| Frequently asked questions about SuperMemo |
| If you have a question that does not appear on this list, ask SuperMemoMail. |
| This list was started on Feb 28, 1997. Last modified: |
Question groups:
SuperMemo 98 (see also: SuperMemo 8 and SuperMemo 7)
Other questions
(Psion,
Linux, Unix, Dos, PalmPilot)
Most recently asked questions
(Peter
Rasmussen, Denmark, May 20, 1999)
Question:
I created a couple of collections and would like to put them all into one. How can
I do it?
Answer:
In each collection go to the root node in the contents
window and select Tools : Transfer node from the pop-up menu
(right-click). Always select the same collection as the target of the transfer. Please
note that unregistered objects do not get transferred (e.g. script images, global
background image, global default font, etc.). You will have to set those manually and
resolve possible conflicts (e.g. you can use only one global background image but you can
set images individually for all elements if necessary)
(Siow Yew Nam, Singapore,
May 12, 1999)
Question:
When I delete a collection in Windows Explorer, it is automatically restored when I
return to SuperMemo! How can I go around it?
Answer:
Use File : Organize : Delete.
When you start SuperMemo, it tries to open the last collection used. Even it it has been
deleted, SuperMemo create a new collection of the same name. This is why it is more
convenient to delete collections from within SuperMemo
(Peter Cool, The Netherlands, Nov 9, 1998)
Question:
I have installed the help for SuperMemo but it won't work. After installing the
help file and hhupd.exe I see after calling help the hourglass-icon (for a short time).
After that nothing happens.
Answer:
You need to install the HTML viewer
(hhupd.exe) over Internet Explorer 3.0. CHM format has been developed by Microsoft and
it requires Internet Explorer to be installed on your computer. Unfortunately, Microsoft
does not allow of subset installation
(Robert de Castro, UK, May 8, 1999)
Question:
I typed a wrong expiry date for my credit card when ordering SuperMemo. Do I have
to reorder or can I just send the correct date via e-mail?
Answer:
You can send the date via e-mail. All credit card
information is deleted from Yahoo Stores in two weeks and is not ever transferred to our
computers. The error will not affect our database in any way
(Josep Ortega,
Andorra, Apr 28, 1999)
Question:
How to change sibling items into child items?
Answer:
Select Add as last child at the top of the contents window and drag sibling items to drop them on those that
are to become their parents
(Dag Berggren, Sweden,
Apr 25, 1999)
Question:
I know how to change the size or style of fonts but I do not know how to make sure
I do not have to repeat that with each new item I create.
Answer:
The simplest remedy is to press Ctrl+Alt+s which is
a shortcut for Template : Save as default.
This will save your current item as the default template in the current category. As this
template will be reused each time you add a new item with Ctrl+A, you should
create your item the way you want it to look before you fill out the text fields
(Frantisek
Kvapil, Czech Republic, Apr 23, 1999)
Question:
I wanted to download the whole website in the CHM format by the link points to
SuperMemo 98 Help.
Answer:
Both SuperMemo 98 and the rest of the website are integrated
in the same file
(Dimitry
Volfson, USA, Apr 23, 1999)
Question:
I downloaded SuperMemo 98. When I double-click on sm98zip.exe, then click
OK, it says Unzip NOT successful!
Answer:
Problems with unzipping the downloaded file usually result
from errors in download. Most importantly, please compare the size of the downloaded file
with the original. On occasion, the downloaded file happens to be several bytes shorter.
The simplest remedy is to repeat the download. If this does not help, the problem may be
with the browser setting and downloading from another location may help. Please write to SuperMemoMail if you continue having
problems
(Germany, Apr 22, 1999)
Question:
Where can I find electronic documentation for Advanced English on the CD-ROM?
Answer:
Advanced English was built to be self-explanatory and by
passing the introduction (delivered by SuperMemo), you will be able to effectively use the
material. The documentation for SuperMemo is available with F1 from within SuperMemo. This
documentation also includes some basic hints&tips for
using Advanced English
(Germany, Apr 22, 1999)
Question:
I use a notebook and was disappointed to see that Advanced English comes on two
CD-ROMs. If you used sound compression, the material would fit a single CD-ROM and could
be run directly from the CD
Answer:
Advanced English only installs about 40 MBs of the first
CD-ROM and all sound files are stored on the second CD-ROM. This way, you can use Advanced
English by keeping only CD-ROM #2 in your CD-ROM drive. Optionally, you can delete the elements
directory in the adveng subdirectory to save further 15 MB. This
subdirectory holds images and accessory sound files that are not critical for the learning
process (e.g. background images used in all items, music, etc.)
(Duke
Williamson, USA, Apr 21, 1999)
Question:
Why does it take a full business day to process an order? Once you have a credit
card the authorization should take a few minutes
Answer:
Unfortunately, we are still waiting for CyberCash to be
installed at SuperMemo Store. Until then, all orders have to be processed manually in
business hours. They are usually processed at about 6 p.m. CET and confirmed the same day.
