: If you change your mind about your answer at any point before you confirm it, select a different option.

2.	After you have confirmed your selection, feedback will display. Click OK to close the question window and continue with the course,.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Double fill-the-blank questions

In most questions of this type, where two options are available to fill two blanks, one option goes in one blank and the other option in the other blank. But it is also possible in questions of this type for the same option to be correct in both blanks.

This question operates in the same way as questions where you are filling a single blank, except that you take it in two stages, filling each blank in turn.

1.	Select an option to fill the first blank, by clicking it. Your chosen option will appear in the first blank (whether it is correct or not).

Tip: If you change your mind just select the other option and it will appear in the blank instead.

2.	You must confirm your selection for the first blank by clicking OK before you can go on to fill the second.

3.	Fill the second blank in the same way.

You will not get feedback until both blanks are filled and you have confirmed your second selection by clicking OK. If you want to change your selection in either blank at any point before you click OK to confirm your second selection, you can use the Redo button to erase your attempt at the question and start over.

After you have confirmed your answers, feedback will display.

If both answers are correct, you can now click OK to close the question window and continue with the course.

If both blanks are not correctly filled, clicking OK will overwrite your incorrect answer(s), so you can read the full statement(s) with the correct options in place. Click OK again to close the question window and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Fill-the-blank questions (multiple choice)

In questions of this type:

1.	Select an option to fill the blank by clicking on it. As soon as you select an option, it will be inserted into the blank (whether it is correct or incorrect). This allows you to read the full sentence, with your chosen option in the blank.

2.	At this point, you can still change your mind and select a different option to fill the blank. When you are satisfied with your choice, click OK.

3.	If your answer is correct, you will get feedback to that effect. Click OK to close the question window and continue with the course.

4.	If your answer is incorrect, you will get feedback to that effect, and the correct option will be highlighted, but your incorrect selection will remain in the blank. When you click OK again, the correct option will be inserted into the blank, so you can read the full sentence with the correct option in place. Click OK again to close the question window and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Coding questions

Coding questions appear in special topics that give you the opportunity to analyze and write code. These topics provide a CBT-controlled simulated version of an environment or application where you are likely to use the language you are learning about.

Coding questions ask you to type or select a piece of code to fill a blank in the program or statement you are considering in the topic. If the section of code is too long to appear at one time, you can use the vertical scrollbar to review it.

Accuracy is essential in coding questions. You will be judged wrong if you make a typing error, so be sure to type carefully. When you are asked to input your answer, you can backspace to delete characters before confirming your answer. Press Enter or click OK to confirm.

If your input is incorrect, you will be given feedback to that effect and the opportunity to try again.

If your input on the second attempt is incorrect, you will be given feedback and the correct code will appear in the blank.

At any point before you confirm your answer, you may choose to Cancel a question and proceed with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Interface questions

Interface questions appear in wide screens and ask you to interact with the interface of the application under discussion. The interface appears as it normally does to the user. You will be asked to click on an icon, a button, or some other option on screen. This gives you the opportunity to become more familiar with some of the functions of the interface.

An interface question appears in a dialog box that invites you to "Try this". Read the question text and then click on the button, icon, or other option that you think is appropriate. If you click at the correct point on the interface you will be given feedback to that effect. You can then click OK to close the question window and continue with the course.

If your first attempt is incorrect, you will be asked to try again. Click OK to confirm that you wish to do this, and then click at the appropriate point on the interface. If your second attempt is incorrect, you will be given feedback to that effect, and the appropriate icon, button, or other option will be indicated.

You can choose to skip an interface question by clicking on the Cancel button in the question window. If you do this, the appropriate icon, button or other option will be indicated. You can then click OK to close the question window and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Questions

Buttons in question windows


Questions

Note that questions in the course text are there to encourage you to stop and think, not to test your knowledge of the course content. No record is kept of your answers to questions in the course, nor are you in any way scored on your performance (except when you choose to take a test).

On which question type would you like more help?

