Frequently asked questions about SuperMemo

(Manfred Kremer, Germany, Aug 12, 1997)
Question:
I cannot import a database from SuperMemo 7. Why is the import process interrupted?
Answer:
There is a bug in SM7IMPRT.EXE that makes it impossible to import from some earlier versions of SuperMemo 7. You can go around it by downloading the newest version of SuperMemo 7.5. Open the database with this new version, run Tools : Garbage with Compact checked. Then import the database to SuperMemo 8 again. The corrected version of SM7IMPRT.EXE will be available from the site along the new version of SuperMemo 8 in September 1997.

(Shaun Hoffland, UK, Jul 15, 1997)
Question:
I imported a SuperMemo 7 database to SuperMemo 8. After adding new hardware, my drive letters were renamed and the program does not correctly locate SuperMemo 7 audiovisual files on CD-ROM. What is the remedy for that problem?
Answer:
In SYSTEM.INI file of your knowledge system (do not confuse it with Windows' SYSTEM.INI), find the entry SM7 AV in the [Path] section and change the drive letter to the drive where SuperMemo 7 files are located.
P.S. SuperMemo 8.3 that is to be released with Advanced English (Sep 1997) allows you to change this entry from within the program with Tools : Options : Data access : SuperMemo 7 AudioVisual files path

(Shaun Hoffland, UK, Jul 15, 1997)
Question:
If I add a label to each item in a given branch in Contents, does the text get duplicated and increase the size of the system?
Answer:
No. All texts are stored in the registry only once. Each item the references the same entry without increasing the size of the knowledge system

(Keith Gibson, US, July 12, 1997)
Question:
Is it possible to produce one's own multimedia CD-ROM with SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Yes. All you need is: (1) a multimedia content, (2) license for placing SuperMemo 8 on your CD-ROM (if you want to release it to the public), (3) sufficient funds to replicate your knowledge system at a CD-ROM manufacturer (about $1000 for small releases). For more details see Releasing your own multimedia SuperMemo CD-ROM in SuperMemo 8 help.

(Charles Maggio, US, July 7, 1997)
Question:
I use ChemDraw to create structured formulas of organic substances. How can I paste them to an image component?
Answer:
If you cannot use Paste on image component pop-up menu, then export the formulas in BMP, GIF or JPEG format and use Import file instead (also on image component pop-up menu

(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, June 10, 1997)
Question:
I imported French database with pictures from SuperMemo 7 to SuperMemo 8. Why are pictures not fully visible?
Answer:
In your import template create a larger image component (do not ask SuperMemo 8 to create the template automatically as this will again produce smaller image component). Remember that the answer text component must have Answer checked on its pop-up menu

(Chee Ming, Malaysia, June 6, 1997)
Question:
Can I import SuperMemo 7 databases to SuperMemo 8 without an import filter? How?
Answer:
Yes. Just ignore the Load filter button and press OK in the import dialog. SuperMemo 8 will build a default knowledge hierarchy for you. The folders will divide all items into numbered units with 1-2 levels depending on the number of items in the original database.

(Richard Hardstein, US, June 5, 1997)
Question:
From an American-centric point of view, I’d like to be able to label the quality of the response (i.e. bright, good, pass…) buttons A, B, C, D & F to match the universal (American) grading system. Is it possible in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
You can change the names of grades by choosing Tools : Options : Language : Localization table. Just replace Bright with A, Good with B, etc. After choosing OK, SuperMemo will start using the new naming.

(Richard Hardstein, US, June 5, 1997)
Question:
I wanted to use Tools : Testing : Run test but did not know how to create subset files (*.SUB). Which option creates those?
Answer:
In all browsers (available from the View menu), you have a Subset menu item on the pop-up menu (available with right-click). This menu allows of subset operations (intersection, union, etc.) and saving the contents of the browser in a subset file. You can also manually select items in the browser (click on the leftmost column) and save the selected items in a subset file.

