FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains answers to the some commonly asked technical support questions.

1. I'm unhappy about the choice of graphics that Metamorphosis has made to insert in my course. Is there anything I can do about it?
2. I have a document that is essentially one huge table that I'm having trouble converting satisfactorily. What can I do about it?
3. I'm unable to view an entire web page at one time without scrolling to view the hidden parts. What should I do?
4. How can I let Metamorphosis know that I've moved the graphics library to a new location?
5. When I publish a standalone version an Index.hta file is created. What is it for?
6. When I try to re-open a project I've saved I get an 'unexpected file format' error.
7. When I publish a standalone version and run it locally under IE some images do not appear.
8. Why does it, when I try to save/publish Metamorphosis project across a network, misbehave/fail?
9. I created a number of Metamorphosis projects but the published versions either play incorrectly or not at all. Why is that?
10. How can I use Metamorphosis without requiring the CD Rom in the drive all the time?
11. I published a project and it just doesn't run. I get an error that says something about an "unterminated string constant".
12. Fill-in-the-blanks type questions fail all the time.
13. When I run an ASP web-published version of my project under a non-IE browser it runs but I sometimes get a 'the page cannot be found' error.
14. When I test an ASP web-published version of my project on the web server I get an "operation must use an updateable query", or similar, error.
15. Where do I find additional Metamorphosis tools/utilities?
16. How do I prepare a source Word document that I want to import as a quiz?
17. Information is stored in an MS Access database where the date is split over three fields. How do I combine the three fields into one?
18. I've specified some settings for the assessment topic but the published project is not behaving as I would expect it to.
19. Once I import the documents to create a multi-topic course how do I change the topic title that appears on the main menu?
20. How do I disable the 'Next' button?
21. The SCORM metadata that is generated for LMS published projects, in the imsmanifest.xml file, is incorrect/inadequate. Is there anything I can do?
22. I'm opening lesson from a custom-built menu across a secure connection but the lesson does not display properly. Is there a fix for this?

I'm unhappy about the choice of graphics that Metamorphosis has made to insert in my course. Is there anything I can do about it?

Yes, there are a number of things you could try:

1. Restrict the graphic type that Metamorphosis is to use. For example, if you wanted only colour photographs to be used then you would need to:
   • Go to the Settings pane
   • Select the Graphics option
   • Under Graphic type(s) to include uncheck every option except for Color photos.
2. Prioritise the library graphic categories. This means Metamorphosis will first attempt to find graphics from the categories you nominate. Refer to the Prioritising the graphics categories section for more information.
3. If you are expecting Metamorphosis to include graphics from its library, and it isn't, then you need to:
   • Go to the Settings pane
   • Select the Graphics option
   • Under Library Graphics, check the Automatically add graphics from library option.
4. If you are expecting Metamorphosis to include graphics from your source document, and it isn't, then you need to:
   • Go to the Settings pane
   • Select the Graphics option
   • Check the Include graphics from source document option.
5. Replace the graphics in the Edit tab using the Add/Replace graphics button.

I have a document that is essentially one huge table that I'm having trouble converting satisfactorily. What can I do about it?

While Metamorphosis accepts virtually any Word document there are cases that cannot be converted satisfactorily. A multi-page document that consists of one long table, such as might be used by an interactive movie script will not convert well. Metamorphosis cannot determine the best way to layout the text it finds.

To deal with the problem, highlight the table, select the Convert Table to Text command in the Word Table menu and then rearrange the text until it makes sense. It is now ready to be converted by Metamorphosis.

I'm unable to view an entire web page at one time without scrolling to view the hidden parts. What should I do?

1. Make sure that your monitor is set to a resolution of at least 1024 by 768 pixels. To change the resolution:
   • Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display
   • The Display Properties dialog box appears
   • Click on the Settings tab
   • On this tab sheet there is a pane labelled Screen resolution
   • Drag the tracking block to change the resolution
   • Click the OK button and follow any on screen instructions.
2. You may need to maximise Internet Explorer (IE). To do this, do one of the following:
   • Double click on Internet Explorer's title bar
   • Single click on the small icon on IE's title bar and select Maximize from the popup menu that appears
   • Right mouse click on the IE on the task bar and select Maximize from the popup menu that appears
   • Single click on the maximize system button (the middle button of the three buttons on the right hand side of IE's title bar

How can I let Metamorphosis know that I've moved the graphics library to a new location?

