An Architectural Review of TAKEaTEST.Net Southern California Code Camp California State University, Fullerton January 21-22, 2006 Ben Aminnia Pointer Corporation

2 Primary Goals  A Table-Driven Test Taking Tool on the Web  Conduct Multiple Test Styles, using the same Test Engine  Define Test Groups Accessible by Each Login ID  Define New Tests without Creating New Web Pages  Store Test Results in a Database

3 Test Styles  Style 1 - Multiple Choice  Style 2 - Rating Scale of 0 through 5  Style 3 - Rating Scale with 5 Custom Headings  Style 4 - Rating Scale with 2-5 Custom Headings  Style 5 - Rating Scale of 0 through 5 with User Comments  Style 6 - Rating Scale with 2-9 Custom Headings and Optional User Comments

4 Test Style 1 Multiple Choice

5 Test Style 2 Rating Scale of 0 through 5

6 Test Style 3 Rating Scale with 5 Custom Headings

7 Test Style 4 Rating Scale with 2-5 Custom Headings

8 Test Style 5 Rating Scale of 0 through 5 with User Comments

9 Test Style 6 Rating Scale with 2-9 Custom Headings and Optional User Comments

10 Scoring Styles  Different Score for each Question (e.g. The Millionnaire)  Order of Option Button  Reverse Order of Option Button (e.g. Priority Order)  None

11 Design Documents  Database E/R Diagram  Web Page Navigation Chart Sanity Savers  Session Variables  Stored Procedures Summary

12 Database E/R Diagram

13 Web Page Navigation Chart

14 The Test Engine at a Glance … Interactive Entry via Index.htm Automated Entry via Another Application ASP.NET Test Engine SQL Server Database

15 Different Ways to Launch TAKEaTEST.Net  From the Internet …  Login with a Shared ID (e.g. Guest)  Login with a Private ID (e.g. CodeCamp)  Demo  From Another Application  Necessary Information Passed via Arguments  No Login Page – Proceed to Test Group  Demo

16 DB Technology  Original prototype was in MS Access!  Soon converted to SQL Server 2000  A couple of in-line queries  Mostly Stored-Procedures

17 DB Connection  A Mix of OLEDB and SQLConnect  Logic to Identify Local vs. WWW (thus showing certain things in Local mode only)  Connection string housed inside the code (NOT in web.config)

18 Deployment Application  Development: FP2003  Production: Visual Studio Setup App Database  Major Upgrades: Script  Minor Upgrades: Redo

19 Capabilities  Send test results to designated administrator  Via SMTP (not Outlook)  My SMTP or Yours  Optional

20 Under the Hood …

21 Speaker Evaluation Website: Login ID:codecamp

22 My Contact Information Ben Aminnia