Creating a Diagram Creator custom question

WARNING: Please speak to your Surpass Account Manager if you are interested in using this functionality. The Custom Question ZIP files required to use this item type are not included in Surpass as standard.

The Diagram Creator custom question type presents candidates with a blank canvas, which they can add diagrams to, including, lines, arrows, shapes, flowcharts, text, and more.

This article explains how to create a Diagram Creator question in Surpass.

1. Choose your item type

In your subject, select Create New Item to open the Question Types menu. Choose Custom Question to create a blank Custom Question item and go to the Edit screen.

2. Name your item

Enter the item’s name in the Name field.

3. Enter your question text

Enter your question text in the question stem. Select Add text Area to add an additional question stem. You can have a maximum of five question stems per item.

Open Additional Options to add source material or assistive media to your question stem.

4. Add your custom question type

Select Select Type to open the Select Type dialog.

Select the ZIP file you want to add to your item.

Select Add to add your Custom Question type to the item.

Once added, the name and version number of the Custom Question type are detailed in the item.

Uploading custom question ZIP files to the Media Library

Custom Question type ZIP files must be uploaded to the Media Library.

5. Configure your Diagram Creator custom question

Select Configure to open the custom ZIP file. This allows you to change how the item displays in delivery.

The Diagram Creator dialog contains the following tools:

Hand
Pencil
Line
Text
Shapes
Flowchart
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Undo
Redo
Delete

Setting up the Diagram Creator

The toolbar can be used to select tools to use on the grid/canvas.

The Properties bar can be used to edit parts of the diagram further, including the line thickness, colour, and layering.

Settings & Tools allows you to select how the item is presented to the candidate.

Tool	Description
Hand	Selects a part of the diagram.
Pencil	Draws a line that is not straight or restricted in direction and size.
Line	Draws a straight line.
Text	Inserts text.
Shapes	Drag and drop shapes on to the grid.
Flowchart	Drag and drop shapes on to the grid that can be connected with lines.
Zoom In	Increases the scale of the diagram.
Zoom Out	Decreases the scale of the diagram.
Undo	Removes the most recent addition into the diagram.
Redo	Adds the most recent deletion back into the diagram.
Delete	Deletes a part of the diagram.

Tools

Tools can be used to insert, delete, and change components of the diagram.

Hand

Select and drag the canvas to navigate around the diagram.

Select and drag to move individual parts of a diagram.

Pencil

Select and drag to draw freehand on to the canvas.

Line

Select and drag to draw a straight line.

Text

Select to insert a text box. Highlight the question marks to begin inserting your text.

Shapes

Select and drag the shape on to the canvas.

Flowchart

Select and drag the symbol on to the canvas and then select and drag between symbols to connect them with a line.

Highlight the question marks to change the labels of the symbols.

Maximise/Minimise

Select Maximise to zoom in on the canvas.

Select Minimise to zoom out of the canvas.

Undo/Redo

Select Undo to remove the most recent addition to the diagram.

Select Redo to reinstate the most recent undo action.

Delete

Select a component of the diagram and select Delete to remove it from the diagram.

Properties

You can further edit lines, text, shapes, and flowcharts using the Properties panel. This panel consists of several properties that can be changed depending on which tool is selected.

Size

Change the Width and Height values to change the size of the tool. Size properties are available to edit for Freehand, Shapes, and Flowchart.

Border/Line Style

Change the thickness of the border by editing the value of the Border. Use the drop-down menu to change the border line pattern and select the colour palette to change the border colour. Border properties are available to edit for Freehand, Line, Shapes, and Flowchart.

Layering

Change the layering of tools in the diagram by selecting either Move Up, Move Down, Bring To Front, or Send To Back. Layering properties are available to edit for Freehand, Line, Text, Shapes, and Flowchart.

Arrowhead

Add arrowheads to either end of a line using the Arrowhead properties. Arrowhead properties are only available for Line.

Fill/Colour

Change the fill/colour of the tools using the Fill/Colour buttons. Use the slider tool to change the transparency of the fill/colour. Fill/Colour properties are available for the Text, Shapes, and Flowchart tools.

Style

Use the bold, italic, and underline settings to change the style of the font. Style properties are only available in the Font tool.

Alignment

Change the alignment of fonts using the Align Left, Align Centre, and Align Right buttons. Alignment properties are only available in the Font tool.

Lock

Determine whether the component is locked or unlocked (and available to edit by candidates). The ability to lock/unlock is available for all tools.

Settings & Tools

Choose which settings and tools are available to candidates in delivery.

Settings/tools	Description
Language Settings	Configure the language used for this item. The available languages are English (also the default language) and Welsh. The selected language is applied to the Diagram Creator for both the item author and the candidate in test delivery. IMPORTANT: Candidates are not able to change the selected language in test delivery.
Freehand	Allow candidates to use Freehand.
Line	Allow candidates to use Line.
Text	Allow candidates to use Text.
Shapes	Allow candidates to use Shapes.
Flowchart	Allow candidates to use Flowchart.
Snap to grid	Allow candidates to snap points to the grid.
Allow candidates to toggle the grid	Allow candidates to toggle between the grid or plain background.
Display grid above background	Layers the grid over any background image uploaded into the diagram.
Background	Select Upload to insert an image as the background canvas of the diagram.
Default Values	Configure the default colour, size, and line type for each component.

6. Save your configuration

To save your configurations, select Close .

Select Save .

IMPORTANT: If you do not also select Save in the main Item Authoring screen of your item after saving your configuration, all configuration will be lost.

Removing custom question types

Once uploaded, Custom Question types can be removed from your item.

7. Set the question’s marks

Set the item’s total marks in the Mark field.

8. Select a workflow status

Set the item’s workflow status in the Status drop-down menu. Only items set to Live can be used in a test.

9. Saving and closing your item

Select Save to save your item to your subject.

To see additional saving options, use the Save arrow to open the Save Options menu. Select Save & Close to save the item and return to the Subjects screen. Select Save & New to save the item and create another Custom Question item.

Select Close to leave the Edit screen. If you have unsaved changes, you are prompted to either save or discard them.