SuperMemo 18 Help - User contributions [en]

SuperMemo files

2012-03-13T22:01:39Z

Murakdar: Undo revision 2889 by DaleGoff (talk) (revert vandalism)

== SuperMemo files ==

These are the files used by a typical SuperMemo installation:

*'''SuperMemo folder''' - usually ''c:\sm8'', ''c:\sm98'', ''c:\sm15'', ''c:\SuperMemo'', etc.
**''sm15.exe'' - the program: '''SuperMemo 15'''
**''bin'' - some working files used by SuperMemo
***''supermemo.ini'' - text file with some settings used by SuperMemo. You can modify this file manually. Please do it with caution and make a back-up before introducing any changes. If you experience problems, restore the backup or delete this file altogether
***''commands.ini'' - text file with the list of custom commands for '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Commander]]'''
***''search.ini'' - definition of keyboard shortcuts for your most frequently executed web searches (e.g. Google, Wikipedia, etc.)
***''layout.ini'' - layouts used by SuperMemo (i.e. positions and sizes of windows and toolbars). This file also can be modified manually if backed up safely
***''tips.txt'' - text file with tips used in '''[[Question of the Day]]'''. You can modify this file manually
***''smhelp.chm'' - help file for SuperMemo (if you are not reading this text over the Internet, you are probably reading this file). You can download ''smhelp.chm'' if you select the '''Help system : Microsoft® Help (off-line)''' option while installing SuperMemo by means of SuperMemo Install Wizard or manually from [http://supermemo.com/english/helpdown.htm here]
***''questionnaire.ini'' - your answers to '''[[Help menu|Help]] : E-mail : Questionnaire'''. If you do not send your questionnaire, your answer will be kept between the sessions to make it possible to send your feedback at later time
***''supermemo.css'' - default stylesheet used by SuperMemo in HTML components. You can edit this file
***''FAQ_template.htm'' - a template file reused for FAQs, saved in the HTML markup (with the '''HTML FAQ''' checkbox selected), that are processed with '''Reading : E-mail FAQ''' from the [[component menu]]
***''FAQ_wiki.txt'' - a template file reused for FAQs, saved in the Wiki markup (with the '''Wiki FAQ''' option checked), that are processed with '''Reading : E-mail FAQ''' in the [[component menu]]
**''systems'' - default folder for keeping collections used by SuperMemo

== Collection files ==

*SuperMemo folder
**''systems''
***''<name of the collection>.kno'' - file with the most important parameters of the collection such as the total number of elements, number of memorized elements, date of creating the collection, etc. For more details see [[#KNO|below]]
***''<name of the collection>'' - folder with the remaining files of the collection. You must copy this folder along the above ''kno'' file if you want to preserve the integrity of the collection. It is recommended that you always use '''[[File menu|File]] : Copy collection''' instead. Most important files in the collection folder:
****''collection.ini'' - text file with some parameters used by the collection. You can modify this file manually. Please do it with caution and create a backup before introducing any changes
****''postpone.ini'' - postpone setup definitions (e.g. used with '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : [[Postpone]]''')
****''search.ini'' - search definitions (as used with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : [[Find elements]]''')
****''filter.ini'' - definition of element filters (e.g. as used with '''[[View menu|View]] : Filter''')
****''info'' - most important information files used by the collection
*****''compon.dat'' - binary file with the layout and attributes of all components used in the collection
*****''elinfo.dat'' - information about all individual elements: [[Glossary#A-factor|A-factor]], last repetition date, number of repetitions, forgetting index, task number, etc.
*****''contents.dat'' - information about the structure of the [[Glossary#knowledge_tree|knowledge tree]]. Each element has its parent, [[Glossary#sibling|siblings]] and the first [[Glossary#child|child]] recorded in this file along with the number of children and the number of [[Glossary#descendant|descendants]]
*****''repetitions.dat'' - file with the dates of the nearest repetition for each element in the collection
*****''RepetitionHist.dat'' - file with the repetition history of all elements (e.g. date, hour, grade, interval, etc.)
*****''workload.dat'' - file with the number of items and topic scheduled for repetition on each day
*****''priority.sub'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subset]] file holding the [[priority queue]]. Elements are stored in this subset in the order of priority. You can view this subset with '''[[View menu|View]] : Priority queue'''
*****''intact.dat'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subset]] file with all [[Glossary#pending_element|pending elements]] in the order as they appear in the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]]
*****''sm8opt.dat'' - file with data describing your memory (i.e. the optimization data record used by [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]). Some details of this record can be found in: [http://supermemo.com/english/sm8opt.htm Implementing SuperMemo with sm8opt.dll]
*****''drill.dat'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subset]] file with all elements scheduled for the [[Glossary#final_drill|final drill]] (i.e. the final drill queue). You can delete this file manually (the final drill queue will be emptied)
*****''emptyslots.dat'' - list of unused filespace slots in the ''ELEMENTS'' subfolder (in the primary and/or secondary storage). This file is used to accelerate allocation of new slots. If this file is corrupt, it can be deleted. SuperMemo should be able to recreate its contents when starting up
*****''history.sub'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subset]] file with the last 1000 most recently visited elements. You can always delete this file manually
*****''ret.dat'' and ''backret.dat'' - retention and consolidation data. Although these files can be recreated if deleted, retention data will not include elements that have been deleted nor elements whose repetition history has been deleted
*****''outstanding.sub'', ''OutstandingItems.sub'', ''OutstandingTopics.sub'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subset]] file holding the outstanding queues. Only ''outstanding.sub'' file is sorted by the repetition order. These files are created from ''repetitions.dat'' at the beginning of each learning day
****''registry'' - [[Using registries|registries]] used by the collection (except translation and transcription registries described later in this text)
*****''text.*'' - text registry files
******''text.mem'' - information about all [[Glossary#registry_member|registry members]] stored in the text registry (e.g. number of using elements, pointer to the ''text.rtx'' file storing the name of the text registry member, pointer to the ''text.lst'' file storing the list of elements using a given member, etc.)
******''text.lst'' - list of all elements using individual members of the text registry. This list is used, for example, in search procedures. First a member (e.g. a text) is found. Then all elements using this member are placed in a browser by scanning the user list stored in ''text.lst''. Only the first 500 elements using the member are stored for performance reasons
******''text.ptr'' - [[Glossary#registry_subset|registry subset]] storing the sorted subset of all members in the text registry
******''text.rtx'' - all names of the members of the text registry. You should not manually modify this file as it can corrupt your collection and destroy the integrity of the text registry. You can search for ''text.rtx'' with a given content if you need to locate a specific collection on your hard disk. Remember that such a search will not find names you used for sounds, images or other registry members (search for *.''rtx'' instead). Note also that some HTML texts may be imported via frames and will not be included in the text registry.
******''text.rtf'' - richly formatted non-HTML texts used by the text registry are kept in a single file (this file is compacted if you run '''[[File menu | File]] : Repair collection''' and choose '''Rebuild registries'''). The contents of ''text.rtf'' may not match ''text.rtx'' if you have edited names in the text registry (the same text member can have the name that is entirely different from its rich text contents)
******''text.su1'', ''text.su2'', etc. - subset files generated with search operations. First search generates the file ''su1''. Second search (e.g. in AND-searching) generates ''su2'', etc. SuperMemo limits the number of subsets to five. You can always delete these files manually
******''text.srt'' - file with the sorted subset of registry members generated when sorting the registry. You can always delete this file manually
******''text.ord'' - file with the sorted subset of registry members generated while searching the registry. You can always delete this file manually
*****''font.*'' - font registry files
*****''sound.*'', etc.
*****''etc.''
****''elements'' - multimedia files associated with individual registries such as [[HTML component|html]], images, sound, video, [[OLE component|OLE]], [[Scripts]], etc. You can edit all those files but you must not rename or move them as this would destroy the integrity of the collection. The elements folder can be transferred to secondary storage (e.g. with '''[[File menu|File]] : Tools : Semi-copy''') and be stored on a CD-ROM or CDR. This way substantial hard disk savings can be made. The folder tree in ''ELEMENTS'' is growing gradually as you are adding new files to the system. However, it sticks to the 40-files-per-folder limit to maximize the performance on CD-ROM media. Note that the 40-files-per-folder limit may be violated if you import HTML files with a large number of inclusions (e.g. graphics, scripts, HTML includes, etc.)
****''tasks'' - tasklists associated with a given collection
*****''tasklist name.dat'' - task data such as value, time, deadline function, etc.
*****''tasklist name.ptr'' - sorted tasklist pointers used when displaying tasks in Tasklist Manager
*****''tasklist name.txt'' - text file exported with '''Export''' in Tasklist Manager. This file can always be deleted manually
****''translat'' - translation registries available for the collection (see: '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options|Language]] : Collection translation'''). You can delete this folder; however, the translations will become unavailable
****''subsets'' - [[Glossary#element_subset|element subsets]] created by the user. You can delete this folder if you do not need the subsets. Read more: [[Using subsets]]. Two typical subsets are: ''last_subset.sub'' (contents of the last used browser that can be reused with '''View : Last browser''') and ''searched.sub'' (results of the last search that can be reused with '''View : Search results''')
****''stats'' - statistics of the learning process. If you delete this folder, SuperMemo will not malfunction, but you will lose the record of your past repetitions. SuperMemo will then restore these files anyway. This folder also includes your repetition timeline stored in the ''time.tim'' file. ''*.dat'' file statistics from the ''STATS'' subfolder can be viewed in '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : Statistics : [[Analysis]] : Use'''
****''history'' - repetition history subsets that make it easy and fast to browse repetitions executed on given days in the past
****''reports'' - text files with reports generated by SuperMemo (e.g. [[File - Repair collection|recovery]] report, translation import report, transfer report, e-mail import report, etc.). You can delete this folder if you do not need these reports. '''[[File menu | File]] : Tools : Garbage''' deletes this folder
****''files'' - other files used by SuperMemo (e.g. template files). You can delete this folder
****''font'' - true type font files that will be installed in Windows first time the collection is run. Upon installing, the font file is renamed with an underline in front of the name. For example ''hiragana.ttf'' will be renamed to ''_hiragana.ttf''
****''html'' - collection in the HTML format or its portions created by the user. This folder can be deleted as it can easily be recreated
****''temp'' - temporary files used by SuperMemo. You can always delete this folder. Note, however, that you will lose user recordings generated in pronunciation exercises (option '''Sound : Panel : Recorder''' on the sound [[Component menu|component's menu]]). '''Note''': if you open ''temp.rtf'' in MS Word, SuperMemo will not be able to use RTF components due to the fact that MS Word locks files it uses. ''about.jpg'' is the file used by the SuperMemo splash screen when you start the program
****''recover'' - folder used by SuperMemo to store stray files located by SuperMemo while running '''[[File menu | File]] : Repair collection'''. This folder can be deleted. However, it is recommended that you inspect its content as it may be indicative of problems with your collection
**''sleep'' - collection of text files used by '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Sleep and learning timeline|Sleep Chart]]'''.
***''sleep.tim'' - your manually logged sleep data
***''sleep.ini'' - text file with some parameters used by '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Sleep and learning timeline|Sleep Chart]]'''. You can modify this file manually. Please do it with caution and create a backup before introducing any changes
**''plans'' - collection of text files used by '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Schedule manager|Plan]]'''. The subfolder ''ARCHIVE'' contains the archive of your past work schedules (e.g. ''c:\sm2008\plans\archive\2008\Nov\Nov 26, 2008, Wed.txt''). The subfolder ''stats'' contains schedule statistics (e.g. ''c:\sm2008\plans\stats\2008\2008 Nov.csv'' contains activity totals and averages for November 2008)
**''help'' - SuperMemo help in the HTML format. This help does not have to be installed if you can view ''CHM'' files on your computer. In the latter case, use '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[SuperMemo tab in Options|SuperMemo]] : Help system : Microsoft Help (CHM)''' to use ''smhelp.chm'' in the ''BIN'' subfolder (see [[#smhelp.chm|above]])
**''translat'' - SuperMemo [[Localization table|localization table files]] used in displaying various language interfaces of SuperMemo (see: '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options|Language]] : [[Localization table]]''')
**''phonetic'' - phonetic transcription registries (see: '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options|Language]] : Phonetic transcription''') and phonetic transcription fonts
**''filters'' - [[Filter files]] for processing texts in collections (extension ''flt'')
**''backup'' - default backup folder
**''wiki'' - Wiki FAQ text files whose contents can be pasted into a wiki software application (e.g. [http://wiki.supermemo.org SuperMemopedia], [http://mediawiki.org MediaWiki], etc.)

== KNO file ==

'''Most important fields of the KNO file'''

*Total, Memorized:integer - the number of undeleted elements in the collection and the number of memorized elements
*AllocatedFileSpaceSlots:integer - number of slots allocated for files in the ''ELEMENTS'' subfolder
*Version:byte - collection structure version number (for checking compatibility with the used software release)
*Burden:real48 - the average number of items to repeated per day
*FirstDay, LastDay:word - first day of the learning process relative to Jan 1, 1980, and the last day on which repetitions have been cleared (relative to FirstDay)
*DefaultFI:byte - default forgetting index in the collection
*MeasuredFI:real48 - measured forgetting index
*MeasuredFICases:word - the number of repetitions contributing to MeasuredFI
*FutureReps:real48 - not used in the current version SuperMemo
*ALR, AFI, AR, AL, AI, AF, ATim, AG:real48 - various averages: Average Last Repetition, Average FI, AverageRepetition, AverageLapses, AverageInterval, AverageFactor, AverageTime, and AverageGrade
*AFactorDistribution:array[1..20] of word
*IntervalDistribution:array[1..13] of word
*LapsesDistribution:array[1..15] of word
*RepetitionsDistribution:array[1..20] of word
*author specific data, repetition time measurements, repetition counters, reserved fields, topic statistics, collection version, etc.

The size of variables used above in bytes is: ''integer'' and ''longint'' 4, ''byte'' 1, ''real48'' 6, and ''word'' 2.

== FAQ ==

[[#Empty_collection|Your collection can suddenly appear empty!]]
 [[#6428-9418|Disappearing material]]
 [[#empty_backup|With luck, you can recover from "empty backup"!]]
 [[#AdvEng|Backing up Advanced English]]
 [[#Emergy_Medicine|Recovering from file mix-up]]

----

=== Disappearing learning material ===

{{Mail Header
|from=hojinil
|country=South Korea
|sent=Wednesday, April 11, 2001 4:29 AM
|subject=
}}

'''Question'''

I used '''Add New''' and I added lots of stuff but next time when I opened collections I couldn't find any of them. It was gone!

'''Answer'''

Please make sure the following two conditions are met:

# You are not copying or moving files behind the back of SuperMemo (e.g. with Windows Explorer)
# You are not using two independent copies of SuperMemo (each may use a different default collection)

With '''[[File menu|File]] : Open collection''', you go to the exactly same location where you last left your collection. If some files are moved or deleted behind the back of SuperMemo, it will often attempt to recreate missing files and open the collection regardless. Unless you delete your collection or delete its folders, your learning material should remain safe

----

=== Collections may look like empty ===

{{Mail Header
|from=Michael Duggan
|country=Canada
|sent=Nov 2, 1998
|subject=
}}

'''Question'''

I was cleaning up my hard drive and attempted to move SuperMemo from one folder to another folder. In the process I lost the data for a number of collections. Can I retrieve these data files and place them back in my collection? How do I do that?

'''Answer'''

It is recommended to always move collections with '''[[File menu|File]] : Copy collection''' in SuperMemo. Otherwise, a frequent mistake is to copy the ''kno'' file without the folder that contains the actual collection files. Some customers also fall victim of the following scenario:

# move the whole SuperMemo folder to a new location using Windows tools
# start SuperMemo from the new location
# SuperMemo inspects ''supermemo.ini'' for the location of most recently used files and looks for them in the old location
# SuperMemo displays ''Cannot find <collection name> at <old location>. Create new files?''
# if the users responds with ''Yes'', SuperMemo creates empty files with the old name
# it all looks like collections became empty while they are safely stored at the new location

The simplest remedy is to answer ''No'' in Step 5 and open collections at the new location with '''[[File menu|File]] : Open collection'''. You can also delete ''supermemo.ini'' (or its portion that begins with ''[SYSTEMS]'' and keeps the location of collections). This way, SuperMemo will 'forget' about the old location of files

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=== Backup disaster: collection lost! ===

{{Mail Header
|from=Przemek S.
|country=Poland
|sent=June 8, 2000
|subject=
}}

'''Question'''

I used to regularly back up my Advanced English on a second hard disk. Today I tried to restore my backup and ... it looks as it is empty! Only one element inside! Help!!!

