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(Crizeldo
G. Cariaso, MD, Philippines, Dec 17,
1997)
Question:
Your software looks very time consuming ... is the learning
curve very steep?
Answer:
Your opinion is not unusual. However, SuperMemo is much simpler
than it looks. Try this:
- press Ctrl+A and type in question and answer in the editing fields
- choose Learn (Ctrl+L) to run repetitions
You do not really need much more to make good use of SuperMemo!!! After some time you will yet need to know how to make a back up copy with File : Organize : Copy.
(Judy
Citron, UK, May 26, 1998)
Question:
Your programme has been highly
recommended to me so I've downloaded SuperMemo from the web. But when I execute it I seem
to get thrown into the deep end - I don't have an overview of what it does or how I work
with it. Have I lost a phase somewhere? Do I get a nice icon on my desktop?
Answer:
It is one of the most difficult tasks
ahead of our company to make sure that people like you can sit down to SuperMemo and grasp
it in 5 minutes. It has already been four years that we constantly experiment with various
approaches and seem to still be losing the battle. SuperMemo has some new values to offer
and those have to be understood before you can make a good use of it. Hence the
difficulty. The most important thing to do is to run SM8.EXE and try F1 (help file). The
two key operations you have to learn are:
- adding new material (Ctrl+A)
- learning (Ctrl+L)
The rest is truly optional!
As for the icon: if you are using Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, do as follows:
- right-click the desktop (at the place you want the icon to appear)
- choose New : Shortcut
- click Browse
- select the file SM8.EXE (you will find it in directory SM8 in the same place where you downloaded and ran SM8ZIP.EXE; for example: if you downloaded to c:\download\supermemo\sm8zip.exe, run sm8zip.exe and you will find sm8.exe in c:\download\supermemo\sm8\sm8.exe)
(Deron
Isaac, US, May 21, 1997)
Question:
How can I edit texts of items during repetitions without backing out of the test mode?
Answer:
Choose Q to edit the question, A to edit the answer, or E to
edit all text components. You can also edit all properties of all components by using
pop-up menus available with right button click on a component in question.
(Matt
Cassidy, New Zealand, Aug 18, 1997)
Question:
How to review items to be repeated on a given day?
Answer:
Use Tools : Workload and double-click the day of interest.
(Thomas
Clark, US, Nov 24, 1997)
Question:
Why doesn't SuperMemo remember the size of individual windows? It has to be changed on
each entry!
Answer:
Please save your windows layout with Window : Save as deafult.
(Grzegorz
Malewski, Poland, Dec 10, 1997)
Question:
Do grades at final drill affect the learning process?
Answer:
No. They are only used to eliminate items from the final drill queue.
Question:
How to postpone memorizing an item that comes at memorizing new item?
Answer:
Choose Reset on the element pop-up menu (Ctrl+R). This will put the item at the end of the
pending queue.
(Roger
Dykes, US, May 20, 1998)
Question:
What databases are available for SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
See SuperMemo Library,
Question:
How do I delete an element in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Choose one of the following:
- Edit : Delete element on the main menu
- Click Delete button in the Contents window
- choose Edit : Delete on the Contents window pop-up menu
- Press Del in the Contents window
- Choose Delete element on the Element window pop-up menu
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Del in the Element window
(Ryszard Siwczyk, Poland, Nov 4, 1997)
Question:
Does the response time at repetitions influence the next interval?
Answer:
No. Repetition timer is only used to compute the average response time and Workload.
(David
Seagull, US, Jul 10, 1998)
Question:
How can I define French keyboard for use with SuperMemo in Windows 95?
Answer:
In Control Panel use Keyboard and add French on the Language tab (e.g. French -
Canadian). Set French as default.
(Helmut
Fritz, Germany, Jul 6, 1998)
Question:
Why can I not exceed 250 characters in the text component?
Answer:
This is a technical limitation related to some compiler limitations. You can solve the
problem by using two or more adjacent text components. This problem is solved in SuperMemo 98
(Jim
Ivy, US, June 4, 1997)
Question:
What is the difference between a topic and an item? The documentation of SuperMemo 8 is quite unclear on that!
Answer:
Topics are used to present knowledge (like chapters in a book), while items are used to
test knowledge by means of repetition (e.g. they have the question-and-answer structure).