Coding questions

Double fill-the-blank questions

Fill-the-blank questions (multiple choice)

Fill-the-blank questions (typed input)

Interface questions

Multiple choice questions (one or more correct answers)

Multiple choice questions (one correct answer only)

True/False questions

Yes/No questions

Hotspot questions

See also:

Answering questions

Buttons in question windows

Taking the test


Course map screen

The course map screen functions also as a course menu. This is the first course screen you will see after you register for the course. You will also be taken to this screen any time you choose Navigate while you are in the course. From here you can choose to join the course at the start of any unit, topic, or screen, or you can select any of the active control panel buttons.

When you first enter the course, the course map will display a list of the course units. Clicking on any unit title will display the list of topics for that unit. To see the list of topics in another unit, simply click on that unit title. (There is no need to close down the displayed list of topics first - this happens automatically when another topics list displays.)

The topics list for each unit shows the screen numbers alongside the list of topics. Screen numbers with the pointing hand symbol beside them are simulation or hands-on screens.

You can join the course at the start of any topic or screen by double-clicking the appropriate topic title panel or the appropriate screen number box.

The option buttons for the course map screen are displayed along the bottom of the screen. They are as follows:

Bookmark

Progress

Test

Glossary

OK

Close

Exit course


Wide screen

A wide screen is where the course screen occupies the entire computer screen (that is, the CBT text and graphics are not confined to a square area like in a framed screen). This type of screen is sometimes used for displaying the interface of the application under discussion as it normally appears to the user.

You interact with a wide screen in much the same way as you do with a framed screen. But because a wide screen can display the actual application interface, you are sometimes also invited to click on an icon or other option on screen. This type of activity is known as an interface question and gives you the opportunity to become more familiar with the functions of some of the icons, buttons, and menu options of the interface.

Note boxes appear in wide screens and cover brief points of relevant information. When you have read a note, you can remove it from the screen by clicking OK (or by pressing Enter) and continue with the course.

A mobile CBT Controls panel is positioned (by default) at the bottom right of the wide screen and contains the same buttons as the framed screen. You can move the control panel by clicking and dragging its title bar, and you can collapse or expand it by clicking on the Minimize/Restore button.

The buttons available on the CBT Controls panel for wide screens are as follows:

	Continue Navigate Help Footnote Step back Exit Minimize/Restore
	The minimized version of the CBT Controls panel.

See also:

Interface questions

Keyboard commands


Unit navigation

Right-clicking the mouse anywhere on a framed or wide screen displays a pop-up menu with a list of all the topics in the current unit. Left-clicking on a topic name displays the screen numbers relevant to that topic. Left-clicking on a screen number brings you to the start of that screen.

The Navigate button takes you to the course map, from where you can choose to join any unit, topic, or screen in the course, or select any of the active control panel buttons.


Framed screen

The framed screen type consists of an enclosed area containing text and graphics. The course name is displayed on the left and the CBT control buttons are to the right. Across the top of the screen is the name of the unit you are currently in and the number of the current screen in relation to the total number of screens of the unit.

Note boxes appear in framed screens and cover brief points of relevant information. When you have read a note, you can remove it from the screen by clicking OK (or by pressing Enter) and continue with the course.

The CBT control buttons on a framed screen are as follows:

	Exit course Navigate Help Footnote Step back Continue


Test Topic

This topic has been inserted between the two versions of the Hands-on screen topics because there is a smalll bug in RoboHelp. The topic has the Build expression:TEST so that it will not be compiled into any help file.


Hands-on screen

This is a CBT hands-on exercise, which offers you the opportunity to work in a CBT-controlled simulated version of an application.

Introduction

An exercise consists of several tasks (or occasionally just one task), which will appear in turn. You can attempt each task without help or you can access detailed step-by-step instructions on how to do a task.

How to do an exercise

The first thing you will see when you start an exercise is a statement of what the overall exercise is, with a list of the tasks the exercise involves. (You can scroll down to see more tasks if necessary.) When you close down the Exercise box, a Task box appears, and this remains on screen until you have completed the task. (Sometimes you will see more text before the Task box appears.) When you have completed all the tasks in the exercise, the simulation is over.