Shipping usually takes place only the next business day
(Steven
Trezise, USA, Apr 20, 1999)
Question:
In my collection, I have items for which I have done between 1 and 8 repetitions.
However, when I look at the Cases matrix, there are no entries beyond repetition 3
Answer:
The algorithm used by
SuperMemo updates all optimization matrices using repetition categories, not the
actual repetition number (you can view the optimization matrices with Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Matrices).
A repetition category is an expected number of repetitions needed to reach the currently
used interval. Once the matrices change, the estimation of repetition category may change
too. If, for example, you score well in repetitions and your intervals become longer, it
will take fewer repetitions to get to a given interval. In such a case, you might be at
8-th repetition while your repetition category will be 3. All matrices such as OF matrix,
RF matrix, etc. will be updated in the third row (not in the 8-th row)
(Mark
Patterson, USA, Apr 8, 1999)
Question:
If I use SuperMemo98 to author/deliver business training programs, am I required to
purchase a separate copy of SuperMemo98 for each computer the training is delivered on?
Answer:
No. You can use various forms of site licensing or purchase a replication license to produce your material
on CD-ROMs or diskettes
(Mark
Patterson, USA, Apr 8, 1999)
Question:
I purchased the Medical Biology collection and although it contains an impressive
number of question-answer elements, there were no topic elements. So unless a person
already understands the science behind the Q&A elements, it diminishes the learning
value of memorizing definitions. Is this the case for most of the collections you sell?
Answer:
Yes. Around 70-80% of material currently available from MegaMix 99 CD-ROMs has been written by users of
SuperMemo and as such rarely provides introductions via topics
(Donald
Wijkniet, the Netherlands, Apr 6, 1999)
Question:
What is the difference between the evaluation copy I can download from the website
and the version I get when I order?
Answer:
None. If you have an evaluation version of SuperMemo, the
only thing you need is to input the password with File : Registration : Input
password to unlock the program when it stops working. The version you download is
fully functional until it locks and requests the password
(Doug
Dicharry, USA, Apr 3, 1999)
Question:
I would like to have a "back" button in help. It would make it easier to
move back and forth between sections!
Answer:
The version from early April already includes this button.
See: download help
(Charles Jin
Won Choi, South Korea, Apr 2, 1999)
Question:
Do you have an academic version of SuperMemo?
Answer:
No. We make it possible for students to get SuperMemo in
return for writing material for SuperMemo Library. Many
collections from the MegaMix CD-ROMs have been
created this way
(Bengt
Larsson, Sweden, Apr 1, 1999)
Question:
I have two computers of which only one is connected to the Internet. Will I be able
to download SuperMemo 98 on one computer and then install
it on the other?
Answer:
Yes. The file you will download is only about 1.05 MB in
size and will fit on a single diskette
(Vit Usela, Czech
Republic, Mar 23, 1999)
Question:
I have used SuperMemo 7 for a couple of years and would like to import my
collections to Advanced English 97. However, I am afraid I will lose the easy control of
the spelling exercises. Can you help?
Answer:
In new versions of SuperMemo, you cannot globally switch
from standard repetitions to spelling exercises. At the moment of creating the material
you must decide if it is best drilled as questions and answers or if the answer should be
typed in from the keyboard. If you choose the latter, it is enough to define an
appropriate template before you import from SuperMemo 7. In
your template, instead of the answer component, you must simply create a SpellPad
component
(Charles Poon, Hong Kong, Mar 18, 1999)
Question:
What is the best way to upgrade Advanced English 97
to SuperMemo 98?
Answer:
This is the procedure:
(Janusz
Murakowski, USA, Mar 18, 1999)
Question:
After using Apply template, my texts were deleted. I rather
expected changing the look of my item
Answer:
To change the look use Merge with template instead
(Vidar Garlie, Norway,
Mar 18, 1999)
Question:
When I go to the contents window, select a category
branch and click Ctrl+A, the template of this category is not used! Can you help?
Answer:
To select a category, you have to choose it in the category combo box on the main toolbar.
Selecting branches in the contents window does not affect the current category selection
(Herbert
Daeuble, Germany, Mar 15, 1999)
Question:
Do you also offer a German version of SuperMemo?
Answer:
No, we only provide an English version (we do not even
localize to our native Polish). However, in the Beginner and Basic
modes you can select the language used in the interface. You can download the German interface from this website. It
is also available on all CD-ROM releases
(Michael Roman-Pintilie, UK, Mar 13, 1999)
Question:
By mistake I have placed two orders instead of one. You promise that automatically
I can not place twice the same order unless. That did not happened!
Answer:
Our promise refers to not charging you twice for the same
order! Currently, we cannot prevent you from mistakenly pressing the button Order twice.
Consequently, you will be able to place two or more orders. However, your credit charge
listing will only show a single charge
(Robert
Whitinger, USA, Mar 3, 1999)
Question:
I downloaded the help file and put smhelp.chm in the bin directory.
