Hi all,

I have a question in Inquisit 5.

I would like to choose 2 random batches from total 6, but if you see the below code, it shows 2 random studies, but those 2 studies stick together ((1),(2) / (3),(4) / (5),(6)).

How can I randomize them and choose 2 batches? Any help for what to try is greatly appreciated!

<batch>
/ file = "Intro.iqx"
</batch>

// IAT

<batch>
/subjects = (1 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(1).iqx"
</batch>

<batch>
/subjects = (1 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(2).iqx"
</batch>

<batch>
/subjects = (2 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(3).iqx"
</batch>

<batch>
/subjects = (2 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(4).iqx"
</batch>

<batch>
/subjects = (3 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(5).iqx"
</batch>

<batch>
/subjects = (3 of 3)
/groupassignment = random
/file = "New_IAT(6).iqx"
</batch>

You can't do it that way. You need to create a single <batch> element running your 6 scripts, set the script selectionmode in that <batch> to random, and then use <batch> parameters to terminate the <batch> after 2 random scripts have been run ( https://www.millisecond.com/support/docs/v5/html/howto/batchparameters.htm ). I've attached a small example illustrating how this would look in practice.

It works! Thank you so much.

However, one thing that I noticed is that when the script is aborted, the Inquisit program stops and only shows a white window. Force stop (control + Q) is not working, and system quit (alt+command+esc) is the only way out and it makes me run the Inquisit program every time. I found this problem even in the sample code you attached. Would you mind giving any clue that I can solve this problem?

This sounds like your Inquisit Lab installation is outdated. Please make sure you have the latest release installed (5.0.14.0; available at https://www.millisecond.com/download/ as usual).

Hmm.. still have a problem even after the update. Maybe we need to try it with web Inquisit. I'll come back to the thread if there is a same issue in web Inquisit. Thank you Dave. I appreciate your help!

Hmm, that's strange. I'm unable to reproduce this under 5.0.14.0, but I know that a previous version had that issue (I unfortunately don't recall which one off the top of my head).

Hello Dave, I found the same problem in my colleague's laptop (white blank page) even if he updated to latest version (5.0.14.0). In web Inquisit, we didn't see the white page, but the study reverted immediately back to this screen (see the below). We got a same problem even if we put extra sections after that. Please let us know if you have any idea. Thank you.

 

I don't understand what "everted immediately back to this screen (see the below). We got a same problem even if we put extra sections after that." is supposed to mean in this context. Please clarifiy.

So this is a normal end survey page in the Web Inquisit. But after the study above, it automatically goes back to the very first page.

You said the "study immediately reverts [to this page]" -- what does "immediately" mean? Does the study run at all or do you click start, nothing happens, and the study goes back to the start page?

You also said "We got a same problem even if we put extra sections after that." What extra sections? After what? Do you mean redirecting to some external page? Or do you mean further <batch> elements?

Could you please clarify the above? Perhaps a link to the actual study would be helpful, too. Thanks.

1. Ah, I might need to take "immediately" out. I mean after going through all the batches, web inquisit goes back to the start page instead of an ending page. Sorry for making you confused.

2. I mean further <batch> elements. So, even when I put such as "slider.iqx" after the original code, it shows the same problem without going to "slider.iqx." 

<batch 1>
/ file = "intro.iqx"
</batch>

<batch 2>
/ file = "a.iqx"
/ file = "b.iqx"
/ file = "c.iqx"
/ file = "d.iqx"
/ file = "e.iqx"
/ file = "f.iqx"
/ selectionmode = random
/ onscriptend = [parameters.scriptcount += 1;]
</batch>

<parameters>
/ scriptcount = 0
</parameters>

<batch 3>
/file = "slider.iqx"
</batch>

I see, thank you for the clarification. #2 is the expected behavior. The whole batch script is terminated, after all. If you don't want to quit the entire set of <batch>es after two scripts in the middle one, you need to change the script.abort() logic from

script.abort(true), where "true" means terminate the entire batch script
to
script.abort(false), where "false" indicates that the batch script should keep running and only the individual script is terminated.

That might also solve problem #1, since, technically, the whole thing runs regularly through to the end then.

Sorry Dave, still have a problem... 
I also think that there must be a problem in abort() command but could not figure out it. Do you have any other idea? 

> Sorry Dave, still have a problem... 

Would it be possible to explain what that problem is?

> I also think that there must be a problem in abort() command but could not figure out it.

What did you try and what isn't working? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say without any details and the actual code. Why do you think there is a problem with script.abort() and what is it that you couldn't figure out?

I mean even if I change the code from script.abort(true) to script.abort(false), it still shows the white black page and stops (need to use alt+command+esc to exit).

This is "batch.iqx",

<batch 1>
/ file = "intro.iqx"
</batch>

<batch 2>
/ file = "a.iqx"
/ file = "b.iqx"
/ file = "c.iqx"
/ file = "d.iqx"
/ file = "e.iqx"
/ file = "f.iqx"
/ selectionmode = random
/ onscriptend = [parameters.scriptcount += 1;]
</batch>

<parameters>
/ scriptcount = 0
</parameters>

AND from each file from <batch2>, for example in file "a.iqx",

<expt myexpt>
/ onexptbegin = [
if(parameters.scriptcount >= 2) script.abort(false);
]
/ blocks = [1=myblock]
</expt>

<block myblock>
/ trials = [1=mytrial]
</block>

<trial mytrial>
/ stimulusframes = [1=mytext]
/ validresponse = (57)
</trial>

<text mytext>
/ items = ("This is <%script.filename%>. Press SPACE.")
</text>

<parameters>
/ scriptcount = 0
</parameters>

if I change "if(parameters.scriptcount >= 2)" to "if(parameters.scriptcount >= 6)", which means going through all the files (from a.iqx to f.iqx), it works very well and does not show white black page or stop. And from this result, I assume that there can be a problem in script.abort(). I hope my description makes sense. If you have more detail, please let me know.

Sorry for the typo. white black page -> white blank page.

Could you please run through this

https://mili2nd.co/6unb

and let me know how it behaves for you. It should (and does, for me) run:
- intro
- two random scripts out of A to F
- a simple slider script at the end
-  the default finish page

It works very well !!

Is it the same code with above or did you change something? Please let me know. Thank you.