The main difference is that topics do not take part in repetitions but are only presented
before learning a sequence of items. This helps to holistically approach the subject
before repetitions begin. See also: Topics vs items
(Bonnie
Smithson, US, Feb 24, 1998)
Question:
How do I put pictures into the answer part?
Answer:
Check Answer on the image component pop-up
menu.
(Andrej
Krzisnik, Slovenia, Jul 13, 1998)
Question:
Within Font Registry, I tried to change
the default font for Answer from Arial Western to Arial Central European (to add comments
in my language). However, although there is such an option to choose, it does not work. It
stays on Western. I can change the color, font type and size, but not the script type. Is
there a workaround?
Answer:
There is a limitation in the 16-bit version of SuperMemo: fonts do not store character
set code and consequently changes you make in the Script field are ignored. You might use
any font that natively supports your language. This bug is fixed in SuperMemo
98
(Gabor
Schmera, US, Dec 13, 1997)
Question:
How do I add a recorder component to my items (as it is done in Advanced English 97)?
Answer:
Add a sound component and check Recorder on this pop-up menu.
Question:
How can I change the position of the question window on the screen?
Answer:
Alt-click the window twice. It will become draggable.
Alternatively, you can choose Dragging mode on the window's pop-up menu or on the
element's pop-up menu (in the latter case, all components will become draggable).
Question:
I left for vacation, and my learning process is in mess. What should I do?
Answer:
Use Tools:Mercy
(Pawel Galecki, Poland, Feb 10, 1998)
Question:
I have created my own knowledge system that contains 700 items
in the root category. The system loads for nearly 60 seconds each time I open it! How can
I speed this up?
Answer:
For performance reasons, you should limit the number of elements per category to 50-100.
For this purpose, set a lower value at Tools : Options : Appending : Children
limit per hierarchy node. To break up your 700-item category, run Arrange
in folders on the Contents window pop-up menu.
(Ryszard
Kosowicz, Krakow, Poland, May 16, 1997)
Question:
How can I quickly copy the text of an item to another item without using clipboard twice
(for question and for answer)?
Answer:
Use Duplicate on element pop-up menu (or press Ctrl+Shift+D on
the copied element)
(Eryk
Horloza, Poland, June 3, 1997)
Question:
How can I keep different fonts for the question and the answer component in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
The fastest way is:
- Add a new item with Ctrl+A.
- On the pop-up menu of the question component choose New font (or Link registry font if you have already defined the font).
- Select the appropriate font for the question.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the answer components.
- On the element pop-up menu choose Template : Save as template. Remember the newly created template name for the next step.
- In Tools : Options : Appending : Default item template type in the name of the new template.
- Choose Ctrl+A again to see if your new template has been applied correctly.
Now your new template with new fonts will be used each time you add a new item.
(David
Mckenzie, New Zealand, Apr 8, 1998)
Question:
How to make a hyperlink?
Answer:
Ctrl-drag a component to Hyperlink ClipBox (on the main
toolbar), go to the linked element and drag the contents of Hyperlink ClipBox to the
element window.
If you remember the number of the linked element, a faster method would be to input this
number after choosing the option Hyperlink on the component's pop-up
menu.
(Gabor
Schmera, US, Dec 13, 1997)
Question:
I would like to add mathematical formulas to my items. What is the best way? I have
equations ready with MS Word 97.
Answer:
Unfortunately, you can now only convert your equations to small bitmaps (or GIFs) and
represent them as image components. There is no formula editor in SuperMemo. Future
version will support HTML and OLE though (SuperMemo 98 is schedule for release in
September 1998).
(Marcin
Piekarniak, Poland, Dec 2, 1997)
Question:
How to easily back up Advanced English 97? In Advanced English 94 the entire system could
be compressed to a 1.4 MB file!
Answer:
You can backup the learning process only. This way only the data pertaining to items
in the learning process will be stored (not items themselves). Use File : Export :
Learning process to export the data. Later, upon reinstalling Advanced English
97, you can restore the learning process with File : Import : Learning process.
.
(Mariusz
Szepietowski, Poland, Dec 7, 1997)
Question:
How can I remove information about the learning process from a knowledge system? I would
like to start learning all over again from scratch?
Answer:
Use File : Reset : Knowledge system. At the end of this process
choose sorting the pending queue either by hierarchy (in most systems) or by ordinals
(e.g. in Advanced English 97).
