ARRLWeb: ARRL/VEC Exam Generating Software

STATEMENT RELEASED TUESDAY JULY 1, 2008

New Exam Generating Software (which will contain the updated version of the Extra class pool which became effective July 1, 2008) is expected to be released within the next couple of days. Detailed information will follow and will coincide with the software release.

The ARRL/VEC exam generating software is undergoing a radical change. The long-running ExamWin Software (2007 version seen below), a bit cumbersome in association with today’s technology, will no longer be used. Instead we are working on a new contemporary program tool to better serve our exam creation needs. We apologize for the delay and as mentioned it should be released very soon.

For ARRL VE Teams who are using the Exam Generating Software, New Extra Class Element 4 Exams are to be used at test sessions beginning this Tuesday July 1, 2008. The Technician and General class question pools (used to create exams) contained in the old 2007 version of the ExamWin Software (seen below) remain valid. However, the Extra class pool contained in the 2007 version (seen below) is NOT valid.

** Therefore, in the interim, VE Teams that did not receive a supply of the new ARRL/VEC printed Extra class exam booklets and that are holding a test session in the first or second week of July 2008 should contact the VEC Department immediately. These VE Teams can be sent a short-term supply of the new ARRL/VEC printed Extra class exam booklets. **

We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
ARRL/VEC Staff
Email: vec@arrl.org
Call Toll free: 1-800-927-7583

This page contains the June 2007 update for the ARRL/VEC volunteer examiner ExamWin software package. The LOCKED.OUT file has been updated to include the current question pools as of 7/1/07.

ALL ExamWin users: Please update the FORMS directory of your ExamWin installation with the latest VEC forms. This can be done by downloading the compressed ZIP file of the updates - 2007 Forms Update - and moving that file to your ExamWin directory, usually
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ARRL SOFTWARE\EXAMWIN 2007\FORMS
or
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ARRL\EXAMWIN 2007\FORMS
Once the ZIP file is in the forms directory under ExamWIn then you can unzip or uncompress those files and overwrite any older versions of the forms in that directory.

If you are an ARRL VE, and do not have the templates, contact ARRL VEC and we will send/email the template files to you. This ExamWin software is free, but is only supported for ARRL VEs. See the instructions for adding in the template files.

ARRL VEs may request the template files by contacting the ARRL VEC at 800-927-7583, or by email to vec@arrl.org.

For a complete list of Questions Withdrawn From Use in the Current Amateur Radio Question Pools go to the Withdrawn Questions page. These Questions are to be blocked in the ExamWin software.

Known Issues:
Under certain circumstances the program may lock up if it is being used in the "Interactive" testing mode. For this reason we recommend that the program only be used to generate written (printed out) tests. If it must be used for interactive test-taking, instruct the students NOT to use the "UNANSWERED QUESTION" button during the test.

Windows Vista: The ExamWin installer requires Administrator privs to run. If run without them an error could occur. We recommend that Vista users download the ExamWin installer file to their desktop, then right-click on the ExamWin icon and select from the menu "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR". Vista may then pop up a permissions dialog ("Cancel or Allow"). Select "Allow - this is a trusted program". Once the program has been installed it should start normally (from the desktop shortcut or the START menu.)

System Requirements:
Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or 2003 with 25 MB of free disk space. The program has not been tested on earlier versions of Windows.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS: Download the ExamWin file above. Run the downloaded EXE file to install the software. Note that this version does not contain template files.

Once the software is installed it can be run by going to:
START > ALL PROGRAMS > ARRL SOFTWARE > EXAMWIN 2007

Feb. 23, 2007 - Updated for question pool changes from recent FCC actions including Element 1 elimination

June 12, 2007 - Updated for the new General (Element 3) question pool effective July 1, 2007

June 18, 2007 - Version 2007-B updated with the latest VE forms (in the Forms folder). If you downloaded ver. 2007-B prior to this date, please uninstall that version and install this latest 2007-B update.

1. Locate the directory where the older version of ExamWin is installed. This is usually on your C: drive under '\Program Files\ARRL\ExamWin'. Look in this directory for files named TEMP followed by numbers (like TEMP1-1). Select these TEMP files then right click the selection and select 'Copy'.

2. Now go to the directory where the NEW ExamWin (nt) software is installed. This is usually on the same drive under the directory '\Program Files\ARRL\ExamWin2007'. Click to choose this directory by right-clicking on the directory name and when the menu pops up select 'Paste' from the menu. The template files should be available the next time you start the ExamWin program.

1. Save the attached files in a empty directory on your computer. You may need to unzip the attached file afterwards. Select these files in the file browser and right-click the selected files and then select the menu option 'Copy'.

ARRL/VEC Exam Generating Software - 2008 Update COMING SOON!

STATEMENT RELEASED TUESDAY JULY 1, 2008