'''Answer'''

There is a frequent mistake users make. To backup a collection, you need to copy '''both''' the kno file and the associated folder (e.g. file ''ae.kno'' and the folder ''[AE]''). Some inexperienced users copy only the ''kno'' file which is less than 20KB of data (e.g. 950 bytes in SuperMemo 15)! If you try to open an orphaned ''kno'' file, SuperMemo will reconstruct an empty folder structure.

To avoid this problem: '''Always back up collections''' with '''[[File menu|File]] : Copy collection''' or '''File : Tools : Quick backup'''. Do not use external tools unless you understand Windows, files, folders and SuperMemo very well!

To resolve the problem: it is possible the original folder associated with the ''kno'' file still exists on the hard disk! You can search for some files characteristic for SuperMemo (e.g. ''compon.dat'' or ''sm8opt.dat''). Make an inventory of all ''kno'' files (search for ''*.kno'') and all SuperMemo collection folders (search for ''compon.dat'') on your hard disk. Once the inventory is made, try to carefully match up ''knos'' and folders and copy ''kno'' files to match the folders. Chances are that '''[[File menu | File]] : Open collection''' on one of these files will restore the lost backup. Note that you can easily find empty collections by checking the size of ''workload.dat'' (''burden.dat'' in older SuperMemos). This file contains repetitions and is zero-sized on collections with no learning process

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=== Mixed up collection files ===

{{Mail Header
|from=Richard D
|country=USA
|sent=Feb 15 , 2001
|subject=
}}

'''Question'''

While backing up my collections, I have mixed up some files. As a result, my precious collection on ''Emergency Medicine'' became empty. I have lots of backups but I find it difficult to locate the appropriate files. Can you suggest how to resolve it?

'''Answer'''

To backup a collection, you need to copy '''both''' the ''kno'' file and the associated folder (e.g. file ''Emergy Medicine.kno'' and the folder ''[EMERGENCY MEDICINE]''). Some inexperienced users copy only the ''kno'' file! If you try to open the orphaned ''Emergency Medicine.kno'' file, SuperMemo will reconstruct an empty folder structure and the collection will be empty. What is worse, if you run '''[[File menu | File]] : Repair collection''', the kno file will be "corrected" to match data of the empty collection (e.g. Memorized will be set to zero, etc.).

To restore your collection in such cases you need to:

# Locate the ''EMERGENCY MEDICINE'' folder which contains all the most important data:
## Search for the folder ''EMERGENCY MEDICINE''
## If you do not find it, search for folders like ''EMERG*''
## If you fail, search for files ''text.rtx'' on '''all''' your hard disks (including backup drives, networks and CDRs)
## Sort ''text.rtx'' files by size (the more work you put in the collection, the larger the file)
## You can view the content of ''text.rtx'' and see if it corresponds with the material you put into your collection
## If you do not find the folder with the matching ''text.rtx'', you have probably lost your files for good
# Locate the ''Emergency Medicine.kno'' file:
## Search for the file ''Emergency Medicine.kno''
## If you do not find it, search for files like ''Emerg*.kno''
## If you fail, search for all *.''kno'' files
## If you fail, take any ''kno'' file as a substitute ('''[[File menu |File]] : Repair collection''' may occasionally be able to completely restore lost information)
# Put both the ''EMERGENCY MEDICINE'' folder (or the folder found in Step 1) and ''Emergency Medicine.kno ''file (or equivalent from Step 2) in the same folder (e.g. ''c:\recovered''). Make sure the name of ''kno'' file matches the name of the folder. For example, if the folder is ''Emergency Medicine (copy Jan 8, 2001)'' and the file is ''Emergency Medicine.kno'', rename the file to ''Emergency Medicine (copy Jan 8, 2001).kno ''(or rename the folder to ''Emergency Medicine''). If the names do not match, SuperMemo will again recreate empty folders
# Open your restored collection and run '''File : [[File - Repair collection|Repair collection]]''' to make sure the collection does not include data discrepancies

----

=== Backing up Advanced English ===

{{Mail Header
|from=Marcin Piekarniak
|country=Poland
|sent=Dec 2, 1997
|subject=
}}

'''Question'''

How to easily back up [http://supermemo.com/english/ae.htm Advanced English 97]? In Advanced English 94 the entire system could be compressed to a 1.4 MB file!

'''Answer'''

If you wish, you can back up only the learning process. This way, only the data related to memorized items will be stored (not the items themselves). Use '''[[File menu|File]] : Export : Learning process''' to export the data. Later, upon reinstalling Advanced English 97, you can restore the learning process with '''[[File menu|File]] : Import : Learning process : Text file'''. See: [[Backing up the learning material|Backup]]

----

=== Collection files missing ===

'''Question'''

''Carol M. asked:''

What is the meaning of this message:

<pre>

Collection files missing!
Folder=C:\SUPERMEMO\SYSTEMS\BIO132_LEC_DIGESTIVE SYSTEM\
Try to restore files that you have moved or deleted

</pre>

'''Answer'''

Your collection is incomplete. It is missing some essential files that can make recovery impossible.

The most frequent reason for this error is a mistake on the part of the user. SuperMemo collections are made of a *.KNO file and a folder with other essential files. Many users believe that the small KNO file contains all information and copy/backup only that single file. If you get the error as above, see if you have not separated the KNO file from its folder. Putting those two together will bring your collection back to life.

In your case, see if the file C:\SUPERMEMO\SYSTEMS\BIO132_LEC_DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.kno exists, if it is not empty, and if the folder C:\SUPERMEMO\SYSTEMS\BIO132_LEC_DIGESTIVE SYSTEM\ is not empty, and includes \REGISTRY\TEXT.PTR and \INFO\COMPON.DAT files.

'''Technical'''

SuperMemo always tries to restore missing files and attempts recovery in all conceivable scenarios. This is why SuperMemo collections often survive serious disk damage. However, in the past, users would often get confused when SuperMemo restored the entire empty collection from a lone KNO file. This is why, newer versions check for the presence of essential files that are needed for a collection to be meaningfully recoverable. Those files include the text registry (most collections contain texts used in learning), and ''compon.dat'' (collection without components is of little use).

Incremental reading

2009-08-14T14:47:21Z

Murakdar: the example of rescheduling intervals doesn't make sense

== What is incremental reading? ==

Incremental reading is a learning technique that makes it possible to read thousands of articles at the same time without getting lost. Incremental reading begins with importing articles from electronic sources, e.g. the Internet. The student then extracts the most important fragments of individual articles for further review. Extracted fragments are then converted into questions and answers. These in turn become subject to systematic review and repetition that maximizes the long-term recall of the processed texts. The review process is handled by the proven ''[http://supermemo.com/english/ol/background.htm repetition spacing]'' algorithm known as the '''[http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo method]'''.

<div class="inset" style="background-color: #FFFF99;">

'''Incremental reading converts electronic articles into durable knowledge in your memory'''. This conversion requires minimum keyboard work:

* '''Input''': electronic articles (e.g. collected from the net)
* '''Output''': well-remembered knowledge (quizzed regularly in the form of questions and answers)

</div>

'''Warning!''' Incremental reading may seem complex at first. However, once you master it, you will begin a learning process that will surpass your expectations. You will be surprised with the volume of data your memory can process and retain!

== Advantages of incremental reading ==

=== Massive learning ===

possibility of studying a huge number of subjects at the same time. In traditional reading, one book or academic subject might need to be completed before studying another. With incremental reading, there is virtually no limit on how many articles you can study at the same time. Only the availability of time and your memory capacity will keep massive learning in check

=== Creativity (the association bonus) ===

The key to creativity is an association of remote ideas. By studying multiple subjects in unpredictable order, you will increase your power to associate ideas. This will immensely improve your creativity. Incremental reading may be compared to brainstorming with yourself

=== Understanding (the slot-in factor) ===

One of the limiting factors in acquiring new knowledge is the barrier of understanding. All written materials, depending on the reader's knowledge, pose a degree of difficulty in accurately interpreting their contents. This is particularly visible in highly specialist scientific papers that use a sophisticated symbol-rich language. A symbol-rich language is a language that gains conciseness by the use of highly specialist vocabulary and notational conventions. For an average reader, symbol-rich language may exponentially raise the bar of lexical competence (i.e. knowledge of vocabulary required to gain understanding). Incremental reading makes it possible to delay the processing of those articles, paragraphs or sentences that require prior knowledge of concepts that are not known at the moment of reading. The processing of the learning material will only take place then when the new information begins to slot in comfortably in the fabric of the reader's knowledge. Incremental reading makes it possible to tackle the hardest material that might normally seem unreadable

=== Counteracting entropy ===

The web is a goldmine of information. However, rarely do we find step-by-step articles that provide all information and entirely satisfy our needs. In scientific research, acquiring engineering knowledge, studying a narrow topic of interest, etc. we are constantly faced with a chaos of disparate and often contradictory statements. Incremental reading makes it possible to resolve contradictions and build harmonious models of knowledge on the basis of the information chaos drawn from the Internet. Incremental reading [http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=stochastic stochastically] [http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=juxtapose juxtaposes] pieces of information coming from various sources and uses the associative qualities of human memory to emphasize and then resolve contradiction

=== Stresslessness ===

The information era tends to overwhelm us with the amount of information we feel compelled to process. Incremental reading does not require all-or-nothing choices on articles to read. All-or-nothing choices are stressful! ''Can I afford to skip this article? For months I haven't had time to read this article!'' etc. SuperMemo helps you prioritize and skip articles partially or transparently. Oftentimes, reading 3% of an article may provide 50% of its reading value. Reading of articles may be delayed transparently, i.e. not by stressful procrastination but by a sheer competition with other pieces of information on the basis of their priority. In incremental reading, instead of hesitating or procrastinating, you simply prioritize

=== Attention ===

Incremental reading widely stretches the span of your attention. You will notice that a single paragraph in an article may greatly reduce your enthusiasm for reading. If you stumble against a few frustrating paragraphs, you may gradually develop a dislike of reading a particular article. You may even become fed up with reading for the entire evening. Incremental reading makes it possible to immediately move on to other pieces of information reducing the negative impact of frustration. It also makes it possible to split larger pieces into less intimidating portions. It allows you to read interesting bits before reading the boring bits. Those measures dramatically increase your attention. They also make reading fun. A skilled incremental reader is likely to develop an addiction to learning with all related benefits!

=== Consolidation ===

Incremental reading combines the process of extracting pieces of valuable knowledge with memory consolidation. By the time you begin a standard spaced repetition process of well-formulated items (as in classical SuperMemo), your memory will often have already been established in a favorable context (i.e. context that makes remembering easier). This comes from the need to extract a given piece of information from a larger body of knowledge that provides your items with relevant context. This slow process of jelling out knowledge provides you with an enhanced sense of meaning and applicability of individual pieces of information. In addition, semantically equivalent pieces of information may be consolidated in varying contexts adding additional angles to their associative power. In other words, not only will you remember better. You will also be able to view the same information from different perspectives

=== Prioritization ===

In incremental reading, you can precisely determine the [[priority]] of each article, paragraph, sentence or question. This will maximize the value of your reading time. This will also reduce the impact of material overflow on retention. You will always remember the desired proportion of your top-priority material. While the lesser priority material may suffer more from the overflow and be remembered less accurately. Priority of articles is not set in stone. You can modify it manually while reading. The priority will also change automatically each time you generate article extracts. It will change if you delay or advance scheduled reading. The priority of extracts is determined by the priority of articles. The priority of questions and answers produced from individual sentences is determined by their parenting extracts. Multiple prioritization tools will help you effectively deal with massive changes in your learning focus

=== Fun ===

The sense of productivity might be one of the most satisfying emotions. This is why incremental reading is highly enjoyable. This only magnifies its powers. To experience the elation of incremental reading, you may need a few months of focused practice. You will first have to start with the basic tools and techniques listed in this article. Then you will need to master [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm knowledge representation skills]. Finally, you will need a couple of months of heavy-load incremental reading to perfect the details and develop your own "incremental reading philosophy". Last but not least, incremental reading requires good language skills, some touch-typing skills, and patience (SuperMemo will often want you to go against your own intuition). Although the material is originally imported from electronic sources, it always needs to be molded, shortened, provided with context clues, restructured for wording and grammar, etc. The skills involved are not trivial and require practice. In contrast to classical SuperMemo, where you focus on the review of the old material, incremental reading interweaves the old with the new. Novelty adds to the fun and efficiency of learning

<div class="inset" style="background-color: #FFFF99;">

Only [http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo] makes it possible to implement incremental reading. Incremental reading requires continual retention of knowledge. Depending on the volume of knowledge flow in the program, the interval between reading individual portions of the same article may extend from days to months and even years. '''SuperMemo ([http://supermemo.com/english/ol/background.htm repetition spacing]) provides the foundation of incremental reading, which is based on stable memory traces that would not fade between the bursts of reading'''

</div>

See also: [http://jeenyus.net/~budney/supermemo/incremental.html incremental reading from user's perspective] by Len Budney.

== Five basic skills of incremental reading ==

Incremental reading requires skills that you will perfect only with passing time and growing experience. This overview will help you handle the most basic skills and help you make a start with incremental reading. The five basic skills are:

# [[#Importing articles | importing articles]] to [http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo]
# [[#Reading articles | reading articles]] and decomposing articles into manageable pieces
# [[#Extracting items | converting most important pieces of knowledge to question-answer material]]
# [[#Review | review of the material]] to ensure a good recall
# [[#Handling large volumes of knowledge | handling of the unavoidable overflow of information]]

=== Skill 1: Importing articles ===

To import an important article to SuperMemo, follow these steps:

#Select the imported text in your web browser and copy the selection to the clipboard (e.g. with ''Ctrl+C'')
#Switch to SuperMemo (e.g. with ''Alt+Tab'')
#In SuperMemo, press ''Ctrl+Alt+N'' (this is equivalent to '''Edit : Add a new article''' on the [[Main menu]]). SuperMemo will create a new element, and paste the article. You can also use the paste button ([[Image:Paste button.gif|SuperMemo: Paste article (from the clipboard) button on the Read toolbar]]) on the [[Element toolbar]] or on the '''Read''' toolbar
#Optionally, use ''Alt+P'' to define [[priority]] of the imported article. Use the '''Percent''' field and remember that 0% is the highest priority, while 100% is the lowest priority
#Optionally, use ''Ctrl+J'' to specify the first review interval. For example: one day for high priority material or 30 days for low priority material
<div class="center">
[[Image:Incremental reading Topic.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: A topic with an article about the greenhouse effect imported from Wikipedia]]
<blockquote>''After importing an article about the greenhouse effect from Wikipedia (e.g. with '''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : Wikipedia''' (Shift+Ctrl+W)), its text is stored in a single topic.''</blockquote></div>
'''Tips:'''

*Importing articles from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia] is easiest:
**to import Wikipedia articles that are open in Internet Explorer, press ''Shift+Ctrl+W'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : Wikipedia''')
**to open and import a specific article, press ''Shift+Ctrl+W'', and type the article's title
**to import an article on a subject you are reading about, select a portion of text and press ''Shift+Ctrl+W''
*To quickly import many articles from the web, do the following:
*#find the articles (e.g. with Google),
*#open them in Internet Explorer,
*#in SuperMemo, use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : All''')
*To type your own notes in SuperMemo use ''Alt+N'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Add to category : Note''')
*If you would like to store pictures locally on your hard disk (in the image [[Registry window|registry]]), and make them proliferate in incremental reading (e.g. show up in all extracts even if the extracts do not include the picture, etc.), then you must import the pictures to image [[Compose toolbar|components]] using one of the following methods:
**to import pictures included in a single article use ''Ctrl+F8'' ('''Download images''' on the [[component menu]]), select images and click '''Insert''' (see [[#Download_images | picture]])
**to import pictures from the web, use '''Copy''' on the picture in your Internet browser and then press ''Shift+Ins'' or ''Ctrl+V'' in SuperMemo to paste the picture (if the picture does not paste, press ''Esc'' a few times to get to the [[Glossary#presentation_mode|display mode]] and try ''Shift+Ins'' or ''Ctrl+V'' again)
**to import many pictures from many articles in Internet Explorer, use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : All''') and choose '''Local images only''' or '''Page of images''' as the import mode
**to optimize the tiling of many pictures after the import, use '''Components : Tile components '''on the [[Element_menu|element menu]]
*All incremental reading in SuperMemo is done using texts formatted as HTML. To learn more about HTML in SuperMemo, see: [[HTML component]]

=== Skill 2: Reading articles ===

Before you start reading articles, you can place the '''Read''' toolbar in an easily accessible location on your screen. The toolbar may be helpful before you learn to use the keyboard to access all its functions. Choose [[Window menu | Window]]''' : Toolbars : Read''', place the toolbar in a convenient place on the screen and press ''Shift+Ctrl+F5'' (to save the current layout of windows as your default layout). If you do not see the '''Window''' menu, read about '''[[levels]]'''.