Question:
I keep material of different learning priority in my knowledge system. Can SuperMemo help
me pay more attention to high priority material? Answer:
Yes. You should reduce the value of the forgetting index for high-priority material
(forgetting index is a proportion of items not remembered during repetitions). In
the Contents window select the item or node that you want to have higher priority and
choose Set forgetting index... on the pop-up menu. Forgetting index is 10% by
default and can be set to 3-5% for high-priority material or only to 20% for least
important branches of the knowledge tree.
Question:
What is the purpose of the option Tools : Categories?
Answer:
SuperMemo 8 introduces the concept of a category to help you keep items related to
different subjectes in different branches of the knowledge hierarchy (Contents window). It
also makes it possible to give different item groups different appearance (e.g. size of
text components, screen layout, font, color, and many more).
(David
Mckenzie, New Zealand, Apr 8, 1998)
Question:
Is there any point in keeping knowledge systems separate?
Answer:
No. Once you master contents categories and templates, there is
no point. You gain global search, global registries, global repetitions, global
optimization, etc. This would not be advisable back in SuperMemo 7 as item difficulty
measure (E-factor) was dependent on the average difficulty of items in the knowledge
system. Presently, the item difficulty measure (A-Factor, or absolute difficulty factor)
is absolute and does not depend on the context in which an item is placed. Only the length
of the first interval will significantly be affected by the average difficulty of items in
the knowledge system. However, this shall not bear dramatically on the speed of learning.
Especially that variable forgetting index for individual items makes it possible to set
different first intervals for whole contents categories or branches of the knowledge
hierarchy.
(Volker
Goretzki, Germany, May 6, 1997)
Question:
I would like to remove all occurrences of a string 'xxxx' from a knowledge system. What is
the simplest way?
Answer:
(1) Choose Search : Text, (2) choose Find and Replace,
e.g. by pressing Ctrl+R, (3) type in 'xxxx' in Find what field,
(4) leave Replace with empty, and (5) choose Replace All..
(Doug Edmunds, USA, Nov 4, 1997)
Question:
What is the fastest way of checking the current element number?
Answer:
press Ctrl+G
(Clark
Hamilton, Microsoft, Jun 26, 1998)
Question:
I'm having a problem with items that have an
image component as an answer. When in Learn mode I never see the Show
Answer button. I see the question (e.g. Recall the Structure of Mind Map X)
and at the bottom of the screen I see the grade buttons. I click my grade and then the
image appears (it's been marked as answer). Is there a way to get the Show Answer
button to appear or is this a limitiation of SuperMemo?
Answer:
Indeed there is a bug in version 8.4. SuperMemo does not
consider an element as an element with an answer if the element does not include text
answers. A simple workaround: extend your template with an empty text component marked as
an answer.
This problem is fixed in SuperMemo 98
(Piotr
Wysocki, Poland, May 14, 1997)
Question:
How can I change an item to a topic and vice versa without using node operations in the
Contents window?
Answer:
Check or uncheck the Topic menu item on element pop-up menu (available
with right-click over empty element area)..
(Charles Maggio, US, July 7, 1997)
Question:
I use ChemDraw to create structured formulas of organic substances. How can I paste them
to an image component?
Answer:
If you cannot use Paste on image component pop-up menu, then export the
formulas in BMP, GIF or JPEG format and use Import file instead (also on
the image component pop-up menu). In the future, SuperMemo will support OLE. This way you
will be able to use editable formulas as long as your favorite structured formula editor
supports OLE.
(Matt
Cassidy, New Zealand, Oct 2, 1997)
Question:
Is there a limit to the number of items that a Knowledge System can have?
Answer:
SuperMemo 8 has been designed to be able to theoretically accommodate over 1 billion
items; however, for various reasons (e.g. speed) it probably does not make sense to go
beyond 100,000. The largest system tested at SuperMemo World: 65,000 items.
(Shaun
Hoffland, UK, Jul 15, 1997)
Question:
If I add a label to each item in a given branch in Contents, does the text get duplicated
and increase the size of the system?
Answer:
No. All texts are stored in the registry only once. Each item the references the same
entry without increasing the size of the knowledge system
(Jake
White, USA, May 14, 1997)
Question:
I learn Romanian vocabulary. How can I center the word in the question component?
Answer:
Check Center text on the question component pop-up menu (available with
right-click).