(Jim Ivy, US, June 4, 1997)
Question:
How can I prevent my students from editing the contents of the knowledge system in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
You can turn on ReadOnly or LearnOnly modes (Tools : Options : Data access : Access mode) and then use hidden SuperMemo (e.g. with Ctrl+Alt+F12). If you are using Tools : Testing : Run test, editing is prevented automatically and the student can only quit the test mode if he knows the test exit password.

(Jim Ivy, US, June 4, 1997)
Question:
What is the difference between a topic and an item? The documentation of SuperMemo 8 is quite unclear on that!
Answer:
Topics are used to present knowledge (like chapters in a book), while items are used to test knowledge by means of repetition (e.g. they have the question-and-answer structure). The main difference is that topics do not take part in repetitions but are only presented before learning a sequence of items. This helps to holistically approach the subject before repetitions begin.

(Thomas Freier, Germany, June 4, 1997)
Question:
How to import SuperMemo 7 database to SuperMemo 8 in such a way that all answers become spelling components?
Answer:
In the import parent element (the one selected when import begins) define a text component for the question and a spelling component for the answer. When you complete the import, all answers of SuperMemo 7 database will be placed as test text of spelling components

(Pawel Dzierwa, Poland, June 3, 1997)
Question:
Personal question to Dr Wozniak: If you did not have SuperMemo at hand, which competitive product would you use?
Answer:
I would probably pick one of the programs that most closely follow the SuperMemo paradigm, e.g. Edukom or PowerMemo. Only later would I choose from better known products that are less focused on repetition spacing such as Langmaster or YDP's Collins Dictionary. However, as a software developer involved in the design and implementation of SuperMemo 8, I would rather opt for implementing the program from scratch. Back in 1987, the first version was written in 16 evenings. I would have to give up all the bells and whistles, but it is the core that matters most. Thanks for a tickling question.

(Eryk Horloza, Poland, June 3, 1997)
Question:
How can I keep different fonts for the question and the answer component in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
The fastest way is:

1. Add a new item with Ctrl+A.
2. On the pop-up menu of the question component choose New font (or Link registry font if you have already defined the font).
3. Select the appropriate font for the question.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the answer components.
5. On the element pop-up menu choose Template : Save as template. Remember the newly created template name for the next step.
6. In Tools : Options : Appending : Default item template type in the name of the new template.
7. Choose Ctrl+A again to see if your new template has been applied correctly.

Now your new template with new fonts will be used each time you add a new item.

(Zoran Maximovic, Yugoslavia, May 29, 1997)
Question:
How can I independently turn off hints and hide the status bar in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
To turn off hints uncheck the Hints checkbox on the toolbar. For the same purpose (also in hidden SuperMemo), you can also double-click the hints area on the status bar.
To hide the status bar, uncheck Window : Status bar on the main menu.

(Shaun Hoffland, UK, May 25, 1997)
Question:
How can I view all pending or dismissed elements in a given node in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Probably the simplest method is to:

• select the node in the Contents window
• choose Browse Node on the pop-up menu (available with right mouse button click)
• choose Child : Pending or Child : Dismissed on the browser pop-up menu (also right mouse button)

After the above sequence of operations, the browser will contain only the pending or dismissed items belonging to the selected node.

(Kamil Wais, Poland, May 22, 1997)
Question:
How can I write DLL files that would work with Programmed Component in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
The detailed instructions are available at this site at Writing DLLs for SuperMemo 8.

(Deron Isaac, US, May 21, 1997)
Question:
How can I edit texts of items during repetitions without backing out of the test mode?
Answer:
Choose Q to edit the question, A to edit the answer, or E to edit all text components. You can also edit all properties of all components by using pop-up menus available with right button click on a component in question.

