Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams – Diskette Users

In order to participate in the program allowing you to turn in your exam on a diskette without printing it out, you must follow the procedures below for "Testing the Diskette" and "Creating The Template." You should also be familiar with the Registrar's rules stated at General Instructions for Paperless Exams.

You will be able to successfully submit a readable diskette if you:
• test the diskette,
• create the template for the header and footer,
• save the exam to the diskette
• subsequently check to be sure the exam is on the diskette.

It is imperative to take the time to understand and follow all the instructions before the exam period starts. NOTE: Failure to follow instructions can result in printing difficulties or produce an unreadable diskette. Students assume the risk of an unreadable exam when they choose the paperless exam program.

Testing the Diskette

Do not test the diskette during the time you are taking the exam. Rather, pick it up and test it just before you take the exam to ensure that a document can be saved and read on the diskette.

1. Insert the diskette into the floppy drive.
2. Launch Word or WordPerfect and type a short sentence.
3. From the programs menu select File; then Save As. A dialog box will appear
4. Select your floppy drive (generally a:\), save the file as “testing”, then select save.
5. Close the test document.
6. Go back to your menu, click on File; and click Open. Navigate to the floppy drive and open the test document.

If the document cannot be read, jiggle the diskette in your floppy drive and try again. If it still will not open, return the diskette to the Registrar’s office and repeat the procedure with another diskette. If it still doesn’t work, see the Registrar’s office for assistance. Be prepared to write the exam by hand.

Creating the Template

A template must be created and placed on every page of your exam. The template consists of the following:

• At the TOP of each page of your answer, put: exam number, date, class name and professor’s name.
• At the BOTTOM of each page put the symbol for the page number.

PC users may save exams only in Word Perfect or Word. Macintosh users may save only in Word. The instructions below will work to allow you to create the template required above. These instructions are for newer versions of this software. If you have an older version of either software, please perform the necessary steps to create the required header and footer.

For more assistance with WordPerfect, download or view this PDF: http://www.lclark. edu/dept/lawreg/ objects/exam_wordperfect. pdf.

For more assistance with Word, download or view this PDF: http://www.lclark. edu/dept/lawreg/ objects/exam_word. pdf.

It is a good idea to have your template created and ready to use PRIOR to the exam period.

Taking the Exam and Turning It In

Saving of examinations to disks is a two step process that is critical and is your responsibility to complete.

Step One: Saving the document during the exam:
You are obligated and encouraged to save your exam to your hard drive until the exam is over AND you know that the document can be opened and read from the floppy diskette or CD.

When you have finished your exam:

Diskettes:
1. Save the document to the diskette and your hard drive (if permitted by instructor).
2. Pop out the diskette.
3. Re-insert the diskette.
4. Re-open the exam document form the diskette. This insures that the document can be read from the diskette.
***If the document cannot be read, get another diskette from the registrar’s office and repeat steps 1 - 4.
*** If this process does not work correctly, consult the Registrar immediately.
5. Finally, close the document on the diskette again and take the disk out and put it in the envelope. Be sure the exam number and class information is written.

For More Information

If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact Susan Galyen, Registrar (galyen@lclark.edu or 503-768-6615) or Bruce Williamson, Computing Services Team Leader, (bruce@lclark.edu or 503-768-6644). Computing Services is unable to assist with technical questions once you have started your exam and during the time you are taking the exam. If you have computer problems while taking your exam, see the Registrar.