Import questions

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Moodle has a number of different formats that can be used to import questions into Question bank categories and as lesson question pages. These include some proprietary quiz software formats, as well as text files and Moodle formats.

Question import formats

GIFT

Moodle 'proprietary' text format for import and export. Reasonably comprehensive.

Moodle XML

Moodle 'proprietary' xml format for import and export. Very comprehensive.

Aiken

This format is an easy way of writing multiple-choice questions for import.

AON

This format is the same as the missing word format, except it creates matching questions from the multiple choice questions. Please note that from Moodle 1.8 it will no longer be part of the standard Moodle.

Blackboard

From Moodle 1.7 onwards, if you're converting from Blackboard to Moodle, you can export your course and then import the question pools into Moodle using the Blackboard "POOL" type export format. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP. Note that you must first unpack the exported zip file and provide Moodle with the appropriate .dat file. Note that this version does not work with Blackboard Version 6 and newer. (Use this format for ExamView 5 or 6)

Blackboard V6+

This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's export format. It provides limited support for Blackboard Version 6 and 7. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP. You must upload the zip file exported from Blackboard.

WebCT format

This format supports importing multiple choice and short answers questions from WebCT's text format.

Course Test Manager

This format enables you to import questions from the Course Test Manager from Course Technology.

Embedded Answers (Cloze)

This format is a multiple question, multiple answer question with embedded answers. They can be a bit tricky to develop, but they are a unique way of asking questions.

Examview

ExamView 4 supported an XML export format that Moodle can import. If you are using a newer version of ExamView, you should export using Blackboard, extract the zip archive ExamView creates, then import in Moodle using Blackboard format (do not use 6+ format for moodle import, even though exam view calls this a Blackboard6+ file--it isn't). You can choose one of the ".dat" files from the ExamView archive to import. Note that images are not currently imported. See http://www.rose-prism.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=6788 and http://www.rose-prism.org/moodle/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=1451

Question bank process

The question bank allows you a great deal of flexibility when importing questions. It is possible to import questions from a file on your network/computer or from a file that has been saved or uploaded into your course files.

  • Select import tab
  • Select the question type to import
  • General: pick the category, determine if the context and category information that maybe contained in the file should be used. Select what should happen if there are no grades or an error is detected in the import process.
  • Determine the file to import and import it
    • Import from file upload. Use the browse function to import a file from your computer. Use the "Upload this file" button to import the questions.
    • Import from file already in course files. A popup window will take you to the course files start page. Use the "Import from this file" button.
General and import file parameters sections

Lesson module process

The question types that can be imported into a lesson are similar to question bank.

Lesson screen asking which file type will be imported

Lesson can only import from a file located on the teachers computer.

  • In edit, using the expanded view
  • Select the position where questions should be inserted into the lesson
  • Click on the Import question link between the pages.
  • Select the file type
  • Use the browse function to find the file on your computer
  • Import the selected file.

Character encoding

It is important that the imported file is encoded in the UTF-8 standard.

If this is not adhered to you may get import errors and/or strange characters in the imported materials. If the file is not UTF-8, an external tool must be used to change the encoding. Note that if only basic 'latin' characters are used, then the coding issue can generally be ignored. Be particularly careful when creating questions using Microsoft Word. For reasons best known to themselves, Microsoft used their own encoding for some characters (incompatible with UTF-8) and this is likely to break the import.

Note: Prior to Moodle 1.6 the question file was assumed to be encoded in the same way as the language being used within the Moodle site. With Moodle 1.6 and onwards the imported file must be encoded in UTF-8.

Tips and tricks

  • TIP: It may be easier and faster to type many questions into a single text file, than to create a series of Quiz or Lesson question pages. Some teachers report that once they master creating questions in one of the formats to import, they do not have to wait for their Moodle site screen to refresh and the process of selecting the next question type to create.
  • TIP: Want to use questions from your quiz in a Lesson? Export the question category in say a GIFT format, then use a text editor to delete questions, or perhaps use a search and replace function to change names or places.

See also