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I'm pleased to announce the release of the next major version of the Quiz System, 1.1.0!
This release includes several new features which have been requested by Quiz customers.
Quiz System is a fun application which allows you and your members to add Quizzes to your forum. With leaderboards, categories and a unique layout, The Quiz System is sure to be a hit with your members.
Now, I'm sure you're dying to know the following question.
What's New in Quiz 1.1.0?
Category Filters
Previously while you were within the Quiz System you had no way of quickly seeing which Quizzes you had taken, which were still left to take, and Quizzes by you.
In Quiz 1.1, I've changed up the Categories view, adding filters. This was a much needed feature, as it allows for much quicker 'at a glance' judgements. You can now see which quizzes you haven't taken yet, just by visiting the category. Much simpler.
Aditionally, any quizzes which you have taken will now have a "Taken" badge next to them on the main Quiz overview. Categories also now "Who's Online" integration, which shows you who is browsing that category at that time.
Quiz Notifications
So, you've just added your super awesome quiz. Now what? Sure you can follow the support topic (if that's enabled), but I felt that there was a gaping hole in the logical 'next step' once you've added a Quiz. Then it hit me, I want to know how well users have done on my quiz!
Previously, you added a quiz, users took the quiz and that was that. They optionally could post in the Auto-generated topic, but unfortunately in my experience, they do not. This creates the rather frustrating question of "Which questions did you get wrong?!".
In Quiz 1.1, you can be notified once a user has taken your quiz. This is of course, controlled by a setting in your notifications center. The notification includes the users score, with a link to their unique results page, which shows you which questions they got right and wrong.
Quiz Usability Enhancements
In keeping with the above theme of making Quiz simpler, and easier to use, another thing which I've added as another logical 'next step' is to add the Correct Answer to the users unique Results page, which they see after taking a Quiz.
To prevent 'cheating' and answer 'leakage', I've made it so that the Correct Answer will only show to the user who took the quiz, even if they share their Results page. I've also made it so that the Correct Answer will only show if the setting "Users can re-take quizzes" is set to No. This stops users taking the quiz, seeing all of the correct answers, and re-taking the quiz.
Additionally, on the users Results page there used to only be one button, a "Return to Quiz Index" button. This gave the feeling of a dead end, and as such I've added two more buttons. One which links to the automatically generated Support Topic (if that setting is enabled), and one which links back to the Quiz itself. This turns the Results page into more than a dead end, but into the next logical step in the chain.
Import / Export Quizzes
Something which I've wanted to add to the Quiz System since it's inception is the ability to share Quizzes. I found myself browsing a friends Quiz installation, and thinking "wow, I wish I could post my quiz from my site onto this site".
With Quiz 1.1.0 you can now do this. Exporting a Quiz is as simple as picking the Quiz and pushing a button in the AdminCP. Exporting a Quiz is also simple, browse to the downloaded XML file on your computer, and click "import". This is great for if you have multiple Quiz installations, or if you want to share your Quizzes with a friend.
When you export a quiz, your site URL and the author name are added to the Quiz Description, so sharing quizzes could be a great way to attract attention to your site.
Score Based Per Quiz Group Promotion
Another idea which was presented to me while I was working on Quiz 1.1.0 was the idea that Quiz could be used as a rewards system. For example, if you score more than 90% on this quiz, you'll get a free VIP membership.
This was an idea which I absolutely loved, and the potential for other uses for this is great. For example, this could be used to promote users from a "Newbies" group, to a "Members" group.
So, in Quiz 1.1.0 there are now Per-Quiz, Score-based group promotions. If that's confusing to you, basically what it means is what is described above. You can set it so that if a user scores 90% or more in the Quiz "American History", to promote them to the "VIP" group.
Timed Quizzes
Saving the best till last (aka, One More Thing), Quiz 1.1.0 has a very highly requested feature (finally) added! Timed Quizzes.
With Timed Quizzes, I believe that the Quiz System really evolves into something more. You could now use Quiz as an Exam system, for example. Timers are applied per-quiz, and can be set from the AdminCP only at this point.
Other Miscellaneous Usability Enhancements
View Quiz in ACP
Previously there was no way to get a quick overview of the Quiz in the AdminCP. I've added a new "View Quiz" button in the AdminCP. This is great to get a quick overview of the questions and answers of a quiz.
Take Quiz Button on Quizzes
It was brought to my attention that the "Take Quiz" button challenges expectations, as it's at the bottom left corner of the Show Quiz page. I've added another "Take Quiz" button to the top right corner of the Show Quiz page, where you would expect a "Reply" button on a topic.
Quiz Manager ACP Breadcrumbs
Previously, when you were inside the Quiz Manager in the AdminCP, it was very frustrating to go back due to the lack of a breadcrumb trail there. I've added these now and I've found this area much easier to navigate now.
That wraps up all new features in Quiz 1.1.0
I really hope you enjoy all the updated features in Quiz 1.1.0! As always feature requests and suggestions are very welcomed.
While I have attempted to ensure that Quiz 1.1.0 is relatively bug-free, in the event that you do find a bug, please report it on my TracDown.
Thank you for reading, and you can purchase / download Quiz from the IPS Marketplace, here, or simply click the big link at the top of this blog entry.
