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Importing/Exporting Questions

The Import/Export Questions feature in SOLE allows instructors to manage exam questions efficiently. You can either export questions for external use or backup or import pre-prepared questions into the Question Bank. Below are detailed instructions for using these features.

Exporting Questions

1. Export All Exam Questions
To export all questions from the Question Bank, click Export All. This will download a plain text file that you can save to your computer.

2. Export Selected Exam Questions
To export specific questions, use the Export Selected Only button. Apply filters by Question Type, Categories, Tags, or Exams to narrow down the selection.
Tip: If exporting all questions from a specific exam, ensure other filters remain selected to avoid exclusion.

Note: Exporting questions from selected exams copies only the questions, not the entire exam. For full exam duplication, use the Export Exam feature.

Importing Questions

To import questions, you can use a plain text file, either created manually or exported from another SOLE course. Here’s how:

1. Prepare the Import File
Use a plain text (.txt) format or a zip of .txt files (LXR Format). Manually created files should follow the SOLE template to ensure correct formatting. Click here to view the plain text template that can be used to create an Import Document.

2. Start the Import
Under Import SOLE plain text format, click Choose File and select your document. Then, click the green Submit button. A summary of successfully imported questions and any errors will display on the screen.

3. Format Requirements
Follow these guidelines to ensure each question is correctly formatted for import.

Required Fields and Formatting for Plain Text Imports

Each question must contain specific fields in a defined format to ensure accurate import into SOLE. Here’s a breakdown of each field and its requirements:

Essential Fields:

  1. Type: Specifies the question type. Use codes:

    • MC (Multiple Choice)
    • FIB (Fill in the Blank)
    • TF (True/False)
    • M (Matching)
    • E (Essay)
    • MS (Multiple Select)
    • O (Ordering)
    • HS (Hotspot)

  2. Title: A brief identifier for the question, aiding in organization.

  3. Text: The main content of the question. HTML can be included for formatting. For Fill in the Blank questions, indicate blanks with [] (e.g., "The capital of France is []").

  4. Category: A single word or phrase categorizing the question, such as "Biology" or "Grammar."

  5. Tags: Keywords separated by commas to further classify questions, such as "easy, introductory."

  6. Random: Controls answer order:

    • True: Randomizes answer order.
    • False: Keeps answer order as entered.
    • Note: If left blank, answers will randomize by default.

  7. Answer (A:): Format varies by question type:

    • Multiple Choice (MC): List options with A: and mark the correct answer with * (e.g., *A: Paris).
    • Fill in the Blank (FIB): Use A: to list acceptable answers.
    • True/False (TF): Indicate the correct answer with A:True or A:False.
    • Matching (M): Enter each match with A:, using | to separate pairs (e.g., A: Dog | Mammal).
    • Essay (E): No answer needed.
    • Multiple Select (MS): List each option with A: and mark correct answers with *.
    • Ordering (O): List items in correct order with each prefixed by A:.
    • Hotspot (HS): Best created manually due to difficulty in specifying exact coordinates.

  8. Feedback (Optional): Messages displayed based on student answers:

    • General Feedback: Shown for all answers.
    • Correct Answer Feedback: Shown only for correct responses.
    • Wrong Answer Feedback: Shown only for incorrect responses.

Reviewing and Troubleshooting Import Results

After importing, SOLE displays the total number of questions and details of successfully imported items. Errors are highlighted, with a detailed message and a Print Error Report option for reference. Review any highlighted errors, correct them in the text file, and re-import if necessary.

Exporting and Importing with Blackboard

For Blackboard compatibility:

  • Export for Blackboard: Export questions in a format compatible with Blackboard. Contact your SOLE administrator for support.
  • Import from Blackboard: Use this feature to import question banks from Blackboard via a zip file.