(Zoran
Maximovic, Yugoslavia, May 29, 1997)
Question:
How can I independently turn off hints and hide the status bar in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
To turn off hints uncheck the Hints checkbox on the toolbar. For the same
purpose (also in hidden SuperMemo), you can also double-click the hints area on the status
bar.
To hide the status bar, uncheck Window : Status bar on the main menu.
(Lloyd
M. Uhler Jr, Jun 12, 1998)
Question:
I have fonts for Chess and might want
to use SuperMemo to remember Chess Positions. Can I import material created in MS Word?
Answer:
Not directly. The present version does not have the option to import from Word.
However, you can create a separate text component with chess positions in your font.
Additionally, you can paste images that would illustrate chess positions. In the future,
SuperMemo will support OLE and this shall partly solve your problem with import from Word.
(Ryszard
Kosowicz, Krakow, Poland, May 16, 1997)
Question:
Why does not SuperMemo automatically change the title when I edit the question part of the
item?
Answer:
Because sometimes the author of the knowledge system might wish to keep the too different.
To update the title press Alt+T and Enter (this will select Title
on the toolbar, generate a new title from the first text component and store the new title
in the system).
(Harald
Hammerl, Germany, Aug 7, 1998)
Question:
How can I upgrade my Advanced English 97 installation to SuperMemo 8.4?
Answer:
Run SM8ZIP.EXE, locate SM8.EXE in SM8 directory, and copy the new SM8.EXE into the
installation directory chosen for Advanced English at installation. Note that first time
you run Advanced English, the upgrade will be done automatically. You can input your
registration password in the same way as specified in the instructions you received when
registering SuperMemo 8.4
(Doug Edmunds, USA, Nov 4, 1997)
Question:
How can I globally change the layout of question, answer, font, background color, etc.
Answer:
Do as follows:
- Create a new template with your new layout (make sure the number of the order of components are the same as in the original template).
- Save this template.
- In the Contents window, choose the branch that should be affected.
- On the pop-up menu choose Node operations : Merge template and select the new template.
- Only text, images, sound files, etc. will be retain in the mergin operation. All the rest will be taken from the new template.
Warning! Make a back-up copy beforehand. If you miss a component in the new template, it will be removed from all elements in the node! There is not undo operation here.
(Shaun
Hoffland, UK, Jul 15, 1997)
Question:
I imported a SuperMemo 7 database to SuperMemo 8. After adding new hardware, my drive
letters were renamed and the program does not correctly locate SuperMemo 7 audiovisual
files on CD-ROM. What is the remedy for that problem?
Answer:
In SYSTEM.INI file of your knowledge system (do not confuse it with Windows' SYSTEM.INI),
find the entry SM7 AV in the [Path] section and change the drive letter
to the drive where SuperMemo 7 files are located.
As of SuperMemo 8.3, you can also change this entry from within the program with Tools
: Options : Data access : SuperMemo 7 AudioVisual files path
(Pavel
Janecka, Czech Republic, Aug 6, 1998)
Question:
Is it possible to import the entire learning process from SuperMemo 7 to SuperMemo 8? I
have done it but only the number of items is the same. All learning matrixes look
unchanged!
Answer:
File : Import : From SuperMemo 7 imports the entire learning process from
SuperMemo 7. Because of the differences between algorithms used in SuperMemo 7 and
SuperMemo 8, not all optimization parameters can be imported. That is why matrices look
unchanged. For example, A-factors are determined by a heuristic procedure, i.e. they are
more like guessed than computed. In the matrix of R-factors only the forgetting curve
corresponding to items newly introduced to the learning process can be transferred (among
other things, this is due to the inability to precisely determine A-factors that index OF
and RF matrices in Algorithm SM-8). You may be sure,
however, that the upgrade process will have very little negative impact on the learning
process and the benefits will by far outweigh initial irregularities
(Doug Edmunds, USA, Nov 4, 1997)
Question:
When I click a ClipBox it empties. How do I get it pasted at another location.
Answer:
Do not click it. Drag it.
(Keith
Gibson, US, Sep 3, 1997)
Question:
How can I introduce a sound file directly into the sound registry in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Choose Import files on sound registry pop-up menu.
(Richard
Hardstein, US, June 5, 1997)
Question:
From an American-centric point of view, I’d like to be able to label the quality of
the response (i.e. bright, good, pass…) buttons A, B, C, D & F to match the
universal (American) grading system. Is it possible in SuperMemo
8?
