Quick Reference

Contents  

Opening MicroTest Pro

  1. Locate the MicroTest Pro folder on your hard drive.
  2. Double-click on the folder. The MicroTest Pro program icon will appear.
    If you have created question banks, the files will appear followed with a ".1" and a ".i" extension.
  3. From the MicroTest Pro hierarchical pop-up menu, click on the MicroTest Pro application. The Welcome to MicroTest dialog will display.

Quick Start

The opening dialog box allows you to choose the Quick Start feature, which will guide you through the process of Creating a Test or Creating a Question Bank, or the use the Experienced User feature.

NOTE: If you choose Experienced User and then decide you want to use Quick Start, you can access it from the Help menu.

NOTE: While using Quick Start, click the Back button to edit a previous step. To end the test creation process at any time click the Stop button.

Creating a Test Using Quick Start

Click the Create a Test button and follow the steps below:

Step 1. Select a Question Bank

  1. Click the Open Question Bank button. The Select a Question Bank to Open dialog will display.
  2. Highlight the name of the Question Bank you want to open.
  3. Click the Open button.
  4. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 2. Name Your Test

  1. Click the Name Test button. The Name Test dialog will display.
  2. Type the name of the test you want to create in the File Name field.
  3. Click the Save button.
  4. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 3.  Select Questions for Your Test

There are three ways you can select test questions: by selecting odd, even or all questions, using the Auto Select feature, or using the Manual Select feature. All options are discussed below:

Select Odd, Even, or All Questions from a Chapter

  1. Click the drop down menu arrow to scroll through the chapter list.
  2. To select a chapter click on the specific chapter name
  3. To select Odd, Even or All questions from a chapter click the appropriate button. Use the Clear button to remove selected questions from a specific chapter.
    NOTE: Strong linked questions will not be included when using the Odd or Even choice, as selecting one selects them all.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 to select question(s) from a different chapter(s).
  5. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Auto Select

The MicroTest Pro Auto Select feature randomly selects questions that satisfy the condition you set.

  1. Click the Auto Select button. The Select Chapter for Auto Selection dialog will display.
  2. From the Select Chapters for Auto Selection dialog, choose a chapter(s) to select questions from.
  3. To continue click the OK button. The Auto Selection for Section dialog will display.
  4. Click inside the Select: Questions text box and type the number of questions to be selected for the test.
  5. Select questions based on the following criteria:
    Difficulty Level - Choose a difficulty level by clicking on the appropriate radio button to specify Any Difficulty level, Greater Than or Equal, Equal To or Less Than or Equal.
    Question Type - Choose the question type(s) to be included on the test by clicking in the appropriate checkbox(s). The total number of questions available will appear in the “Totals” column to the right of each question type.
    Key Word Selection - Key words included in the chapter(s) selected appear in the Key Word Selection list box.
    From this list box, choose from the following options:
    • To select questions regardless of key word: Leave all words highlighted and questions with and without assigned key words will be selected.
    • To select questions without key words: Click on the Clear All button and then click on "Questions Without Key Words".
    • To select questions based on specific key word(s): Click the Clear All button, click on the specific key word(s). Click on “Questions Without Key Words" to unselect it.
    NOTE: Including Matching or Identification questions as candidates for auto selection may result in more than the requested number of questions being selected. If you do not want these question types included in your test, unmark the Include Matching and Identification Questions box in the Auto Select window.
  6. Click Calculate. The number of questions that meet your criteria will display.
  7. To unselect or select additional chapters, click the Select Chapters button to return to the Select Chapters for Auto Selection dialog and repeat steps 4-7.
  8. When finished, click the OK button.
  9. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Manual Select

The MicroTest Pro Manual Select feature allows you to choose individual questions from any chapter(s).

  1. Click the Manual Select button. The Select Questions dialog displays.
  2. Click the drop down menu arrow to scroll through the chapter list.
  3. To select a chapter click on the specific chapter name.
  4. Double-click on the number button(s) representing the question(s) you want to include in your test. If you want to unselect a question, double-click on the numbered button again. Once a question has been selected the question will be highlighted.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 to select questions from different chapters.
  6. Click the Finished button
  7. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

NOTE: The CREATE TEST STATUS box (bottom left) will record the number of questions that have been selected for your test.

Step 4. Create a Test Header

  1. Click the Create Test Header button. The Create Test Header dialog will display.
  2. Click the Print: drop down menu arrow to scroll and select the option to print the test header On All Pages or On First Page Only.
  3. Type the test header in the space provided. If you wish to enter blank lines between the header and the first question of your test, press the enter key one time for each blank line.
  4. Click the Save button (upper left corner of dialog) to save your test header.
  5. Click the Finished button.
  6. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 5. Print Your Test

  1. To print your test, click the Print Test button. The Print/Preview dialog will display.
  2. Select test versions by double-clicking on Version numbers (top left corner of dialog) or by selecting version numbers and then clicking on the Select this Test Version for Printing checkbox.
  3. Repeat step 2 until you are finished selecting test versions to be printed.
  4. Select a test Version by clicking on it to begin selecting from the following print options:
    • Select Scramble Choices for Multiple Choice Quests. by clicking on the checkbox.
    • Select Group Question Types into Sections if you want your test items sorted by question type.
    • Select a Version Print Sequence by clicking on the appropriate radio button.
    • Select a Beginning Page Number and/or Beginning Question Number for your test by typing a number in the appropriate text box(s).
  5. Select to print an Answer Key and/or a Student Answer Sheet by clicking in the appropriate checkbox(s).
  6. Repeat step 4 for each version selected for printing.
  7. After all options have been selected click on the Preview button to view the test before printing button.
  8. Click Finished to end the test creation process.

