2.8. Error Conditions

There are a number of errors that can occur while using the software. The most generic errors that to apply to all aspects of the software are outlined below:

The following errors are section specific:


2.2 Test Generation

Test Generating Front Page
  1. Problem: User clicks 'replace' or 'delete' without selecting a question or attribute
    Result: Message is displayed asking user to select one

  2. Problem: User tries to 'preview' an empty test
    Result: Message displayed saying test must contain at least one question or attribute

  3. Problem: User tries to 'save' a test with no test title and/or date
    Result: Asked to enter a test title and/or date

  4. Problem: User tries to 'save' an empty test
    Result: Message displayed saying an empty test cannot be saved
Generation
  1. Problem: User tries to generate a test with a course that does not have any questions saved in the database
    Result: User is informed no questions could be added

  2. Problem: Tries to generate a test with a quantity greater than the number of questions in the database for the entered course, or does not enter a quantity for any extra criteria
    Result: Asked to change/enter the 'Qty'

  3. Problem: User tries to generate a test with 1 or more of the main 4 parameters empty
    Result: Asked to enter a value for the empty parameters

  4. Problem: Generator cannot generate a test with enough questions to meet the time limit range
    Result: Asked to change the time limit parameter

  5. Problem: Generator cannot generate a test with enough questions to meet the difficulty parameter/range
    Result: Asked to change the difficulty parameter
Attributes
  1. Problem: User tries to add an image attribute without specify a link
    Results: Asked to specify a link

  2. Problem: Tries to add a text attribute without specify a description
    Results: Asked to input a description

  3. Problem: Tries to add an attribute without specifying an index
    Results: Asked to specify an index

2.3 Managing the Question Bank

Adding and Editing Questions
  1. Problem: User tries to add a question to the Question Bank that doesn't contain all of the required fields (Question, Answer, Course)
    Result: The TestTool will not accept the question until it is correct and the required fields are marked with an asterisk

  2. Problem: The user deletes one of the required fields while editing a question
    Result: The TestTool will not accept the question until it is correct and the required fields are marked with an asterisk
Searching for a Question
  1. Problem: User searches for a question but no questions match the search criteria
    Results: A dialog appears informing the user that no match was found
Removing a Question
  1. Problem: The user selects no questions and presses the Remove button
    Results: A dialog appears informing the user that no questions were selected
Organizing the Question Bank
  1. Problem: The user picks the same column heading to reorder more than once (i.e the headings chosen are not unique)
    Results: A dialog appears informing the user that all column headings must be unique

2.4 Handling Exams

  1. Problem: User has selected an invalid exam (for example, by typing in something that isn't an exam in the test preview and distribution dialogues)
    Results: Dialog appears to notify the user they have selected an invalid exam

2.5 Taking Exams

Taking the Exam
  1. Problem: The user is not able to access the exam for some reason
    Results: An error dialog appears to the student and an email is dispatched to the professor

  2. Problem: For all question types: the student doesn't select an answer before proceeding
    Results: A popup window appears notifying the student they did not choose an answer and asks whether or not they intended to leave the question blank

  3. Problem: For short answer and essay questions: the user exceeds the character limit alotted for the question
    Results: The user is notified in a popup window

  4. Problem: For code questions: The file that is created as a result of attempting to save the code answer to the database may be non-writable
    Results: The TestTool alerts the student and proctor with a pop-up. In the case of a non-proctored setting, an email is dispatched to the professor
Viewing Exam Results
  1. Problem: the exam is not able to be accessed
    Results: A a popup appears to the student and the TestTool dispatches an email to the professor.



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