Response Areas for Mouse Input [30051]

This article applies to:
E-Prime 3.0
E-Prime 2.0
E-Prime 1.x

 
Detail
This sample demonstrates how to create response areas on the screen, then collect and score mouse-click responses based on those areas.

 
Abstract

The experiment uses a HitTest which is a method of the SlideState object which returns the string name of a Slide sub-object at specified coordinates. Though the sample uses only SlideText objects, the HitTest method can be used with SlideImage and SlideMovie sub-objects, as well. For more information, please refer to the SlideState.HitTest topic in the E-Prime Command Reference.

 

In the experiment, response areas have been defined as SlideText objects on the Slide object 'Stimulus'. Each SlideText object is given a unique name via its 'Properties' window.

The 'TrialList' references the SlideText object by name under the 'CorrectAnswer' attribute.

 

The 'DoHitTest' script tells E-Prime to find the x- and y-coordinates of the mouse click when a response is made. The 'HitTest' method determines the string name of the SlideText object at the specified coordinates. If the mouse click occurs within a SlideText object, the name of the object is returned. If the mouse click occurs in another area of the display, a 'null' value is returned.

The 'DoHitTest' InLine then compares the name returned by the response to the name designated in the 'TrialList' as the 'CorrectAnswer'. If they match, the response is scored as correct. If they do not, the response is incorrect.