Using Q&A

A question and answer challenge attempts to exclude automated spam generators by requiring additional input in the form of an answer to a question that is difficult for a machine to recognise as distinct from the other input and that often requires some domain knowledge or other understanding by a human.

VWcms supports Q&A for the three methods of information submission, $$COMMENT$$, $$FEEDBACK$$ and $$FORM$$. Once configured (see below) all that is required is the inclusion of a $$QANDA$$ directive on a page prior to the submission form and the Q&A challenge will be added to the submit button. This then must be completed correctly before the submission is accepted.

The following is a working example of the challenge dialog:

YOU MUST ALSO SUPPLY AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION What was the "original" hardware platform for VMS?

Configuration

The challenge questions and answers are configured as either a stand-alone file in the site directory or using the [qanda] directive in the VWcms configuration file. Both contain a list with one question per line where the answers are delimited by an equate symbol; alternate acceptable answers are separated using a vertical bar. Answer verification is case-insensitive.

The example above is generated using the file [.VDUB]_VMS.LIS with content shown below:

What's our favourite operating system?=VMS|OpenVMS
What does the D in DEC stand for?=Digital
What was the Ken ..sen family name?=Olsen
The 'V' in VMS stands for?=Virtual
What was the "original" hardware platform for VMS?=VAX|VAX-11

The format is exactly the same when using the VWcms configuration file. The lines are just prefixed with the [qanda] directive.

To specify the use of a file the directive is

$$QANDA$these=VMS$$

To specify that the Q&A dialog occurs following the submit button

$$QANDA$after=submit$$

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