How to do a task

When a Task box appears on screen, you can go ahead and attempt the task without help if you think you know how to do it. But if you are unsure, you can choose Steps (either before you begin or during the task) to see detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to proceed. (However, you must close the Steps box before you begin or resume the task.) It doesn't matter whether you choose to access the list of steps or not - the interface will behave in exactly the same way once you start the task. Once you have completed the task you must click on the Done button. You are then judged on the task.

If you have completed every step in the task correctly, you will be given feedback to that effect.  If you have done one or more of the steps incorrectly, you will be so advised in the Task Feedback dialog.  You can choose to have another try at performing the task (by clicking Try again), choose to skip the task (by clicking Skip), or watch the task being completed for you (by clicking Show me).

At any point during a task you can opt to skip the task (by clicking Skip task in the Task box). The task will be completed automatically for you (but you won't see the steps as they occur) and you will be taken to the next task (if there is one).

Note boxes appear in hands-on screens and cover brief points of relevant information. When you have read a note, you can remove it from the screen by clicking OK (or by pressing Enter) and continue with the course.

The steps

You can view the detailed step-by-step instructions for any task (by clicking Steps in the Task box). A list of all the steps involved in the task will appear in a scrolling window.


Test screen

If you are in a unit test, the title of the unit is displayed across the top of the test screen. If you are in the full course test, the name of the course will display across the top of the screen.

Help on individual question types is available under the heading Questions on the contents screen of this Help system. Context-sensitive help is also available by clicking the Help button (or by pressing Alt+H or F1) in each question window. This accesses help on the mechanics of answering the particular question type.

Help on taking the test is available under the heading Taking the test on the Help contents screen.

The buttons at the foot of test question windows are as follows:

	OK  Redo Help Status Exit test


Unit aim and objectives screen

Each unit starts with a unit aim and objectives screen.

The name of the unit is displayed across the top of the screen.

When you first enter the aim and objectives screen, only the unit aim is displayed. If you want to view the learning objectives for the unit, click the Objectives button (or press Alt+O). The learning objectives for the unit will then display in a scrolling text box. To close this text box, click Close (or press Alt+L).

Other option buttons are ranged down the right side of the screen and are the same as in framed screens. For information on these buttons see Framed screen


Unit summary screen

Each unit ends with a unit summary screen.

The name of the unit is displayed across the top of the screen.

When you enter the summary screen, a brief account of what you have covered in the unit is displayed. If you want to view the full summary for the unit, click the Summary button (or press Alt+S). The full summary will then display in a scrolling text box. To close this text box, click Close (or press Alt+L).

Other option buttons are ranged down the right side of the screen and are the same as in framed screens. For more information on these buttons see Framed screen


Screen Types

Which screen type do you want to know more about?

Course map screen

Framed screen

Wide screen

Hands-on screen

Live Application screen

Test screen

Unit aim and objectives screen

Unit summary screen


Using Help

To access the course help, you press F1 at any point, or click the Help button. Clicking Help will take you to context-sensitive help, if available, for the screen you are on. Otherwise, clicking Help takes you to the Help contents screen.

From the Help contents screen, you choose the topic on which you want help. This may take you to another contents screen, from which you can choose more specific help.

The buttons available at the top of the screen when you are in the CBT help system are described below:

Clicking the Contents button at any point takes you back to the main Help contents screen.

Clicking Search brings you to a search window, where you can search for any topic on which you want help.

Clicking Back at any point takes you back to the last Help screen you were at (if any).

Clicking History displays the CBT Help History menu. This lists the help topics that you have accessed during the current help session. You can double-click on any item in this menu to go directly to that help topic.

Clicking Exit takes you out of the CBT help system and back to the point you were at in the course when you accessed Help.


Taking the test

To take a test, click the Test  button at the foot of the course map screen. The "Select a test" menu will appear and you can choose a unit to be tested on or the full course test.

The full course test consists of a set of questions randomly generated from all units in the course. Because the questions are randomly generated, if you take the course test more than once, you should not be presented with the same set of questions again.

Individual unit tests consist of a fixed (i.e., not randomly generated) set of questions testing your knowledge of the material covered in that unit.

