As wonderful as this software may be, these days most academic book publishers provide computer banks of all kinds of test questions in a variety of formats along with the software to configure you own test. My time is limited and I would much rather spend my time at other more productive things than "creating" tests from scratch. I don't get paid enough to do that.

For some reason I downloaded the sw and it comes out empty...same as the games sw.

Uh, Hempman (41), what are you smoking? How come you didn't help the unwashed masses by posting a couple three of those "too many freebies" of which you speak? Hope you aren't confusing Adit with quizilla or that spammy quizmaker, Selectsmart.

I don't think HotPotato is free, and last I checked, DIscoverySchool's quiz center required an account. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/quizcenter/quizcenter.html

I didn't think there were too many professional quizmakers capable of creating integrated matrices, so please enlighten me. I haven't played with this one yet, but I look forward to seeing if it can be tailored to my needs.

Thanks! This is gonna be very handy for my grandkids! I'm often the 1 who teachs them things the schools haven't gotten to yet, but they are interested in, AND I can make it like a fun game, using this! Images, sound etc?? WOW! They'll love that! And anything I need to memorize for something important in the future, I can use this to help me be sure I can pass the test or the knowledge! Great!

GAOTD pays for these programs? I hope they get a good discount. That having nothing to do with this particular program at all! I just didn't know that before. They are sure even more wonderful than this grateful user was aware!
I wouldn't hardly ever be able to have any programs or games if not for GAOTD! Thank you over & over, team! :) :) :)

I was hoping for some educational software just yesterday. My daughter is a teacher and this should be good for her. Personally, I can use it as a study and self-test aid for any subject I care to pursue. Thanks again!

Mediocre, unpolished, amateur program. Too many freebies that do what this does both simpler and with less searching for the how-to's.

I don't know why anyone would bother with this particular program, but, remember that although there is no requirement to provide updates or tech support, that is because there is no contract. It is for that exactly reason that the request to not use software downloaded here is just that; only an unenforcable request.

There is a tutorial file available here

http://download.aditsoftware.com/tutorial.exe

Hmmm, alot of teachers come to this site for free downloads. [very cool].

I will pass on this software because from what i hear-> it is full of tons of great options that hold no actual value outside of the program. I read: "this program will not export!". Really, what is the use of an app with graphics and sound and [artificial intellagence] that won't pass to the [end end user] person being tested? Something tells me that this is nothing more then a SHAREWARE version that slipped by the giveaway guys.
Or perhaps the developers got gun shy.
Teachers wanting to use it for exporting 'text' tests would be able to do that quicker typing wouldnt they?

2 suggestions to developer-> #1 an eport option to html would put value to this APP, especially if it had the ability to communicate with a [SQL or ACCESS database]. This would not be much harder then what you have already put together. #2 an export to EXE [or have a RunTime evvironment], and include a database for results, or option to print results.

Hmmm, these software developement ideas for ya will cost ya a cup a coffee.

thanx

This software is sweet! In just a few minutes I dashed off a quick sample test for Larry P (#25). It's a fill-in-the-blank type quiz. Check it out, Larry!

1) No one here gives a flying ____ if you "close out your account" with GOTD.

When you're finished, place your pencil on your desk, face forward, and close yer yap. Thank you and Good Luck!

12 is right.
Whene i saw this application I was overjoyed!
But as 12 wrote, it's useless without the complimentary applications.
In cunclusion - good aplication big disapointment.
yair

I'm generally sympathetic to GAOTD. Tough job. The big problem is that very often much better programs are available for free ... meaning the stuff here is mostly ripoffs submitted by thieves hoping to make a few bucks here and there.

You are just a few years late for me as I was a teacher, now retired (many retired teachers hit the substitute trail,maybe one day but for now,"no more pencils, no more books, no more students dirty looks"!!)
None the less my heart still raced when I saw the software. At $89 I'm now glad that I do not need it.
RRE

Comments by #33 looked a little bogus to me until I looked at the signature. Wow ... Pithy substance from the author of "Flush!"