At this point, offline help worked fine. I then deleted the file to experiment with
on-line help, and then later replaced the file again in the bin directory. Now,
only on-line help works. I can get off-line help to come up by double clicking on smhelp.chm
from Windows Explorer, but if I call up help out of SuperMemo, it always brings up
the on-line (Internet) version. How can I make SuperMemo use smhelp.chm again?
Answer:
Please select Tools : Options : SuperMemo : Help system : Microsoft
Help
(Kazimierz Bigus, Poland,
Mar 1, 1999)
Question:
How can I transfer only a subset of elements from one collection to another?
Answer:
You have to start from placing your subset of elements in the browser (read
about subsets to select from a number of options). You could
also start from a browser selection and choose Child : Selected in the
browser to open a child browser with selected items. Once you have your elements in the
browser, choose Export : Transfer on the browser menu
(Kazimierz Bigus, Poland,
Mar 1, 1999)
Question:
How can I quickly change the color of newly added items?
Answer:
Add a new item (Ctrl+A), choose Color on the element menu, select the color and choose Save as default
(Ctrl+Alt+s). This will save the item with the changed color as the default template that will be used in adding new items
(Karl Hillis, Canada,
Feb 25, 1999)
Question:
I want to use SuperMemo to learn Spanish. I am having problems however when it
comes to the acute accents over the vowels. Could you please give me a solution? I have
the standard 101 key North American Keyboard
Answer:
You might try installing Spanish keyboard in Windows. Otherwise, you should
remember to turn NumLock on when typing Alt+0 sequences (e.g. Alt+0241
for ñ)
(Marek Futrega, Poland, Feb
25, 1999)
Question:
I upgraded from SuperMemo 8 to SuperMemo 98 and noticed that the Search
button does not work. When I select a word on the list and choose Browse,
I always get No elements found
Answer:
This is a limitation of the upgrade procedure. Due to a change in the format of
the lexicon registry, the registry is deleted during the upgrade. It is enough to choose File
: Recover and check Rebuild lexicon to create new lexicon
registry and restore the previous functionality
(Tomasz Szkopek, Poland, Feb
25, 1999)
Question:
Does using SuperMemo increase the capacity of the human brain for learning with
traditional methods?
Answer:
SuperMemo is likely to strengthen your mnemonic capacity. It is does not
include any specific options for that purpose, it simply acts as a training tool via
repetition. Your mnemonic techniques will develop subconsciously as a result of training
the same way like muscles grow as a result of lifting weights. However, this should not be
treated as a substitute for a course in mnemonic techniques. If you have not heard about
mind maps and peg lists, you might want to visit sites listed in the links section (e.g. Buzan site).
Secondly, recent research shows that the brain continues growing new neurons and new
synapses even at a very advanced age. This process is dramatically enhanced by rich
environment and intellectual stimulation. It is possible that a 40-minute session with
SuperMemo also acts as a good stimulant of these growth and development processes (as much
as any challenging intellectual activity)
(Said Hussein Yasin, Switzerland, Feb
18, 1999)
Question:
What should I do for different subjects; should I use different categories within
one and the same collection or should I create a new collection for each subject?
Answer:
It is highly recommended you keep all your knowledge in just one collection. Categories have been created in order to help you manage different
subjects globally. They help you to quickly switch between different branches of the
contents tree and keep the same look for all items in a given category
(Lawrence A. MacDonald, USA, Feb 16, 1999)
Question:
What is the result on scheduling in the future when you add a question every day?
At what point does your future schedule become vastly over booked?
Answer:
The beautiful thing about SuperMemo is that overbooking never happens! Your
question and worry is typical for those who begin their work with SuperMemo. Please have a
look at simulation experiments that show that the learning curve, in the long perspective, is
nearly linear, i.e. it does not bend as a result of "overbooking"! In
practice, you will be able to notice the decline in the speed of learning for no more than
a year. Later the slowdown is minimum and entirely imperceptible! The mathematical
explanation of this is quite complex. The measurements show that you spend 50% of time on just 2.5% of the material!
Imagine then that the memorized material quickly reaches high intervals and disappears
from view. You just constantly struggle with newly memorized items and items that you find
difficult to remember
(Lawrence A. MacDonald, USA, Feb 16, 1999)
Question:
From your experience, and I know it is different with different people, how many
repetitions (how far out on the scale in the future) does one need to make to have
mastered in information, and what is the standard deviation for that number?
Answer:
There is no point when you can say the material is remembered for ever! Even
after 20 years of repetitions there is a slight risk of forgetting. If you want to always
remember a piece of information with a defined degree of probability, you should proceed
with your repetition till your last day on this planet
(A.M.V.C.Raju, Malaysia, Feb
15, 1999)
Question:
For some time now, when I start SuperMemo I get a message DZIP32.DLL file is
not found. Program seems to work fine. Is it dangerous? I worry about losing my 700
items
Answer:
This message is not generated by SuperMemo. Neither does SuperMemo use such a
DLL. Perhaps you should ask an expert to have a look at your computer.