This release includes several new features which have been requested by Quiz customers.
Quiz System is a fun application which allows you and your members to add Quizzes to your forum. With leaderboards, categories and a unique layout, The Quiz System is sure to be a hit with your members.
Now, I'm sure you're dying to know the following question.
What's New in Quiz 1.1.0?
Category Filters
Previously while you were within the Quiz System you had no way of quickly seeing which Quizzes you had taken, which were still left to take, and Quizzes by you.
In Quiz 1.1, I've changed up the Categories view, adding filters. This was a much needed feature, as it allows for much quicker 'at a glance' judgements. You can now see which quizzes you haven't taken yet, just by visiting the category. Much simpler.
Aditionally, any quizzes which you have taken will now have a "Taken" badge next to them on the main Quiz overview. Categories also now "Who's Online" integration, which shows you who is browsing that category at that time.
Quiz Notifications
So, you've just added your super awesome quiz. Now what? Sure you can follow the support topic (if that's enabled), but I felt that there was a gaping hole in the logical 'next step' once you've added a Quiz. Then it hit me, I want to know how well users have done on my quiz!
Previously, you added a quiz, users took the quiz and that was that. They optionally could post in the Auto-generated topic, but unfortunately in my experience, they do not. This creates the rather frustrating question of "Which questions did you get wrong?!".
In Quiz 1.1, you can be notified once a user has taken your quiz. This is of course, controlled by a setting in your notifications center. The notification includes the users score, with a link to their unique results page, which shows you which questions they got right and wrong.
Quiz Usability Enhancements
In keeping with the above theme of making Quiz simpler, and easier to use, another thing which I've added as another logical 'next step' is to add the Correct Answer to the users unique Results page, which they see after taking a Quiz.
To prevent 'cheating' and answer 'leakage', I've made it so that the Correct Answer will only show to the user who took the quiz, even if they share their Results page. I've also made it so that the Correct Answer will only show if the setting "Users can re-take quizzes" is set to No. This stops users taking the quiz, seeing all of the correct answers, and re-taking the quiz.
Additionally, on the users Results page there used to only be one button, a "Return to Quiz Index" button. This gave the feeling of a dead end, and as such I've added two more buttons. One which links to the automatically generated Support Topic (if that setting is enabled), and one which links back to the Quiz itself. This turns the Results page into more than a dead end, but into the next logical step in the chain.
Import / Export Quizzes
Something which I've wanted to add to the Quiz System since it's inception is the ability to share Quizzes. I found myself browsing a friends Quiz installation, and thinking "wow, I wish I could post my quiz from my site onto this site".
With Quiz 1.1.0 you can now do this. Exporting a Quiz is as simple as picking the Quiz and pushing a button in the AdminCP. Exporting a Quiz is also simple, browse to the downloaded XML file on your computer, and click "import". This is great for if you have multiple Quiz installations, or if you want to share your Quizzes with a friend.
When you export a quiz, your site URL and the author name are added to the Quiz Description, so sharing quizzes could be a great way to attract attention to your site.
Score Based Per Quiz Group Promotion
Another idea which was presented to me while I was working on Quiz 1.1.0 was the idea that Quiz could be used as a rewards system. For example, if you score more than 90% on this quiz, you'll get a free VIP membership.
This was an idea which I absolutely loved, and the potential for other uses for this is great. For example, this could be used to promote users from a "Newbies" group, to a "Members" group.
So, in Quiz 1.1.0 there are now Per-Quiz, Score-based group promotions. If that's confusing to you, basically what it means is what is described above. You can set it so that if a user scores 90% or more in the Quiz "American History", to promote them to the "VIP" group.
Timed Quizzes
Saving the best till last (aka, One More Thing), Quiz 1.1.0 has a very highly requested feature (finally) added! Timed Quizzes.
With Timed Quizzes, I believe that the Quiz System really evolves into something more. You could now use Quiz as an Exam system, for example. Timers are applied per-quiz, and can be set from the AdminCP only at this point.
Other Miscellaneous Usability Enhancements
View Quiz in ACP
Previously there was no way to get a quick overview of the Quiz in the AdminCP. I've added a new "View Quiz" button in the AdminCP. This is great to get a quick overview of the questions and answers of a quiz.
Take Quiz Button on Quizzes
It was brought to my attention that the "Take Quiz" button challenges expectations, as it's at the bottom left corner of the Show Quiz page. I've added another "Take Quiz" button to the top right corner of the Show Quiz page, where you would expect a "Reply" button on a topic.
Quiz Manager ACP Breadcrumbs
Previously, when you were inside the Quiz Manager in the AdminCP, it was very frustrating to go back due to the lack of a breadcrumb trail there. I've added these now and I've found this area much easier to navigate now.
That wraps up all new features in Quiz 1.1.0
I really hope you enjoy all the updated features in Quiz 1.1.0! As always feature requests and suggestions are very welcomed.
While I have attempted to ensure that Quiz 1.1.0 is relatively bug-free, in the event that you do find a bug, please report it on my TracDown.
Thank you for reading, and you can purchase / download Quiz from the IPS Marketplace, here, or simply click the big link at the top of this blog entry.
This is filled with awesomeness! Thanks for sharing the quizzes from your site with me, Mikey.