Number 11 - GAOTD doesn't like seeing links to executable download files and may remove your post. It's better to send visitors to the Online Tutorial and just tell them it's also a download. The Adit server is having a tough time keeping up with demand, so expect a slow download! -
http://aditsoftware.com/tutorial/index.html

This is a complex but very useful program that will appeal to a small but well-educated subset of GAOTD users. Yes, there are others, like: HotPotato http://hotpot.uvic.ca/

SO WHAT if this offer isn't for everyone? Those griping sound like spoiled brats who didn't get their daily "entitlement" lollipop.

for anyone who needs to know more, the publisher of this software has a "feature matrix" explaining what each edition of this software is capable of:

http://www.aditsoftware.com/editions.php

Look under SE (standard edition)

Don't understand what it can be used for!

I'm tickled by the chance to work with a testing program with so many different facets. It will probably take me a couple of weekends to figure out the features - but that's the way I learn best. I can see different uses for some of the options but will have to explore them later.

@25 (Larry P): Funny that you mention "Moodle", which (by sheer coincendence, of course) is today's pick over at A-Free-Download-A-Day (http://www.freedownloadaday.com/)

You write that you haven't found anything of use? Either you haven't been visiting this site long enough to really judge, or your expectations are too high. I have found software that I can use, more than once, and I thank GoTD for that.

Another funny thing, most interesting packages offered here are interesting for a specific profession (like in this case teachers and instructors), however the GOTD Terms of Service prohibit professional use of the programs offered here. I'd like to see GoTD, or the developers, take a stance on this!

It's amazing to me that so many people gripe about GAOTD and the software just because it isn't useful to them. Do you really expect there to be a software useful to you EVERY day? You don't deserve to use GAOTD if you're just going to complain that the software isn't something that YOU can use. I say thanks to GAOTD for posting software that may be useful to a specific demographic. I only teach adjunct once a week, and I hadn't even thought about test creating software. I appreciate the chance to try this software- even if I end up going with another program. On that note- thanks to the comment posters that suggest other options so I can compare this software with something. As far as what I think of this software, I haven't had the time to play with it, but it did install flawlessly for me, and my 5 minutes in the program were not as hard as some posters made me expect. There seems to be a fair amount of functionality that will take me some time to try out. Thanks, to John MacDonald for the link to the tutorial. Cheers, forrestmage

For the person complaining about the bad load, no reg, etc. - you have a personal problem, the software downloaded fine, registration screen popped up on install along with the GOTD screen showing the username and reg number to use which worked perfectly. (and how do you "close your account" with GOTD? I didn't know people had accounts here - I just browse the web site once a day. ;) )

My main issue is that I need something simpler. I need to be able to simply put together nice interactive multiple choice tests, along with simple fill in the blank, etc. I imagine that once you learn this software it would be good, but it is far from intuitive and I don't have the time to invest to learn a complex piece of software like this. Does anyone have recommendations for a simpler test software package?

#20 Josh:

Following your advise, I checked-out SVS (svsdownload.com). When it comes to computers - this was the best thing that I have done in a very long time. Following a number of links on the website, I have amassed several HELPFUL utilities. Not utilities that are suppose to make "this and that" thing better but are forgotten within a day or two after being downloaded.

I occasionally write tests for classes that prepare applicants for F.C.C. licensing in the Amateur Radio Service. Today's GOTD software,"TestDesk",looks like it will help format the sequence of tests that I write. Formatting alone will save me a lot of time. Pencil and paper test fill the bill for me. Students will not ever (?) be allowed to use computers, data watches, or programmable calculators in my or the F.C.C. tests. I doubt that storage devices will ever be acceptable tools to use in many testing sessions. Cheating, easy or not, is a factor regardless of the testing environment or the perceived moral quality of students. Qualifying tests that lead to valuable goals will have temptations.