If the graphics library has been moved you can use the File menu item Preferences / Set graphics library location... to point at the new location.

The graphics library is contained within a folder called "Library". This folder should not be renamed. When the graphics library is moved it is this "Library" folder that is moved. When you set a new location, it is the "Library" folder that you need to locate - not any of its sub-folders.

When I publish a standalone version an Index.hta file is created. What is it for?

It is only meant for use locally under Windows XP SP2.

Windows XP SP2 introduced enhanced security procedures. One of which was to block "active content" (active content includes JavaScript, Java applets, Flash, ActiveX controls...) in a file that is run on the local machine (My Computer) in the hope that it would prevent malicious code from automatically running.

By the way, although their names are similar "Java" and "JavaScript" are totally separate and unrelated entities.

To prevent the warning messages from appearing and to allow a project with active content to run correctly do one of the following:

• On Windows computers, run Index.HTA instead of Index,HTM
• Use a different modern browser to IE eg. Firefox
• Host the project on a server (in which case do not upload Index.HTA)
• In IE go to the menu item Tools / Internet Options; click the Advanced tab; scroll down to the Security branch and check the checkbox next to the item "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer". Warning: this will change the security setting for all files run on My Computer.

When I try to re-open a project I've saved I get an 'unexpected file format' error.

This error, if it occurs at all, would only happen when attemping to open a version 1.0 project with Metamorphosis version 1.01. In response to use requests we added some new features to version 1.0 to create version 1.01. Unfortunately the saved data between the two version is no longer 100% compatible.

To solve this error download the latest version of Metamorphosis, at least version 1.011 (remember to uninstall the previous version before installing the new version) and try again.

If the problem persists email us the project file - the .mph file - and we'll make the appropriate changes for you. A project file contains only references to the content. In itself it does not contain any content.

Note this error would only occur with version 1.0 project files.

When I publish a standalone version and run it locally under IE some images do not appear.

Sometimes I do see the images flash on and then disappear.

This most likely because one of the folders that contains the published project contains one of more "non internet safe" characters (such as "(").

Rename any "non internet safe" characters in all containing folders to, say, alphanumeric characters and all missing images should appear.

Why does it, when I try to save/publish Metamorphosis project across a network, misbehave/fail?

More than likely it's because your network drive uses a UNC (Universal Naming Convention) based path. While UNC is a more flexible standard (as it allows you to identify a server by name without worrying about a drive letter assignment) the current version of MM has only been tested on network drives that have been mapped to a drive letter. For example, MM will save to a folder on the K:\projects drive but not to \\serverpath\projects even though the folders are actually the same.

To Map a Network Drive:

1. Open Windows Explorer. (If you cannot find Windows Explorer, right-click on the Start menu and choose Explore.)
2. Select the Tools menu, then select Map Network Drive.
3. Under Drive, choose a drive letter from the pull-down menu and select the drive to connect to. Select 'Reconnect at logon'.
4. Click Finish.
5. To disconnect your network drive go to: Tools > Disconnect Network Drive - select the drive you wish to disconnect.

I created a number of Metamorphosis projects but the published versions either play incorrectly or not at all. Why is that?

This will happen if you save your projects into the same folder and publish them to the default location.

The default publish location is the 'Published Files' folder within the folder that your project was saved. This means that having more than one project in the same folder will cause published version to interfere with each other. The solution is to either:

• Save each project into its own folder, or
• Change the default publish location for each project.

To change the default publish location for a project:

1. Open the project in Metamorphosis
2. From the File menu select Preferences / Publish Settings...
3. Uncheck the checkbox labelled 'Use the default location'
4. Click the appropriate 'Browse...' button and browse to the folder you want to be used as the publish location for the project. (Note, you need to repeat these steps for each type of publishing - standalone, Lan-Based...)
5. Click 'OK'.

How can I use Metamorphosis without requiring the CD Rom in the drive all the time?