This is the '''Read''' toolbar:

[[Image:read_toolbar.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Read toolbar used in incremental reading]]

Here is a simplified algorithm for reading articles:

# '''Choose an article''': Import an article as explained earlier or bring up a previously imported article with '''[[Learn]]''' (''Ctrl+L'')
# '''Click the article''' to enter editing mode, in which you can modify text, select fragments, etc.
# '''Start reading''' the article from the top
# '''Extract texts''': If you encounter an interesting text in the article, select it with the mouse and choose '''Reading : Remember extract''' on the [[component menu]] (or simply press ''Alt+X''). Alternatively, you can click the green T icon on the '''Read''' toolbar ([[Image:Topic_memorized.gif|SuperMemo: Remember extract button on the Read toolbar]]) or on the [[element toolbar]]. This operation will introduce the extracted fragment into the learning process as an independent mini-article. If you would like to specify the priority of the new extract, choose '''Reading : Schedule extract''' (checked T icon on the '''Read''' toolbar) instead of '''Remember extract'''. Also, if you have an impression that the article is difficult and you would like to read some fragments later, extract those fragments with '''Reading : Schedule extract''' and provide a review interval that will reflect the time you believe you will be better equipped to understand the extracted fragment.
# Optionally, if you read a fragment that seems unimportant, then select it (e.g. with the mouse) and either delete it (e.g. with the ''Del'' key) or mark it with the ''ignore'' font. To mark it with ''ignore'' font, choose '''Reading : Ignore''' on the [[component menu]] (or click the stop-sign icon on the '''Read''' toolbar).
# Optionally, if the selected fragment does not include all the important reading context, you will need to add this context manually. For example, if you are learning history, you may extract the following fragment from an article about Lincoln: ''On Sept. 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, one of the most important messages in the history of the world. He signed it Jan. 1, 1863.'' If you would like to extract the fragment related to signing the Emancipation Proclamation, you will need to change ''He'' to ''Lincoln'' and ''it'' to ''Emancipation Proclamation'' so that your stand-alone fragment is understandable: ''Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.'' You can use the '''Reference''' options on the [[component menu]] to easily add context to your extracts (see: [[References]]). Context added by '''Reference''' will be added automatically to all extracts of a given article. For example, select the text that you want to serve as the reference title of all extracts and choose '''Reference : Title''' on the [[component menu]] (or press ''Alt+T''). This text will appear at the bottom of all extracts (in reference pink font by default).
# '''Mark your last reading point''': Once you decide to stop reading the article before its end, mark the last processed fragment as the read-point (e.g. with ''Ctrl+F7'' or by choosing '''Reading : Read-points : Set read-point'''). Next time you come back to this same article, SuperMemo will highlight your read-point and you will be able to resume reading from the point you last stopped reading the article. To go to your current read point, press ''Alt+F7''. If you forget to set a read-point, SuperMemo will leave a read-point at the place of your last extract.
# '''Go to the next article''': After you finish reading a portion of one article, choose '''Learn''' or '''Next repetition''' to proceed with reading other articles. Those buttons are located at the bottom of the [[element window]]. If you have left editing mode (with ''Esc''), it is enough you press ''Enter'' to go to the next article (otherwise, ''Enter'' will add a new line in the article).
# '''In incremental reading, interrupted reading is a rule, not an exception!''' (see advantages [[#Advantages | above]]) With a dose of practice, you will quickly get accustomed to this not-so-natural state of affairs and learn to appreciate the power of the incremental approach. Use the following criteria to decide when to stop reading the article:
#* '''lack of time''': if you still have many articles for review for a given day and your time is running out, keep your increments shorter. After some time, being in a hurry will be a norm and you will tend to read only 1-2 paragraphs of each article and dig deeper only into groundbreaking articles that will powerfully affect your knowledge.
#* '''boredom''': if the article tends to make you bored, stop reading. Your attention span is always limited. If your focus is poor, you will benefit more from the article if you return to it after some break. Go on to reading something that you are not yet tired of. If SuperMemo schedules the next review at a date you consider too late, use [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+J'']] or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' to adjust the next review date.
#* '''lack of understanding''': if you feel you need more knowledge before you are able to understand the article, postpone it (e.g. use ''Ctrl+J'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' and schedule the next review in 100 days or so). If you believe you have already imported articles with relevant explanatory knowledge, you can search for these articles (e.g. with ''Ctrl+F'') and review or advance these articles now (e.g. with browser's '''[[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | Learning]] : Review all''' or '''Advance : Topics'''). If you have not yet imported any explanatory articles, you could do it now (e.g. search the web and [[#Importing articles | import articles]] as explained before). Note that you can select a piece of text in SuperMemo and use ''Ctrl+F3'' to search encyclopedias or dictionaries for more material on a given subject.
#* '''lower priority''': read lower priority articles in smaller portions thus reducing the overall time allocation for the related subject.
# Once you complete reading the entire article and have extracted all the interesting fragments, press ''Shift+Ctrl+Enter'' (or '''Learning : Done''' on the [[element menu]]). This will dismiss the article, i.e. remove it from the review process, and delete the contents of the processed article (without deleting the extracted material). '''Done''' will delete a childless article (i.e. an article that did not provide interesting extract or whose extracts have been processed and moved to various [[categories]]). Using '''Done''' will greatly reduce the size your collection and eliminate "dead hits" when [[Search menu | searching]] through your collection.

'''Warning!''' Some texts rich in pictures and tables may be handled with difficulty by SuperMemo. It may be very useful to learn to use HTML filters (press ''F6''). See: [http://supermemo.com/faq/html.htm Problems with HTML]. Some of those problems stem from bugs in Internet Explorer that SuperMemo employs to display and edit HTML. This particularly refers to Internet Explorer 6. It is therefore highly recommended you install Internet Explorer 7 or later to make your life easier. With a dose of patience, you will learn to work around these problems.

=== Skill 3: Extracting fragments, questions and answers ===

In the course of traditional reading, we often mark important paragraphs with a highlighter pen. In SuperMemo, those paragraphs should be extracted as separate mini-articles (elements) that will later be used to refresh your memory. Each extracted paragraph or section becomes a new element that will be subject to the same reading algorithm as discussed above. Extract important fragments and single sentences with '''Remember extract''' (''Alt+X''). Remember to add necessary context to make sure that the extracted fragment does not become meaningless with time. You can use the '''Reference''' options on the [[component menu]] (esp. ''Alt+Q'') to easily add context to your extracts. For example, select the title of the source article and press ''Alt+T'' ('''Reference : Title'''). This way, each extract will be marked by the title of the source article. If you fail to provide the context, you can use the reference link button ([[Image:Reference_button.gif|SuperMemo: Reference button on the element toolbar]]) on the [[element toolbar]] to jump to the source article from which the extract was produced.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Extract.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: An extract produced from an article about the greenhouse effect (references (in pink) at the bottom are added automatically)]]

<blockquote>

''In the picture (click to enlarge): typical snapshot of incremental reading. While learning about the greenhouse effect, the student extracts the fragment saying that "In the absence of the greenhouse effect and an atmosphere, the Earth's average surface temperature of 14 °C (57 °F) could be as low as −18 °C (−0.4 °F), the black body temperature of the Earth.". The extracted fragment will inherit illustrations placed on the right, as well as article references. The student can move on to reading another article by pressing Enter. The pictures on the right are stored locally in the Image Registry (on the user's hard disk) and can be reused to illustrate other articles or questions.''

</blockquote>

</div>

SuperMemo will show you that extracting important fragments and reviewing them at later time will have an excellent impact on your ability to remember and benefit from your learning material. However, it will also show that once the time between reviews increases beyond 200-300 days, reading and re-reading ([[Glossary#passive review |passive review]]) will often result in insufficient recall of the material. For this reason, sooner or later, you will need to use '''Remember cloze''' by selecting text that you wish to remember and pressing ''Alt+Z'' (or clicking the blue Z icon ([[Image:Remember_cloze_button.gif|SuperMemo: Remember cloze button on the Read toolbar]]) on the '''Read''' toolbar or on the [[element toolbar]]). '''Remember cloze''' will help you convert a sentence into a series of questions with answers. This way you will move from [[Glossary#passive review | passive review]] to [[Glossary#active recall | active recall]]. You do not need to wait until a paragraph or a sentence become hard to recall in passive review. For your most important material, you can create cloze items immediately after finding a piece of information that you need to remember well.

The examples below show how to effectively use '''Remember cloze'''.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Extract2.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Two numbers from the extracted sentence are used as keywords for generating questions and answers (temperatures of 14 °C and -18 °C)]]

<blockquote>

''Two numbers from the extracted sentence are used as keywords for generating questions and answers (temperatures of 14 °C and -18 °C).''

</blockquote>

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Cloze_deletion.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: A question-answer item (in the form of a cloze deletion) forming the final product of incremental reading used in strengthening the memory of a given fact (here: hypothetical temperature on Earth devoid of atmosphere)]]

<blockquote>

''In the picture (click to enlarge): the sentence extracted during incremental reading (see the previous picture) is converted into a '''cloze deletion'''. (i.e. a question-answer pair forming the final product of incremental reading used in strengthening the memory of a given fact (here: hypothetical temperature on Earth devoid of atmosphere)). The picture from the original extract has been inherited (on the right). Pink texts at the bottom of the question are references generated automatically when importing an article from Wikipedia.''

</blockquote>

</div>

While converting extracts into questions and answers, you should make sure your questions are simple, clear and carrying the relevant context. For example, if you have extracted the following fragment from your reading about the history of the Internet:

<blockquote>

''The Internet was started in 1969 under a contract let by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which connected four major computers at universities in the southwestern US (UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and the University of Utah)''

</blockquote>

you may discover that when review intervals become long enough, you may not actually be able to recall the name of the ARPA agency or even forget the year in which the Internet started. You can then select an important keyword, e.g. ''1969'', and use '''Remember cloze''' to produce the following question-answer pair:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...]''' under a contract let by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which connected four major computers at universities in the southwestern US (UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and the University of Utah)''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

In the course of learning, you will need to polish the above item by manual editing it to a more compact and understandable form:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...](year)''' under a contract let by the ARPA agency''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

Or better yet:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...](year)'''''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

As for the precious information "lost" during the editing, it can (but does not have to) be learned independently with separate questions generated by '''Remember cloze'''.

The mini-editing of questions presented above added the following benefits to the newly created question-answer pair:

# '''clearer purpose of the question''': the fact that the question is about the year in which the Internet began is emphasized by using the red-colored '''''(year)''''' hint.
# '''brevity''': by removing superfluous information, you will not waste time on information that is not likely to be remembered (only actively recalled material will be remembered for years). You will answer the question and never focus on which universities were originally connected by the early Internet. If you believe this information is also important, you will use the original extract to produce more cloze items that will focus solely on the universities in question by naming them in the answer field (if you disagree, read: [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge]).
# '''understandability''': "''the ARPA agency''" phrase may defy grammar rules you have learned in primary school, but it is by far more understandable than just ''the ARPA''. In SuperMemo, understandability is more important than stiff rules of grammar or spelling!

'''Remember:'''

* As a rule, you should '''use only one-sentence extracts to generate cloze deletions'''! Some people hate incremental reading in the beginning. Monster clozes are the #1 reason for such a negative feeling. By using one-sentence extracts for cloze deletions, you will save ages on repetition time and eons on time needed to simplify clozes and converting them to the final form based on the minimum information principle. See: [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules]
* Your work on extracting fragments, producing cloze deletions and editing them should also be incremental. '''In each review, do only as much work on the learning material as is necessary!''' Extracting and editing in intervals adds additional benefit to learning and is more time-efficient. Each time you rethink structure and formulation, you hone the representation and "connectivity" of a given piece of knowledge in your memory. In addition, your priorities change as you proceed with learning. At times, you will over-invest your time in a piece of knowledge that quickly becomes irrelevant or out-dated. The incremental approach will reduce the impact of over-investment. Incrementalism should then be used not only while reading, but also in the follow-up processing and formulation of knowledge
* To better understand incremental reading at this stage, it is recommended you read: [[Items, topics and tasks | Topics vs. Items]]

=== Skill 4: Repetition and review ===

[http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo is based on repetition]. You make repetitions of the learned material in order to ensure that your knowledge retention (i.e. your ability to recall facts) reaches the desired level (usually 95-98%).

In SuperMemo, incrementally processed articles will also be subject to repetition. We will often use the more intuitive term ''review'' in reference to incrementally processed material; after all, when you resume reading an article after a certain interval of time, you are not actually repeating anything. You are simply reading new sections of the same material and extracting newly acquired wisdom into separate elements with ''Alt+X'' (i.e. '''Remember extract''').

The algorithms that determine the timing of (1) repetitions of question-and-answer material and (2) reviewing reading material are analogous but not identical. Most importantly, all repetitions and article presentations happen in increasing intervals by default. In incremental reading, you will see a constant inflow of new articles into your collection. Unprocessed material will need to compete with the newly imported material. Increasing review intervals make sure that your old material fades into lower priority if it is not processed quickly. The speed of processing will depend on the availability of your time and the value of the material itself. Articles that are boring, badly written, less important for your work or growth, will receive smaller portions of your attention and may go into long review intervals before you even manage to pass a fraction of the text. That is an inevitable side effect of a voluminous flow of new information into your collection and into your memory. However, intervals and priorities can easily be adjusted. If the priorities change, you can modify the way you process important articles. At review time, you can either read the entire article without interruption, or revert it to a shorter interval. You can manually change its priority (e.g. with ''Alt+P''). You can also use search tools (e.g. ''Ctrl+F'') to locate more articles on the subject that you feel you have neglected. You can reprioritize a bunch of articles by changing their priority; you can shorten their interval or review them all when needed (see [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | subset operations]] in the [[browser]]).

The algorithm for reviewing questions and answers (e.g. cloze deletions) is quite complex and limits your influence on the timing of repetitions (see: [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]). This is to ensure a high level of knowledge retention, which might be compromised by manual intervention.

However, the algorithm for determining inter-review intervals in incremental reading is much simpler and is entirely under your control. Each article receives a specific priority. The priority determines which articles are reviewed first and which can be postponed in case you run out of time. Each article is also assigned a number called the [[Glossary#A-Factor | A-Factor]] that determines how much intervals increase between subsequent reviews. For example, if A-Factor is 2, review intervals will double with each review. Priority and A-Factors are set automatically, but you can change them manually at any time. Both are determined heuristically on the basis of the length of the text, the way it is processed, the way it is postponed or advanced, and by many other factors. Long texts will receive low A-Factors (e.g. 1.1), while short extracts will receive higher A-Factors (e.g. 1.8). Manually typed texts have higher priority and lower A-Factors than automatically imported texts. You can change the priority and A-Factor of an article by pressing [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Alt+P'']]. You can also use ''Shift+Ctrl+Up'' and ''Shift+Ctrl+Down'' to increase or decrease an element's priority. Note that A-Factors associated with items cannot be changed by the user, as they are a reflection of item difficulty that determines the length of optimum inter-repetition intervals (see: [[forgetting index]]).

You can control the timing of article review by manually adjusting inter-review intervals. Use ''Ctrl+J'' ('''Reschedule''') or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' ('''Execute repetition''') to determine the date of the next review. ''Ctrl+J'' will increment the current interval, while ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' will first execute a repetition and then set the new interval. For example, if your current interval is 100 and you specify the value of 3 in '''Reschedule''', your new interval will be 103 and the last repetition date will not change. If you do the same with '''Execute repetition''', your new interval will be 3 and the last repetition date will be set to today. 

In heavily overloaded incremental reading, you will often want to learn only a portion of material related to a given subject. For that purpose, read about the priceless concept of [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | subset learning]].

=== Skill 5: Handling large volumes of knowledge ===

In incremental reading, you may quickly import and produce more learning material than you can effectively process. To make sure that your learning does not suffer from overload, you should use the ''priority queue''. Using ''Alt+P'' ('''Learning : Priority : Modify''' on the [[element menu]]), you can set each element's priority from 0% to 100%. Remember that 0% corresponds with high priority while 100% with low priority. By default, your outstanding repetitions will be auto-sorted from high to low priority. This way, if you fail to complete your daily load of learning, it will only be the lower priority material that will suffer. Also by default, at the beginning of your working day (i.e. at your first run of SuperMemo), your outstanding material from previous days will be be auto-postponed (again with high-priority material being least affected).