An exception to using computer testing occurred for me three years ago when I took a medial board exam. The test was administered through a commercial education system normally used to increase student skills. After using today's "giveaway", I am sure that "TestDesk" would have done a nice job if the test writers had been any good.

Even free it appears to be a waste of money. Bad load, no real registration, no instructions, not much of anything. If you want to do on-line tests, use Moodle. It's Open Source and it WORKS the way it says it does (with instructions, by the way).

A few more like this and I will probably close off my account with GOTD. I haven't found anything really useful since I signed on.

#21: now I have just one question. There is an export feature to XML. That's correct. 'Pen and Paper' and besides 'XML'. I just wonder why this should be considered to be great. What the heck ist the use of this XML? you cannot execute XML in any way. If you want to run a test based on such a XML-file, you have to write your own test interpreter or test generator which can import such XML-files.

This version is just a demo - nothing else! You can create everything and export it only into completely unusable junk data formats. It is advertisement prized with $70. Not paid by you, not paid by me but paid by GOTD.

Not for me, but I do appreciate the wide variety of applications offered. Keep it up.

Josh - Thanks for the lead on SVS.

Hello again:

There is an analyze function, and questions can be timed and weighted.

Cnk

Thank you, GAOTD.

This is a great program. No, I am not a teacher, but I do learn on
my own. This is an excellent way to keep up my knowledge.

It can add audio, photos, tables, and links; it can do some drawing; and it can change the background. These features apply to the paper and pencil version also. There are lots of character sets
including logic symbols, math symbols, and many languages from around the world. Inuktitut (Eskimo) is included.

It can import text and rtf information and can save as XML. There is a merge function. Hints and comments can be added to questions/answers. There is a spell-checker and other word-processing features as well as many question-making features. A calculator with trigonometric and exponential functions is included.

The system requirements are:

"Intel Pentium II 450 or higher (Pentium III - 800 recommended). Intel Pentium M, Intel Xeon, AMD Athlon XP, AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processors with the appropriate performance (frequency) are supported as well.

· 32MB of RAM (128MB or more recommended).

· 30MB hard disk space.

· Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows NT 4.0.
Adit Testdesk run also on Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME but Windows 2000/XP/2003 recommended.

· Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.

· VGA or higher resolution monitor.

· Mouse or other pointing device."

That said, my Pentium isn't that powerful, and the program stil works.

What I do not like is that on the initial screen, the text under the
Questions and the Profiles windows is so grayed out it is very difficult to see. All it says is that there are no questions/profiles and to right click the panel to add one.

Other than that, I am delighted with this giveaway.

Cnk.

From the real and best 'Josh' - Joshua(TM) - (#4 'Josh': You did not even install the program):

The install went ok, I did it on a 'virtual layer', so I may activate and use the program (if you want to do a backup of any program, for later use: just export and save the layer), even after reinstalling everything.

The "secret program" I use for that, is called Altiris SVS. I recommend it to all those who want to avoid messing up and overcrowding their computer registry, with too many giveaways.

http://www.svsdownloads.com/ (SVS Client 2.1 HF2 Personal, Freeware)

that is a huge limitation, this software doesn't have a proper .html export with quiz result analysis, if you want .html it has to be paper-based it looks like...

Why do you even bother sometimes, GOATD? There's alot of free software for this kind of thing, and what's more, how many people actually need this? 2/10 sorry.

TedM

nice progeam!

and god to make a quizz for the classmates!

Good software, but, how do you export to HTML?

this is kinda cool, not that I can use it though, but for some cases it could be kind of entertaining. You can use this on your myspace page to create some pretty entertaining tests. Im only a teacher to my kids, and i dont mean homeschooling, thats just manners, behaving, and shutting the darn lights off! This wont do any good. Keep up the good work GAOTD! Still a great site!

