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Mad Blanks 
Version
1.3.0 Beta 1 (last update on Nov 11, 2009)
Rating
Compatibility
Votes
18
Favoured
33
License
GPL
Non-Commercial
Type
Views
45531
Date Added
5 December 2006
The power and flexibility of Mad Blanks lie in its Score Scripting capability. Use special tags such as [:percentage_correct:], [:number_of_correct_answers:], and [:number_of_incorrect_answers:] in your Score Script, mixed in with other text and HTML, to customize what your user sees after filling out a quiz/survey/poll. Use the comparison tag for conditional statements and the arithmetic tag for simple math. Due to this capability, you can use it as a custom online calculator.
For quizzes, you can specify a correct answer for each question and simply use [:percentage_correct:] for a simple score, or assign point values to individual questions (type "A" points) or individual responses within questions (type "B" points). Then you can use tags such as [:total_points_possible_a:] and [:total_points_earned_b:] in your Score Script. There is also an [:email:] tag that allows you to send highly configurable email when a survey/quiz/etc. is submitted containing whatever data you please.
If you are making a survey or poll or calculator instead of a quiz, you don't have to specify any one correct answer or any point value.
If the extensive Score Scripting capabilities are not enough to do what you want easily, pass the Score Script output to a plugin such as Jumi for further processing.
Mad Blanks includes extensive documentation at www.madblanks.org. Use the quick start tutorial to have a multiple choice quiz operating on your Joomla site using a generic Score Script within 10 minutes. But know that this only scratches the surface of what Mad Blanks can do for you.
There are a ton of settings and more than one Mad Blanks user has pointed out that it requires some study to make full use of its capabilities. If you are unsure if Mad Blanks would be a good fit for your purpose, please use the "How Do I..." board on the Mad Blanks support forum to ask if Mad Blanks could be used for your application.
While it does still require the legacy plugin for now, Mad Blanks is maintained to be compatible with the latest versions of Joomla. Both Joomla 1.5.15 and Joomla 1.0.15 are supported.
byLostLion on September 20, 2009
This has to be one of the most highly configurable extensions I've ever seen. At first the huge number of options may seem overwhelming, but if you want to do it "your way", the developer seems to have found a way for you to accomplish it without ever leaving the back-end. No searching for files to edit! You do need to spend some time on the site going over the tutorials and FAQs, but when you are done you will have exactly what you want. Every aspect is highly documented on the back-end to make customization as easy as possible. On top of all of this, excellent support is provided in the forum. It is hard to believe that this component (and support) is free. The only thing left on my wish list is SEF support.
byklempit on August 19, 2009
There is so much to this component and its companion modules that you need to take some time to truly understand what it is capable of. From simple surveys to soliciting content contributions from site visitors (and displaying them in real-time) and much more -- it's as flexible as your imagination (well almost). Oh, and it's free (although we felt compelled to make a donation). Don't just sit there reading -- download and enjoy!
bybaileyn on June 27, 2009
This has to be by far one of the best extensions around - it is just so versatile! And as for the support - if only my bank and telephone company provided such a high-quality support service as the Mad Blanks developer, then life would be so much sweeter!
Double thumbs-up
Double thumbs-up
byHughes on April 8, 2009
Okay, for a newbie, the back end of this looks a little daunting - BUT and it is a big BUT - the support is 100% and that makes all the difference. Setting up the questions for my 'quiz' was easy - especially having gone through the 'how to' examples. Basic scoring is easy as it's already set up for you, but wouldn't you know it, my lot wanting something different. Support didn't just tell me what to do using techie speak that I wouldn't be able to follow - they actually provided the script for me!.
Fantastic, can't rate this high enough. Easy to use, easy to get good results, great support.
Fantastic, can't rate this high enough. Easy to use, easy to get good results, great support.
byalistair2802 on February 28, 2009
Thanks so much for this extension, the beauty is in it's diversity as it can do so much. It may look baffling to the novice Joomla user, but the attention to details resulting in the flexibility available is superb! Still on a learning curve (with the help of great support pages including tutorials), but it's proving well worth it.
And having looked at all the other options available, unless you want something totally basic, then Mad Blanks surely has to be the way to go.
And having looked at all the other options available, unless you want something totally basic, then Mad Blanks surely has to be the way to go.
You need to dive in the swimming pool of options so if you want to give it a serious try... spend a couple of hours! But once I did that... Wauw!
I'm using it to create quiz pages (Church website) and send a response email to the player letting him/her know how they scored.
I'm using it to create quiz pages (Church website) and send a response email to the player letting him/her know how they scored.
byrbracewell on August 9, 2008
The author has added tons of customization options, or you can just plug and play. I was looking for a survey and quiz option for my family site. I was impresses the author included both abilities in one program.
The only improvement I would recommend is having the component display in the main menu with a list of all surveys without the use of a module or custom links.
Thanks to the author,
The only improvement I would recommend is having the component display in the main menu with a list of all surveys without the use of a module or custom links.
Thanks to the author,
bycantthinkofanickname on July 24, 2008
This seems to be the cheapest quiz extension for Joomla! the others being overpriced for me. For some time the download site has been down. If anyone could make a copy available that would be great. Then I could evaluate it some more.
bygnts on July 9, 2008
I have tried and used a number of extensions over the past 3 years that I have been using Joomla!... but I have not seen something that does everything it claims to do... AND MORE.
The extension downloaded and installed like a charm. I used it to create an interactive online quiz, and with fantastic support from the Developer, the final product is wonderful!
For anyone that wants to run a quiz or test of their site...this is the REAL DEAL.
The extension downloaded and installed like a charm. I used it to create an interactive online quiz, and with fantastic support from the Developer, the final product is wonderful!
For anyone that wants to run a quiz or test of their site...this is the REAL DEAL.
bynooblarama on June 20, 2008
Free quiz. yay!!!
Nice work Chris.
Nice work Chris.
As a new user to Joomla less than 3 weeks this component appeared daunting but I went on to the Madblanks site a found a simple how to guide.
I am now using it on our Intranet and am teaching other users how to go about it
I am now using it on our Intranet and am teaching other users how to go about it
bygregII on May 2, 2008
The component (ver. 1.1.0 Beta 3) is very easy to install. Once it is installed you have to devote half an hour to understand its logic, go through the demos and manuals provided at the project homepage, but it is worth to do it!
First look may suggest to someone that it is "user-unfriendly". But later you realise that this is the way to do a good a flexible, professional quiz module. I see no alternative for this component among *free* quiz modules. Many thanks for this great work. I hope he will continue support this project.
First look may suggest to someone that it is "user-unfriendly". But later you realise that this is the way to do a good a flexible, professional quiz module. I see no alternative for this component among *free* quiz modules. Many thanks for this great work. I hope he will continue support this project.
byraxitha on February 5, 2008
I was looking for a quiz component and just came across this and tried it and wow!!! it works beautifully and Chris reponds very fast to all your queries....also has a nice tutorial setup to help you to create quiz. Thanks a lot for creating this wonderful component. I just love it.
byday on November 5, 2007
very very user-unfriendly.
Owner's reply
As the author of Mad Blanks, I do recognize that it can be daunting to set up for some users. There are a lot of options because it can do a lot of things. Please, please, please use the forum on the Mad Blanks website to ask for help doing what you want to do, or to find out if it is possible with this extension. I have made numerous small custom changes to make things possible for Mad Blanks users. I need your questions and feedback so I know what the sticking points are to help make this a better extension. I am planning a wizard of some sort to help make categories and quizzes easier to create in a future release.