Excel-based exam with time constraints

[Robohagan]

Hi all.
As part of our internal development process, we would like to set a small test within Excel to see what people's skills are like with simple/ moderate Excel processes within a certain time-frame to mimic an urgent request coming in from a customer.
What I would like to do is:
- Allow 10 minutes reading time
- Once reading time elasped then allow 20 minutes exam time
- Once 20 minutes exam time over then lock editing on tabs within the file and display a pop up message to say that user has two minutes to press a "save" button that will save file in pre-defined location
-After 2 additional minutes automatically close down the file.


I have some code at the moment, which allows the total 30 minutes, pops up the message, has the button to save in pre-defined location, and closes down the file.


The problem that this currently has is that when the script is in progress it locks any of the "standard" Excel processes such as Undo and Redo etc. I think that this is something to do this the way that the internal 'timer' is running and checking the time elapsed a couple of times a second and therefore meaning that other things can't be done. The odd thing with this is that you can still edit the worksheet as normal... You just can't go back if you make a mistake!!!


Does anyone have an idea on how to fix this please?




Thanks,


Rob.

 

[Eric W]

You can try using the OnTime function. You'll need to break up your macro into pieces. It will look something like this:

Sub Part1()

    MsgBox "Welcome to the test"
    . . .
    MsgBox "You have 10 minutes to read this:"
   
    Application.OnTime Now + TimeValue("00:10:00"), "Part2"

End Sub


Sub Part2()

    MsgBox "Reading time is over, you have 20 minutes to complete the test"
    . . .
   
    Application.OnTime Now + TimeValue("00:20:00"), "Part3"

End Sub


Sub Part3()

    MsgBox "Test is over  - your results are now being saved"
    . . .

End Sub