You are scored on your performance in the full course test and in your performance in unit tests. If you have taken the full course test, your score will be broken down and the score for each individual unit will be displayed. (If you subsequently take the unit test for any individual unit, your score on that test will overwrite your full course test score for that unit.)

You can access your score at any point by clicking the Status button in the test question window. Buttons on test screens are described under the topic Test screen.

Note that the Cancel button, which is available in questions in the course, is not available in test questions. In other words, you must attempt every test question you are presented with - you may not bypass a question. You can, however, choose to exit the test at any point.


Navigate (Ctrl+Shift+N)

Takes you to the course map screen.


OK (Alt+O or Enter)

Confirms your selection; also closes question window after feedback


Cancel
Cancel (Alt+C)

Allows you to bypass a question and see the correct answer.


Help (Alt+H)

Takes you to context-sensitive help on the particular question type (but does not provide any hints on the answer to the question).


Hint (Alt+I)

Provides a hint to help you answer the question.


Redo (Alt+R)

Cancels any attempt you have made at the question and allows you to start again (only available on double fill-the-blank questions before you choose OK to complete the question).


Bookmark (Alt+B)

Clicking Bookmark returns you to the beginning of the screen you were last in. This applies even if you have exited and re-entered the course. (Note that this is different from Close which simply closes down the course map and returns to you to the point you were at when you chose Navigate.)

This button is only available if you have registered as a student and you have already accessed at least one unit.

If you have never been in the course before or you have entered it using "0" instead of a student number, this button is disabled.

Displays your progress through course units and any test scores. (This button is only active if you are a registered student.)


Progress (Alt+P)

Displays your progress through course units and any test scores. (This button is only active if you are a registered student.)


Glossary (Alt+G)

This button is only available in certain courses.

Clicking this button displays the course glossary. This is presented in a two-part window, with the list of terms in the glossary on the left and the definitions on the right. You can scroll through the list of terms until you find a term you want defined. When you highlight a term, its definition will appear in the definitions side of the window.

Clicking Close at the foot of the Glossary window returns you to the course map screen.


OK (Alt+O)

Confirms your selection(s) in a question or elsewhere. For example, if you have highlighted a topic or screen number on the course map by single- rather than double-clicking, choosing OK will take you into that topic or screen. OK also closes notes, footnotes, exercise boxes, and question windows (after you have completed or canceled a question).

Generally, pressing Enter has the same effect as clicking OK. (This does not apply in multiple choice questions that have one or more options.)


Close (Alt+C)

This button is only active if you have invoked the course map by choosing Navigate on a course screen.

Clicking Close closes down the course map and returns to you to the point you were at when you chose Navigate. (Note that this is different from Bookmark, which returns you to the beginning of the screen you were at the last time you were in the course.)

This button is disabled if you navigated out of a hands-on screen.


Close (Alt+L)

Closes down the scrolling text box that displays the learning objectives for a unit or the full summary of a unit.


Exit course (Alt+X)

When you click this button you will be asked to confirm whether you want to exit the course.

Remember that if you are a registered student and you exit, you can return to the beginning of the screen you were last in by using the Bookmark button when you next enter the course.


Skip task (Ctrl+Shift+S)

Allows you to skip the current task and brings you to the start of the next task (if there is one).


Help (Ctrl+Shift+H)

Lets you access context-sensitive help, if available. Otherwise clicking on Help takes you to the Help contents screen.


Exit course (Ctrl+Shift+X)

When you click this button, you will be asked to confirm whether you want to exit the course.

Remember that if you are a registered student and you exit, you can return to the beginning of the screen you were last in by using the Bookmark button when you next enter the course.


Footnote (Ctrl+Shift+F)

Displays extra text relevant to the point being discussed in the course. When a footnote is available, a small yellow icon appears to the right of the text it relates to: . You can click on this icon or on the Footnote control button to access the extra text.

The Footnote button is disabled when there is no footnote available.


Step back (Ctrl+Shift+s)
Step back (Ctrl+Shift+B)

Displays the previous block of text along with its graphic. Clicking repeatedly on this button allows you to backtrack to the start of the current screen.

The Step back button is disabled at the very beginning of each screen, in hands-on screens, and in unit aim and summary screens.


