Usage notes

Numerical limitations

In the present version (starting with version 0.156), the maximum number of students per test is limited to 4095, and the maximum number of pages per test is limited to 63.

The maximum number of questions per test is limited to 255. The \AMCcode command (see section the section called “Code acquisition”) uses a number of questions equal to the number of digits for the code to be input. On the other hand, LaTeX's own limitations may make compilation impossible even with less than 255 questions (producing e.g. a « No room for a new \toks » error). In that case, try again using the package etex, thanks to the \usepackage{etex} command.

The maximum number of answers for a given question is limited to 199.

Colors

Putting colors other than black and white in the questions (e.g. by using the textcolor command) is not possible, since it may interfere with the layout detection process, which uses color codes in a « layout document » identical to the test sheet.

It is still possible to include colored pictures in the test sheet thanks to the \includegraphics command from the LaTeX package graphicx. Indeed, automultiplechoice loads graphicx in such a way that pictures are not included in the document used for the layout detection. Hence, it must not be downloaded explicitly: don't use \usepackage{graphicx} in your LaTeX file.

Versions

Even though it should not have too many consequences, it is recommended not to change the program version while working with a given project (between the time when the test sheets are printed and the time when tests are corrected and graded). There are a few modifications which may interfere with AMC operating normally if you apply them while working with a given project:

  • If you have compiled and printed with a version of AMC earlier than 0.155, and then handle the project with version 0.156 or later, add the option versionA in the reference to the package automultiplechoice in the LaTeX file. Example:

    \usepackage[box,completemulti,versionA]{automultiplechoice}
  • From version 0.262 on, the drawing of the checkboxes changed to be slightly larger, which may alter the layout of the test sheets.

  • From version 0.267, if you want to produce A4 format test sheets, you have to state it explicitly in the LaTeX file:

    \documentclass[a4paper]{article} 

Installation

With debian, Ubuntu, or a derived operating system, you can use the debian official repository and ubuntu AMC repositories. The installation procedure is described on the AMC web-site.

You can also download the source code archive on the project download space, then use the following commands in a terminal:

tar xvzf auto-multiple-choice_xxxx_precomp.tar.gz
cd auto-multiple-choice-xxx
make
sudo make install

Access

Once the installation is made, the graphical user interface can be launched by choosing ApplicationsEducationAuto Multiple Choice in the Gnome general menu (or its KDE or other analog), but one can also use the auto-multiple-choice command.