If you did the typical install of Metamorphosis then the library graphics remain on the CD Rom. This means that each time you run the program Metamorphosis will look for the library graphics on the CD Rom - and give you an error if it can't locate it. To prevent it from looking for the CD Rom you can do one of the following:

• Under Settings / Graphics uncheck the checkbox labelled 'Automatically add graphics from library'. This means Metamorphosis will never try to use one of it library graphics and so not try to access the CD Rom.
• When you install Metamorphosis choose the option that loads the library graphics with your install - the library graphics get installed with the program.
• Copy the entire folder from the CD Rom called 'Library' (which is about 550MB in size) to a drive-based path that is available to your computer, or simply to your hard drive. Then point Metamorphosis to the new location (refer to the FAQ question 4. above for more information). Metamorphosis will now look for its library graphics in this 'Library' folder.

I published a project and it just doesn't run. I get an error that says something about an "unterminated string constant".

A current limitation (this was fixed in version 1.020) of Metamorphosis is that, under 1. Settings / General, cannot correctly recognize carriage returns when the project is published.

A workaround is to download and install the latest update which allows you to use \n for carriage returns. Metamorphosis will correctly convert \n to a carriage return when a project is published.

For example the description: "I'm the first line\nAnd I'm the second line" will display as:

I'm the first line
And I'm the second line

This limitation is also present in custom question feedback. That is, you must not enter carriage returns in any feedback. As above, if you need a carriage return enter \n and, when published, a carriage return will replace any \n.

If \n is a valid piece of text that you want displayed (eg. day\night) to prevent a carriage return replacing the \n include a second backslash. For example, day\\night will display in a published project as day\night. Whereas, day\night will display as:

day
ight

Another limitation is that the use of any double quotation marks (") in the General/Settings pane and in custom question feedback needs to be 'escaped'. That is, they need to be immediately preceded by a backslash. For example:

This is a \"Title\"

will correctly display in a published project as:

This is a "Title"

Without the escape character (the backslash) the published project will give an error and stop running.

Fill-in-the-blanks type questions fail all the time.

First, make sure that version of Metamorphosis, if it's version 1.019 or lower, has had the updates up to at least update 11 applied to it. (If you're in doubt, email us for an installer that consolidates all updates into one update.)

Secondly, when your creating a question only enter one word into each word field or, if you want to have more than one word, separate the words with a semi-colon. Never ever use commas anywhere in a word field.

When I run an ASP web-published version of my project under a non-IE browser it runs but I sometimes get a 'the page cannot be found' error.

This occurs because Metamorphosis incorrectly publishes the file 'done.asp' to the root level of the folder instead of into the 'content' folder.

A fix, until the issue is addressed within Metamorphosis, is to manually move the file to the 'content' folder.

When I test an ASP web-published version of my project on the web server I get an "operation must use an updateable query", or similar, error.

The answers is from Microsoft's Article ID 175168 which says:

"The most common reason is that the Internet Guest account (IUSR_MACHINE), which is by default part of the 'Everyone' group, does not have Write permissions on the database file (.mdb). To fix this problem, use the Security tab in Explorer to adjust the properties for this file so that the Internet Guest account has the correct permissions."

It's often not enough to just move your files to your web server. Metamorphosis cannot change settings on your web server so it's up to you to give both your ASP files and the database appropriate permissions.

Where do I find additional Metamorphosis tools/utilities?

They are freely downloadable from http://www.apixel.com/page00tools.htm

How do I prepare a source Word document that I want to import as a quiz?

If you wish Metamorphosis to automatically generate a quiz of multiple choice questions, to form an assessment topic, you must first prepare the questions in your Word document by applying appropriate styles.

Once you have typed your questions, use the custom Word style stem for the questions themselves, the custom Word style option for distractors, and the custom Word style optionyes for the correct answer(s). Avoid having these style names on any other element anywhere else in your document or Metamorphosis will become 'confused' and will not properly generate the quiz.

If you want to have more control over your quiz, make it the last topic in your course and then nominate the last topic as an Assessment topic in the Assessment category of the Metamorphosis' Settings pane. Then you will be able to specify question time limits, randomization, pooling...

Information is stored in an MS Access database where the date is split over three fields. How do I combine the three fields into one?

