Last updated 19 Nov 97
TASCAT creates a category factor based on an input task factor. Each category consists of NVALT/NCAT tasks, where NVALT is the number of valid values and NCAT is the number of categories. If there is a remainder, additional tasks are added to the categories from the bottom. The categories are always numbered in reverse order, from NCAT to 1, regardless of the sort. Therefore, when using this factor as a sort factor in a PRTFAC, the PRTFAC sort should always be descending. Category NCAT contains the highest values, and is made up of tasks with the highest values (or lowest, for an ascending sort) for the specified input task factor.
TASCAT can also create a Module Title file, where each category is a module. Invalid tasks are assigned to the tasks-not-referenced module. TASCAT can also accept an input task category factor which is used to create a Module Title file.
Program Invocation
The specific syntax for program invocation varies between operating systems. This document diplays the code for the AIX version.
opt: I Accept input category factor (does not create an output factor) ssss: The study number TFf: Input/output Task Factor file TT: Input Task Title file MT: Output Module Title file
TASCAT Control Card
TASCAT: cc 01-06 The literal 'TASCAT' study: cc 08-11 The study number for this run ncat: cc 13-14 The number of categories (default=10) title: cc 16-75 The title for the output task factor
Factors Control Card
This card determines the values for the category task factor. The first factor determines the categories (the integer part of the value). The next two factors, if specified, determine the order of the tasks within each category (the decimal part of the value).
FACTOR: cc 01-06 The literal 'FACTOR' f1: cc 08-13 The factor to determine category t1: cc 15-17 The factor type for <f1> srt1: cc 19 Sort sequence for f1. A=ascending, D=descending (default) f2: cc 21-26 The primary sort factor t2: cc 28-30 The factor type for <f2> srt2: cc 32 Sort sequence for f2. A=ascending, D=descending (default) f3: cc 34-39 The secondary sort factor t3: cc 41-43 The factor type for <f3> srt3: cc 45 Sort sequence for f3. A=ascending, D=descending (default)
Module Title Cards
If both a Task and Module Title file are specified on the processor call card, TASCAT will read module title cards. If these cards are not given, TASCAT will create the titles based on category.
num: cc 04-05 Line number within this title (up to 15) seq: cc 08-11 The sequence number for this title. title: cc 15-74 The module title. Second and subsequent lines of a statement should be started in column 16 to differentiate them from the first line of the module title.
These cards are terminated by an @EOF image. The @EOF is required even if no title cards are entered.
@codap tascat - ssss tf100 tt001 mt000 TASCAT ssss 12 Category factor for TF0001/DEC, task difficulty FACTOR TF0001 DEC TF0002 DEC @EOF
A category factor will be added to Task Factor file tf100. Twelve categories, based on TF0001/DEC will be computed. The tasks within each category would be sorted on TF0002/DEC. Module Title file mt000, containing 12 modules, will be created. TASCAT will create the module titles.
@codap tascat i ssss tf100 tt001 mt001 TASCAT ssss FACTOR TF0001 FGN TF0002 DEC @eof
This example uses the I option. Factor TF0001/FGN is used as an input category factor for determining the modules. This allows the user the ability to quickly create a Module Title file based on the values in a Task Factor.