(NB: the user has later confirmed that the same message was also cropping up when MS Word
started)
(Cosmo, Germany, Feb
14, 1999)
Question:
Can I order a SuperMemo 98 upgrade together with Advanced English even though I do
not yet know my registration number?
Answer:
Yes (please note that you do not need SuperMemo 98 to effectively use Advanced
English)
(Cosmo, Germany, Feb
14, 1999)
Question:
Is it possible to learn vocabulary in both directions with one element? When I
specify the questionbox as How are you? and the answerbox as Cómo estás?
can SuperMemo also change the directions of questioning so that I can train my vocabulary
in both directions? Or do I have to define two elements?
Answer:
Each question-answer pair is handled independently in the learning process. For
this reason, you must define two elements. Usually the active element is repeated more
often than the passive element but there are no fixed rules here (leave it up to
SuperMemo). Having it all in one element with a single pattern of repetitions would not
serve the purpose of learning. You can quickly produce a reverse duplicate by using Duplicate (Ctrl+Alt+U) and Swap components (Ctrl+Shift+S).
The former will duplicate the element and the latter will swap the question with the
answer (if you have many elements in the pending queue,
you will probably want to follow it with Remember or
Ctrl+M)
(Tom Scott, Feb 12, 1999)
Question:
I just came across your website. Is it difficult to prepare material for learning
with SuperMemo?
Answer:
No. The most popular approach is to create pairs of questions and answers. You
just press Ctrl+A (to add a new element) and type in the question and the answer.
That's all. Then you just click Learn to start learning.
You can build huge collections and learn effectively for years using only text, questions
and answers. Adding images, sounds, video, etc. requires some more hard disk space and 2-3
more steps (such as: add an image component and import an image file, etc.)
(Lili Belsak, Slovenia, Feb 10, 1999)
Question:
I would like to use Advanced English on two computers. What is the easiest way to
keep my learning process updated?
Answer:
This method will probably work best:
Note that this method only transfers the learning process. If you want to edit the material, you would better introduce the corrections only on one of the computers. This way you will be able to avoid the need to copy all collection files between computers
(Alex Walmsley, Australia, Feb 9, 1999)
Question:
I ordered a copy of SuperMemo '98 and received my password. However, on entering my
password, it consistently denied it saying it was the wrong password. Could you perhaps
please check to see if I was indeed given the correct password?
Answer:
The two most frequent causes of such a situation are:
In the latter case, some customers having experienced download problems come back to download SuperMemo 8 from www.supermemo.com instead of downloading SuperMemo 98 from www.super-memo.com (note the dash in the latter address)
(Tomoki Takahashi, Japan, Feb 6, 1999)
Question:
I would like to learn English with questions asked in Japanese. How can I do it?
Answer:
You have to (1) create your own template with the
Japanese font in the question field (you can use Text
: New Font to change the question font in the standard template), (2) save
the template with Template : Save as
template and (3) set the saved template as the default item template in Tools : Options : Appending
: Default item template.
After this, each time you choose Add new (or
press Ctrl+A), your questions will be generated in
Japanese and answers will retain standard look (you can also swap English with Japanese by
using Edit : Swap components).
Although you cannot change the writing direction in SuperMemo text components (from yokogaki to tategaki), you can
include texts via OLE from Japanese Word or Ichi Taro word processors. These programs use
either Microsoft IME or ATOK utilities to input Japanese text. Microsoft IME is part of
Japanese Windows. ATOK is part of the Ichi Taro word processor (Justy System) but can be
installed as a separate unit. With ATOK you can change from the English to the Japanese
input mode. It is fully compatible with SuperMemo: 1) You type the pronunciation of a word
from the keyboard, 2) press Space, and 3) select the appropriate kanji(s) from
the list showing those matching the input sounds combination. Ganbatte ne!
(Tony D'Angelo, USA, Feb 3, 1999)
Question:
I am a management consultant who uses professional development programs from a
company called Resource Associates Corporation. These programs are based upon spaced
repetition learning. In their literature they cite an unnamed study that suggests
that people will generally only retain 2% of information they are exposed to in a one time
event after 2 weeks. In contrast they suggest that at least 65% of information delivered
over 5 consecutive days may be retained for 15 years to life. Can you confirm those
claims?
Answer:
If you look at the graphs generated by SuperMemo
during the learning process, you will notice that the 2% figure might be true depending on
how the material has been presented and its difficulty. However, the claim that 65% of
knowledge can be retained for 15 years as a result of five-day exposure must be false in
the same light. Even if we consider perfectly formulated knowledge (i.e.
knowledge characterized by the highest possible A-Factor), you might
need to space the quoted five exposures in the period of 2-3 years to make the 65% figure
realistic. If the quoted figures were accurate, you would probably never need to use
SuperMemo! For more details on the speed of learning, see Theoretical aspects of SuperMemo
(Almut Luiken, Germany, Feb 2, 1999)
Question:
I am having problems with Greek keyboard in SuperMemo 7. Why isn't there an FAQ for
SuperMemo 7 on this site?