Hi,
Just downloaded and everything went along fine. While I agree the program should start with a flash tutorial or something, I have created my first test in just under 10 minutes. So, the complexity mentioned above is a bit misleading. This is just what teachers like myself need and if it wasn't for websites like GAOTD offering stuff like this we'd be even more strapped for cash. BTW, you do not have to be a computer genius, but you do have to have a little patience. Thanks very much for this fine piece of software, now all I need is an Adobe Captivate 3 clone and I'll be set! Ta!

What an unusual program. Thank you GOTD for the variety. Different types of software fits different people and different needs and your ability to bring an assortment of programs to us is appreciated. I like screen savers - geek boy down the street likes system tools - mom likes music rippers. Please them all on!

Thanks to GOTD but shame to ADIT.

I think you're just kidding. This is a very powerful test creation tool.
But there is no way to use this program in any useful way.
You can create tests with embedded video and audio and then send them into the void. What is this for, when you can export only a pen and paper test but when you cannot offer the test in electronic, automated test modes?

This program is of absolutely no use whatsoever. In other words 70 Dollars for nothing. Even the 30-Day free Trial Version of this program is much more powerful than this version offered here on GOTD.

I hope uninstall will work as smooth as installation did.

Those that want the Tutorial can download it from the Company website for free at http://download.aditsoftware.com/tutorial.exe

This may help teachers. I bet most already know abut such programs and have them.

Thanks 5. It looks interesting but the complexity puts me off.

Although I have not figured out how to use this software it loaded easily. I tested one ".rtf" import, only.
I highly commend this site GAOD for offering this and other software. Way to go. Especially like the variety of software offered.
I enjoy visiting this site daily and seeing the new freebie. I also like this discussion of the product and alternate product links. Well worht the price of admission.

Really good for what it does, but like some said not many here can use it.
The program itself I would rate 8/10 (would be 10 if it had a tutorial).
As for personal use: 5/10

This looks like an interesting offering, I just wish I had a use for it. Thanks anyway GOTD! Keep up the good work.

Downloaded and installed OK.
I was very impressed with the complexity of the program.
This program is not for someone that isn't proficent in computing.
Many excellent templates and a fairly good help file to guide you through the steps. The base program is a spreedsheet design with base code in place for your layout choice.
If you know what your doing this is a great program, for the regular computer user i recommend against. scale of 1 to 10 i rate this a 2
as it is very complex to learn.

No good. Many book publishers offer better exam preparation software for free.

The program downloaded and installed smoothly...In the Read Me document, it does not list Vista. But I'm using XP. be sure to copy the registration number& paste it in the registration box the first time you use it.
The program is so complex that it should have a tutorial instead of requiring the use of various help files... for instance, in the help files there are no entries for printing a test other than a definition of the print function initiated by control P.
However, under the file tab there is an option for paper & pencil test... I did not have time to explore this option.
All in all, it looks like a useful program.

Downloaded and installed allright. Ran it real short just to get a feeling for it. Trying out the provided sample test, its super easy to get a paper test out of it. Setting up the questions and correct answers is fairly easy, but takes a bit to get used too.
Like the Picture Hotspot question type.
For tests, however, Qedoc Quizmaker (http://www.qedoc.org/en/index.php?title=Main_Page) rules. It's the best that I have found and if you agree to publish your tests on the web, it's free. Otherwise forget it, it's in the steep the price range of all decent test software. It has the widest range of question types, has a very nice layout, uses database features (import question data, replicate over one question in test), but has some weaknesses in results and getting a printed version out of it.
Perhaps more later, really got to run right now.
Pura Vida, AlesSJ

This looks like a heck of a package for cash-strapped teachers like myself... assuming I can thwack the server hard enough on its side to get the download to commence. Been clicking on everything I could for the last 30 minutes and have been rewarded with timeouts, bad gateways, internal configuration errors and non-existant pages.

Ah, looks like I finally got a pulse. Alright let's load her up and see what she can do. I really am hoping that this can create both paper and pencil along with downloadable tests... that would rock.