Read an article about [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | the priority queue]] to learn more about:

# manual sorting of elements,
# defining sorting criteria,
# turning off auto-sort and auto-postpone, and more.

Read about [[Postpone | the postpone dialog]] to learn about defining postpone criteria. See also [[Postpone, Advance and Mercy]]

To effectively work with material belonging to different subjects of different priority, you might also want to study the following:

# [[Templates | using templates]] (providing different branches with a different look)
# [[Categories | using categories]] (easily adding knowledge to different branches of [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | the knowledge tree]])
# [http://supermemo.com/articles/flow.htm flow of knowledge in SuperMemo] (summary of skills related to the flow of knowledge between branches and knowledge pools such as memorized, dismissed, processed, pending, extracts, articles, etc.)

== Summary ==

* If you are serious about studying, you should learn incremental reading! Without it, you might be missing the best part of SuperMemo!
* Incremental reading makes it possible to read thousands of articles simultaneously without getting lost.
* Use '''Remember extract''' (''Alt+X'') and '''Remember cloze''' (''Alt+Z'') to extract the most valuable pieces of knowledge while reading. Use the [[#Reading toolbar | '''Read''' toolbar]] for maximum convenience ('''[[Window menu |Window]] : Toolbars : Read'''). Save the toolbar in a prominent location with '''Save default layout''' (''Shift+Ctrl+F5'')
* Standard repetitions and incremental reading could best be intermingled for the sake of variety and creativity. '''Auto-sort repetitions''' will sort your repetitions, introduce a tiny degree of randomness, and ensure a steady, moderate, and prioritized inflow of new articles into the learning process. Read more about the [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | priority queue]].
* You can control the timing and priority of review in incremental reading by modifying Intervals (''Shift+Ctrl+R'' or ''Ctrl+J''), [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | Priority]] (''Alt+P''), the [[forgetting index]] (e.g. ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down''), and even A-Factors (e.g. ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down'').
* Use read-points (''Ctrl+F7''), good titles (''Alt+T''), reference labels (''Alt+Q''), and manually inserted context clues to minimize ''context recovery overhead'' (i.e. the cost of recalling the correct context of individual questions).
* '''Auto-postpone''' will automatically delay the review of the excess of lower priority material. Use '''[[Postpone]]''' (''Ctrl+Alt+P'') to manually handle the overload or define the postpone criteria. Never use '''Postpone''' on top-priority material!
* Do not forget to review [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge] to make sure you do not waste hours on badly formulated material.
* See [http://supermemo.com/faq/read.htm FAQ: Incremental reading].
* See [http://supermemo.com/articles/devour.htm Devouring Knowledge] for more about incremental reading in the context of learning optimization.
* See [http://jeenyus.net/~budney/supermemo/incremental.html Incremental reading from user's perspective] by Len Budney.

== Pictures ==

For mnemonic cues and the fun of learning, an article, that you will read incrementally in SuperMemo, can be illustrated with a meaningful picture taken from its contents (press Ctrl+F8 to choose one of the pictures embedded in the article):

[[Image:Incremental reading Mnemonic cues.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: An article about the greenhouse effect imported from Wikipedia illustrated with a meaningful picture taken from its content]]

== Optional: History of incremental reading ==
<div style="background-color: #dbdbdb" class="inset">
Incremental reading might be as important for SuperMemo as the original [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm repetition spacing algorithm]. Incremental reading eliminates a number of bottlenecks that limit the first stage of learning: ''knowledge acquisition''.

[http://supermemo.com/english/sms.htm '''Older SuperMemos''']: In the years 1987-1998, users of SuperMemo had only two alternatives in the area of collecting learning material for learning with SuperMemo: (1) type it in and formulate it manually or (2) obtain ready-made learning material from colleagues, SuperMemo Library, etc. The only way SuperMemo supported learning from electronic sources was via '''Copy''' and '''Paste'''.

[http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/sm99.htm '''SuperMemo 99'''] made the first step towards efficient reading of electronic articles by introducing [http://supermemo.com/articles/read.htm reading lists] and the first primitive reading tools: extracts and clozes. Reading lists are prioritized lists of articles to read. Extracts make it possible to split larger articles into smaller portions. Clozes makes it possible to convert short sentences into question-answer format by means of [[Glossary#cloze_deletion|''cloze deletions'']].

[http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/sm10.htm '''SuperMemo 2000'''] greatly increased the efficiency of reading by introducing the concept of '''incremental reading'''. Incremental reading makes it possible to simultaneously read dozens of articles. Each article is read in small increments fully controlled and prioritized by the user and/or the default learning process. Components of incremental reading introduced in SuperMemo 2000: new A-Factor-based topic repetition scheme (i.e. learning algorithm), read points, formatting in extracts and in clozes (SuperMemo 99 would ignore formatting), text highlights, source article link, reading toolbar, subset learning, subset postpone, and support for longer articles (SuperMemo 99 was limited to 64K articles).

[http://www.super-memo.com/supermemo/supermemo2002.html '''SuperMemo 2002'''] brought incremental reading to a new level. For SuperMemo 2002 incremental reading become the primary learning mode for middle-level and advanced students. SuperMemo 2002 introduced [[HTML component|HTML-based]] incremental reading. For the first time, the user would see little difference between the material in his web browser and in SuperMemo. Other new features introduced by SuperMemo 2002: wholesale learning material import from Internet Explorer, mid-interval repetitions that make it possible to review portions of material without damage to the learning process ([http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm Algorithm SM-11]), search-based learning (i.e. subset learning in which the subset is defined by advanced search tools), dynamically modified A-Factors that fine-tune the priorities without user intervention, [[Postpone|postpone wizard]] that makes reading lists obsolete, separate topic/item statistics and new incremental reading progress statistics, reference labeling, and more.

[http://www.super-memo.com/supermemo/supermemo2004.html '''SuperMemo 2004'''] has been developed solely with the view to perfecting the tools used in incremental reading. The data collected from months of actual incremental reading have been instrumental to enhancing the algorithm and the tools. Fine tuning of the modification of topic A-Factors enhances the optimization of new material review in a heavily overloaded process. New tools include: rich statistics for monitoring and optimizing the learning process, tools for handling excessive delays in review, browsing sources of extracts and clozes, one-key reference labeling, proliferating remote images, easy integration of remote images, and more.

[http://www.supermemo.com/help/new2006.htm '''SuperMemo 2006'''] made a major step in rationalizing the overload of the learning material in incremental reading by introducing [[Priority of elements in incremental reading|the priority queue]]. It makes it easier to import articles from the Internet (esp. from [http://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia]). Material overload is handled with auto-postpone and auto-sort tools. SuperMemo 2006 simplifies importing, arranging, compressing, converting, zooming, and trimming pictures. SuperMemo 2006 can now pick any folder on your hard disk and convert all your file archives into material that can be processed incrementally (e.g. article archives, picture archives, family albums, movie clips, documentation files, or assorted archives). SuperMemo 2006 also makes it simple to do one-key searches and import of auxiliary learning material on the web with customizable tools (e.g. Google, encyclopedias, dictionaries, picture archives, etc.).

'''SuperMemo 2008''' extends incremental reading into the areas of pictures, sounds and video (see: [[Visual learning]] and [[Incremental video]]). Imports from the web, esp. Wikipedia and YouTube are now simpler, and make it easy to set priorities, references, categories, etc. SuperMemo 2008 also simplifies and automates the process of creating [[References|learning material references]].
</div>

Incremental reading

2009-08-14T14:34:16Z

Murakdar:

== What is incremental reading? ==

Incremental reading is a learning technique that makes it possible to read thousands of articles at the same time without getting lost. Incremental reading begins with importing articles from electronic sources, e.g. the Internet. The student then extracts the most important fragments of individual articles for further review. Extracted fragments are then converted into questions and answers. These in turn become subject to systematic review and repetition that maximizes the long-term recall of the processed texts. The review process is handled by the proven ''[http://supermemo.com/english/ol/background.htm repetition spacing]'' algorithm known as the '''[http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo method]'''.

<div class="inset" style="background-color: #FFFF99;">

'''Incremental reading converts electronic articles into durable knowledge in your memory'''. This conversion requires minimum keyboard work:

* '''Input''': electronic articles (e.g. collected from the net)
* '''Output''': well-remembered knowledge (quizzed regularly in the form of questions and answers)

</div>

'''Warning!''' Incremental reading may seem complex at first. However, once you master it, you will begin a learning process that will surpass your expectations. You will be surprised with the volume of data your memory can process and retain!

== Advantages of incremental reading ==

=== Massive learning ===

possibility of studying a huge number of subjects at the same time. In traditional reading, one book or academic subject might need to be completed before studying another. With incremental reading, there is virtually no limit on how many articles you can study at the same time. Only the availability of time and your memory capacity will keep massive learning in check

=== Creativity (the association bonus) ===

The key to creativity is an association of remote ideas. By studying multiple subjects in unpredictable order, you will increase your power to associate ideas. This will immensely improve your creativity. Incremental reading may be compared to brainstorming with yourself

=== Understanding (the slot-in factor) ===

One of the limiting factors in acquiring new knowledge is the barrier of understanding. All written materials, depending on the reader's knowledge, pose a degree of difficulty in accurately interpreting their contents. This is particularly visible in highly specialist scientific papers that use a sophisticated symbol-rich language. A symbol-rich language is a language that gains conciseness by the use of highly specialist vocabulary and notational conventions. For an average reader, symbol-rich language may exponentially raise the bar of lexical competence (i.e. knowledge of vocabulary required to gain understanding). Incremental reading makes it possible to delay the processing of those articles, paragraphs or sentences that require prior knowledge of concepts that are not known at the moment of reading. The processing of the learning material will only take place then when the new information begins to slot in comfortably in the fabric of the reader's knowledge. Incremental reading makes it possible to tackle the hardest material that might normally seem unreadable

=== Counteracting entropy ===

The web is a goldmine of information. However, rarely do we find step-by-step articles that provide all information and entirely satisfy our needs. In scientific research, acquiring engineering knowledge, studying a narrow topic of interest, etc. we are constantly faced with a chaos of disparate and often contradictory statements. Incremental reading makes it possible to resolve contradictions and build harmonious models of knowledge on the basis of the information chaos drawn from the Internet. Incremental reading [http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=stochastic stochastically] [http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=juxtapose juxtaposes] pieces of information coming from various sources and uses the associative qualities of human memory to emphasize and then resolve contradiction

=== Stresslessness ===

The information era tends to overwhelm us with the amount of information we feel compelled to process. Incremental reading does not require all-or-nothing choices on articles to read. All-or-nothing choices are stressful! ''Can I afford to skip this article? For months I haven't had time to read this article!'' etc. SuperMemo helps you prioritize and skip articles partially or transparently. Oftentimes, reading 3% of an article may provide 50% of its reading value. Reading of articles may be delayed transparently, i.e. not by stressful procrastination but by a sheer competition with other pieces of information on the basis of their priority. In incremental reading, instead of hesitating or procrastinating, you simply prioritize

=== Attention ===

Incremental reading widely stretches the span of your attention. You will notice that a single paragraph in an article may greatly reduce your enthusiasm for reading. If you stumble against a few frustrating paragraphs, you may gradually develop a dislike of reading a particular article. You may even become fed up with reading for the entire evening. Incremental reading makes it possible to immediately move on to other pieces of information reducing the negative impact of frustration. It also makes it possible to split larger pieces into less intimidating portions. It allows you to read interesting bits before reading the boring bits. Those measures dramatically increase your attention. They also make reading fun. A skilled incremental reader is likely to develop an addiction to learning with all related benefits!

=== Consolidation ===

Incremental reading combines the process of extracting pieces of valuable knowledge with memory consolidation. By the time you begin a standard spaced repetition process of well-formulated items (as in classical SuperMemo), your memory will often have already been established in a favorable context (i.e. context that makes remembering easier). This comes from the need to extract a given piece of information from a larger body of knowledge that provides your items with relevant context. This slow process of jelling out knowledge provides you with an enhanced sense of meaning and applicability of individual pieces of information. In addition, semantically equivalent pieces of information may be consolidated in varying contexts adding additional angles to their associative power. In other words, not only will you remember better. You will also be able to view the same information from different perspectives

=== Prioritization ===

In incremental reading, you can precisely determine the [[priority]] of each article, paragraph, sentence or question. This will maximize the value of your reading time. This will also reduce the impact of material overflow on retention. You will always remember the desired proportion of your top-priority material. While the lesser priority material may suffer more from the overflow and be remembered less accurately. Priority of articles is not set in stone. You can modify it manually while reading. The priority will also change automatically each time you generate article extracts. It will change if you delay or advance scheduled reading. The priority of extracts is determined by the priority of articles. The priority of questions and answers produced from individual sentences is determined by their parenting extracts. Multiple prioritization tools will help you effectively deal with massive changes in your learning focus

=== Fun ===

The sense of productivity might be one of the most satisfying emotions. This is why incremental reading is highly enjoyable. This only magnifies its powers. To experience the elation of incremental reading, you may need a few months of focused practice. You will first have to start with the basic tools and techniques listed in this article. Then you will need to master [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm knowledge representation skills]. Finally, you will need a couple of months of heavy-load incremental reading to perfect the details and develop your own "incremental reading philosophy". Last but not least, incremental reading requires good language skills, some touch-typing skills, and patience (SuperMemo will often want you to go against your own intuition). Although the material is originally imported from electronic sources, it always needs to be molded, shortened, provided with context clues, restructured for wording and grammar, etc. The skills involved are not trivial and require practice. In contrast to classical SuperMemo, where you focus on the review of the old material, incremental reading interweaves the old with the new. Novelty adds to the fun and efficiency of learning

<div class="inset" style="background-color: #FFFF99;">

Only [http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo] makes it possible to implement incremental reading. Incremental reading requires continual retention of knowledge. Depending on the volume of knowledge flow in the program, the interval between reading individual portions of the same article may extend from days to months and even years. '''SuperMemo ([http://supermemo.com/english/ol/background.htm repetition spacing]) provides the foundation of incremental reading, which is based on stable memory traces that would not fade between the bursts of reading'''

</div>

See also: [http://jeenyus.net/~budney/supermemo/incremental.html incremental reading from user's perspective] by Len Budney.

== Five basic skills of incremental reading ==

Incremental reading requires skills that you will perfect only with passing time and growing experience. This overview will help you handle the most basic skills and help you make a start with incremental reading. The five basic skills are:

# [[#Importing articles | importing articles]] to [http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo]
# [[#Reading articles | reading articles]] and decomposing articles into manageable pieces
# [[#Extracting items | converting most important pieces of knowledge to question-answer material]]
# [[#Review | review of the material]] to ensure a good recall
# [[#Handling large volumes of knowledge | handling of the unavoidable overflow of information]]

=== Skill 1: Importing articles ===

To import an important article to SuperMemo, follow these steps:

#Select the imported text in your web browser and copy the selection to the clipboard (e.g. with ''Ctrl+C'')
#Switch to SuperMemo (e.g. with ''Alt+Tab'')
#In SuperMemo, press ''Ctrl+Alt+N'' (this is equivalent to '''Edit : Add a new article''' on the [[Main menu]]). SuperMemo will create a new element, and paste the article. You can also use the paste button ([[Image:Paste button.gif|SuperMemo: Paste article (from the clipboard) button on the Read toolbar]]) on the [[Element toolbar]] or on the '''Read''' toolbar
#Optionally, use ''Alt+P'' to define [[priority]] of the imported article. Use the '''Percent''' field and remember that 0% is the highest priority, while 100% is the lowest priority
#Optionally, use ''Ctrl+J'' to specify the first review interval. For example: one day for high priority material or 30 days for low priority material
<div class="center">
[[Image:Incremental reading Topic.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: A topic with an article about the greenhouse effect imported from Wikipedia]]
<blockquote>''After importing an article about the greenhouse effect from Wikipedia (e.g. with '''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : Wikipedia''' (Shift+Ctrl+W)), its text is stored in a single topic.''</blockquote></div>
'''Tips:'''

*Importing articles from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia] is easiest:
**to import Wikipedia articles that are open in Internet Explorer, press ''Shift+Ctrl+W'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : Wikipedia''')
**to open and import a specific article, press ''Shift+Ctrl+W'', and type the article's title
**to import an article on a subject you are reading about, select a portion of text and press ''Shift+Ctrl+W''
*To quickly import many articles from the web, do the following:
*#find the articles (e.g. with Google),
*#open them in Internet Explorer,
*#in SuperMemo, use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : All''')
*To type your own notes in SuperMemo use ''Alt+N'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Add to category : Note''')
*If you would like to store pictures locally on your hard disk (in the image [[Registry window|registry]]), and make them proliferate in incremental reading (e.g. show up in all extracts even if the extracts do not include the picture, etc.), then you must import the pictures to image [[Compose toolbar|components]] using one of the following methods:
**to import pictures included in a single article use ''Ctrl+F8'' ('''Download images''' on the [[component menu]]), select images and click '''Insert''' (see [[#Download_images | picture]])
**to import pictures from the web, use '''Copy''' on the picture in your Internet browser and then press ''Shift+Ins'' or ''Ctrl+V'' in SuperMemo to paste the picture (if the picture does not paste, press ''Esc'' a few times to get to the [[Glossary#presentation_mode|display mode]] and try ''Shift+Ins'' or ''Ctrl+V'' again)
**to import many pictures from many articles in Internet Explorer, use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : All''') and choose '''Local images only''' or '''Page of images''' as the import mode
**to optimize the tiling of many pictures after the import, use '''Components : Tile components '''on the [[Element_menu|element menu]]
*All incremental reading in SuperMemo is done using texts formatted as HTML. To learn more about HTML in SuperMemo, see: [[HTML component]]

=== Skill 2: Reading articles ===

Before you start reading articles, you can place the '''Read''' toolbar in an easily accessible location on your screen. The toolbar may be helpful before you learn to use the keyboard to access all its functions. Choose [[Window menu | Window]]''' : Toolbars : Read''', place the toolbar in a convenient place on the screen and press ''Shift+Ctrl+F5'' (to save the current layout of windows as your default layout). If you do not see the '''Window''' menu, read about '''[[levels]]'''.

