Tutorial 3 - Zigzag Generator: Generate a test (step 1)

• This tutorial will show you how to use the Zigzag Generator application to edit a reading text, segment it, and determine its display parameters during use with the Zigzag Test application. The tutorial will also show you how to use the Wizard to accomplish the same tasks.
  
  
• Open the Zigzag Generator application and select the File > Open Text File ... menu.
  

  

• Select the file called Go play somewhere else.txt from its appropriate source on your hard drive and click Open. If you have followed the Zigzag Reader standard installation suggestions, this file should be located in the help directory: C:\\ Program Files\Zigzag\ressources\____.
  
  
• Select the file Go play somewhere else.txt and confirm your choice by clicking Open.
  
  
• A window called New Text will appear. Name the new project to be created Go play somewhere else 3 and confirm your choice.
  
  
  
  
• In the integrated editor of Zigzag Generator, you should see the text called Go play somewhere else 3 displayed as follows:
  
  
  
  
• Select the Tools > Cut Into Segments menu.
  
  
  
  
• The window Cut into Segments will be displayed. Select 5 as a value and click on the corresponding tab.
  
  
  
  
• Next, click Close. The selected text has been cut into five-word segments :
  
  
  
• Select the Tools > Font menu (or click on the button on the toolbar):
  
  
  
  
• A window called Change Formatting will open. Select Arial 14 and confirm your choice:
  
  
  
  
• In the integrated editor of the Zigzag Generator, make multiple manual changes to the segmentation by placing your cursor at different places in the text and using the return key and the delete key. For example, place the cursor in front of the words You're of the first line (first image) and click on the return key (you can see the results in the second image). Then, place the cursor to the left of the word going and click the delete and space keys. The result is displayed in the third image.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Next, select the Tools > Test Parameters menu:
  
  
  
  
• The Test Parameters (Display tab) window will be displayed. Slide your horizontal pointer to the value 2 (i.e. 2 columns). Keep the other default values.
  
  
  
  
• Click on the Context tab. Check the box Identify error in color and keep the other default values.
  
  
  
  
• Click on the Instructions tab. If you wish to replace the instructions displayed, select what is there and write your new instructions. Then, click Close.
  
  
  
  
• Proceed to step 2 by selecting the Steps > Step 2 - Coding, events, etc. menu (or by clicking on the button on the toolbar).
  
  
• A window called Warning will be displayed. Click Yes.
  
  
  
  
• To preview the text generated up to now, select the Tools > Integrated Test menu (or click on the button on the toolbar).
  
  
  
  
• Answer No when the following window appears:
  
  
  
  
• Follow the instructions Click here to start reading the text. Then, always click on the segment in blue in the first column of the matrix and observe what happens. For the moment, you will see only the text segments rolling down without distractors. (The generation of distractors will be explained in tutorial 4.)
  
  
  
  
• To finish the simulation in the Integrated Test module, either reselect the Tools > Integrated Test menu (the option is checked!) or the button.
  
  
• Save the project in one of the following three ways:
  
  
  • using the File > Save Zigzag Project menu;
    
    
  • using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S;
    
    
  • using the button on the toolbar.
    
    
• Close the project with the File > Close Project menu.

Use the Wizard

• You can also use the Wizard in the Zigzag Generator for the first step of test generation.
  
  
• Select the File > Use Wizard menu and follow the operations shown. Use the same values as previously indicated (with the exception of the project name, Go play somewhere else 3, to avoid overwriting the existing project).
  
  
  
  
  
• Tutorials - Overview
• Tutorial 1 - Zigzag Test: Take a test
• Tutorial 2 - Zigzag Calculator: Interpret and compare test results
• Tutorial 4 - Zigzag Generator: Generate distractors and assign codes (step 2)
• Tutorial 5 - Zigzag Generator: Add images to test (step 2)
• Tutorial 6 - Zigzag Generator: Add questionnaires to test (step 2)