Answer:
You can change the names of grades by choosing Tools : Options : Language :
Localization table. Just replace Bright with A,
Good with B, etc. After choosing OK,
SuperMemo will start using the new naming.
(Christian
Roessel, Germany, July 21, 1998)
Question:
In my knowledge system I have a
template that consists of two image components. And I have a large number of GIFs,
numbered 1.gif, 2.gif, 3.gif, etc. Is it possible to import 1.gif to the first image
component, 2.gif two the second, 3.gif to the first of the next item on and so on?
Answer:
Not exactly. You will have to rename your images to a1.gif, b1.gif, a2.gif, b2.gif. Then
go to the first item to which you want to add those files and choose File : Import
: Audiovisual files. All elements that do not have corresponding images will be
ignored and relevant files will be skipped.
(Marcin
Piekarniak, Poland, Dec 2, 1997)
Question:
Why after choosing a contents category the last item in the category is displayed; not
first?
Answer:
When you append new items you want to know which one was added last.
(Chee
Ming, Malaysia, June 6, 1997)
Question:
Can I import SuperMemo 7 databases to SuperMemo 8 without
an import filter? How?
Answer:
Yes. Just ignore the Load filter button and press OK in
the import dialog. SuperMemo 8 will build a default knowledge hierarchy for you. The
folders will divide all items into numbered units with 1-2 levels depending on the number
of items in the original database.
(Dr
Faust Malnig, Germany)
Question:
How can I import a number of SuperMemo 7 databases in such a way that I always know from
which database a given item originated?
Answer:
Import individual databases to different branches of the knowledge tree.
(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, Apr 9,
1997)
Question:
I imported a Russian database to SuperMemo 8 but the
Russian font has not been imported. Is it a bug?
Answer:
You are using SuperMemo 8.2. SuperMemo 8.3 and later imports the font from SuperMemo 7
databases.
(Manfred
Kremer, Germany, Aug 12, 1997)
Question:
I cannot import a database from SuperMemo 7. Why is the import process interrupted?
Answer:
There is a bug in SM7IMPRT.EXE that makes it impossible to import from some earlier
versions of SuperMemo 7. You will need SuperMemo 7.5. Open the database with this new
version, run Tools : Garbage with Compact checked. Then
import the database to SuperMemo 8 again. The corrected version of SM7IMPRT.EXE is
available from this site along the new version of
SuperMemo 8.
(Erwin
Anema, The Netherlands, Aug 28, 1997)
Question:
Can I hide the clock during repetitions in SuperMemo 8? It is distracting.
Answer:
You cannot hide the clock, but you can hide SuperMemo. You can do it with Alt+Ctrl+F12.
(David
Mckenzie, New Zealand, Apr 8, 1998)
Question:
How to search for an element that contains no text (only an image)?
Answer:
Use Search : Image. With Ctrl+F you can search
for the image name or you can simply scroll to the image in question. Then press Ctrl+B to
list all elements using the selected image.
(Artur
Piatek, Poland, Dec 1, 1997)
Question:
What is the fastest way of replacing questions with answers in the entire knowledge
system?
Answer:
In SuperMemo 8.3 or later you can do the following:
- Create a new template where the first text component will be located at the answer's place and the second in the question's place (i.e. opposite to the usual situation)
- Save the template with Template : Save as template on the element pop-up menu (Alt+F10)
- In the Contents window, choose the branch in which you want to swap questions with answers
- On the contents pop-up menu (Alt+F10), choose Node operations : Merge template and select the newly created template
Important: create a backup copy before you proceed as Merge template is irreversible.
(Dr
Janusz Murakowski, US, Nov 18, 1997)
Question:
What is the meaning of Full History of Repetitions in Tools :
Options : Learning? How can I see the history of repetitions?
Answer:
With Full History of Repetitions, all individual repetitions are recorded
in a separate file \INFO\REPS.DAT. Information about the history of repetitions of a given
item can be viewed by double clicking Item Data window or choose History
in element parameters dialog opened from element pop-up menu.
(Volker
Goretzki, Germany, Feb 22, 1998)
Question:
Which rules does the overlapping of components follow?
Answer:
Components are displayed in the order in which they were added
to the element. To change this order use Component order on the element
window pop-up menu.
