Millisecond Forums

Hello,

I want to create multiple counters, with embedded expressions within them.  I'm not quite sure where to start with getting the code to work, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

I'm not sure how to use expressions within counters. Specifically, I want participants to have a total of 80 trials, each trial will have two choices to choose from: choice A and choice B. Each choice has three different numbers called distributions, listed as the maximum, middle, and minimum in that order. Only one of the two options will be manipulated with the expressions "options" below, and the other choice will just have the original distribution values. 

There are four different original distributions, each with three numbers. However, these three numbers will always be present together in a line (hence me naming it distrib#_all to keep them together. I listed them separately because I thought that would be better for the expression manipulation listed below:

Note that distrib1_# refers to the distribution option (1) and then the order it is presented in a line (1st, 2nd, 3rd). 

<values>
/ distrib1_1 = 1000
/ distrib1_2 = 200
/ distrib1_3 = 100
/ distrib1_all = 1000    200    1000

/ distrib2_1 = 1000
/ distrib2_2 = 800
/ distrib2_3 = 100
/ distrib2_all = 1000    800   100

/ distrib3_1 = 1000
/ distrib3_2 = 500
/ distrib3_3 = 400
/ distrib3_all = 1000   500   400

/ distrib4_1 = 600
/ distrib4_2 = 500
/ distrib4_3 = 400
/ distrib4_all = 600   500   4000
</values>

There are five different manipulation options for the three values contained in the choice, listed below. 
                 Max              middle                     min
Option1:    max/.75       middle                      min+(max/.75)
Option2:    max/.50        middle+(max/.25)   min+(max/.25)
Option3: max+.5(min)   middle+.5(min)      0
Option4:  avg.                avg.                      avg.
Option5:  max                middle                  min

I am wondering if there is a way for me to streamline the expressions into the counter? I wrote the following code, which obviously doesn't work. My intention would be for Inquisit to use different distribution values when I indicate "%". Does Inquisit have any tools to handle what I am looking to do?

<expressions options>
/ option1 = values.distrib%_1/0.75, values.distrib%_2, values.distrib%_3 + (values.distrib%_1/0.75)
/ option2 = values.distrib%_1/0.50, values.distrib%_2 +(values.distrib%_1/0.25), values.distrib%_3 + (values.distrib%_1/0.25)
/ option3 = values.distrib%_1 + .5(*values.distrib%_3), values.distrib%_2 + (0.5*values.distrib%_3), values.distrib%_3 *0
/ option4 = (values.distrib%_1 + values.distrib%_2 + values.distrib%_3/3), (values.distrib%_1 + values.distrib%_2 + values.distrib%_3/3), (values.distrib%_1 + values.distrib%_2 + values.distrib%_3/3)
/ option5 = values.distrib%_1, values.distrib%_2, values.distrib%_3
</expressions>

We also want to have one of the four interest conditions for each trial, which are text indicating:
1. You are none
2. you are max
3. you are middle
4. you are min

<item potentialSelfInterests>
/1 = "You are none"
/2 = "You are max"
/3 = "You are middle"
/4 = "You are min"
</item>


In summary, each trial will have the following:
1.  one random distribution values (out of 4)
2. randomly selected option manipulations (out of 5)
3. one random interest condition.

I need to create a counter that includes all 1-3 per trial. Could you please help provide suggestions on how to go about this?