Replace numbers with a sequence in PHP ising Vim or Geany

esteeven · 04-07-2015, 11:47 AM

Hello
I'm finding it hard to even articulate the problem I have set myself.

I am writing a multiple choice quiz. It contains 100 question. I created a test model of the quiz with 4 questions and it works. My PHP is here:

Code:

 <?php
            
            $answer1 = $_POST['question-1-answers'];
            $answer2 = $_POST['question-2-answers'];
            $answer3 = $_POST['question-3-answers'];
            $answer4 = $_POST['question-4-answers'];
            $answer5 = $_POST['question-5-answers'];
        
            $totalCorrect = 0;
            
            if ($answer1 == "C") { $totalCorrect++; }
            if ($answer2 == "B") { $totalCorrect++; }
            if ($answer3 == "A") { $totalCorrect++; }
            if ($answer4 == "D") { $totalCorrect++; }
            if ($answer5) { $totalCorrect++; }
            
            echo "<div id='results'>$totalCorrect / 4 correct</div>";
            
        ?>

What I want to do is extend what I have up to 100 without having to copy and paste what I have got and then manually replace the numbers up to 100. I realise that I will have to manually insert the correct answer for all 100 questions as there is no pattern to the answers.

I'm really in the dark here. I don't know whether this is something that can be achieved within Vim or whether I need to use a script or another tool.

Thanks in advance for your help.

NevemTeve · 04-07-2015, 12:54 PM

An array would be handy:

Code:

$right_answers = array (1=>'C',2=>'B',3=>'A',4=>'D');
foreach ($right_answers as $key => $value) {
    $post_index= 'question-'.$key.'-answers';
    if (isset ($_POST[$post_index])) {
        $answer= $_POST[$post_index];
        ...
    }
}

esteeven · 04-08-2015, 02:39 AM

Thanks NevemTeve. If I understand correctly (which I probably don't : this is all very new to me

) the code you have given me improves what I have done so far but I am not sure it answers my question. I really want to extend the answers to 100. The actual correct answers - A, B, C and D - do not follow a regular, predictable pattern and I will have to input them manually and individually. There will be more than one multiple choice test (of 100 questions) using the same come to "mark" the test.

The final lines will be:

Code:

 
            $answer99 = $_POST['question-99-answers'];
            $answer100 = $_POST['question-100-answers'];
        
            $totalCorrect = 0;
            
            if ($answer99 == "C") { $totalCorrect++; }
            if ($answer100 == "B") { $totalCorrect++; }

I simply want a way of replicating what I have but increasing the answer numbers up to 100.

NevemTeve · 04-08-2015, 03:36 AM

Of course, array '$right_answers' has to have 100 elements is the final version. It will be sg like this:

Code:

$right_answers = array (1=>'A','B','C','D','D','A','C','B','B','A', /* first ten */
....
'D','B','C','D','D','A','C','B','B','C'); /* last ten */

$totalCorrect= 0;
foreach ($right_answers as $key => $value) {
    $post_index= 'question-'.$key.'-answers';
    if (isset ($_POST[$post_index])) {
        $answer= $_POST[$post_index];
        if ($answer === $value) ++$totalCorrect;
    }
}

esteeven · 04-08-2015, 12:35 PM

Okay. That makes more sense now. I'll have a look at this later and try to implement it. Many thanks NevemTeve.

AnanthaP · 04-10-2015, 09:03 PM

Ideally, to generalise the solution (to create the PHP) you should store the questions, the answer choices and right solution in a data base and use a loop to create the PHP file.

This way you can key in the100 data sets (consisting of question, answer choices and right answer) off line ie. at your own pace into say a simple text file. Then write a small script (I prefer awk) to generate what ever code you want.

IN MY VIEW THIS WOULD SOLVE YOUR MAJOR PROBLEM OF REPEATEDLY ENTERING, CORRECTING AND VERIFYING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHP STRUCTURE USING VIM.
You could then mail this PHP file off to others to use.

Another solution once you have the question bank ready would be write a PHP programme that reads the data and renders the page. You obviously know this. Of course this requires access to a personal or test web server that eders PHP onto the browser.

Ok

esteeven · 04-27-2015, 04:17 PM

Thanks NevemTeve - that really did the trick. Everything now works as it should. It's amazing how just seeing the right code at the right time can open up a whole new world. I've been playing with this array since you posted it and I really feel as though I have learned something. Cheers!