This is the '''Read''' toolbar:

[[Image:read_toolbar.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Read toolbar used in incremental reading]]

Here is a simplified algorithm for reading articles:

# '''Choose an article''': Import an article as explained earlier or bring up a previously imported article with '''[[Learn]]''' (''Ctrl+L'')
# '''Click the article''' to enter editing mode, in which you can modify text, select fragments, etc.
# '''Start reading''' the article from the top
# '''Extract texts''': If you encounter an interesting text in the article, select it with the mouse and choose '''Reading : Remember extract''' on the [[component menu]] (or simply press ''Alt+X''). Alternatively, you can click the green T icon on the '''Read''' toolbar ([[Image:Topic_memorized.gif|SuperMemo: Remember extract button on the Read toolbar]]) or on the [[element toolbar]]. This operation will introduce the extracted fragment into the learning process as an independent mini-article. If you would like to specify the priority of the new extract, choose '''Reading : Schedule extract''' (checked T icon on the '''Read''' toolbar) instead of '''Remember extract'''. Also, if you have an impression that the article is difficult and you would like to read some fragments later, extract those fragments with '''Reading : Schedule extract''' and provide a review interval that will reflect the time you believe you will be better equipped to understand the extracted fragment.
# Optionally, if you read a fragment that seems unimportant, then select it (e.g. with the mouse) and either delete it (e.g. with the ''Del'' key) or mark it with the ''ignore'' font. To mark it with ''ignore'' font, choose '''Reading : Ignore''' on the [[component menu]] (or click the stop-sign icon on the '''Read''' toolbar).
# Optionally, if the selected fragment does not include all the important reading context, you will need to add this context manually. For example, if you are learning history, you may extract the following fragment from an article about Lincoln: ''On Sept. 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, one of the most important messages in the history of the world. He signed it Jan. 1, 1863.'' If you would like to extract the fragment related to signing the Emancipation Proclamation, you will need to change ''He'' to ''Lincoln'' and ''it'' to ''Emancipation Proclamation'' so that your stand-alone fragment is understandable: ''Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.'' You can use the '''Reference''' options on the [[component menu]] to easily add context to your extracts (see: [[References]]). Context added by '''Reference''' will be added automatically to all extracts of a given article. For example, select the text that you want to serve as the reference title of all extracts and choose '''Reference : Title''' on the [[component menu]] (or press ''Alt+T''). This text will appear at the bottom of all extracts (in reference pink font by default).
# '''Mark your last reading point''': Once you decide to stop reading the article before its end, mark the last processed fragment as the read-point (e.g. with ''Ctrl+F7'' or by choosing '''Reading : Read-points : Set read-point'''). Next time you come back to this same article, SuperMemo will highlight your read-point and you will be able to resume reading from the point you last stopped reading the article. To go to your current read point, press ''Alt+F7''. If you forget to set a read-point, SuperMemo will leave a read-point at the place of your last extract.
# '''Go to the next article''': After you finish reading a portion of one article, choose '''Learn''' or '''Next repetition''' to proceed with reading other articles. Those buttons are located at the bottom of the [[element window]]. If you have left editing mode (with ''Esc''), it is enough you press ''Enter'' to go to the next article (otherwise, ''Enter'' will add a new line in the article).
# '''In incremental reading, interrupted reading is a rule, not an exception!''' (see advantages [[#Advantages | above]]) With a dose of practice, you will quickly get accustomed to this not-so-natural state of affairs and learn to appreciate the power of the incremental approach. Use the following criteria to decide when to stop reading the article:
#* '''lack of time''': if you still have many articles for review for a given day and your time is running out, keep your increments shorter. After some time, being in a hurry will be a norm and you will tend to read only 1-2 paragraphs of each article and dig deeper only into groundbreaking articles that will powerfully affect your knowledge.
#* '''boredom''': if the article tends to make you bored, stop reading. Your attention span is always limited. If your focus is poor, you will benefit more from the article if you return to it after some break. Go on to reading something that you are not yet tired of. If SuperMemo schedules the next review at a date you consider too late, use [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+J'']] or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' to adjust the next review date.
#* '''lack of understanding''': if you feel you need more knowledge before you are able to understand the article, postpone it (e.g. use ''Ctrl+J'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' and schedule the next review in 100 days or so). If you believe you have already imported articles with relevant explanatory knowledge, you can search for these articles (e.g. with ''Ctrl+F'') and review or advance these articles now (e.g. with browser's '''[[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | Learning]] : Review all''' or '''Advance : Topics'''). If you have not yet imported any explanatory articles, you could do it now (e.g. search the web and [[#Importing articles | import articles]] as explained before). Note that you can select a piece of text in SuperMemo and use ''Ctrl+F3'' to search encyclopedias or dictionaries for more material on a given subject.
#* '''lower priority''': read lower priority articles in smaller portions thus reducing the overall time allocation for the related subject.
# Once you complete reading the entire article and have extracted all the interesting fragments, press ''Shift+Ctrl+Enter'' (or '''Learning : Done''' on the [[element menu]]). This will dismiss the article, i.e. remove it from the review process, and delete the contents of the processed article (without deleting the extracted material). '''Done''' will delete a childless article (i.e. an article that did not provide interesting extract or whose extracts have been processed and moved to various [[categories]]). Using '''Done''' will greatly reduce the size your collection and eliminate "dead hits" when [[Search menu | searching]] through your collection.

'''Warning!''' Some texts rich in pictures and tables may be handled with difficulty by SuperMemo. It may be very useful to learn to use HTML filters (press ''F6''). See: [http://supermemo.com/faq/html.htm Problems with HTML]. Some of those problems stem from bugs in Internet Explorer that SuperMemo employs to display and edit HTML. This particularly refers to Internet Explorer 6. It is therefore highly recommended you install Internet Explorer 7 or later to make your life easier. With a dose of patience, you will learn to work around these problems.

=== Skill 3: Extracting fragments, questions and answers ===

In the course of traditional reading, we often mark important paragraphs with a highlighter pen. In SuperMemo, those paragraphs should be extracted as separate mini-articles (elements) that will later be used to refresh your memory. Each extracted paragraph or section becomes a new element that will be subject to the same reading algorithm as discussed above. Extract important fragments and single sentences with '''Remember extract''' (''Alt+X''). Remember to add necessary context to make sure that the extracted fragment does not become meaningless with time. You can use the '''Reference''' options on the [[component menu]] (esp. ''Alt+Q'') to easily add context to your extracts. For example, select the title of the source article and press ''Alt+T'' ('''Reference : Title'''). This way, each extract will be marked by the title of the source article. If you fail to provide the context, you can use the reference link button ([[Image:Reference_button.gif|SuperMemo: Reference button on the element toolbar]]) on the [[element toolbar]] to jump to the source article from which the extract was produced.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Extract.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: An extract produced from an article about the greenhouse effect (references (in pink) at the bottom are added automatically)]]

<blockquote>

''In the picture (click to enlarge): typical snapshot of incremental reading. While learning about the greenhouse effect, the student extracts the fragment saying that "In the absence of the greenhouse effect and an atmosphere, the Earth's average surface temperature of 14 °C (57 °F) could be as low as −18 °C (−0.4 °F), the black body temperature of the Earth.". The extracted fragment will inherit illustrations placed on the right, as well as article references. The student can move on to reading another article by pressing Enter. The pictures on the right are stored locally in the Image Registry (on the user's hard disk) and can be reused to illustrate other articles or questions.''

</blockquote>

</div>

SuperMemo will show you that extracting important fragments and reviewing them at later time will have an excellent impact on your ability to remember and benefit from your learning material. However, it will also show that once the time between reviews increases beyond 200-300 days, reading and re-reading ([[Glossary#passive review |passive review]]) will often result in insufficient recall of the material. For this reason, sooner or later, you will need to use '''Remember cloze''' by selecting text that you wish to remember and pressing ''Alt+Z'' (or clicking the blue Z icon ([[Image:Remember_cloze_button.gif|SuperMemo: Remember cloze button on the Read toolbar]]) on the '''Read''' toolbar or on the [[element toolbar]]). '''Remember cloze''' will help you convert a sentence into a series of questions with answers. This way you will move from [[Glossary#passive review | passive review]] to [[Glossary#active recall | active recall]]. You do not need to wait until a paragraph or a sentence become hard to recall in passive review. For your most important material, you can create cloze items immediately after finding a piece of information that you need to remember well.

The examples below show how to effectively use '''Remember cloze'''.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Extract2.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Two numbers from the extracted sentence are used as keywords for generating questions and answers (temperatures of 14 °C and -18 °C)]]

<blockquote>

''Two numbers from the extracted sentence are used as keywords for generating questions and answers (temperatures of 14 °C and -18 °C).''

</blockquote>

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Cloze_deletion.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: A question-answer item (in the form of a cloze deletion) forming the final product of incremental reading used in strengthening the memory of a given fact (here: hypothetical temperature on Earth devoid of atmosphere)]]

<blockquote>

''In the picture (click to enlarge): the sentence extracted during incremental reading (see the previous picture) is converted into a '''cloze deletion'''. (i.e. a question-answer pair forming the final product of incremental reading used in strengthening the memory of a given fact (here: hypothetical temperature on Earth devoid of atmosphere)). The picture from the original extract has been inherited (on the right). Pink texts at the bottom of the question are references generated automatically when importing an article from Wikipedia.''

</blockquote>

</div>

While converting extracts into questions and answers, you should make sure your questions are simple, clear and carrying the relevant context. For example, if you have extracted the following fragment from your reading about the history of the Internet:

<blockquote>

''The Internet was started in 1969 under a contract let by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which connected four major computers at universities in the southwestern US (UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and the University of Utah)''

</blockquote>

you may discover that when review intervals become long enough, you may not actually be able to recall the name of the ARPA agency or even forget the year in which the Internet started. You can then select an important keyword, e.g. ''1969'', and use '''Remember cloze''' to produce the following question-answer pair:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...]''' under a contract let by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which connected four major computers at universities in the southwestern US (UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and the University of Utah)''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

In the course of learning, you will need to polish the above item by manual editing it to a more compact and understandable form:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...](year)''' under a contract let by the ARPA agency''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

Or better yet:

<blockquote>

'''''Question''': The Internet was started in '''[...](year)'''''
 
'''''Answer''': 1969''

</blockquote>

As for the precious information "lost" during the editing, it can (but does not have to) be learned independently with separate questions generated by '''Remember cloze'''.

The mini-editing of questions presented above added the following benefits to the newly created question-answer pair:

# '''clearer purpose of the question''': the fact that the question is about the year in which the Internet began is emphasized by using the red-colored '''''(year)''''' hint.
# '''brevity''': by removing superfluous information, you will not waste time on information that is not likely to be remembered (only actively recalled material will be remembered for years). You will answer the question and never focus on which universities were originally connected by the early Internet. If you believe this information is also important, you will use the original extract to produce more cloze items that will focus solely on the universities in question by naming them in the answer field (if you disagree, read: [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge]).
# '''understandability''': "''the ARPA agency''" phrase may defy grammar rules you have learned in primary school, but it is by far more understandable than just ''the ARPA''. In SuperMemo, understandability is more important than stiff rules of grammar or spelling!

'''Remember:'''

* As a rule, you should '''use only one-sentence extracts to generate cloze deletions'''! Some people hate incremental reading in the beginning. Monster clozes are the #1 reason for such a negative feeling. By using one-sentence extracts for cloze deletions, you will save ages on repetition time and eons on time needed to simplify clozes and converting them to the final form based on the minimum information principle. See: [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules]
* Your work on extracting fragments, producing cloze deletions and editing them should also be incremental. '''In each review, do only as much work on the learning material as is necessary!''' Extracting and editing in intervals adds additional benefit to learning and is more time-efficient. Each time you rethink structure and formulation, you hone the representation and "connectivity" of a given piece of knowledge in your memory. In addition, your priorities change as you proceed with learning. At times, you will over-invest your time in a piece of knowledge that quickly becomes irrelevant or out-dated. The incremental approach will reduce the impact of over-investment. Incrementalism should then be used not only while reading, but also in the follow-up processing and formulation of knowledge
* To better understand incremental reading at this stage, it is recommended you read: [[Items, topics and tasks | Topics vs. Items]]

=== Skill 4: Repetition and review ===

[http://supermemo.com/english/smintro.htm SuperMemo is based on repetition]. You make repetitions of the learned material in order to ensure that your knowledge retention (i.e. your ability to recall facts) reaches the desired level (usually 95-98%).

In SuperMemo, incrementally processed articles will also be subject to repetition. We will often use the more intuitive term ''review'' in reference to incrementally processed material; after all, when you resume reading an article after a certain interval of time, you are not actually repeating anything. You are simply reading new sections of the same material and extracting newly acquired wisdom into separate elements with ''Alt+X'' (i.e. '''Remember extract''').

The algorithms that determine the timing of (1) repetitions of question-and-answer material and (2) reviewing reading material are analogous but not identical. Most importantly, all repetitions and article presentations happen in increasing intervals by default. In incremental reading, you will see a constant inflow of new articles into your collection. Unprocessed material will need to compete with the newly imported material. Increasing review intervals make sure that your old material fades into lower priority if it is not processed quickly. The speed of processing will depend on the availability of your time and the value of the material itself. Articles that are boring, badly written, less important for your work or growth, will receive smaller portions of your attention and may go into long review intervals before you even manage to pass a fraction of the text. That is an inevitable side effect of a voluminous flow of new information into your collection and into your memory. However, intervals and priorities can easily be adjusted. If the priorities change, you can modify the way you process important articles. At review time, you can either read the entire article without interruption, or revert it to a shorter interval. You can manually change its priority (e.g. with ''Alt+P''). You can also use search tools (e.g. ''Ctrl+F'') to locate more articles on the subject that you feel you have neglected. You can reprioritize a bunch of articles by changing their priority; you can shorten their interval or review them all when needed (see [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | subset operations]] in the [[browser]]).

The algorithm for reviewing questions and answers (e.g. cloze deletions) is quite complex and limits your influence on the timing of repetitions (see: [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]). This is to ensure a high level of knowledge retention, which might be compromised by manual intervention.

However, the algorithm for determining inter-review intervals in incremental reading is much simpler and is entirely under your control. Each article receives a specific priority. The priority determines which articles are reviewed first and which can be postponed in case you run out of time. Each article is also assigned a number called the [[Glossary#A-Factor | A-Factor]] that determines how much intervals increase between subsequent reviews. For example, if A-Factor is 2, review intervals will double with each review. Priority and A-Factors are set automatically, but you can change them manually at any time. Both are determined heuristically on the basis of the length of the text, the way it is processed, the way it is postponed or advanced, and by many other factors. Long texts will receive low A-Factors (e.g. 1.1), while short extracts will receive higher A-Factors (e.g. 1.8). Manually typed texts have higher priority and lower A-Factors than automatically imported texts. You can change the priority and A-Factor of an article by pressing [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Alt+P'']]. You can also use ''Shift+Ctrl+Up'' and ''Shift+Ctrl+Down'' to increase or decrease an element's priority. Note that A-Factors associated with items cannot be changed by the user, as they are a reflection of item difficulty that determines the length of optimum inter-repetition intervals (see: [[forgetting index]]).

