Millisecond Forums

Ok, thanks! 
I'd like some clarification on the stimulus order aspect because as I'm doing it now, the order is changing each time I run it. If I write:
/ trials = [1-8 = mytrial]
then the order should be E, F, G, etc?
Is there something else needed to make it present the stims in the order in which they appear in the imported file?

There are a couple of options here and the "best" approach would largely depend on the code you already have. It may be easiest to also put the varying <block> specification in the to be <include>d files. Building on the example in the previous response, you'd do:

--- iqx script file ---
<include>
/ precondition = [script.subjectid == 1]
/ file = "s_01_items.txt"
</include>

<include>
/ precondition = [script.subjectid == 2]
/ file = "s_02_items.txt"
</include>

<expt myexpt>
/ blocks = [1=myblock]
</expt>

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

<text mytext>
/ items = myitems
/ select = sequence
</text>

--- file called s_01_items.txt with the following contents ---
<block myblock>
/ trials = [1-4 = mytrial]
</block>

<item myitems>
/1="A"
/1="B"
/1="C"
/1="D"
</item>

--- file called s_02_items.txt with the following contents ---
<block myblock>
/ trials = [1-8 = mytrial]
</block>

<item myitems>
/1="E"
/1="F"
/1="G"
/1="H"
/1="I"
/1="J"
/1="K"
/1="L"
</item>

which would run 4 trials for subject #1 and 8 trials for subject #2.

Thank you, that's very helpful. 

One follow-up question I have is how then to specify that the trials be the length of the list that I'm importing. Specifically, I understand in the block element I should specify that the trials be in sequence. My problem is the length of the list varies by list and subject. Is there a way to specify that the number of trials should be the length of the list. I tried removing the numbers as in / trials = [sequence(all_images)] but that doesn't work. 

Thanks for your help!

You can import stimulus lists from text files under the condition that the lists are in proper Inquisit syntax format via <include> elements. You can even import them based on e.g. the entered subject id to administer specific item sets to different subjects using the /precondition attribute. Quick example for two subjects 1 and 2:

--- iqx script file ---
<include>
/ precondition = [script.subjectid == 1]
/ file = "s_01_items.txt"
</include>

<include>
/ precondition = [script.subjectid == 2]
/ file = "s_02_items.txt"
</include>

<block myblock>
/ trials = [1-4 = mytrial]
</block>

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

<text mytext>
/ items = myitems
/ select = sequence
</text>

--- file called s_01_items.txt with the following contents ---
<item myitems>
/1="A"
/1="B"
/1="C"
/1="D"
</item>

--- file called s_02_items.txt with the following contents ---
<item myitems>
/1="E"
/1="F"
/1="G"
/1="H"
</item>

As for getting you stimulus lists into proper Inquisit syntax to begin with, you should be able to make the application you generate(d) those lists with to output something along those lines. (Note that the numbering in the <item> element does not actually matter.)

Hope this helps.