Creating a New Question Bank Using Quick Start

Click the Create a Question Bank button and follow the steps below:

Step 1. Title Your Question Bank

  1. Enter a Question Bank title and Author in the fields provided.
  2. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 2. Save Your Question Bank

  1. Click the Save Question Bank button. The Name the New Question Bank dialog will display.
  2. Type the name of the question bank you want to create in the File Name field.
  3. Click the Save button
  4. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 3. Set Font Name and Size

  1. Click the Set Font button. The Font dialog will display.
  2. Change the font, font style, and/or size options as desired.
  3. When you have finished click the OK button.
  4. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 4. Create New Chapter(s)

  1. Click the Create New Chapter button. The New Chapter dialog will display.
  2. Enter the Chapter Title, Chapter Number, and Chapter Suffix (optional) in the fields provided.
  3. When you have finished click the OK button.
  4. After you have completed this step click the Next button.

Step 5. Create New Questions

  1. Click the drop down menu arrow to scroll through the chapter list.
  2. To select a chapter click on the specific chapter name.
  3. Choose a question type from the Select Question Type list by clicking in the appropriate radio button. The question type chosen will determine the question type you will use first to begin creating questions for your test .
  4. Click the Finished button to begin creating questions for your test.

Creating/Opening Question Banks

  1. a) From the Welcome to MicroTest - Experienced User dialog, select the appropriate radio button to Create A Test, Open Existing Test or Open Existing Question Bank. To create a new Question Bank, click the New Bank button.
    -or-
    b) Choose Create a Question Bank from the Quick Start portion of the opening dialog box.
  2. OPTIONAL: With a New Question Bank, you can click inside the Question Bank, Author and Publisher text boxes and enter information. Click OK to continue.
  3. The appropriate files, if any, will appear in the list box once you have selected an option. Click on the file you wish to access and then choose the Open Bank or Open Test button.
    If you are creating a new Question Bank, select the drive and directory/ folder, type in a file name in the File Name: text box and click OK.

IMPORTANT: It is best to save your new question bank in the same folder/directory that also contains the MicroTest Pro program.

For more detailed instructions, see Creating a New Question Bank or Opening an Existing Question Bank

MicroTest Pro’s Tiled Windows

With MicroTest Pro, you can work with options from the menu bar or in a window-driven environment.

Display/Edit Figures

From the Window menu, choose this option to view figures contained in your question bank along with the question numbers that are linked to each figure.

Select Questions

This window is used to view questions or select them for a test. Questions for the highlighted chapter in the Table of Contents window appear as numbered buttons. Click once on a button to view a question in the Edit Questions window or when a test file is opened, double-click on a button to select that question for a test.

Table of Contents

This window is used to access the chapters contained in your question bank. Specific information about each chapter is displayed along with a breakdown of question types per chapter.

Edit Questions

Enter new questions, edit or review questions contained in your question bank. Use the arrow buttons or click on the numbered buttons located in the Select Questions window to move through each chapter. Three pop-up menus allow you to assign key words, difficulty levels, and/or link a figure to a question.

For additional information, see MicroTest Pro's Tiled Windows .

Global Editing and Layout Features

  1. Before entering or importing questions into a question bank, review and modify "global" question layout features.
  2. From the Edit menu, choose Question Layout.
  3. From the Question Layout hierarchical menu, choose: General Layout, True or False, Multiple Choice, Matching & Identification, or Matching Questions. Modify information as needed by using the Tab key to move between fields.
  4. After each field has been modified, click OK.

For more detailed instructions, see General Layout .

Creating Chapters

Create up to 250 chapters per question bank.

  1. From the Chapter menu, choose New Chapter.
  2. Click inside the Chapter Title text box and type a name of up to 79 characters.
  3. Click inside the Chapter Number text box and type in a chapter number of up to 3 digits.
  4. OPTIONAL: Click inside the Chapter Suffix text box and type a suffix of up to 5 characters.
  5. Click OK to save chapter information.

For more detailed instructions, see Creating a New Chapter .

Defining Key Words and Difficulty Levels

Each question bank can contain up to 52 key words and difficulty levels of up to 47 characters.

  1. From the Edit menu, choose Key Words or Difficulty Levels.
  2. Click on the New radio button in the Edit State: box.
  3. Type in a key word or difficulty level in text box and click Enter.
  4. Repeat step three for each new key word or difficulty level.
  5. To save information, click OK.