To combine the three "date" fields in your MS Access database into one date field use a macro (an automated sequence of commands that provide a specific function). To create a macro do the following:

1. Open your database in MS Access.
2. Select 'Macros' from the left hand Objects pane.
3. Select 'New' and the macro design window appears.
4. Add the following 6 actions in order.
5. Close and save the macro window.
6. To run the macro either double-click on it or select it and click the 'Run' icon.

Notes:

• The options go in the bottom left hand area of the window.
• If you don't want the existing date fields deleted omit the last 3 actions.
• I've assumed the existing table name is "Table1" if it isn't then change all instances of "Table1" to the actual table name.
• I've assumed the copy of the table is to named "Table1Copy" if it isn't then change all instances of "Table1Copy" to the actual table name.
• Each SQL Statement goes on one line (they probably here display as wrapping).
• A macro may be copied and pasted from one database to another.

Actions:

Action: CopyObject
Options:
Destination database: [leave blank]
New Name: Table1Copy
Source Object Type: Table
Source Object Name Table1

Action: RunSQL
Options:
SQL Statement: ALTER TABLE Table1Copy ADD COLUMN CompleteDate DATETIME;
Use Transaction: No

Action: RunSQL
Options:

If your standard date format is month/day/year use the following line:
SQL Statement: UPDATE Table1Copy SET CompleteDate = CDate(CStr([CourseDay])+"/"+CStr([CourseMonth])+"/"+CStr([CourseYear]));

If, instead, your standard date format is day/month/year use the following line:
SQL Statement: UPDATE Table1Copy SET CompleteDate = CDate(CStr([CourseDay])+"/"+CStr([CourseMonth])+"/"+CStr([CourseYear]));

[At any rate you should test a small table and see if the results you get are what you expect.]

Use Transaction: No

Action: RunSQL
Options:
SQL Statement: ALTER TABLE Table1Copy DROP COLUMN CourseDay;
Use Transaction: No

Action: RunSQL
Options:
SQL Statement: ALTER TABLE Table1Copy DROP COLUMN CourseMonth;
Use Transaction: No

Action: RunSQL
Options:
SQL Statement: ALTER TABLE Table1Copy DROP COLUMN CourseYear;
Use Transaction: No

I've specified some settings for the assessment topic but the published project is not behaving as I would expect it to.

For an assessment topic if you want to:

1. Randomise the question order
   • in the assessment tab, by checking the box "Present questions in random order"
2. Set the number of questions
   • in the assessment tab, by checking the box "Set the number of questions to present from the total pool of questions"

The assessment topic questions must be:

• at the root level of the assessment topic (not in a sub topic/container)
• contiguous with other questions i.e. all the question must follow each other without any non-question screens between them.

Once I import the documents to create a multi-topic course how do I change the topic title that appears on the main menu?

The topic titles can be changed in the Sorter, on the Edit pane, under the Tree (view) tab. Each topic appears as a folder icon. If you click twice (not a double-click) on the text label for a topic then you can edit the label. Editing the label changes the title that appears on the main menu.

How do I disable the 'Next' button?

Metamorphosis allows for the disabling of the 'Next' button in a number of specific situations. Outside of these it is not directly possible to disable the 'Next' button. Though, if you are prepared to do some hand coding then, there is a way:

Note: this has since been added to the "Additional features utility v.1.01'" available at http://www.apixel.com/page00tools.htm so you don't need to hand code the following.

First, from the published output locate the screen on which the 'Next' button is to be disabled.

Then make a copy of the screen and put the copy somewhere safe.

Using Notepad open the screen.

The top of the opened screen will look something like this:

Add the following after the STYLE element and before the end of the HEAD element:

So the page now looks like this:

Save the changes you've made to the screen and then test the published project.

If there's a problem, reopen the screen with notepad and correct it. If you are unable to correct the problem then you'll need to replace the screen with its saved version and try again.

The SCORM metadata that is generated for LMS published projects, in the imsmanifest.xml file, is incorrect/inadequate. Is there anything I can do?

Metamorphosis has only rudimentary handling of SCORM metadata. To partially overcome this shortcoming we've developed a tool that allows you to add/update the more common metadata elements.

The tool is available here.

I'm opening lesson from a custom-built menu across a secure connection but the lesson does not display properly. Is there a fix for this?

Trying to open the lesson using relative paths in a JavaScript function call e.g.

will not work. You need to use a full URI e.g.

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