(Ryszard Kosowicz, Krakow, Poland, May 16, 1997)
Question:
Why does not SuperMemo automatically change the title when I edit the question part of the item?
Answer:
Because sometimes the author of the knowledge system might wish to keep the too different. To update the title press Alt+T and Enter (this will select Title on the toolbar, generate a new title from the first text component and store the new title in the system).

(Ryszard Kosowicz, Krakow, Poland, May 16, 1997)
Question:
How can I quickly copy the text of an item to another item without using clipboard twice (for question and for answer)?
Answer:
Use Duplicate on element pop-up menu (or press Ctrl+Shift+D on the copied element)

(Jake White, USA, May 14, 1997)
Question:
Should not final drill continue keeping a queue of no less than 10 newly learned words in order to make sure that when repeated again and again they will really be imprinted well in short-term memory.
Answer:
This solution may indeed eliminate contextual dependency in final drill (remembering items only because of having them in a given context); however, this would involve lots of extra repetitions that would contradict the principle of SuperMemo: maximum effect at minimum time. Additionally, the learner would risk activating the spacing effect, i.e. reducing the probability of recall as a result of excessive repetition! The best solution to contextual dependency is (1) random shuffling of final drill queue with Tools : Randomize : Drill and (2) concentration (not grading well items that were remembered only due to appearing in a given context).

(Jake White, USA, May 14, 1997)
Question:
I learn Romanian vocabulary. How can I center the word in the question component?
Answer:
Check Center text on the question component pop-up menu (available with right-click).

(Piotr Wysocki, Poland, May 14, 1997)
Question:
How can I change an item to a topic and vice versa without using node operations in the Contents window?
Answer:
Check or uncheck the Topic menu item on element pop-up menu (available with right-click over empty element area)..

(Volker Goretzki, Germany, May 6, 1997)
Question:
I would like to remove all occurrences of a string 'xxxx' from a knowledge system. What is the simplest way?
Answer:
(1) Choose Search : Text, (2) choose Find and Replace, e.g. by pressing Ctrl+R, (3) type in 'xxxx' in Find what field, (4) leave Replace with empty, and (5) choose Replace All..

(Dr Faust Malnig, Germany, May 1, 1997)
Question:
Why does not SuperMemo World license a professional English dictionary instead of developing proprietary material for Advanced English?
Answer:
No dictionary is adapted for specific SuperMemo purposes. Definitions in Advanced English are created with the view to easiness of remembering, brevity and univocality. This is a unique material that cannot be licensed from any source.

(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, Apr 29, 1997)
Question:
I have imported a Russian database from SuperMemo Multilingual Collection CD-ROM to SuperMemo 8. Then I imported a French database from the same CD-ROM to the same knowledge system. Now some Russian items are linked to French sounds. How can this be solved?
Answer:
Unfortunately you can import only one audiovisual SuperMemo 7.5 database to a single knowledge system in SuperMemo 8. To return your Russian sounds back to order change AUDIOVIS\FRENCH\ to AUDIOVIS\RUSSIAN\ at SM7 AV entry in your knowledge systems' SYSTEM.INI file (do not confuse this file with Windows SYSTEM.INI).

(Jaroslaw Mekarski, Poland, Apr 15, 1997)
Question:
Using Tools : Options : Language : Localization table, I have defined my national interface for SuperMemo but still some buttons retained their original English names. How can I translate those too?
Answer:
You can define only the interface of Hidden SuperMemo (press Alt+Ctrl+F12 to see SuperMemo in hidden mode). That is why the list of strings to translate is so short. For SuperMemo with hints the list would be over 2000 strings longs instead of mere 30 strings that are used in the simple interface of Hidden SuperMemo.

(Sharon Genest, USA, Apr 14, 1997)
Question:
How can I order SuperMemo products over Internet?
Answer:
Go to order page, fill out the form and submit it.

