Re: AICC Appendix B (SCORM) Implementation Suggestions

From: Chris Smith (cdsmith_at_twu.net)
Date: 10/05/04 

Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 10:07:15 -0600

Kelly wrote:
> Can someone please provide some suggestions/reccommendations as to a
> good solid AICC Appendix B (SCORM) implementation?

If you're looking for an implementation for reference, I'm not aware of
one that is both solid and available for study. The ADL's
implementation is quite shaky, and most other implementations are
commercial with IP restrictions.

> I think that the
> hardest part is trying to get client-cached data to the LMS database
> in a *reliable* manner. Should I use javascript alone for the API - if
> so, (1) what is the best method for caching the client-side data? (2)
> how do I make the LMSCommit and LMSFinish functions get the cached
> data to the LMS database (the LMS is an ASP application)? ...or... do
> I build a Java applet and use only that for the API? ...or... can I
> use both javascript and a Java applet somehow? - if so, how?

This is, indeed, a very difficult task. It is possible to use a Java
applet, if you can assume your clients will have a Java virtual machine
(and an appropriate version) installed, or that they would be allowed to
install it. Sometimes this is a good assumption, but many corporate IT
environments make is very difficult to get this kind of software
installed. You still need some JavaScript to implement the actual API
calls and pass them along to the applet.

Another option (but ask in comp.lang.javascript for more details, since
there's no Java involved) is to do the communication via XML-
encapsulated messages using the pseudo-standard XMLHttpRequest interface
that's implemented by both Mozilla/Netscape and IE. The obvious
disadvantage is that you then exclude any other browser, since this API
is not a standard part of JavaScript. However, if one of those two
browsers is available, then there is no extra download to use the API.

Finally, there is the custom plugin approach, which combines the
disadvantages of both of the above, but is nevertheless pretty much
universal for LMS implementations. 

-- 
www.designacourse.com
The Easiest Way to Train Anyone... Anywhere.
Chris Smith - Lead Software Developer/Technical Trainer
MindIQ Corporation

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