(Konrad
Cetra, Poland, Jul 28, 1997)(cf. question by Jari Roukolainen, Apr 9, 1997)
Question:
Your advice on creating my own template when importing a SuperMemo 7 database with Russian
font is not very useful as SuperMemo 8 asks me if it shall create a classic template. If I
choose No it aborts import, if I choose Yes it creates the classic
template and I lose my fonts. Is there a solution?
Answer:
Yes. The template must contain all components and attributes needed for import! If you
miss one of them, SuperMemo 8 will attempt to override your template with its default
template. The necessary template components are:
- Question component (any text component)
- Answer component (1. a text component with Answer checked on its pop-up menu or 2. a Spell-Pad component)
- Image component (only if Import graphics is checked in the import dialog box)
- Sound component (only if Import sound is checked in the import dialog box)
P.S. Additionally, as of SuperMemo 8.3, you have to uncheck Import font, to preserve your template fonts in question and answer fields. When you leave this field checked, SuperMemo 7 font will be recreated.
(Jaroslaw Mekarski, Poland, Apr 15, 1997)
Question:
Using Tools : Options : Language : Localization table, I have defined my
national interface for SuperMemo but still some buttons retained their original English
names. How can I translate those too?
Answer:
You can define only the interface of Hidden SuperMemo (press Alt+Ctrl+F12 to see
SuperMemo in hidden mode). That is why the list of strings to translate is so short. For
SuperMemo with hints the list would be over 2000 strings longs instead of mere 30 strings
that are used in the simple interface of Hidden SuperMemo.
(Marcin
Piekarniak, Poland, Dec 2, 1997)
Question:
How to transfer template between knowledge systems?
Answer:
Use Template : Save to file with objects and Template : Load
from file with objects on the element pop-up menu. To save it yet in template
registry, use Template : Save as template.
(Jim
Ivy, US, June 4, 1997)
Question:
How can I prevent my students from editing the contents of the knowledge system in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
You can turn on ReadOnly or LearnOnly modes (Tools : Options : Data access :
Access mode) and then use hidden SuperMemo (e.g. with Ctrl+Alt+F12). If
you are using Tools : Testing : Run test, editing is prevented
automatically and the student can only quit the test mode if he knows the test exit
password.
(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, June 10,
1997)
Question:
I imported French database with pictures from SuperMemo 7 to SuperMemo 8. Why are pictures
not fully visible?
Answer:
In your import template create a larger image component (do not ask SuperMemo 8 to create
the template automatically as this will again produce smaller image component). Remember
that the answer text component must have Answer checked on its pop-up
menu
(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, Apr 29,
1997)
Question:
I have imported a Russian database from SuperMemo
Multilingual Collection CD-ROM to SuperMemo 8. Then I
imported a French database from the same CD-ROM to the same knowledge system. Now some
Russian items are linked to French sounds. How can this be solved?
Answer:
Unfortunately you can import only one audiovisual SuperMemo
7.5 database to a single knowledge system in SuperMemo 8. To return your Russian
sounds back to order change AUDIOVIS\FRENCH\ to AUDIOVIS\RUSSIAN\ at SM7 AV entry in your
knowledge systems' SYSTEM.INI file (do not confuse this file with Windows SYSTEM.INI).
Question:
Why isn't there Save As on the File menu?
Answer:
Because File : Copy does exactly what Save As would do.
The different name indicates, however, that the system is not stored in memory but is
updated on the hard disk on-the-fly. Therefore, instead of saving it under a new name, you
just have to copy it to the new location..
Question:
What should I use Duplicate for? What for do I need the same item in the same knowledge
system?
Answer:
You can duplicate an item, if you want to add to the another item which is only slightly
different. This way you can spare some time by reediting the old item instead of typing in
the new one.
(Shaun
Hoffland, UK, May 25, 1997)
Question:
How can I view all pending or dismissed elements in a given node in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Probably the simplest method is to:
- select the node in the Contents window
- choose Browse Node on the pop-up menu (available with right mouse button click)
- choose Child : Pending or Child : Dismissed on the browser pop-up menu (also right mouse button)
After the above sequence of operations, the browser will contain only the pending or dismissed items belonging to the selected node.
(Jaroslaw
Wojtowicz, US, Feb 5, 1998)
Question:
When will SuperMemo World release 32-bit version of SuperMemo? Will it handle long
filenames?