Continue (Ctrl+Shift+C)

Allows you to progress through a course screen.

Note that pressing Enter has the same effect as clicking Continue unless a question window, exercise box, note, or footnote is open.


Navigate (Alt+N)

Takes you to the course map screen.


Footnote (Alt+F)

Displays extra text relevant to the point being discussed in the course. When a footnote is available, a small yellow icon appears to the right of the text it relates to: . You can click on this icon or on the Footnote control button to access the extra text.

The Footnote button is disabled when there is no footnote available.


Step back (Alt+s)
Step back (Alt+B)

Displays the previous block of text along with its graphic. Clicking repeatedly on this button allows you to backtrack to the start of the current screen.

The Step back button is disabled at the very beginning of each screen, in hands-on screens, and in unit aim and summary screens.


Continue (Alt+C)

In course screens, the Continue button allows you to progress through the course.

In a unit aim and objectives screen, Continue takes you to the first screen in the unit.

In a unit summary screen, Continue takes you to the course map screen.

Note that pressing Enter has the same effect as clicking Continue unless a question window, exercise box, note, or footnote is open.


Status (Alt+i)
Status (Alt+S)

Shows your progress through the test and your current score.


Exit Test (Alt+X)

When you click this button you will be asked to confirm whether you want to exit the test.

Note that if you choose to exit a test, you are in effect abandoning it. The next time you choose to take that test, you will be starting from the beginning again.


Test (Alt+T)

When you click this button, you are asked to select a unit that you wish to be examined on. You can also take a test on the whole course.


HndScreens
Hands-On Screens

This should be context sensitive and link to a Hands-On screen help topic


About CBT Systems

CBT Systems UK Ltd 5 Heathrow Boulevard, 278 Bath Road West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 0DQ England Tel: (UK) 0181 283 1800 Fax: (UK) 0181 283 1801	CBT Systems USA Ltd 1005 Hamilton Court Menlo  Park, CA 94025 USA Tel: (US) 415 614 5900 Fax: (US) 415 614 5901

CBT Systems Ltd

Development Center

Beech Hill Office Park, Dublin 4

Ireland

Tel: (International)  3531 2830077

Fax:  (International)  3531 2830379

Helpline:  (USA)  1 (800) 938 3247

Helpline:  (International)  3531 2830380


Minimize/Restore button
Minimize/Restore

Allows you to minimize or restore the CBT Controls panel. You may want to minimize the panel to see more of the screen.

This is the minimized version of the CBT Controls panel.


Help (Alt+H)

Lets you access context-sensitive help, if available. Otherwise clicking on Help takes you to the Help contents screen.


Hands-on Exercise

See Hands-on screens


Registration and tracking

If the student registration system is in place, you enter a CBT course using your user number. This is normally supplied by the course administrator. You may also be asked to type a password.

If the student registration system is not in place, type "0" when you are asked for your user number. This takes you directly to the main course menu screen.

If the self-registration system is in place and you have not been allocated a user number, type "self". You are then prompted to enter your name and whatever number you choose. A user number is then created for you and any time you re-enter the course, you should use this number.

User numbers and student registration are features of the CMI (Computer Managed Instruction) system that accompanies CBT Systems courses and allows course administrators to monitor your test scores and course usage. You can check scores and usage yourself by clicking Progress in the course map screen. (This button is only enabled if you are a registered student and have already been into the course.)

Clicking Progress displays a window that details your progress through course units and any test scores. Not Accessed means you have not been into the unit at all. Incomplete means that you have accessed a unit but you have not completed it. And Complete means that you have been through every screen of a unit.

Your test score for each unit is also displayed. Not Accessed, in this case, means that you have not taken the test for a particular unit, or that you have started the test but abandoned it.

When you are using the course as a registered student you may find the Bookmark option on the course map screen useful. Clicking Bookmark returns you to the beginning of the screen you were last in. This applies even if you have exited and re-entered the course. This button is available when you have accessed at least one unit of the course.

See also:

Taking the test


Keyboard commands

If you wish to take some or all of this course using keyboard commands rather than a mouse, you can check the list below for the particular key combination that you need to press instead of clicking a button.