Answer:
SuperMemo 7 has not been in development for four years now, it is not in use
internally, and we often find it very difficult to answer user problems otherwise than by
suggesting an upgrade. Additionally, support questions in reference to SuperMemo 7 are
very rare nowadays
(Werner Pirkl, Switzerland, Feb 2, 1999)
Question:
I would like to order SuperMemo and have it shipped to Austria to a colleague who
does not have access to the web. Is it possible?
Answer:
Yes. However, we recommend that you rather order a CD-ROM version as the bare
diskette version of SuperMemo is rather hard to use for beginners
(Lassi Kaleva, Finland, Feb 1, 1999)
Question:
Is SuperMemo 8 Y2K compliant? Does it work correctly in Windows 98?
Answer:
To our best knowledge, there are only minor problem with displaying dates in
DOS versions of SuperMemo as of the year 2000 (e.g. Monthly Burden in SuperMemo 6).
Otherwise we are not aware of any Y2K problems.
We also have not had any reports of problems in Windows 98
(Erik J Hofstee, USA, Jan 28, 1999)
Question:
Why, when I make a topic (for display only) do I always get the standard answer
sheet (this time with nothing on it), displayed, and SuperMemo asking for a grade? All I
wanted it to do was display the topic, and then move into the testing items?
Answer:
Grading is evoked if one of your components in your topic is marked as the answer.
Please right-click over the components and make sure that Answer is
unchecked
(Michael Duggan, Canada, Jan 27, 1999)
Question:
I am having difficulty doing my final drill in one of my files. I am down to the
last few elements and every time I hit the Next repetition button the same element remains
on the screen and the counter doesn't show any movement. Any suggestions?
Answer:
It is hard to diagnose what has actually happened but if you use Learn : Cut drills the
problem will definitely go away
(Vladimir Slachta, Czech Republic, Jan 26, 1999)
Question:
I downloaded SuperMemo 98 and the help file from the Internet. Unfortunately Help
does not work. It is still giving me information, that I have old version of HHCTRL.OCX. I
have system W95 OSR 2 with IE 4.0 on my computer. Please, can you inform me, where is the
problem?
Answer:
Seemingly some IE 4.0 installations include an older version of HHCTRL.OCX. You might
use the file that ships with Windows 98 or try to download the Microsoft's free update
(Dallas
Oldre, USA, Jan 21, 1999)
Question:
Can you list any reasons for which I might prefer SuperMemo 8 over SuperMemo 98?
Answer:
SuperMemo 98 is by far superior. However, you might
prefer SuperMemo 8 in the following circumstances:
Otherwise, SuperMemo 98 is nearly a complete subset of SuperMemo 8 functionality
(Antonio
Gutierez, Peru, Jan 20, 1999)
Question:
After providing my credit card number in SuperMemo
Store I went to the download area and received the following message: ERROR
Supermemory Store, You haven't paid for this item. How can I proceed with the
download?
Answer:
This message is displayed if you type a different credit card number than the
one you used when ordering. Perhaps you have changed the way you type in the number (e.g.
by including dashes in place of spaces or vice versa). Sometimes it is enough to quit your
browser and try again. If this problem persists, please write to SuperMemoMail
(David
Brown, USA, Jan 13, 1999)
Question:
What are the shipping charges to Alaska with your Next Day Air option?
Answer:
Charges shall be of no concern to customers as they are included in the price
and depend on the weight of a given package
(Brian
DeMio, USA, Jan 10, 1999)
Question:
I changed the template for the questions so that I have a purple background and
yellow fonts. Everything is fine with that part.
After I entered in an element (question and answer) I hit Ctrl+A to put in a new one. The
question from the previous element keeps popping up in the new elements where you are
supposed to input answers. How can I fix this?
Answer:
Please make sure that when you save your template there
are no texts in text components. You have to
simply override your current template
(Marcin
Piekarniak, Poland, Jan 6, 1999)
Question:
I cannot add a JPG file to display as an element
background. How can I do it?
Answer:
The background option currently supports only the BMP format. The only solution is to
use an image component as the background
(Robert
Szumilo, Poland, Jan 3, 1999)
Question:
What is the optimum approach to making repetitions with SuperMemo: one long session
or a few smaller sessions (e.g. main repetitions in the morning and the final drill in the
evening)?
Answer:
For psychological reasons, the quality of learning should increase substantially when
working in separate sessions, esp. if the number of repetitions surpasses 100 per day.
Additionally, a break before final drill is useful due to the spacing effect. The danger of this approach is ... you can
easily drive yourself into a situation in which you will spend excessive proportion of
your day on repetitions (in the future when your schedule changes you might have problems
with keeping up with your present pace)
(John
Crouch, USA, Dec 30, 1998)
Question:
I have recently ordered SuperMemo 98 but was interested in how I might use the
program when I am away from home. Any suggestions as to how I can either print out the
days outstanding items or even use of the PalmPilot for this purpose?