Answer:
SuperMemo 98 will be released in September 1998. It will handle long filenames.
(Tomas
Klinkovsky, Czech Republic, Aug 7,
1998)
Question:
When I add a new transcription pair, I would like to see the currently selected text to be
used in the text field so that I would only have to type in the transcription
Answer:
This feature is implemented in SuperMemo 98
(Thomas
Freier, Germany, June 4, 1997)
Question:
How to import SuperMemo 7 database to SuperMemo 8 in such
a way that all answers become spelling components?
Answer:
In the import parent element (the one selected when import begins) define a text component
for the question and a spelling component for the answer. When you complete the import,
all answers of SuperMemo 7 database will be placed as test text of spelling components
Question:
I noticed that File : Recover does not recover the final drill queue.
What if DRILL.DAT file becomes damaged? Will that make learning process impossible?
Answer:
No. DRILL.DAT is a temporary file and can always be removed with Learn : Cut
drills with little damage to the learning process.
(Vaclav Losik, Czech Republic, Apr 10, 1997)
Question:
How to complete missing translations reported by File : Recover?
Answer:
If at recovery you get messages like Missing translation for Member #186: "virtually
every" you can fill out the translation using the following procedure:
- choose Search : Text
- type in the name that follows the number of missing translation member (e.g. virtually every)
- click the translation button on the registry toolbar (the one with seven stars)
- type your translation on the right side of the window
- press Esc (to quit the translation window)
- press Enter (to show the list of elements that use the translated item)
- press Enter again to go to the first element on the list (if there are no elements on the list, the item is not in use)
- in the element window, check if the translation is in the right place (e.g. Shift+click the component in question)
(Jan
Gromadzki, Poland, Jul 11, 1998)
Question:
I bought Advanced English 97 and I cannot pass through the
introduction. There are arrows pointing to icons that ... do not exist. What is wrong?
Answer:
You need a sound board installed in your computer (this is listed among minimum
requirements!). Some script commands do not work without a sound board and the
introduction part is largely run by scripts. If you want to use Advanced English without
sound do the following:
- press Ctrl+P (to run Options dialog box)
- choose Data access tab
- check Full Access radio button (this will turn the access mode to Full as opposed to Read-Only that is set at the beginning of the introduction)
- uncheck Hide Navigation (to show the navigation toolbar that is otherwise turned on by scripts after introducing the user to other complexities of the program)
- delete the path showed in Secondary storage (this path shows where to look for sound files used by Advanced English; without a sound board those files are useless and deleting the path will speed up the program)
(Wojciech
Gawrys, Poland, Feb 21, 1998)
Question:
I am a network administrator. Can I install only one copy of
Advanced English and let a number of students use it simultaneously?
Answer:
No. SuperMemo 8 does not provide multi-access option. For large
student groups, it would be best to extract first 500-1000 items from Advanced English and
provide each student with his own copy.
(Armin
Werner, Germany)
Question:
What is the contents and function of particular files in
SuperMemo directories?
Answer:
See: Files used by SuperMemo
(Volker
Goretzki, Germany, Feb 22, 1998)
Question:
I don't know how to backup my system using PKZIP.EXE. I always
get an error "File not found PKZIP"
Answer:
PKZIP.EXE must be in the path.
(Kamil
Wais, Poland, May 22, 1997)
Question:
How can I write DLL files that would work with Programmed Component in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
The detailed instructions are available at this site at Writing
DLLs for SuperMemo 8.
(Richard
Hardstein, US, June 5, 1997)
Question:
I wanted to use Tools : Testing : Run test but did not know how to create
subset files (*.SUB). Which option creates those?
Answer:
In all browsers (available from the View menu), you have a Subset
menu item on the pop-up menu (available with right-click). This menu allows of subset
operations (intersection, union, etc.) and saving the contents of the browser in a subset
file. You can also manually select items in the browser (click on the leftmost column) and
save the selected items in a subset file.
Question:
How many lines of code are there in different versions of SuperMemo? What language was it
written in?
Answer:
- SuperMemo 1 - 3,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 3)
- SuperMemo 2 - 4,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 4)
- SuperMemo 5 - 8,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 5)
- SuperMemo 6.7 - 13,000 lines (Borland Pascal 7)
- SuperMemo 7.5 - 27,000 lines (Borland Pascal 7 for Windows)
- SuperMemo 97 (v. 8.4) - 55,000 lines (Delphi 1.0)
- SuperMemo 98 - 65,000 lines (Delphi 3.0)(due in September 1998)
Question:
Are SuperMemo 8 knowledge systems compatible with SuperMemo 7?
