# Importing new questions

This function allows you to import questions from external text files, uploaded through a form.

A number of file formats are supported:

## GIFT format

GIFT is the most comprehensive import format available for importing Moodle quiz questions from a text file. It was designed to be an easy method for teachers writing questions as a text file. It supports Multiple-Choice, True-False, Short Answer, Matching and Numerical questions, as well as insertion of a _____ for the "missing word" format. Various question-types can be mixed in a single text file, and the format also supports line comments, question names, feedback and percentage-weight grades. Below are some examples:

    Who's buried in Grant's tomb?{~Grant ~Jefferson =no one}

    Grant is {~buried =entombed ~living} in Grant's tomb.

    Grant is buried in Grant's tomb.{FALSE}

    Who's buried in Grant's tomb?{=no one =nobody}

    When was Ulysses S. Grant born?{#1822}

More info about the "GIFT" format

## Aiken format

The Aiken format is a very simple way of creating multiple choice questions using a very clear human-readable format. Here is an example of the format:

    What is the purpose of first aid?
    A. To save life, prevent further injury, preserve good health
    B. To provide medical treatment to any injured or wounded person
    C. To prevent further injury
    D. To aid victims who may be seeking help
    ANSWER: A

More info about the "Aiken" format

## Missing Word

This format only supports multiple choice questions. Each answer is separated with a tilde (~), and the correct answer is prefixed with an equals sign (=). Here is an example:

> As soon as we begin to explore our body parts as infants we become students of {=anatomy and physiology ~reflexology ~science ~experiment}, and in a sense we remain students for life.

More info about the "Missing Word" format

## AON

This is the same as Missing Word Format, except that after importing the questions all Short-Answer questions are converted four at a time into Matching Questions.

Additionally, the answers of multiple-choice questions are randomly shuffled during the import.

It's named after an organisation that sponsored the development of many quiz features

## Blackboard

This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's export format. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP.

More info about the "Blackboard" format

## Course Test Manager

This module can import questions saved in a Course Test Manager test bank. It relies on different ways of accessing the test bank, which is in a Microsoft Access database, depending on whether Moodle is running on a Windows or Linux web server.

On Windows it lets you upload the access database just like any other data import file.

On Linux, you must set up a windows machine on the same network with the Course Test Manager database and a piece of software called the ODBC Socket Server, which uses XML to transfer data to moodle on the Linux server.

Please read the full help file below before using this import class.

More info about the "CTM" format

## Custom

If you have your own format that you need to import, you can implement it yourself by editing mod/quiz/format/custom.php

The amount of new code needed is quite small - just enough to parse a single question from given text.

More info about the "Custom" format

More formats are yet to come, including WebCT, IMS QTI and whatever else Moodle users can contribute!