Answer:
Currently there is no simple solution. However, we plan to add an option for working
on paper or in a notebook text file in future version. There also versions for Windows CE
and PalmPilot
(Petr
Bajer, Czech Republic, Dec 30, 1998)
Question:
I have a couple of separate collections. Does SuperMemo keep
a global learning optimization data or data stored in individual collections are
independent?
Answer:
All collections keep independent optimization data (\info\sm8opt.dat
file). That is why we recommend you keep all your knowledge in one collection. You can
freely swap sm8opt.dat files (for example, to speed up the convergence of the learning
algorithm in a new collection)
(Krzysztof
Morawski, Poland, Dec 28, 1998)
Question:
I am learning Norwegian. Until recently, SuperMemo has
automatically chosen appropriate titles for my elements;
however, for some time now, it has been choosing Norsk as the title for all
elements (Norsk is a text included in a text component displayed as a label on
each page). How can I make SuperMemo choose the right title (in my case, Polish word used
as the question)?
Answer:
SuperMemo will automatically generate the title from the first text component
in the component order. Your Norsk component is clearly first in the component
order in your template. Choose Component order on the element menu and drag the component with your question text to the
first position. Then choose OK and save your element in a new template
(choose the same template name as before, i.e. default item template name)
(Victor
Hitiel Rodriguez Sardina, Japan, Dec 15, 1998)
Question:
I ordered SuperMemo 8 earlier this year. Can I upgrade to
SuperMemo 98 free?
Answer:
Only customers of SuperMemo Store who ordered SuperMemo 8 in August or September 1998 are entitled to a free
upgrade. You can also get SuperMemo 98 in return for contributing to SuperMemo Library. For details write to library@super-memo.com
(Eric
Thompson, USA, Dec 15, 1998)
Question:
One important function I cannot find is regarding the contents window. I cannot seem to move elements around for
flexible organization. Ideally, I would like to move elements around like I do in Windows
Explorer
Answer:
You can drag and drop individual elements with the mouse. However, for more
flexibility you will need to enter the professional level by choosing File : Level : Professional. At the
top of the contents window you will be able to choose from several dragging modes as well
as to open another contents window to drag between windows.
For example, to create a new folder at the place of the current selection, simply press Ins.
To drag some elements into this folder choose Add as last child dragging
mode (combo box at the top of the contents window), grab individual elements with the
mouse, drag them and drop them onto the newly created folder
(Peter de
Vries, Belgium, Dec 14, 1998)
Question:
I accidentally deleted all my SuperMemo files. Unfortunately I did not make a backup. Can
you help?
Answer:
You can simply reorder, write FREE in the comment field and describe your
problem shortly
(Neville
Bailey, Australia, Dec 5, 1998)
Question:
I have previously used SuperMemo 6 and SuperMemo 7. There was always a printable manual
file with the software. I cannot find anything like that on your website. Is there a
manual to download or order?
Answer:
No. As of 1997, all our documentation is provided as hypertext that does not have a
structure that can be printed and processed linearly (i.e. page by page). The best thing
you might do is to go to www.supermemo.com/help/help.htm, print
that page, follow hyperlinks to material that you do not understand and print it as you go
(Lutz
Gutknecht, Germany, Nov 30, 1998)
Question:
I cannot order SuperMemo 98! When I click Order
I receive the following message:
https://st4yahoo.com/cgi-bin/wg-order?supermemo+supermemo98 cannot be opened
Answer:
You must make sure you are not trying to download from behind a firewall. Some
corporations install firewalls that prevent downloading potentially damaging material to
your computer. All executable material belongs to this category. Please try repeating the
procedure from home
(Manfred
Kremer, Germany, Nov 27, 1998)
Question:
What is the simplest way to backup a collection in SuperMemo 98?
Answer:
If your collection's name is, for example, "All my knowledge.kno"
then:
While restoring a collection from such an archive, remember
to use Extract with path to make sure the directory structure is restored
as originally archived (otherwise all files will be restored to the same folder and the
collection will be unusable).
Note that you can save some space by choosing File : Organize : Garbage
before archiving your collection
(Anatolyi
Lipatov, Ukraine, Nov 26, 1998)
Question:
I have Advanced English 97, am I entitled to a free
upgrade to SuperMemo 98?
Answer:
No. However you can get SuperMemo 98 in return for contributing to SuperMemo Library. For details write to library@super-memo.com
(Suleiman
A. Dualeh, Switzerland, Nov 26, 1998)
Question:
SuperMemo 98 is working fine for me. I must congratulate
for this wonderful product which has the potential to revolutionize the way people learn.
Please let me know if you have created database on French Language Learning
Answer:
We are currently working on a multimedia course for learning French and hope to have
it ready in early 1999 (more like Cross Country rather
than Advanced English, i.e. more multimedia,
fewer items). However, some projects tend to drag and we rather do not officially
announce release dates before the material is indeed ready
(Tomasz
Szynalski, Poland, Oct 18, 1998)
Question:
What value of the forgetting index ensures the
optimum ratio of (retention)/(time spent per day)?
