XML Spreadsheet -> MMF2 Array Converter

[MuddyMole]

Merry Christmas everyone

Just thought I'd upload a little app I made, which converts XML Spreadsheet files (generated by Excel or OpenOffice) to 3-dimensional MMF2 array files.
Instructions are included in the zip.

[therickman]

Hi Muddy mole ,
too late to reply to your merry christmas, soI'll wish you a great and happy year 2011!

Thanks for this app !

I was wondering if the reverse way were possible for the following :

clickteam's quiz object lets you export the quiz parameters as a text file , which in return it can load to load a quiz.

Now I'd like my mmf app to be able to interact with a Learning Management System ( such as moodle ) . I have a LOOOOOOOOOONG way to go but it seems those systems can "import" / integrate data in the xml format...

SO to be able to convert the quiz parameter text into xml could come in handy.

For for sharing your views on that,
eric

[MuddyMole]

Well, my app loads XML Spreadsheet files, which are XML files with a very specific structure and set of tags (specified by Microsoft). Because the specification is so complicated, exporting to an XML spreadsheet is actually pretty tricky.

However, the good news is that you probably don't need to do that.
You may be able to use a custom XML structure, something like this:

<Question type="multiple-choice" name="Question 1">Where is Paris?</Question>
<Answer result="correct">France</Answer>
<Answer result="wrong">Jamaica</Answer>
<Answer result="correct">Earth</Answer>
<Answer result="wrong">The Moon</Answer>

It's possible that this "LMS / Moodle" thing already specifies an XML structure and set of tags.
In that case, you'd have to use those, instead of customizing them. I don't know - I'm really not familiar with the systems you're talking about.

Either way, it shouldn't be too challenging to generate a suitably structured XML file, from the text file made by the Quiz Object - and I could certainly help you with that, if you want.

First thing you need to do though, is find a page that explains *exactly* how the LMS system loads the XML data.
Once you've done that, get back to me (if you want my help).

I tend to be on TDC a lot more than these forums, so that's a better way to get in touch:
http://www.create-games.com/profile.asp?id=19898

[MuddyMole]

Okay, I just googled it, and came up with this:
http://docs.moodle.org/en/Moodle_XML

That tells you everything you need to know about the XML format, and has some links to other relevant information.

It's definitely very do-able.

[MuddyMole]

I made an example file for you:
http://cid-b1e7ee094271bbda.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/XMLQuiz.zip

It only supports multiple choice quizzes, but you should be able to get the general idea from it.

[therickman]

Whoa ! Thanks a lot for the replies + the research and finally the example file !

It will probably take me a while to understand how everything works, ( don't know much about xml ) but really what you've done is a great and much appreciated way to point me to the right direction!

[MuddyMole]

No worries. Let me know if you have trouble and want help.

XML is super-easy.
It'll take you about 5 minutes to understand the general concept of tags/attributes/content, and then it's just a question of learning the tags & structure for the specific version of XML you are working with.

That's what's so great about XML - it's so flexible, you can invent tags to suit almost any application.

eg. Recognize this?

<street color="brown">
<property square=1 value=60>Old Kent Rd.</property>
<property square=3 value=60>Whitechapel Ln.</property>
</street>

<street color="blue">
<property square=6 value=100>The Angel Islington</property>
<property square=8 value=100>Euston Rd.</property>
<property square=9 value=100>Pentonville Rd.</property>
</street>

[therickman]

somewhere near Islington I guess not sure though

Well I get the picture I think...
in the examples above , "street" and "property" are tags
"square" and "value" are attributes
and "Euston Rd" should be the content.... it seems.

[MuddyMole]

I take it you're not English then...
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_I/0_my_photographs_london_monopoly_board_ju31_1024.j pg

[therickman]

oups...

I was wondering about the meaning of "square"....

I have only played the French version of Monopoly...sorry for my ignorance, but I keep the nice picture of the board !
I haven't played the game for ages. I played Scrabble yesterday though ( yet another British game, if I'm correct )

By the way if I remember correctly, in the French version they kept the wording " chance" for the question mark squares and cards , but "chance" is a false friend because in French, it means "good luck" whereas" chance" in English can be either good or bad luck...