Cpoll Main Page
A Perl-CGI program for generating polls, surveys, etc.
 
Introduction 
Cpoll is a program for dynamically collecting and analyzing user responses to a series of manager defined questions. The program is mainly designed for applications where the reporting and tabulating of user responses to each question are of most interest.

A manager sets up one Cpoll file for each application. This file contains a list of parameters which define the allowed users, the page layout and the questions (with answers) that users can respond to. Allowed users can also be placed in a separate user file, which can be shared across several Cpoll applications. Users can be emailed thru Cpoll announcing the application and requesting that they respond to it.

Users access the Cpoll file thru a login page and poll web page generated by the program based on the file parameters. User responses are stored in the Cpoll file, and these responses can be analyzed by the manager, and optionally shown dynamically to all users as the responses are accumulated.
Cpoll Uses 
• Polls and surveys, regular or collaborative (ie, with dynamic report).
• Evaluations and assessments, regular or collaborative (ie, with dynamic report).
• Meeting schedulers.
• Appointment schedulers.
• Quizzes - collaborative.
• Custom mailer - emails addressed with user names.
• Form generator - use with formq.cgi or other.
Demo 
View 
Description 
cpoll00 Poll File
 Prototype poll file with one each: manager, user, question. All Cpoll parameters are included and all defaults are used.
User: TEST, test   Mgr: TESTM, test
cpoll22
    ---- Regular evaluation for Cpoll workshop. Highlight - packed horizontal questions followed by vertical questions.
cpoll20
    ---- Custom mailer, for Cpoll Users Group. Highlight - mailings are custom addressed to each user.
cpoll21
 Poll File
 Meeting scheduler, for previous ETLT Cpoll meeting. Highlight - the best time for the meeting is quickly apparent.
cpoll90 Poll File
 Testbed poll file using cpollnew.cgi with not fully tested features. For demonstration and testing ONLY.
All Demos    ---- Complete list of available demos.

Installation at NEIU 
Installation and Upgrade:
Login to your gamut/orion account and enter: (this command can be re-run at any time)
    ~rspatema/http/cpoll/install

Usage:
See- Cpoll Lite or Manager Notes below.
Cpoll Documentation 
Manager Notes Detailed notes on installation at NEIU and setting up and using a cpoll.
Cpoll Lite Straightforward applications can use the selected parameters in the Cpoll Lite documentation.
Parameters A list of all available parameters, their default values, and parameter conventions. (Also available on the Edit Parameters page during Cpoll operation).
Buttons, Back-
grounds & Colors  		 Standard buttons and backgrounds that are installed in the http/cpoll directory, and a named color table and a browser safe color table. (Also available on the Edit Parameters page during Cpoll operation).
Version Notes Description of changes in each version since version 1.23.

Web Application Comparison 
Analysis:
Areas of overlap for each application, use most appropriate tool (maxim - if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail). Cpoll can be viewed as a mini-webboard, with each question being a conference.

Chart:
Usage
 WebBoard
wwwBoard
 BlackBoard
WebCT
 WebAssign
InQusit
 Flashlight
 ListProc
eGroups
 Cpoll
Tests & Quiz's |———| |————|
Surveys |—| |—| |———| |—| |————|
Bulletin Boards |————| |——| |—|
Mailing Lists |—| |——| |————| |——|
Collab. Quiz's |——|

Cpoll Design Features 
Simple Construction:
One file (per application) holds everything and optional user files are allowed. Cpoll file is text based and user responses are stored in easy to read format, allowing easy review with any text editor.
Program is written in Perl, in one file, without an external DBM and without Perl modules. This makes for easy installation & upgrade, and easy transfer to other systems.

User Friendly, Efficient:
Pages are text only, for small page size and fast download. Browser frames and cookies are not used, to simplify the user experience.
Each page is self-contained, everything needed is downloaded at one time, which reduces server load and access, and allows easy saving of the page as an html file. User interaction is also improved since most user work is done on the local PC, where responses are very fast.
Uniform visual layout, checkboxes function as radio buttons, and horizontal (and vertical) lines delimit each question (and report, if on).

Cpoll parameters allow easy customization of Cpoll's behavior, and every parameter has a reasonable default (see minimal cpoll file demo).
Setup data required "Just in Time", that is, it is only required when it is needed. Ex: User name & e-address are needed only if a mailing is done.
User responses saved in compact format, only changed answers or changed comments to any question are saved. Makes efficient use of disk space and provides an audit log of user activity.

Hidden Power:
Pages are generated dynamically from raw file data, without stored counts, for example; page reload is always current.
Works with Navig 4.x & IE 5.x, even with saved html pages. See: udaysurvey.html - the required question popup window & associated page scolling function properly.
No limits on # questions, # answers/question, # users, etc. But only one manager per cpoll file allowed.

Robust operation, user responses are appended to cpoll files; crash recovery assured since the append is nearly an atomic operation.
Extensive error handling, program always returns a page to user; error handling consumes 30% - 40% of program size.
Approximate operational limits per cpoll file at NEIU: 5000 users, 500 postings w/user response lookup; no limit for anonymous postings, but a max. of about 1000 anonymous postings/hr.
Program size, as of 03-01-01: 3000 lines = 43 pages @ 70 lines/page.