You can control the timing of article review by manually adjusting inter-review intervals. Use ''Ctrl+J'' ('''Reschedule''') or ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' ('''Execute repetition''') to determine the date of the next review. ''Ctrl+J'' will increment the current interval, while ''Shift+Ctrl+R'' will first execute a repetition and then set the new interval. For example, if your current interval is 100 and you specify the value of 3 in '''Reschedule''', your new interval will be 103 and the last repetition date will not change. If you do the same with '''Execute repetition''', your new interval will be 3 and the last repetition date will be set to today.

In heavily overloaded incremental reading, you will often want to learn only a portion of material related to a given subject. For that purpose, read about the priceless concept of [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | subset learning]].

=== Skill 5: Handling large volumes of knowledge ===

In incremental reading, you may quickly import and produce more learning material than you can effectively process. To make sure that your learning does not suffer from overload, you should use the ''priority queue''. Using ''Alt+P'' ('''Learning : Priority : Modify''' on the [[element menu]]), you can set each element's priority from 0% to 100%. Remember that 0% corresponds with high priority while 100% with low priority. By default, your outstanding repetitions will be auto-sorted from high to low priority. This way, if you fail to complete your daily load of learning, it will only be the lower priority material that will suffer. Also by default, at the beginning of your working day (i.e. at your first run of SuperMemo), your outstanding material from previous days will be be auto-postponed (again with high-priority material being least affected).

Read an article about [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | the priority queue]] to learn more about:

# manual sorting of elements,
# defining sorting criteria,
# turning off auto-sort and auto-postpone, and more.

Read about [[Postpone | the postpone dialog]] to learn about defining postpone criteria. See also [[Postpone, Advance and Mercy]]

To effectively work with material belonging to different subjects of different priority, you might also want to study the following:

# [[Templates | using templates]] (providing different branches with a different look)
# [[Categories | using categories]] (easily adding knowledge to different branches of [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | the knowledge tree]])
# [http://supermemo.com/articles/flow.htm flow of knowledge in SuperMemo] (summary of skills related to the flow of knowledge between branches and knowledge pools such as memorized, dismissed, processed, pending, extracts, articles, etc.)

== Optional: History of incremental reading ==
<div style="background-color: #dbdbdb" class="inset">
Incremental reading might be as important for SuperMemo as the original [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm repetition spacing algorithm]. Incremental reading eliminates a number of bottlenecks that limit the first stage of learning: ''knowledge acquisition''.

[http://supermemo.com/english/sms.htm '''Older SuperMemos''']: In the years 1987-1998, users of SuperMemo had only two alternatives in the area of collecting learning material for learning with SuperMemo: (1) type it in and formulate it manually or (2) obtain ready-made learning material from colleagues, SuperMemo Library, etc. The only way SuperMemo supported learning from electronic sources was via '''Copy''' and '''Paste'''

[http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/sm99.htm '''SuperMemo 99'''] made the first step towards efficient reading of electronic articles by introducing [http://supermemo.com/articles/read.htm reading lists] and the first primitive reading tools: extracts and clozes. Reading lists are prioritized lists of articles to read. Extracts make it possible to split larger articles into smaller portions. Clozes makes it possible to convert short sentences into question-answer format by means of [[Glossary#cloze_deletion|''cloze deletions'']]

[http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/sm10.htm '''SuperMemo 2000'''] greatly increased the efficiency of reading by introducing the concept of '''incremental reading'''. Incremental reading makes it possible to simultaneously read dozens of articles. Each article is read in small increments fully controlled and prioritized by the user and/or the default learning process. Components of incremental reading introduced in SuperMemo 2000: new A-Factor-based topic repetition scheme (i.e. learning algorithm), read points, formatting in extracts and in clozes (SuperMemo 99 would ignore formatting), text highlights, source article link, reading toolbar, subset learning, subset postpone, and support for longer articles (SuperMemo 99 was limited to 64K articles)

[http://www.super-memo.com/supermemo/supermemo2002.html '''SuperMemo 2002'''] brought incremental reading to a new level. For SuperMemo 2002 incremental reading become the primary learning mode for middle-level and advanced students. SuperMemo 2002 introduced [[HTML component|HTML-based]] incremental reading. For the first time, the user would see little difference between the material in his web browser and in SuperMemo. Other new features introduced by SuperMemo 2002: wholesale learning material import from Internet Explorer, mid-interval repetitions that make it possible to review portions of material without damage to the learning process ([http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm Algorithm SM-11]), search-based learning (i.e. subset learning in which the subset is defined by advanced search tools), dynamically modified A-Factors that fine-tune the priorities without user intervention, [[Postpone|postpone wizard]] that makes reading lists obsolete, separate topic/item statistics and new incremental reading progress statistics, reference labeling, and more

[http://www.super-memo.com/supermemo/supermemo2004.html '''SuperMemo 2004'''] has been developed solely with the view to perfecting the tools used in incremental reading. The data collected from months of actual incremental reading have been instrumental to enhancing the algorithm and the tools. Fine tuning of the modification of topic A-Factors enhances the optimization of new material review in a heavily overloaded process. New tools include: rich statistics for monitoring and optimizing the learning process, tools for handling excessive delays in review, browsing sources of extracts and clozes, one-key reference labeling, proliferating remote images, easy integration of remote images, and more

[http://www.supermemo.com/help/new2006.htm '''SuperMemo 2006'''] made a major step in rationalizing the overload of the learning material in incremental reading by introducing [[Priority of elements in incremental reading|the priority queue]]. It makes it easier to import articles from the Internet (esp. from [http://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia]). Material overload is handled with auto-postpone and auto-sort tools. SuperMemo 2006 simplifies importing, arranging, compressing, converting, zooming and trimming pictures. SuperMemo 2006 can now pick any folder on your hard disk and convert all your file archives into material that can be processed incrementally (e.g. article archives, picture archives, family albums, movie clips, documentation files, or assorted archives). SuperMemo 2006 also makes it simple to do one-key searches and import of auxiliary learning material on the web with customizable tools (e.g. Google, encyclopedias, dictionaries, picture archives, etc.)

'''SuperMemo 2008''' extends incremental reading into the areas of pictures, sounds and video (see: [[Visual learning]] and [[Incremental video]]). Imports from the web, esp. Wikipedia and YouTube are now simpler, and make it easy to set priorities, references, categories, etc. SuperMemo 2008 also simplifies and automates the process of creating [[References|learning material references]].
</div>

== Summary ==

* if you are serious about studying, you should learn incremental reading! Without it, you might be missing the best part of SuperMemo!
* incremental reading makes it possible to read thousands of articles simultaneously without getting lost
* use '''Remember extract''' (''Alt+X'') and '''Remember cloze''' (''Alt+Z'') to extract the most valuable pieces of knowledge while reading. Use the [[#Reading toolbar | '''Read''' toolbar]] for maximum convenience ('''[[Window menu |Window]] : Toolbars : Read'''). Save the toolbar in a prominent location with '''Save default layout''' (''Shift+Ctrl+F5'')
* standard repetitions and incremental reading could best be intermingled for the sake of variety and creativity. '''Auto-sort repetitions''' will sort your repetitions, introduce a tiny degree of randomness and ensure a steady, moderate, and prioritized inflow of new articles into the learning process. Read more about the [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | priority queue]]
* you can control the timing and priority of review in incremental reading by modifying Intervals (''Shift+Ctrl+R'' or ''Ctrl+J''), [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | Priority]] (''Alt+P''), the [[forgetting index]] (e.g. ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down'') and even A-Factors (e.g. ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' or ''Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down'')
* use read-points (''Ctrl+F7''), good titles (''Alt+T''), reference labels (''Alt+Q'') and manually inserted context clues to minimize ''context recovery overhead'' (i.e. the cost of recalling the correct context of individual questions)
* '''Auto-postpone''' will automatically delay the review of the excess of lower priority material. Use '''[[Postpone]]''' (''Ctrl+Alt+P'') to manually handle the overload or define the postpone criteria. Never use '''Postpone''' on top-priority material!
* do not forget to review [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge] to make sure you do not waste hours on badly formulated material
* see [http://supermemo.com/faq/read.htm FAQ: Incremental reading]
* see [http://supermemo.com/articles/devour.htm Devouring Knowledge] for more about incremental reading in the context of learning optimization
* see [http://jeenyus.net/~budney/supermemo/incremental.html Incremental reading from user's perspective] by Len Budney

== Pictures ==

For mnemonic cues and the fun of learning, an article, that you will read incrementally in SuperMemo, can be illustrated with a meaningful picture taken from its contents (press Ctrl+F8 to choose one of the pictures embedded in the article):

[[Image:Incremental reading Mnemonic cues.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: An article about the greenhouse effect imported from Wikipedia illustrated with a meaningful picture taken from its content]]

HTML component

2009-08-13T20:17:50Z

Murakdar:

HTML is the default [[Using text components | text component]] in SuperMemo. To be able to use it, you need Internet Explorer. If you want to use the HTML component in [[incremental reading]], you need Internet Explorer 6.0 or later.

There are five ways in which you are most likely to add HTML text to your collection ([[Levels |middle or professional level]]):

# '''Notes''': if you would like to type in some notes that will later be processed with [[incremental reading]], use '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Add to category : HTML note''' (''Ctrl+H''). Alternatively, to use your own HTML template, use '''Edit : Add to category : Note''' (''Alt+N''). '''HTML note''' will use the predefined HTML topic template (same as the original ''Article'' template), while '''Note''' will use your default topic template of the current category. For example, after hearing a piece of science news on the radio, you may want to quickly type in a note to SuperMemo. Press ''Alt+N'' and type in the message.
# '''Articles''': if you find an interesting article on the net, select it in your web browser and copy it to the clipboard (e.g. with ''Ctrl+C''). You can then paste the article stored in the clipboard to SuperMemo with ''Ctrl+Alt+N'' ('''[[Edit menu |Edit]] : Add to category : Article'''). '''Article''' is similar to '''Note'''. The difference is that '''Article''' will paste the text from the clipboard to your newly created element, whereas '''Note''' will create a ''blank'' new element.
# '''Multiple articles''': if you have a couple of articles opened in Internet Explorer, use '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Import web pages : All''' (''Shift+Ctrl+A''). Unless you fear the article may disappear from the net, import links rather than whole articles. If you overload [[incremental reading]] with thousands of articles, you may wait for months or years before an article comes to your attention. Using links keeps the size of your collection in check. Huge collections are processed more slowly, are more difficult to back up, and produce more garbage in search results. For more details, see [[Import web pages]].
# '''Files''': if you have HTML files saved on your hard disk, use '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Add to category : HTML file''' (''Ctrl+Alt+H''). You can then select the file you wish to import from the dialog.
# '''Wikipedia''': if you want to import articles from Wikipedia, use '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Import web pages : Wikipedia''' (''Shift+Ctrl+W''). If there are any Wikipedia pages open in Internet Explorer, you will be able to select them from a dialog. Otherwise, enter the desired page's title and Wikipedia will be opened in a new page in Internet Explorer; SuperMemo will then open the '''Import web pages''' dialog to allow you to import the desired page. (Note that if Internet Explorer is not your default web browser (e.g. if you use Firefox), you must manually navigate to the page in Internet Explorer before you can add it to your collection using ''Shift+Ctrl+W''.)

<div class="center">

[[Image:Incremental_reading_Mnemonic_cues2.jpg|800px|center|SuperMemo: A topic about henipavirus in the HTML component on the left and 4 images taken from it with Download images (Ctrl+F8) in their individual image components on the right]]

<blockquote>

''A topic with an article about henipavirus in the HTML component on the left and 4 images taken from the article with '''Download images''' (Ctrl+F8) (available on the [[Component menu | component context menu]]), which downloaded, localized, and tiled them in their individual image components on the right. These 4 images will propagate to all extracts and cloze deletions ultimately produced from this article.''

</blockquote>

</div>

If you want to import an HTML file to an existing HTML component, right-click the HTML component, and choose [[Component menu#Import file | '''Import file''']]. Pick the file in the dialog box and choose '''OK'''. Your HTML file will be displayed in the HTML component. '''Import file''' does not import files linked to by the imported file. However, you can import an entire website located on your hard disk or local network if you use '''Links : External file''' on the HTML component menu. In such a case, the HTML file will remain in its original location and retain all relative links.

If you would like to edit an HTML text in your favorite HTML editor, press ''Ctrl+F9'' (or choose '''File : Edit file''' from the HTML [[component menu]]) and your HTML code will open in the HTML editor registered for editing HTML files in Windows. To preview an article in your web browser, ''Ctrl+click'' the HTML component or press ''F9'' (or choose '''File : View file''' from the HTML [[component menu]]).

'''Inserting hyperlinks'''

To insert hyperlinks that would point to other elements, registry texts, HTML files, URL addresses on the Internet, registry images, etc., read about the option [[HTML link menu | '''Insert HTML link''']] (HTML [[component menu]]).

The HTML component can interpret JavaScript. If you know some JavaScript commands, you can enhance your SuperMemo presentation with scripted HTML components.

See also:

* [http://supermemo.com/faq/html.htm FAQ: Using HTML in SuperMemo]
* [[Using text components | Text components]]
* [http://supermemo.com/faq/texts.htm FAQ: Text components]

Glossary:Reading list

2009-08-13T15:28:51Z

Murakdar:

'''reading list''' - a prioritized list of articles imported to SuperMemo and scheduled for reading in the sequence of priority. A reading list is a form of a [[#tasklist|'''tasklist''']] in which each task is an article to read. In new SuperMemos, '''reading lists''' have been largely made obsolete by '''[[incremental reading]]'''

Unlock SuperMemo

2009-08-13T14:44:43Z

Murakdar:

== Unlocking commercial SuperMemo ==

If SuperMemo asks you for a password or there is a red registration bar below the [[element toolbar]], you are using a '''locked copy of SuperMemo'''. To unlock SuperMemo you will need an unlock password.

If you have just purchased SuperMemo, you will receive the unlock password within a business day. Until then you can still fully explore SuperMemo without the password.

To unlock SuperMemo, input the unlock password received in response to your order with '''[[File menu | File]] : Installation : Input password''' (''Ctrl+Shift+I'').

<div class="inset" style="background-color: #D4D4D4;">

This red registration bar indicates that SuperMemo is locked:

<div style="color: white; background-color: red; text-align: center;">

'''Click here to register SuperMemo (credit used: 23%)'''

</div>

</div>

You are unlikely to ever need to input your password twice. However, in case you ever lost it, you can always have it resent (see: '''Shopping''' address in [http://supermemo.com/english/contact.htm#Placing%20an%20order Contact via e-mail]).

'''Important!''' If you do not receive the unlock password within two business days, please write to the '''Shopping''' address listed in [http://supermemo.com/english/contact.htm#Placing%20an%20order Contact via e-mail]. The most likely reason is that your mail was blocked by a spam filter, it was lost in delivery, or you have misspelled your e-mail address when buying the program. Make sure your e-mail return address is set correctly in your e-mail software. Make sure you can send and receive e-mail (e.g. try to send a message to yourself and then respond to it). In case you cannot get in touch via e-mail, use [http://wiki.supermemo.org/index.php?title=FAQ SuperMemoPedia] or [http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/supermemo/ SuperMemo Forum] to get in touch.

If you do not like the whole concept of commercial applications, passwords, etc., you can use [http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/free.htm SuperMemo Freeware]. Although [http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/sm98.htm SuperMemo 98] is over a decade older than SuperMemo 2008, its repetition spacing algorithm is equally strong. (Of course, SuperMemo 98 does not provide many of the useful improvements of future versions, such as [[Priority | prioritization]] and [[incremental reading]]; see [http://supermemo.com/english/which.htm Which SuperMemo?] for more.)

See also: [http://supermemo.com/help/faq/shop.htm Questions about buying and unlocking SuperMemo]

== Unlocking a demo of SuperMemo ==

When you use a demo version of SuperMemo, you are given a credit of 100 points. Once this credit is used up, by using SuperMemo, you will be asked to input the unlock password. The credit available is displayed in the parentheses on the red registration bar (see above).

You can use the following procedure to get help in unlocking your demo version of SuperMemo :

# Click the red registration bar to open the registration dialog box
# Fill out the fields''' Name''', '''Country''' and '''Phone'''
# Click '''Register'''
# Respond with ''Yes'' to ''Send e-mail now?''

