ExamGenerator

This application was developed about 10 jaars ago in ancient C++. Now I have started to refactor the legacy code to C++17 and to use CMake.

This application reads a text script containing multiple choise questions and compiles a LaTeX file.

A random generator is used to construct the questions and the answers.

Building: using CMake and make

The application needs the next Boost C++ libraries:

• boost::spirit::classic
• boost::program_options
• boost::filesystem

For generating the pdf document the pdflatex application must be available. Install LaTeX: sudo apt install texlive-full.

Go to the project directory ExamGenerator/app.

Use CMake and make to build the application:

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

The excutable ExamGenerator can be found in the bin directory.

Generating an exam pdf file

If the current directory is build, use the next command:

../bin/ExamGenerator -e ../examGenScripts/testDummyExam.exm

Use the -s option for the seed of the random generator (is reproducable):

../bin/ExamGenerator -e ../examGenScripts/testDummyExam.exm -s 1234

The file testDummyExam.pdf will be generated if no syntax errors have occurred in the exam script.

Use the -d option for generating detailed debug info in the ExamGenerator.log file:

../bin/ExamGenerator -e ../examGenScripts/testDummyExam.exm -d

Syntax exam script language

Read the file ..../examGenScripts/testDummyExam3x.exm for the syntax.

• Every .exm script should start with the declaration of an Exam object or an array of fixed size of Exam objects.
• Every Exam should have a header, add 1 header to every Exam object.
• Every header has the next text fields: school, course, lecturer, date and boxedtext.
• Every exam question is represented by an Item.
• An exam consists of 1 or more items.