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Tips on Composite File Creation (WinFlash Educator Only)

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Main|Educator|Create Composite Source File - from a Single Source File  or

Main|Educator|Create Composite Source File - from Two Source Files

Here are some techniques we've developed that will help make your creation of Composite Source files more efficient.  See Creating Composite Source Files for additional information.

 

Creating Composite Files To Be Used As The Input For Test (.FLT) File Creation

 

When creating source files to use for testing, you need to remove any "standard" questions or, if they're suitable for inclusion as FIBs or MCs, automatically convert them using one of the three conversion options. If you elect to remove them, use the following procedure:

 

1. Open the source file you wish to use as the Primary file.

2. From the Educator menu select Create Composite Source File - from Two Source Files when combining pairs from multiple files or Create Composite Source File - from a Single Source File is you are only using pairs from the current file.

3. If you're using two source files, choose the desired Secondary File from the Open dialog that appears.

4. Open the Primary File Filter Settings dialog by clicking on the "hand" icon on the Primary File Input Panel.

5. Clear the "Included" entry in the Status column next to Standard Pairs by clicking on it.

6. Make any other desired filter settings.

7. Close the Primary File Filter Settings dialog.

8. Repeat 5 - 7 for the Secondary File, if needed.

9. Move the desired Q&A pairs to the Output grid.

10. Save the file to its new name by clicking the Save Output As... button.

 

 

Creating Composite Files With A Set Number Of Q&A pairs From Each Category In A Source File

 

You might want to do this in preparation for creating a test file with equal representation from each category in a larger source file.

 

1. Open the source file you wish to use as the Primary file.

2. From the Educator menu select Create Composite Source File - from a Single Source File since you are only using pairs from the current file.

3. Open the File Filter Settings dialog by clicking on the "hand" icon on the Primary File Input Panel.

4. Move all but the first category to the Excluded Categories list box.  If the output file is to be used as the source file for creating a .FLT file and you are NOT planning to convert the standard Q&A pairs to FIBs, clear the "Included" entry in the Status column next to Standard Pairs by clicking on it.

5. Close the File Filter Settings dialog.

6. Enter the desired number of Q&A pairs from this category in the Add edit box on the  Primary File Input Panel.

7. Click the Add button.

8. Reopen the File Filter Settings dialog

9. Make the second category the only Included Category.

10. Close the File Filter Settings dialog.

11. Click the Add button.

12. Repeat steps 8-11, making each category, in its turn, the Included Category.

13. Save the file to its new name by clicking the Save Output As... button.

 

Creating Composite Files Using Q&A pairs From More Than Two Source Files

 

If you need to create a composite file from several sources, use this approach:

 

1. Open the first source file as the Primary file.

2. Select Create Composite Source File - from Two Source Files from the Educator menu.

3. Choose the second source file from the Open dialog that appears.

4. Select the Q&A pairs you want from these two sources and create an output file by clicking the Save Output As... button.

5. Open the new output file created in step 4 as the Primary file.

6. Select Create Composite Source File - from Two Source Files from the Educator menu.

7. Choose the third source file from the Open dialog that appears.

8. Move all of the Q&A pairs in the Primary file to the Output grid by clicking its blue "down arrow".

9. Select the Q&A pairs from the third source file you wish to add and move them to the Output grid.

10. Click Save Output As... and save the file under the same name used in step 4.

11. Repeat steps 5-10, selecting each additional source file desired as the Secondary File each time.

 

Using The Composite File Tool To Create Several Smaller Files From One Large File

 

Let's say you have a vocabulary file, GERMAN.FLU with 300 Q&A pairs that you want to break up into six 50-pair files for your students to study.

 

To create them with the Q&A pairs in the same order as they are in GERMAN.FLU:

 

1. Open GERMAN.FLU as the Primary file.

2. Select Create Composite Source File - from a Single Source File from the Educator menu.

3. Select the first 50 Q&A pairs in the Primary grid and transfer them to the Output grid by clicking the red "down arrow".

4. Save these as GERMAN1.FLU.  Close GERMAN1.FLU when it opens and reopen GERMAN.FLU as the Primary file.

5. Repeat steps 2. through 4. for the second through sixth 50 Q&A pairs, saving the results as GERMAN2.FLU through GERMAN6.FLU

 

If you'd rather have the smaller files each contain a random (but unique) set of Q&A pairs from the parent file:

 

1. Open GERMAN.FLU as the Primary file.

2. Select Create Composite Source File - from a Single Source File from the Educator menu.

3. Enter 300 in the Primary grid Add edit box and click the Add button.

4. Save the Output grid as GERMANT.FLU (T for Temporary).

 

Perform the Steps 1-5 in the FIRST section, but use GERMANT.FLU instead of GERMAN.FLU.  You will now have six .FLU files each containing 50 randomly-selected Q&A pairs from the parent file without any duplication or missing Q&A pairs between the new files.

 

 

 

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