Bookmark	(Alt+B)
Cancel	(Alt+C)
Close on the course map screen	(Alt+C)
Close on unit aim or summary screens	(Alt+L)
Continue on a framed screen	(Alt+C)
Continue on a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+C)
Exit the course from a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+X)
Exit course from a framed screen	(Alt+X)
Exit test	(Alt+X)
Footnote on a framed screen	(Alt+F)
Footnote on a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+F)
Glossary	(Alt+G)
Help in a question window	(Alt+H)
Help on a framed screen	(Alt+H)
Help on a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+H)
Hint	(Alt+I)
Navigate on a framed screen	(Alt+N)
Navigate on a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+N)
OK	(Alt+O)
Progress	(Alt+P)
Redo	(Alt+R)
Skip task	(Ctrl+Shift+S)
Status	(Alt+S)
Step back on a framed screen	(Alt+B)
Step back on a wide screen	(Ctrl+Shift+B)
Steps	(Ctrl+Shift+T)
Test	(Alt+T)


Live Application screen

Performing a live application exercise

Each exercise is divided into a number of tasks.  To view tasks, you click the Task  tab.  If you would like to move forward or back through tasks in an exercise, you click the arrows on the Task button.

Each task is divided into steps containing detailed instructions.  If you'd like to view these, you click the Steps tab.  Each step has a checkbox to its left that you can check as you complete each step in a task.  Completing the checkboxes helps you to keep track of the current step.

Some steps have a help icon (a question mark) beside them.  Clicking a help icon brings up more details or alternative ways of completing that step.

When you have completed all tasks in an exercise or would like to exit an exercise, click the Done button. You can then choose whether to view an interactive demonstration of the exercise or move to the next screen.

Resetting files

If during the exercise you would like to reload the original previously prepared files, you can click the Reset Files button.  When you click this button, you will be prompted for your working directory.  You should enter the same path you chose when you were asked to download the files for the course.

Navigating

You click the Navigate button to return to the course map.


Downloading files

Every time you launch the course and enter a live application screen you are asked whether or not you want to download the files for the course. You need a copy of these files to complete the exercises and so must down load the files at least once. If you make changes to these files at any time you can chose to download the files again.

When you download the files for the course, you are asked to specify a working directory. Here you can type in a full directory path or you can choose to browse and select a directory. A subdirectory is created beneath the directory that you choose which contains all the files for the course. These files are divided into further subdirectories for each unit.

For example if you choose the Application directory C:\APP when you want to download files for The Basics course, a subdirectory BASICS will be created off  the APP directory with further subdirectories containing the necessary files for each exercise in a unit:

C:\APP	BASICS	UNIT01
		UNIT02
		UNIT03
		UNIT04
		UNIT05
		UNIT06
If you choose to download files a second or subsequent time, you should choose the same directory (in this case C:\APP). Each file will be overwritten by the original.

See also: Live Application screen


Live aplication exercise
Live application exercise

This exercise runs over the live application. You are asked to perform a series of tasks using the application. In order to do this you need to start the application and choose the Live option. You may then be asked to download files which are needed to complete each exercise. After you complete the exercise you will return to the course.

If you want to view an interactive demonstration of the exercise you can click the Demo button.


Hotspot questions

Hotspot questions are similar to interface questions in that you are asked to click an area of a user interface in response to the question. However, unlike standard interface questions, hotspot questions are not displayed in a question dialog box. Instead, the question appears in the normal flow of text in the course, and feedback to your response is given in the course text and graphics rather than in a separate dialog or message box.

When a hotspot question appears in the text, the background color of the text may change and this icon [image] appears at the start of the text containing the question. If you are asked a hotspot question and you have forgotten how this type of question works, clicking on the icon will display this help topic. To answer a hotspot question, simply click the area of the interface you think is indicated by the question. The next piece of course text and its associated graphic will then display containing the correct answer to the hotspot question. The answer is displayed whether or not you clicked the correct area of the screen. If you do not want to answer a hotspot question, simply click the Continue button to view the answer and continue with the course.

See also:

Answering questions

Question types