NOTE: Assign Key Words and Difficulty Levels to questions using the pop-up menus in the Edit Questions window.

For more detailed instructions, see Using Key Words and Difficulty Levels .

Entering Questions

Question banks can include up to 15,000 test items. Each chapter within the question bank can include up to 400 questions and 52 figures.

  1. Click on the chapter in the Table of Contents window where you wish to add questions.
  2. Click inside the Edit Questions window or from the Window menu, choose Edit Questions.
  3. From the Question menu, choose a question type:
    Essay
    Short Answer
    Fill in the Blank
    Matching     (point value per choice)
    Identification
    True or False
    Multiple Choice
    Matching Questions     (point value for complete question)
  4. Click in the first entry field in this window to type in your question. To move between entry fields, click inside each field or use the control-option-tab keys.
  5. Click on the pop-up menus to link a figure or assign a key word/difficulty level.
  6. From the Edit Questions window, click on the Save button.

For more detailed instructions, see Entering New Questions .

Creating/Opening Tests

  1. Start the MicroTest Pro program.
  2. a) From the Welcome to MicroTest - Experienced User dialog, select the appropriate radio button to Create A Test or Open Existing Test.
    -or-
    b) Choose Create a Test from Quick Start for a step-by-step guide through the process of creating a new test.

For more detailed instructions, see Creating a New Test or Opening an Existing Test .

Creating Test Sections

Group like questions together in up to eight sections per test. Sections are printed in the order displayed in the Test menu.

  1. From the Test menu, choose Create Section.
  2. Click inside the Section Title: text box and type the name for the section. As you add or modify sections they appear at the bottom of the Test menu.
  3. From the Test menu, choose a section and then select questions for that section.

For more detailed instructions, see Creating Test Sections .

Creating Page and Section Headers

Headers or instructions can appear before sections, on the first page or on all pages of a test. There are no character limitations or restrictions for headers.

  1. From the Test menu, choose Page Header 1, Page Header 2 or Section Header.
  2. After entering text and/or graphics in the window, choose to print text on the first page or on all pages of a test from the pop-up menu. Section headers will print before questions associated with a section. If you would like blank lines between your instructions and the first question of your test, press the enter key for each blank line desired.
  3. Click Save when finished. Click inside the window to enter text and/or graphics.

For more detailed instructions, see Creating Page and Section Headers .

Selecting Questions For A Test - Manually

  1. If you have created multiple sections, from the Test menu, choose a section.
  2. Click inside the Select Questions window or choose this option from the Window menu.
  3. In the Select Questions window, double-click on the button(s)/question(s) you want to include in your test.
  4. To select questions from another chapter: Click inside the Table of Contents window and click on another chapter or make selections from the Chapter menu.
  5. You may group questions by type by clicking on the Group Questions by Type box from the Test menu.
  6. When you have finished selecting questions, from the File menu, choose Save Test.

The color of the buttons indicates selection status of each question: not highlighted = not selected, a solid color/black = selected for named test or section, gray = question selected but for another section.

For more detailed instructions, see Manual Select .

Selecting Questions For A Test - Auto Select

This option randomly selects questions based on criteria that you determine.

  1. From the Select menu, choose Auto Select.
  2. From this dialog, choose the chapter or chapters to be included in your test.
  3. To continue, click OK or press the Enter key.
  4. Click inside the Select: Questions text box and type the number of test questions.
    NOTE: Including Matching and Identification questions as candidates for auto selection may result in more than the requested number of questions being selected. If you do not wish to include these types of questions, unmark the Include Matching and Identification Questions box.
  5. Next, select criteria based on the options available.
  6. Click Calculate. The number of questions that meet your criteria displays.
  7. To save, click OK or press Enter.

For more detailed instructions, see Auto Select .

Selecting Questions For A Test - Select menu

Quickly select a block of questions from a single chapter by choosing one of the following options from the Select menu:

Select odd, even, or all questions within the chapter or select questions displayed in the Edit Questions window.

NOTE: Strong linked questions will not be included if the "Odd" or "Even" choice is selected since selecting one selects all.

For more detailed instructions, see Select Menu .

Print/Previewing Tests

After you have selected questions for your test, included all headers and instructions, you’re ready to print. MicroTest Pro can print up to 15 versions of a test.

  1. From the File menu, choose Print/Preview Test.
  2. Select test versions by double-clicking on Version numbers (top left corner of dialog) or by selecting version numbers and then clicking on the Select this Test Version for Printing checkbox.
    NOTE: When multiple versions of a test are created, each version can contain different print sequence options. MicroTest Pro will default to the last entry modified.
  3. Create different test versions with these print sequence options.
  4. Set a beginning page and question number for each test version.
  5. Choose Group Question Types in Sections
  6. Chose Print Options
  7. Choose how page numbers will appear on each test.
  8. Click the Preview button to view a test before printing or click Print.

For more detailed instructions, see Printing a Test .