Using the system variable cpInfoQuizAttempts

Question

My content is run through an LMS. I am trying to used advanced code using the system variable cpInfoQuizAttempts so that a caption appears when the variable value = 3. Apparently, I can't utilize the value of this variable; in fact, I can't even display it's value in a caption. I am trying to create advanced code on a course page that displays a caption like "You canot take this quiz again because you have already taken it the maximum number of time possible." once someone has taken the course the maximum number of times.  I assume this is the variable Captivate is using to show # attempts on the results page. I tried this with just a user variable but the value of the user variable is not stored or saved on the LMS. Therefore, if you have a maximum number of 3 attempts and someone takes the quiz twice, if he logs off and logs back on, the previous value (2) is not saved and the value reverts to the default (0).
Any ideas how this could be done?
KO

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure that all user defined variables are saved in suspend_data in the LMS. Therefore your user defined variable should be there, but I don't see any way how Captivate would be able to retrieve it again out of the box.
I think that the cpInfoQuizAttempts variable refers to attempts done in the same "session". So if fail the test and then retry and fail it would have a count of 2. However, once the user exists the course the variable is no longer available to Captivate.
As Rick said most LMS' have a function to define max / min attempts of a quiz. However, this most likely requires that you publish the quiz as an independant SCO since the "lockout" would apply for that SCO. Basically if you only have one SCO then your users wouldn't be able to access the content or the quiz if they exceded the max attempts. Your content should therefore be one (or more) SCO(s) and your quiz one separate SCO.
If I'm not mistaken it's also possible to define the max / min attempts in the SCORM manifest, but this is very geeky.
If you own and can use Flash you could solve your problem two ways:
1. Create a Flash file that retrieves the user defined variable from the LMS suspend_data and then sends that back into Captivate. Import the Flash file into your Captivate project.
2. Create a Flash file that stores and retrieves the attempts in a Shared Object on the users PC and then brings the stored value back into Captivate. Import the Flash file into your Captivate project.
/Michael
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