Answer:
Paradoxically, the highest speed of learning can be accomplished ... without SuperMemo! In
our daily life we pick up lots of facts that stay in our memory for long with few
repetitions in lifetime! The problem is that these are usually not exactly the facts or
rules that are critical to our goals. In other words, not the speed of acquiring new items
counts but the speed of acquiring new items bearing a given content.
It is difficult to determine exactly what forgetting index brings the highest acquisition rate. Simulation experiments have consistently pointed to the value of 25-30%. You can even plot speed-vs.-forgetting graph using your own actual learning material in SuperMemo 98 using Tools : Statistics : Simulation. You will probably also arrive to similar results
As you perhaps know, SuperMemo disallows of the forgetting index above 20%. This comes from the fact that you should aim at achieving high speed of learning combined with high retention of the learned material. Setting the forgetting index above 20% would be like giving up SuperMemo altogether and coming back to remembering only that what is easy to remember. In highly interlinked material where new knowledge depends on the previously acquired knowledge, high forgetting rate can even be more harmful
Nevertheless, if you want to maximize the speed of learning with little control over what actually stays in your memory, set the forgetting index to 20%
(Tomasz
Szynalski, Poland, Oct 18, 1998)
Question:
What retention can I obtain with the forgetting
index set to 9%? What if I then change it to 12%?
Answer:
The formula that relates the forgetting index to the retention looks like this (source):
retention = -(forgetting index)/ln(1-(forgetting index))
If you accomplish the forgetting index of 9%, the retention will equal 95.4%. For 12%, the same figure will be 93.9%. Note that if your material is very difficult, your measured forgetting index may be higher than the requested forgetting index. This comes from the fact that SuperMemo imposes some boundary conditions on the increase of intervals. Elements that have been forgotten more than five times should be reformulated with a view to reducing their difficulty or increasing their mnemonic component.
If you initially set the forgetting index to 9% and later on increase it to 12%, you will probably start with retention of 94-95% which will later gradually decrease to 92-93% (after the change)
(Tomasz
Szynalski, Poland, Oct 18, 1998)
Question:
When first versions of SuperMemo were released, how could SuperMemo predict
intervals that were many years long if it had only been researched for a couple of years?
I read that the first version was released after just 3-4 years of research on the length
of intervals.
Answer:
The first experiments in reference to the length of optimum interval resulted
in conclusions that made it possible to predict the most likely length of successive
inter-repetition intervals without actually measuring retention beyond weeks! In short, it
could be illustrated with the following reasoning, if the first months of research yielded
the following optimum intervals: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days, you could with confidence
hope that the successive intervals would increase by a factor of two. To better understand
what reasoning lead to the first formulation of SuperMemo read: First experiments: 1982-1985
(Roman
Jedrkowiak, Poland, Nov 26, 1998)
Question:
Once I download SuperMemo, can I later install it on another computer? I want to download
from work and install it at home
Answer:
Yes. You can move the downloaded file to another computer and repeat the installation.
Please note that SuperMemo 98 requires some libraries associated with
the Internet
(Joe Fosnot, USA, Nov 23, 1998)
Question:
How can I quickly increase the size of the font used in questions and answers?
Answer:
The simplest way is to choose Tools : Options : Appending
: Default font and select the most appropriate font. If you want to define more
fonts and use them differently with different element categories, read about templates and categories
(Michael
Baerlin, USA, Nov 20, 1998)
Question:
Is there a flashcard mode in which I could randomly display questions and answers for a
short period of time (user defined)? I like the idea of sitting there and reviewing the
answer without having to touch the keyboard or mouse
Answer:
No. We believe that random reviews are not recommended in the learning process. They
interfere with computations made by SuperMemo in reference to optimum repetition spacing.
Interference is unavoidable but should be minimized. Earlier versions of SuperMemo
included automatic random review. SuperMemo 98 still includes Tools : Random review (shortcut F11) and a number
of other random review options; however, these are intended only for (1) collection
authors (to review the material in preparation) and/or (2) for learning new material at
random
(Marc Ryan, USA, Nov 20, 1998)
Question:
I have specified a wrong e-mail address while ordering SuperMemo. What shall I do?
Answer:
Write to SuperMemoMail to obtain
further instructions. Your records will be updated manually
(Lu
Ming-Pin, Taiwan, Nov 19, 1998)
Question:
I ordered Contemporary English but experienced download problems. How can I resume the
download without reordering?
Answer:
Go to the front page of SuperMemo Store and
click the Download
button
(Said
Hussein Yasin, Switzerland, Nov 19, 1998)
Question:
If I pay by bank transfer, do I get SuperMemo before or after the payment?
Answer:
After the payment. Unfortunately, some past customers did not pay for software and we
had to change the rules. This introduces substantial delay. That's why we favor secure
on-line credit card operations
(Thomas
Niedermaier, Austria, Nov 16, 1998)
Question:
You have sent me an e-mail with the password to unlock SuperMemo, but where do I have to
fill it in? When I click the red bar, SuperMemo asks me to send e-mail to register(AT)supermemo(.)com.