(Vaclav Losik, Czech Republic, Apr 10, 1997)
Question:
How to complete missing translations reported by File : Recover?
Answer:
If at recovery you get messages like Missing translation for Member #186: "virtually every" you can fill out the translation using the following procedure:

1. choose Search : Text
2. type in the name that follows the number of missing translation member (e.g. virtually every)
3. click the translation button on the registry toolbar (the one with seven stars)
4. type your translation on the right side of the window
5. press Esc (to quit the translation window)
6. press Enter (to show the list of elements that use the translated item)
7. press Enter again to go to the first element on the list (if there are no elements on the list, the item is not in use)
8. in the element window, check if the translation is in the right place (e.g. Shift+click the component in question)

(Jari Ruokolainen, Finland, Apr 9, 1997)
Question:
I imported a Russian database to SuperMemo 8 but the Russian font has not been imported. Is it a bug?
Answer:
Indeed SuperMemo 8 does not transfer font setting from SuperMemo 7. You can solve this problem using the following methods:

1. define a template with question component and answer component and use New font on text component pop-up menu to choose Cyrillic. The template will be used throughout the imported database (remember to check Answer on answer component's pop-up menu; otherwise SuperMemo will attempt to override your template)
2. having imported the database, change the font at Tools : Options : Appending : Default font. Note however that this will change the font in both question and answer components. This will work only if your database is Russian-only

P.S. SuperMemo 8.3 that is going to be released with Advanced English (Sep 1997) can automatically import question and answer fonts from SuperMemo 7.
P.P.S. See the next entry for more detail.

(Konrad Cetra, Poland, Jul 28, 1997)(cf. previous entry)
Question:
Your advice on creating my own template when importing a SuperMemo 7 database with Russian font is not very useful as SuperMemo 8 asks me if it shall create a classic template. If I choose No it aborts import, if I choose Yes it creates the classic template and I lose my fonts. Is there a solution?
Answer:
Yes. The template must contain all components and attributes needed for import! If you miss one of them, SuperMemo 8 will attempt to override your template with its default template. The necessary template components are:

1. Question component (any text component)
2. Answer component (1. a text component with Answer checked on its pop-up menu or 2. a Spell-Pad component)
3. Image component (only if Import graphics is checked in the import dialog box)
4. Sound component (only if Import sound is checked in the import dialog box)

P.S. Additionally, in SuperMemo 8.3, you have to uncheck Import font, to preserve your template fonts in question and answer fields. When you leave this field checked, SuperMemo 7 font will be recreated.

(Prof. Witold Abramowicz, Poland)
Question:
Do you not think that the minimum information principle stands in conflict with the ages old rule that the learned knowledge should be highly associative in nature?
Answer:
No. The minimum information principles concerns the representation of knowledge in SuperMemo databases, not in the student's memory, and it does not prevent great advantages coming from proper structuring of the learned material. In the optimum situation, the student should first construct a cohesive model of the learned subject, and only then, apply SuperMemo to make sure that the learned knowledge is sustained in memory as a whole. The knowledge may be highly associative, but strictly targeted neural stimulation, achieved by means of granular representation of knowledge in SuperMemo, is necessary to effectively induce molecular processes responsible for memory formation. Indeed SuperMemo has been conceived in such a was so as to make it easier to formulate knowledge in a structured way (topics) and later learn it in a way typical for SuperMemo (items).

(Constantin Ilieu, Bulgaria)
Question:
In your materials I found a contradiction. On one hand you claim that once learned knowledge is constantly maintained in the student's memory, on the other you say that after ceasing repetitions, I will gradually forget what I have learnt. Which is true?
Answer:
Both facts are true. The term maintained is understood as kept in memory by means of repetitions, not as remains in memory for ever.

(Dr Faust Malnig, Germany)
Question:
How can I import a number of SuperMemo 7 databases in such a way that I always know from which database a given item originated?
Answer:
Import individual databases to different branches of the knowledge tree.