Answer:
You can easily import SuperMemo 7 databases to SuperMemo 8. Some information about the
learning process will be lost on the way because of different learning algorithms used by those two programs.
Nevertheless, it shall not visibly influence the learning process. Import from SuperMemo
7, makes SuperMemo 8 open to thousands of databases developed for earlier versions of
SuperMemo starting with SuperMemo 2 Public Domain
software. Note, however, that upgrade programs distributed along SuperMemo 7 are needed to
convert databases from formats earlier than SuperMemo 6 (UP_2_5.EXE and UP_5_6.EXE).
Additionally, import of Q&A text files and Audiovisual files import, makes it possible
to adapt SuperMemo databases developed for Mac and Amiga for use with SuperMemo 8.
Question:
I have been using SuperMemo 7 for over three years and it seems to fully satisfy all my
needs. Why should I upgrade to SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Perhaps it is simpler to list cases when you might not want to upgrade!
You will probably want to stick with SuperMemo 7 in the following cases:
- Your PC is a weak 486 or less
- Resolution of your monitor is less than 800x600
- You have large databases and would like to keep portable by storing them on diskettes
- You are afraid of change and do not want to learn new stuff
Otherwise, you should definitely use all SuperMemo 8 has to offer. The most important items on the list are:
- You can keep all your databases in one knowledge system! You can structure the knowledge into groups, keep separate speed of learning for all groups (forgetting index), keep separate font, window size and layout for each group, etc.
- You can easily combine text, pictures, sound and video in your items. You can create multiple choice tests, drag-and-drop tests, point-and-click tests, programmable script, programmable binary components and many more. All these components can be used as questions, answers or as hyperlinks to other items (or topics)
- You can minimize the size of your multimedia systems! Every picture and sound integrated with the knowledge system can be reused any number of times, and kept on your hard disk, CDR or CD-ROM
- Apart from standard items (e.g. questions and answers) you can keep synthetic knowledge in so-called topics. These are used differently in the learning process and provide excellent holistic reference material should you get lost in details
- You can store lots of material in your system without ever learning it (this can be used as reference or for future use, etc.)
- Seemingly complex and intimidating, SuperMemo 8 is much easier to learn than earlier versions thanks to hints associated with ALL menu items and buttons. There are very few people who find SuperMemo 8 difficult. The only complaints come from users of SuperMemo 7 who got accustomed to some old ways
All the above makes only a fraction of new abilities. For more see: SuperMemo 8
(Piotr Stankiewicz, Poland)
Question:
Are knowledge systems programmable in SuperMemo 8 as it was the case in SuperMemo 7.5
Programmable?
Answer:
Yes. You can create one or more binary components associated with a given item. These
components can simply be executable files (EXE) that will be run at the click of the
button or DLLs with collections of procedures evoked at installing the DLL, editing the
component, repetition, etc. Although programming DLLs for SuperMemo 8 is not easy, it
gives the developer much more control over the behavior of the programmed component. It
also makes it possible to register images, sounds and video clips with SuperMemo registry
providing full integration with the entire system. Programmability opens SuperMemo 8 to
all imaginable learning procedures. For example: touch typing, playing musical
instruments, IQ tests, vocal training, and many more
Question:
My computer was hit by a virus and SuperMemo reports integrity problems. What shall I do?
Answer:
Try File : Recover
Question:
What should I do if SuperMemo displays strange error messages, aborts frequently, and File
: Recover does not work?
Answer:
Make sure that your Windows is stable and you have no hardware problems. If the messages
are displayed by Windows rather than SuperMemo itself (e.g. modules such as Kernel, User,
Ctl3D, etc.), the problem is probably not with SuperMemo. Some hardware problems are a
frequent reason for such situations, esp. if similar events happen with other application.
Check your memory, hard disk, system setup and the mainboard in the first order.
In case you are sure File : Recover is unable to recover your system for reasons
related to SuperMemo, write to SuperMemoMail
(Wieslaw
Kupiec, Poland, Nov 5, 1998)
Question:
Where can I find the specification for writing DLL components for SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Here. Please note that the interface has changed
slightly in SuperMemo 98