Those steps will result in sending an e-mail with your data. In response you will receive further instructions (e.g. how to get the unlock password, how to get SuperMemo in return for writing learning material, how to buy a license, etc.).

'''Important!''' If you have already purchased SuperMemo, you do not have to register it! You have been registered at the moment of placing your order. The only thing you have to do is to unlock SuperMemo by providing the password with '''[[File menu | File]] : Installation : Input password''' (''Ctrl+Shift+I''). Your password will be sent in response to your order within a business day (see [[#Unlocking commercial SuperMemo | above]]).

== Spread SuperMemo among your friends ==

The advantage of using the above complex registration mechanism is that you '''can freely spread your SuperMemo among your colleagues without violating your user license!'''

'''Important!''' You can only redistribute the following three files from the [[Collection files | SuperMemo folder]]:

* [[Collection files | ''sm2008.exe'']] (SuperMemo 2008)
* optionally: [[Collection files | ''\bin\tips.txt'']] (the file with questions for [[Question of the Day]])
* optionally: [http://supermemo.com/english/helpdown.htm ''\bin\smhelp.chm''] ([[User's Reference |help file]])

In particular you '''must not''' redistribute your [[Glossary#collection | collections]] along with SuperMemo! Collections keep your registration data. Spreading them along with SuperMemo ''will'' violate your user license.

If you want to redistribute your own collections, you must use '''[[File menu | File]] : Installation : Unregister''' before putting your collections on the web or passing them to your colleagues. Please [http://supermemo.com/english/contact.htm write to us], if you have questions about redistributing your collections with SuperMemo.

== Apology ==

We apologize for the inconvenience related to the registration process!

The goal of [http://supermemo.com/english/company/smworld.htm SuperMemo World] is to popularize SuperMemo. We are happy to welcome every new member in the SuperMemo family. We would love to provide customers with a free working version of SuperMemo. At the same time, we could not forget that the company has to earn for its operations. On one hand, we cannot make all SuperMemos free or shareware; on the other, we cannot reward "clever" users with an easy way to circumvent the license fee, as we do not want to contribute to a world where it pays to live by hook or by crook.

Our experience shows that the shareware approach does not work for SuperMemo. [http://supermemo.com/english/company/decade.htm In the years 1991-2009], we have gained thousands of users of freeware versions of SuperMemo 2, SuperMemo 5, SuperMemo 6, SuperMemo 7 and SuperMemo 98. At the same time, we received less than 10 shareware contributions while the number of support requests was a thousand times greater!

'''Remember!''' If you cannot afford SuperMemo, you can always use a freeware version or get the latest version in return for writing learning material for SuperMemo Library.

== FAQ ==

''(Ken Little, USA, Nov 11, 1998)'' '''Question:''' I read that I am automatically registered upon my credit card purchase; however, I didn't get a password to remove the red stripe and hopefully display other program options I read about. I tried my order number which didn't work. Please email me some guidance. I can't wait to get started in using your program. '''Answer:'''

# You are automatically registered in our customer database and you can start using the program immediately
# Within a business day you will receive further instructions that will help you remove the red stripe. If there are persistent problems with e-mail communication, you can leave a note in [http://wiki.supermemo.org/index.php?title=FAQ SuperMemoPedia]
# You do not need the password to use "''other program options''". It is enough you turn on the professional mode with '''[[File menu | File]] : [[Levels | Level]] : Professional'''

----

''(T. N., Austria, Nov 16, 1998)'' '''Question:''' You have sent me an e-mail with the password to unlock SuperMemo, but where do I have to fill it in? When I click the red bar, SuperMemo asks me to send e-mail '''Answer:''' You should use '''[[File menu | File]] : Installation : Input password''' (''Ctrl+Shift+I'') to provide the password. You do not have to register your copy at [http://supermemo.com/english/company/smworld.htm SuperMemo World]. This is done automatically at placing the order

----

See also: [http://supermemo.com/help/faq/shop.htm Questions about ordering, registering, unlocking and installing SuperMemo]

Step-by-step to SuperMemo mastery

2009-07-31T03:50:14Z

Murakdar: /* Processing knowledge */

__TOC__

This guide will help you learn SuperMemo 2008 step by step without missing any important function. Each step may take from a day to a week. Advanced techniques such as ''incremental reading'' may require months of practice. ''' Do not rush!''' SuperMemo can quickly lead to confusion and disillusionment. Pick the next step to learn only after mastering all previous steps.

== [[Introduction | ABC in 3 minutes]] ==

You can start using SuperMemo in 3 minutes. You only need to know two operations:
* '''[[Add new]]''' for adding new material in the form of questions and answers (keyboard shortcut: ''Alt+A'')
* '''[[Learn]]''' for learning (keyboard shortcut: ''Ctrl+L''). You should use '''Learn''' daily until you see the message ''Nothing more to learn''

[[Image:Add_new.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Adding new questions and answers at the Beginner level]]

Many users never go beyond the above ABC and still benefit greatly from SuperMemo! It is recommended that you spend a week or so in this basic mode. '''Simple question-and-answer repetition is where 90% of the users get 90% of the benefit from SuperMemo!''' If you only remember to use '''Learn''' regularly and frequently back up your precious knowledge (e.g. with ''Shift+Ctrl+C''), the rest of this guide can be considered optional. '''Warning!''' For the first 3-6 days, your learning schedule will be empty and you will have nothing to review! Use '''Add new''' in the meantime ('''Learn''' will keep showing ''Nothing more to learn'')

== Level: Do you want simple SuperMemo or powerful SuperMemo? ==

You can explore SuperMemo in stages by using '''[[File menu | File]] : [[Levels | Level]]''' menu. By default SuperMemo starts at the '''Beginner''' level. After a day or two, you can move to the '''Basic''' level. The '''Middle''' level will later be needed to use many of the functions described in this guide. Once you fully understand the middle level, you can switch to the '''Professional''' level that should be the ultimate destination of users who want to explore the most advanced functions of SuperMemo.

If you find a description of the function in SuperMemo that is not available on a given level, you can increase the level to make the function appear among the options. Many shortcuts will work even if the function is not available on a given level. For example, you can view the calendar of repetitions by pressing ''Ctrl+W'' at the beginner level even though '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Workload]]''' appears only on the middle level menu

== Safety of your knowledge. Backup! ==

Knowledge you store in SuperMemo might belong to your most precious data on your hard disk! After all it has cost you months or years of editing, learning, and review. You must continue using '''Learn''' indefinitely to make sure you never forget what you have learned. This is why backup skills are so important! Use ''Shift+Ctrl+C'' to copy your learning material to a new location. You should make a copy on a different hard disk every few days and on other media every month or so. Read more: [[Backing up the learning material | Safety of your knowledge]]

== Help: How to find the documentation ==

You can read help pages relevant to a given context in SuperMemo by pressing ''F1''. If you do not have a broadband connection to the Internet, you can [http://supermemo.com/english/helpdown.htm install the help file on your hard disk]

== Reading with SuperMemo. Amazing! ==

If you learn from electronic sources (e.g. the Internet), you can benefit tremendously by mastering the technique called ''incremental reading''. In incremental reading, you import articles from the Internet, and convert them to questions-and-answers with a couple of keystrokes. You can continue reading thousands of articles in parallel without getting lost. You can add thousands of items per year and still be able to recall 90-95%. It may take a few months of frustration before you reach proficiency in incremental reading; however, you will ultimately experience a seismic shift in your learning power. Invest a few hours in reading this article: [[incremental reading]]. In the long run, the return on investment will be astronomic

== Regularly check if your data is not corrupted ==

To be sure that your files have not been damaged by a virus, other software, or hardware problems, use '''[[File menu | File]] : [[File - Repair collection | Repair collection]]''' (''Ctrl+F12'') from time to time (e.g. once per month). Always backup your collection before using '''Repair collection'''

== Position and size of windows ==

In the beginning you often dislike the size and positions of windows and dialogs in SuperMemo. You can change that. Your favorite [[Glossary#layout | layout]] will depend on your monitor's resolution, [[Fonts tab in Options | interface font]] used in SuperMemo, the size of the [[element window]] and your learning habits. To save the current layout, press ''Shift+Ctrl+F5'' ('''[[Window menu | Window]] : Layout : Save as default'''). You can save more layouts and then choose between them by choosing an appropriate number on the [[Window menu | '''Window''']] menu. If you would like to include learning statistics in your layout, you might first open the statistics windows (e.g. by pressing ''F5''). If you would like to preview the ancestor path of the current element, you could also open the ancestor path window with ''Ctrl+Shift+X''. If you open, move and/or size many windows, you can always get back to your favorite layout by pressing ''Ctrl+F5'' ('''[[Window menu | Window]] : Layout : Apply default layout'''). You can also add or delete layouts with '''[[Window menu | Window]] : Layout : Layout manager''' (''Ctrl+Alt+Y'')

== Searching for things in SuperMemo ==

To quickly locate elements in your collection press ''Ctrl+F'' or choose the button '''Search''' on the [[element toolbar]]. Use this option also for AND-search, OR-search, etc.

== Make your knowledge easy to remember ==

Read [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge in learning] to review most important principles that will make sure you will remember with minimum effort

== Principles of success in learning ==

With years passing by, you will develop healthy learning habits that will make sure your work with SuperMemo is both effective and enjoyable. You can save months of experimenting if you read [http://supermemo.com/articles/decalog.htm Ten Commandments of a Highly Efficient User of SuperMemo]

== Processing knowledge ==

You should remember that all your learning material requires endless attention. You should review your elements for usefulness, correct formulation, logic, grammar, etc. When an element comes up for a repetition, you should make a quick and nearly instinctive assessment of the following:
# ''Do I really need this element?''
# ''Do I really need to know it now? Or can I learn it later?''
# ''Is this element difficult to remember? If so, why?''
# ''Is it factually correct?''
# ''Is it as simple and clear as possible?''

Here are some typical actions you will take depending on the answer to the above questions (some keyboard shortcuts may not work at lower [[Levels | difficulty levels]]):

# '''correcting''' an element. In case of questions and answers, you can use keys such as ''Q'', ''A'', or ''E'' to enter a text field and change it. In more complex elements you can use ''Ctrl+T'' to cycle between [[Glossary#component | components]], or use ''Alt+click'' to switch a [[Glossary#component | component]] between [[Glossary#editing_mode | editing]] and [[Glossary#dragging_mode | dragging]] modes
# '''rescheduling''' the element. You can manually change the date of the next review. If you know the element well, you can increase the interval remaining till the next review. If the element is very important, you can reduce the interval. Press [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+J'']] to select the date of the next review. If you have just reviewed the element, you should instead use [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Shift+Ctrl+R'']] to inform SuperMemo about the review
# '''dismissing''' an element. If you are sure you are not likely to need the element in the future, but you would like to keep it in your collection for reference or archival purposes, press ''Ctrl+D''. Dismissed elements are removed from the learning process (and from the pending queue)
# '''deleting''' the item or an article. The key ''Del'' is very useful in cleaning your collection from garbage. Note that deleting in element is irreversible. You can use '''Done''' with ''Shift+Ctrl+Enter'' to delete the content of an element without deleting its children
# '''forgetting''' an element. If you think the element is too difficult or not important enough at the moment, you can decide to learn it later. For this purpose, press ''Ctrl+R'' to remove it from the learning process. This will put it at the end of the [[Glossary#pending queue | pending queue]]

== One body of knowledge ==

It is recommended that you keep all your knowledge in one collection (you can create new collections with '''[[File menu | File]] : New collection'''). Here are the benefits of one body of knowledge:
# you do not have to open a number of collections each day to make repetitions (you can still [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | learn only selected branches]] if you wish so)
# you can keep one global learning process and one set of statistics ([[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser)#Statistics | branch statistics]] are also available to inform you of the progress in individual branches)
# repetitions of mixed-up material are more entertaining and verifiably [http://supermemo.com/articles/genius.htm boost your creativity]! You will be amazed how this affects your ability to come up with new ideas and unexpectedly associate facts relating to completely different subjects. '''The fun of diversified learning material will make it easier for you to stick with your own learning resolutions!'''
# you will eliminate a '''very frequent''' problem: neglecting some collections at the cost of others. The only rational way of controlling the flow of knowledge and the right proportions between branches is to use the tools provided by SuperMemo. Neglect and procrastination do not belong to these tools. '''Multiple collections make it easier for you to fail your own learning plans!''' If you have already created a couple of collections, you can merge them by using '''File : Merge collection'''. Open the collection that is to be merged with your main body of knowledge, choose '''Merge collection''', and point to the collection that keeps the main body of knowledge

== Statistics of the learning process ==

You will understand your memory better if you learn to interpret the statistics of the learning process:
* you can see the calendar of repetitions by pressing ''Ctrl+W'' or choosing '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Workload]]'''
* you can conveniently view learning statistics by pressing ''F5''. For interpretation of individual parameters see: [[Statistics window | Learning statistics]] and [[Element data window | Element statistics]]. You can preserve the layout with statistics windows by pressing ''Shift+Ctrl+F5''
* you can monitor your progress with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : [[Analysis]]''' (''Ctrl+Alt+I''). For example, the '''Use''' tab will show you the graphs of your daily progress (e.g. number of memorized elements, recall rate, etc.)

== Adding pictures, sound and video ==

You can easily add new texts, images, sounds and other components to your elements. New components are most conveniently added with '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Add components''' on the [[main menu]]. You can also drag components from the [[Compose toolbar | '''Compose''' toolbar]] available with '''[[Edit menu | Edit]] : Add components''' or '''[[Window menu | Window]] : Toolbars : [[Compose toolbar | Compose]]'''. To drag a component click the appropriate button on the component toolbar (e.g. text button, image button, etc.) and then click twice on the empty area in the [[element window]]: (1) first at the place where you want to place the top-left corner of your component, and then (2) at the place for the bottom-right corner of the new component. Read about templates below to learn how to automate this process. The easiest way to add pictures to your elements is to paste them from clipboard (''Ctrl+V'' or ''Shift+Ins''). The easiest way to add texts is to paste them with ''Ctrl+Alt+N''

== Improving the look of your items ==

You can easily change the attributes of elements and their components by using menus available with a right click. There are two menus you will need to become familiar with:
# [[Element menu]] (''Alt+F10'') which can be opened by a right click over an empty element area or over the [[element toolbar]]. Some exemplary functions of the element menu that help you change the look of the element:
#* '''Color''' changes the color of the element
#* '''Edit : Title''' (''Alt+T'') makes it possible to edit the title of the element or select a text to be used as the title
#* '''Delete components''' deletes selected components from an element
#* '''Edit : Duplicate''' (''Ctrl+Alt+D'') creates an exact copy of the current element in your collection
#* '''Edit : Swap Q&A''' (''Shift+Ctrl+S'') swaps the question with the answer (e.g. when learning words of a foreign language)
#* '''Template : Apply template''' (''Shift+Ctrl+M'') allows you to choose from a list of looks defined earlier and change the style of your element
# [[Component menu]] (''Alt+F12'') which can be opened by a right click over a selected component. Some exemplary functions of the component menu that help you change the look of components (these functions may or may not appear on the menu depending on the context):
#* '''Color''' changes the color of the component
#* '''Import file''' makes it possible to show a given file inside the component (e.g. picture, HTML file, etc.)
#* '''Text : Font : Edit font''' changes the [[Using fonts | font]] of the selected [[Using text components | text]]
#* '''Delete component''' removes the component
#* '''Display at''' defines when the component should be visible (e.g. at answer time) and when it should be hidden (e.g. at question time)You can use ''Alt+click'' over a component to switch it to the editing mode. This will make it possible to resize the component, edit texts, etc. If you ''Alt+click'' the component again, it will switch to the dragging mode in which you will also be able to move it to another location in the element area. Press ''Esc'' to switch the components back to the presentation mode

== Automating changes to the look of elements ==

You do not need to change the look of elements over and over again. You do not need to create components again and again. It is enough you define a so-called '''[[Glossary#template | template]]''' to be able to reuse a given component arrangement. The most important things to know about templates:
* you can save a given "look" with [[Element menu#Save as template | '''Template : Save as template''']]
* if you want SuperMemo to automatically use a saved template when you choose '''Add new''' (''Alt+A''), use [[Element menu#Save as default | '''Template : Save as default''']] (''Ctrl+Alt+M'')
* if you want to reuse a previously saved template, use [[Element menu#Apply template | '''Template : Apply template''']] (''Shift+Ctrl+M'') Remember that [[Items, topics and tasks | topics and items]] should have their separate templates as these affect their behavior and look during learning. For more information about templates see: [[Templates | Using templates]]