(Piotr Stankiewicz, Poland)
Question:
Are knowledge systems programmable in SuperMemo 8 as it was the case in SuperMemo 7.5 Programmable?
Answer:
Yes. You can create one or more binary components associated with a given item. These components can simply be executable files (EXE) that will be run at the click of the button or DLLs with collections of procedures evoked at installing the DLL, editing the component, repetition, etc. Although programming DLLs for SuperMemo 8 is not easy, it gives the developer much more control over the behavior of the programmed component. It also makes it possible to register images, sounds and video clips with SuperMemo registry providing full integration with the entire system. Programmability opens SuperMemo 8 to all imaginable learning procedures. For example: touch typing, playing musical instruments, IQ tests, vocal training, and many more. Before the final release, you will find a specification of DLL interface at SuperMemo Web Site (www.SuperMemo.com/english/dlls.htm).

Question:
What is the purpose of the option Tools : Append Nodes?
Answer:
SuperMemo 8 introduces the concept of the append node to help you keep items related to different subjectes in different branches of the knowledge hierarchy (Contents window). It also makes it possible to give different item groups different appearance (e.g. size of text components, screen layout, font, color, and many more). Search the help file for Append Nodes and choose the topic Tools : Append Nodes for more.

Question:
Which learning method is more effective: traditional SuperMemo with questions and answers, or the new hypermedia SuperMemo with videos, games, puzzles, and tests?
Answer:
Simple questions and answers are extremely effective and easy to create; however, some users find classic SuperMemo too boring. If the psychological factor plays a part, the variety provided by SuperMemo 8 may substantially add to the effectiveness of learning. The answer to the question will depend on the application domain and the mentality of the student.

Question:
I keep material of different learning priority in my knowledge system. Can SuperMemo help me pay more attention to high priority material?
Answer:
Yes. You should reduce the value of the forgetting index for high-priority material (forgetting index is a proportion of items not remembered during repetitions). In the Contents window select the item or node that you want to have higher priority and choose Set forgetting index... on the pop-up menu. Forgetting index is 10% by default and can be set to 3-5% for high-priority material or only to 20% for least important branches of the knowledge tree.

Question:
How can I change the position of the question window on the screen?
Answer:
Press Alt and double-click the window. It will become draggable.
Alternatively, you can choose Dragging mode on the window's pop-up menu or on the element's pop-up menu (in the latter case, all components will become draggable).

Question:
How can I make sure that SuperMemo remembers the size and position of windows?
Answer:
Arrange your windows the way you want and choose Window : Save as default

Question:
Are SuperMemo 8 knowledge systems compatible with SuperMemo 7?
Answer:
You can easily import SuperMemo 7 databases to SuperMemo 8. Some information about the learning process will be lost on the way because of different learning algorithms used by those two programs. Nevertheless, it shall not visibly influence the learning process. Import from SuperMemo 7, makes SuperMemo 8 open to thousands of databases developed for earlier versions of SuperMemo starting with SuperMemo 2 Public Domain software. Note, however, that upgrade programs distributed along SuperMemo 7 are needed to convert databases from formats earlier than SuperMemo 6 (UP_2_5.EXE and UP_5_6.EXE). Additionally, import of Q&A text files and Audiovisual files import, makes it possible to adapt SuperMemo databases developed for Mac and Amiga for use with SuperMemo 8.

Question:
How do I delete an element in SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Choose one of the following:

• Edit : Delete element on the main menu (only as of beta C)
• Click Delete button in the Contents window (Edit tab)
• Edit : Delete on the Contents window pop-up menu
• Press Del in the Contents window
• Choose Delete element on the Element window pop-up menu
• Press Del in the Element window

Question:
Can I use SuperMemo to memorize mind maps?
Answer:
Yes. You can build mind maps directly in SuperMemo; however, it is easier to import them as BMP files from specialized mind map software (e.g. MindMan). Import your mind map as graphics to an image element and check Answer on the image component pop-up menu. Add a text component, e.g. "What is the structure of mind map X?".
During repetitions grade yourself less than Pass (3) each time your forget any part of the mind map! Do not forget that you should reinforce "weak links" in the mind map with separately formulated items of simple question-answer or question-picture form. Each time you forget part of the mind map, see if you have reinforced the forgotten links in separate items!