Answer:
Your instructions should indicate that you can use File :
Registration : Input password to provide the password. You do not have to
register your copy at SuperMemo World.
This is done automatically at placing the order. If you have any doubts, please read: Registering SuperMemo
(Manfred
Kremer, Germany, Nov 11, 1998)
Question:
Recently I have been using SuperMemo 8 to learn economics. This would actually require the
inclusion of a lot of mathematical expressions, including integrals, fractions, etc. So
far I did not find a good way to do this. It would be nice to have an interface to display
either TeX, or postscript, or to have a formula editor included in SuperMemo. But maybe I
have overlooked something, and there is a possibility already provided?
Answer:
If you upgrade to SuperMemo 98, you can either (1) use the HTML component and use all HTML extensions that might be useful in
displaying expressions or (2) use the OLE component to display
expressions edited in your favorite equation editor as long as it supports OLE
(Ken Little, USA, Nov 11, 1998)
Question:
I read that I am automatically registered upon my credit card purchase; however, I didn't
get a password to remove the red stripe and hopefully display other program options I read
about. I tried my order number which didn't work. Please email me some guidance. I can't
wait to get started in using your program.
Answer:
(Natalie
Burgess, USA, Nov 10, 1998)
Question:
I am using the Japanese mix but I'm not getting Japanese characters, but English
characters. I copied the fonts called hiragana.ttf and katakana.ttf from
the sm98\systems\... folders to my d:\Windows\Fonts folder. Is there
something else I have to do to have the fonts available in Windows 95?
Answer:
Yes. Instead of copying fonts you should install them. In Windows 95, use Control
Panel : Fonts : Install New Font. In the Folders panel, choose the location where
your TTF font can be found (sm98\systems\...)
(Natalie
Burgess, USA, Nov 10, 1998)
Question:
Once I learn the katakana and hiragana alphabets, will SuperMemo teach me how to put them
together to make meaningful words?
Answer:
No. These two collections only teach you the basic symbols. The only thing you can do is
to extend them with additional material that will help you learn particular combinations
(Przemyslaw
Glowacki, Poland, Nov 11, 1998)
Question:
I am still using SuperMemo ver. 7.53 and I am quite happy with it. Why should I upgrade? I
am generally not interested in hypermedia "bells and whistles" so I will do it
only for important reasons like considerably better algorithm or something similar.
Answer:
Even die-hard question-and-answer text-only users will benefit from upgrading to SuperMemo
98. The only downside: the program is bigger, slower and requires significantly more hard
disk space. Here are some basic benefits:
(Peter Cool, The Netherlands, Nov 6, 1998)
Question:
I started with SuperMemo 70 days ago (your French plus some words added by me; total 1000
words). In the first weeks I made a lot of mistakes so my measured forgetting index was 20%. Although I make very few
mistakes now during repetitions the forgetting index decreases very slowly. Is this
normal?
Answer:
The measured forgetting index includes the record
of all repetitions made since you started learning. That is why it changes at an ever
decreasing rate. If your performance is good and you would like to more accurately check
your current forgetting index, you might reset the forgetting index measurements with File : Reset : Forgetting index record. It will not affect
the learning process per se
(Peter Cool, The Netherlands, Nov 6, 1998)
Question:
Last weekend I started to read and exercise Kevin Trudeau's book Mega Memory. What is your
opinion about this?
Answer:
MegaMemory is a good system to exercise your mnemonic skills. It is simple, strongly
motivational and shall be useful for most students who want to strengthen their ability to
master hard-to-memorize material.
A word of criticism is necessary though, needlessly Kevin Trudeau begins his program with
the claim that memories do not get erased as a result of forgetting and are simply
becoming inaccessible. This is not true. The example used in the program refers to our
bicycle riding skills. It is noted that people retain biking skills for years without
repetition. However, biking falls into the domain of procedural learning (including touch
typing, playing instruments, sports, etc.) as opposed to declarative learning (e.g. math,
vocabulary, learning faces, etc.). Every minute of biking is equivalent to multiple
repetitions in declarative learning and retention and forgetting are governed by slightly
different principles. Information theory can be used to quickly prove that the brain is
not capable of retaining all information in stores in long-term storage. Hence the need
for forgetting.
Having said that we still strongly recommend Mega Memory as a program complementary to
SuperMemo
(Vladimir Slachta, Czech Republic, Jan 26, 1999)
Question:
I downloaded SuperMemo and the help file from the Internet. Unfortunately Help does
not work. It is still giving me information, that I have old version of
HHCTRL.OCX. I have
system W95 OSR 2 with IE 4.0 on my computer. Please, can you inform me, where is the
problem?
Answer:
Seemingly some IE 4.0 installations include an older version of HHCTRL.OCX. You might
use the file that ships with Windows 98 or try to download the Microsoft's free update