Question:
Isn't memorizing mind maps in opposition to the minimum information principle?
Answer:
No. Minimum information principle should not be interpreted as minimum information on the screen, or minimum number of bytes to represent the item. It should be interpreted in terms of information that has to be stored in your memory. If you produce and item that links the image of a horse and a cow, the association is very simple. No mater how intricate the pictures of the horse and the cow are. The essence of mind maps is that they are easy to remember, i.e. if well-designed, they comply excellently with the minimum information principle.

Question:
I have been using SuperMemo 7 for over three years and it seems to fully satisfy all my needs. Why should I upgrade to SuperMemo 8?
Answer:
Perhaps it is simpler to list cases when you might not want to upgrade!
You will probably want to stick with SuperMemo 7 in the following cases:

• Your PC is a weak 486 or less
• Resolution of your monitor is less than 800x600
• You have large databases and would like to keep portable by storing them on diskettes
• You are afraid of change and do not want to learn new stuff

Otherwise, you should definitely use all SuperMemo 8 has to offer. The most important items on the list are:

• You can keep all your databases in one knowledge system! You can structure the knowledge into groups, keep separate speed of learning for all groups (forgetting index), keep separate font, window size and layout for each group, etc.
• You can easily combine text, pictures, sound and video in your items. You can create multiple choice tests, drag-and-drop tests, point-and-click tests, programmable script, programmable binary components and many more. All these components can be used as questions, answers or as hyperlinks to other items (or topics)
• You can minimize the size of your multimedia systems! Every picture and sound integrated with the knowledge system can be reused any number of times, and kept on your hard disk, CDR or CD-ROM
• Apart from standard items (e.g. questions and answers) you can keep synthetic knowledge in so-called topics. These are used differently in the learning process and provide excellent holistic reference material should you get lost in details
• You can store lots of material in your system without ever learning it (this can be used as reference or for future use, etc.)
• Seemingly complex and intimidating, SuperMemo 8 is much easier to learn than earlier versions thanks to hints associated with ALL menu items and buttons. There are very few people who find SuperMemo 8 difficult. The only complaints come from users of SuperMemo 7 who got accustomed to some old ways

All the above makes only a fraction of new abilities. For more see: SuperMemo 8

Question:
I have heard that baroque music is the best for improving memory; particularly Bach and Vivaldi. Does it also work in association with SuperMemo?
Answer:
The claim that any particular kind of music is best for memory is unlikely to be true. Indeed, music can have powerful impact on our emotions and, consequently, on remembering. However, a study that measures impact of a particular kind of music on recall in a group of people can be compared to trying to find the optimum size of a shoe for an average citizen. Depending on the musical education of an individual, the same kind of music may bring a variety of emotion from relaxation, through agitation to aggression. While Four Seasons may have a positive impact on the mind of majority of the population, the best bet would be that everyone should stick with the music he or she likes. Be it punk or funk. The truth is that all that is good for the mind and health is good for remembering.

Question:
On what basis do you ground your claim that SuperMemo increases the speed of learning from 10-50 times?
Answer:
For knowledge retention of 95%, it can be computed that the number of repetitions in an average learning lifetime (i.e. about 55 years) is 50 times greater for equally spaced repetitions than for progressive repetitions (as used in SuperMemo). For repetitions with no regular spacing scheme, this number may even be greater. Moreover, the greater the required knowledge retention, the greater the increase in the knowledge acquisition rate (classical forms of learning almost never reach knowledge retention above 10%!!!). In practice, users of SuperMemo claim that it increases their speed of learning from 50% to 2000%. These values are, however, highly subjective, as they do not account for so-called intractable items, which are practically unmemorizable without SuperMemo. In other words, students tend to underestimate the fact that they reach knowledge retention from 90-99%, which would hardly be achievable using any other method.

Question:
How many lines of code are there in different versions of SuperMemo? What language was it written in?
Answer:

• SuperMemo 1 - 3,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 3)
• SuperMemo 2 - 4,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 4)
• SuperMemo 5 - 8,000 lines (Turbo Pascal 5)
• SuperMemo 6.7 - 13,000 lines (Borland Pascal 7)
• SuperMemo 7.5 - 27,000 lines (Borland Pascal for Windows)
• SuperMemo 8.0 - 44,000 lines (Delphi 1.0)

Question:
Why is the first interval after which the first repetition takes place not equal in all cases?
Answer:
It is randomly modified to speed up computing its optimal value. Additionally, random dispersion of intervals around the optimum value prevents repetitions from being packed on a given day, while neighboring days have lots of room to accommodate new items.

Question:
How to memorize an item after memorizing all other items?
Answer:
Choose Reset on the element pop-up menu (Ctrl+R).

Question:
I left for vacation, and my learning process is in mess. What should I do?
Answer:
Use Tools:Mercy

Question:
What should I use Duplicate for? What for do I need the same item in the same knowledge system?
Answer:
You can duplicate an item, if you want to add to the another item which is only slightly different. This way you can spare some time by reediting the old item instead of typing in the new one.

Question:
I think that lower grades, e.g. 3, should produce shorter intervals in comparison to higher grades, e.g. 5. It is not always so in the SuperMemo method.
Answer:
In SuperMemo, lower grades may produce longer intervals because of the two following reasons:

1. Grade 3 may result in the enhancement of the so-called spacing effect, which may be less visible for Grade 5. The spacing effect says that longer intervals, and consequently greater recall efforts, produce more stable memory engrams. SuperMemo does not arbitrarily set the function of optimal intervals. It computes intervals which are most likely to result in the forgetting index defined in Tools : Options : Learning : Forgetting index; hence; the possibility of longer intervals for lower grades.
2. all intervals are always slightly dispersed around the optimal value for the sake of more accurate plotting of forgetting curves

Question:
Why can I not see the correlation between intervals and the grades given in learning?
Answer:
Your impression of no correlation between grades and intervals is quite common among those who begin their work with SuperMemo. It results from the fact that at memorizing new items, first intervals are randomly dispersed around a fixed value. This value comes from the model of an average student, and can be modified only after the repetitions have shed some light on if the value should be increased, decreased or kept at the same level. Consequently, it will often happen that a lower grade will produce a longer interval and vice versa. At memorizing new items, grades cannot be used to estimate item difficulty because the program has no way of knowing if good grades come from easiness of items or from the fact that a given group of items has just been input to the knowledge system (inputting items is a form of repetition). You will start noticing the correlation between grades and intervals in a week or two.

Question:
Why can I not exceed 250 characters in the text component?
Answer:
This is a technical limitation related to some compiler limitations. You can solve the problem by using two or more adjacent text components. This problem will be eliminated in 32-bit version due yet in 1997.

Question:
Why isn't there Save As on the File menu?
Answer:
Because File : Copy does exactly what Save As would do. The different name indicates, however, that the system is not stored in memory but is updated on the hard disk on-the-fly. Therefore, instead of saving it under a new name, you just have to copy it to the new location..

Question:
When will SuperMemo World release 32-bit version of SuperMemo? Will it handle long filename?
Answer:
SuperMemo 8 for Windows 95 and Windows NT is expected to be released by the end of 1997. It will handle long filenames.

Question:
I noticed that File : Recover does not recover the final drill queue. What if DRILL.DAT file becomes damaged? Will that make learning process impossible?
Answer:
No. DRILL.DAT is a temporary file and can always be removed with Learn : Cut drills with little damage to the learning process.

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