== Building knowledge tree ==

You can organize the structure of your knowledge in the [[contents window]]. Choose '''Contents''' at the top of the [[element window]] to switch to the contents window. To find out how to create the knowledge structure see: [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | Creating the structure of the knowledge tree]]. Remember that the '''structure of your tree is not essential for learning!''' However, a good structure can make it easier to locate portions of materials for review

== Organizing knowledge into categories ==

You can give items belonging to different branches of the knowledge tree a different look and a different priority. This way you will easily differentiate between items belonging to fields such as geography, biology, sociology, etc. You can move an item to a new category by opening [[Element parameters dialog box]] (e.g. with ''Shift+Ctrl+P'') and choosing the category from the list (the '''Category''' list box). When you move an item to a category, you can choose if it should use that category's template to determine its look. Read: [[Categories | Using categories]]

== Which text components are for you? ==

You are most likely to use HTML text components in [[incremental reading]] (if you do not have the latest Internet Explorer, use rich text components instead). HTML components make text processing easy due to rich formatting. However, once your items assume their final shape, you might prefer to convert them to plain text components which are faster and consume less space. You can do it by selecting the ''Classic'' template as the default template in your target category (see: [[Categories | Using categories]]). You can use several different SuperMemo components to represent text. To understand pros and cons of using various text components see: [[Using text components | Text components used in SuperMemo]]. See also: [[Using fonts | Fonts in SuperMemo]]

== Items you hate ==

Even with a great deal of experience and perfect understanding of knowledge structure, you will meet items that by no means want to stick to your memory. Usually 60% of items will not even be forgotten once! However, there are always a few items that you might forget 10 times, or even 20 times. 5% of your items may cost you 80% of your learning time (and 99% of frustration). In most cases, the fault is with you, the items must simply be reformulated (see: [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge]). However, some items just seem ''un-memorizable''! Those do not indicate your memory is bad! They are a usual companion of every learning process, and you must roll out the heavy guns to deal with them. You will use whatever mnemonic technique comes to mind: add examples, illustrations, poke fun, make it indecent or shocking, create a mind-map, re-memorize with a longer interval (this will often break the unhealthy memory connection) or, in most desperate cases, delete the item altogether. '''Any items with above 20 memory lapses makes a good candidate for deleting'''. Such an item may simply not be worth the cost in your time. To find out which options can help you hunt for trouble-making items see: [[Leeches]]

== The power of browsers and subsets ==

For managing and reviewing large collections, you will find browsers indispensable. Browsers are available with the '''[[View menu | View]]''' menu. Most of all, browsers will let you work with [[Using subsets | subsets]] of elements in your collection. Here are some ways in which browsers can boost your learning:
* [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | review]] the subset of elements
* move a subset of elements to another SuperMemo (e.g. for [http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/pocket.htm repetitions on your handheld computer])
* [[postpone]] repetitions in a subset of elements
* memorize a subset of elements, dismiss a subset of elements, shift elements to the end of the [[Glossary#pending queue | pending queue]], etc.
* compute selected learning statistics for a subset of elements
* change the template in a subset of elements
* transfer a subset of elements to another collection
* run random test or random learning on a subset of elements
* move a subset of elements to a selected branch or [[Categories | category]]
* sort a subset of elements by title, priority, difficulty, last repetition date, next repetition date, interval, etc.
* sort repetitions (e.g. from long to short intervals, or from difficult to easy items, etc.)
* export a subset of elements as text (e.g. as questions and answers)
* change the priority, the [[Forgetting index | forgetting index]] or the ordinal number in a subset of elements (increase, spread equally, modify, shift, etc.)
* manipulate element sets (e.g. select all elements belonging to one set and not belonging to another, select only memorized items in a set, combine two sets, save a set to a file for future use, etc.)
* perform advanced collection searches such as AND-search, OR-search, XOR-search, etc.To read more about browsers and subsets see:
* [[browser]] (what parts make a browser window)
* [[browser menu]] (what important operations can be made on browsers)
* [[browser toolbar]] (what shortcut buttons are available on the browser toolbar)
* [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | subset learning]] (how to review only portions of your collection)
* [[using subsets]] (how to use element subsets in SuperMemo)
* [[View menu | '''View''' menu]] (what kind of browsers are available)

== How much do you remember? ==

To choose how much you want to remember and how much work you want to put in different branches of knowledge, SuperMemo introduces the concept of the forgetting index. See: [[Forgetting index | Using the forgetting index]]

== Distributing your own learning material among others ==

If you would like others to use your learning material, you can follow these steps:
# remove from your collection comments and elements that are specific to your own needs (you can use the comments registry or comment filters to keep your own comments in a continually developed collection)
# remove your learning process from the collection by running: '''[[File menu | File]] : Tools : Reset collection'''
# if necessary, sort your collection by ordinals (numbers that can be used to determine the sequence of learning), by difficulty, by priority, or by the sequence of elements in the [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | knowledge tree]]
# you can redistribute your collection free or commercially '''without anybody's permission'''

----

Use [[User's Reference | Search]] to find more about SuperMemo. See [http://supermemo.com/faq/index.htm FAQs] for more answers to questions about SuperMemo. If you still have questions unanswered, place them at [http://wiki.supermemo.org/index.php?title=FAQ SuperMemopedia]. We also welcome your comments about the clarity of this text as well as the choice and the sequence of topics. We always welcome your questions! They help us improve the documentation and ultimately save support costs!

Visual learning

2009-06-26T16:03:17Z

Murakdar:

== Visual learning: Picture processing and incremental picture learning in SuperMemo ==

A picture is worth a thousand words. Pictures have a great mnemonic power and should be used profusely to illustrate your learning material. SuperMemo 2008 introduces new picture operations that should make your work with pictures yet easier and their use more efficient in learning.

== Adding pictures to SuperMemo ==

To add pictures to SuperMemo, [[#Paste a picture from the clipboard | paste them from the clipboard]], [[#Import picture(s) from your hard disk | import them from your hard disk]], or [[#Import picture(s) from the net | import them directly from the Internet]].

=== Paste a picture from the clipboard ===

To paste a picture to SuperMemo, copy it first to the clipboard. In SuperMemo, go to the element that you want illustrated with the picture. Make sure you are in the [[Glossary:Presentation_mode|presentation mode]] (e.g. press ''Esc'' a few times if you are not sure). Press ''Shift+Insert'' or ''Ctrl+V''. All components of the current element will be shifted to the left to make space for the picture. A new image component will be created. Your picture will be added to the image registry and connected with the image component.

If your template has a picture equivalent, you will be asked if the picture template should be used. The picture template should have the same name as the currently applied template with the suffix ''Picture'' or ''P''. For example, if the applied template is called ''Physics'', and you want picture templates to be suggested automatically for elements with the ''Physics'' template, name the picture template ''Physics Picture'' or ''PhysicsP''.

[[Image:Paste picture from the clipboard.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Pasting four pictures of a naked mole rat into a single element]]
<div class="center">
''In this example, several pictures of a naked mole rat have been pasted to the presented element. After economizing space for the first picture, SuperMemo will tile the remaining pictures in the available area on the right of the element window (or in the relevant picture area if a custom-made picture template is applied when pasting). Note that you can accomplish the same effect with '''[[Import_web_pages|Import web pages]] '''if you select '''Page of images.'''''
</div>

=== Import picture(s) from your hard disk ===

* '''A single picture''': If your picture resides on the hard disk, (1) right-click over the image component you want to import the picture to, (2) choose '''Import file''', and (3) choose the picture from the disk.
* '''A picture folder''': If you want to import an entire album of pictures stored in a specific folder on your hard disk, use '''[[File menu | File]] : Import : Files and folders''', and choose the folder to import. All files (including non-picture files) will be imported to separate elements that will form a tree structure in the contents window analogous to the structure of imported folders (i.e. the selected folder and its subfolders (if any)). Note that you can automatically delete imported pictures from the import folder. Use this option with caution. To accelerate the import, there is no undo for import delete.

=== Import picture(s) from the net ===

*'''Import from the web''': If you find some pictures on the net, then open them in Internet Explorer, and use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' to import them to SuperMemo. See [[Import web pages]] for details.

[[Image:Import web pictures.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Importing Halle Berry's pictures directly from the web]]
<div class="center">
''In the picture above, 17 Halle Berry's pictures are found in opened Internet Explorer tabs/windows and selected for import as '''Page of images'''. Note that when pictures are imported from the web in this mode they get automatically tiled.''
</div>
*'''Import from articles in SuperMemo''': Once you import an article from the net, all its pictures will still reside on the web. If you would like to make sure you do not lose those pictures (e.g. when the article is pulled off), or if you want the pictures to show up in all extracts and clozes produced in [[Incremental reading]], use ''Ctrl+F8'' ('''Download images''' on the [[Component menu|HTML component menu]]).

[[Image:Download images.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Download images dialog box that makes it possible for you to get images embedded in local pages imported from the net and put them to the image registry (in the picture: The Year 2008 in Photographs from Boston.com)]]
<div class="center">
''In the picture above, three images from the article [http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/the_year_2008_in_photographs_p.html The year 2008 in photographs (part 1 of 3)] (previously imported to SuperMemo) are selected for import (i.e. localizing into the image registry and illustrating the article). The currently selected picture on the list is called "floods caused by Tropical Storm Hanna in Gonaives, Haiti on September 3, 2008". This picture is previewed on the right. SuperMemo displays its original name, size and the original web addres. Note that you can change the name of the picture. The new  name will be used to locate the picture in the image registry. Once the selected pictures get inserted in the element, they will be used to illustrate all extracts and cloze deletions produced from this article in the process of [[Incremental reading|incremental reading]].''
</div>
If you want your picture to be part of the answer (i.e. not visible at the question time), mark it with '''Answer''' on the [[Component menu|image component menu]].

== Tiling pictures ==

If you are not happy with the way your pictures are tiled, you can rearrange the components and re-tile your pictures. To rearrange components, set them in the dragging mode first. You can switch a component to the dragging mode with ''Alt+click'' (click twice until the component becomes gray and draggable). You can switch all the components to the dragging mode with ''Alt+click'' over an empty element area, over the [[Element toolbar|navigation toolbar]], or over the bottom bar of the [[Element window]]. Once in the dragging mode, components can be moved around with the mouse.

To tile components, set the to-be-tiled components in the dragging mode, and choose '''Components : Tile components''' on the [[Element menu]]. Component tiling assistance will help you arrange the components into the optimum set of rows and columns. Components will be tiled into the rectangle determined by the topmost, bottommost, rightmost and leftmost edges of all the components selected for tiling. Positions of all other components are not taken into consideration. Note that once you change either '''Rows''' or '''Columns''' you need to press ''Enter'' in order to recalculate the other parameter and to update the preview grid.

To choose components to tile, you can also press ''Ctrl+E'' to set all components in the editing mode, and return non-tile components to the presentation mode with double or triple ''Alt+click''. Finally, you can just check or uncheck the components on the list displayed right before they are to be tiled.

[[Image:Tile arrangement.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tiling Didier Drogba pictures with component tiling assistance]]
<div class="center">
''In the picture above, 17 Didier Drogba's pictures are being tiled with the assistance of the '''Tile arrangement''' tool available in SuperMemo 2008. You can use this tool to easily determine in how many rows and columns you want to arrange the pictures available in the current element.''
</div>

== Zooming, slicing, trimming, and cropping pictures ==

Very often, you only need a small portion of a picture to take part in learning. For example, when learning political geography, you might import a huge map of Africa to SuperMemo. However, for individual items, you might want to limit the displayed portion of the picture to a single country with its direct neighbors.

[[Image:Unzoomed picture.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: The unzoomed picture of the African political map used to illustrate elements related to Africa]]
<div class="center">
''In the picture above, you can see an element related to the assassination of the President Habyarimana extracted from the article about the history of Rwanda originally imported from Wikipedia. The element is illustrated with the political map of Africa on the right (the map is neither zoomed nor trimmed; just stretched proportionally within the image component).''
</div>
 

[[Image:Zoomed picture.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: The picture of the African political map zoomed in on Rwanda to illustrate to an item about the assassination of the President Habyarimana in 1994]]
<div class="center">
''In the picture above, you can see a cloze deletion produced from the History of Rwanda article. In this element, however, the African political map is zoomed in on Rwanda (and the neighboring nations). The original picture is zoomed in without cropping the original picture file. Zoomed pictures are marked with a border, which is colored bright lime in zoom&trim mode and red in the display mode.'' ''If you do not crop the picture, it will remain unchanged (whether zoomed or unzoomed) in all elements that use it (including other extracts from the History of Rwanda article).''
</div>
To display only a small portion of a picture in a given element, enter the zoom&trim mode by ''Alt+clicking'' the picture. You can now use several operations to zoom in onto the interesting portion of the picture:

*'''Zoom: '''click the middle mouse button to zoom in on an interesting portion of the picture
*'''Unzoom''': ''Shift+click'' the middle button to unzoom
*'''Move:'' '''''Shift+drag the zoomed picture to adjust the displayed area
*'''Trim:'' '''''Ctrl+swipe unwanted edges of the picture:
*#press ''Ctrl'',
*#point to the edge that is to be cut out,
*#press down the mouse, and
*#move it in the direction of the area that is to be cut.
*'''Select:''' drag and select to mark the area that is to be displayed in the picture:
*#point to one corner of the desired area,
*#press down the left mouse button,
*#drag the selection marquee to select a portion of the picture, and
*#release the mouse button to slice the picture.

Once you zoom in onto the interesting area, press ''Esc'' to quit the zoom&trim mode. You will be given the following options:

[[Image:Zoom and trim options.jpg|center|SuperMemo: The list of options presented upon quitting the zoom&trim mode]]

*'''Leave the picture zoomed/trimmed without changing the file'''. This will display the selected portion of the picture in the current element without changing the original picture file that might be used elsewhere in its entirety or with other portions zoomed onto. This is the default option. When you revisit the element, it will still be marked with a zoom border. However, the lime-colored border of the zoom&trim mode will be replaced with a red border, which indicates a zoomed picture in the display mode.
*'''Permanently cut/crop the zoomed/trimmed image file'''. This will replace the original picture file with a smaller picture representing the zoomed-in area).
*'''Unzoom/undo'''. This will cancel the changes introduced in the zoom&trim mode.
*'''Cancel'''. This does nothing (i.e. you will stay in the zoom&trim mode)

If you leave the element without terminating the zoom&trim mode, the picture will remained zoomed, and the original picture file will remain unchanged (i.e. as if you chose the default option when terminating the zoom&trim mode with ''Esc'').

== Picture processing options ==

You can quickly access picture processing options with ''Shift+Ctrl+F8''. With this keyboard shortcut you will be able to quickly choose one of the following:

[[Image:Picture processing options.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Picture processing options available by pressing Shift+Ctrl+F8 (Image : Process from the image component menu)]]

*'''Zoom''' - enter the zoom&trim mode (you can enter this mode even faster with ''Alt+click'' over the image)
*'''Unzoom''' - unzoom the zoomed picture, i.e. show the entire original picture
*'''Extract''' (''Alt+X'') - extract portion of a picture into a new element. This work as follows: duplicate the element, clone the image, and enter the trim&zoom mode for pictures. This will, in essence, produce an extract in the same way as you produce a text extract in [[Incremental reading|incremental reading]]. Once you finish selecting or trimming the extract, press ''Esc'', and choose '''Permanently cut/crop the zoomed/trimmed image file'''. If you do not want the original picture to be marked with extract boundaries, respond with '''''No''''' to ''Replace picture with a JPG image?'' After executing '''Extract''', you will have two elements: the original picture with extract boundaries marked (or unchanged, if you do not want to modify the picture), and the new element with a new picture, which is a portion of the original picture (see: [[#Example|example]])
*'''Crop''' - delete invisible portions of the picture from the original file (i.e. reduce its size to the visible portion of the zoomed picture). This will affect all elements that use this picture
*'''Clone''' - create a copy of a picture in the image registry (this way, cropping a picture or marking it with extracted portions will not affect other elements that use the same picture in the collection)
*'''Compress''' - reduce the size of the picture by choosing a new size; compression will produce a file that is no greater than the size you choose. In most cases, you can compress a 2-5 MB picture to 200-500 kB without noticing the difference in quality
*'''Scale''' - reduce the size of the picture by reducing its quality, increasing compression, reducing its dimensions, trimming its edges, etc.

== Extracting pictures from larger pictures ==

Picture extracts are analogous to text extracts in [[incremental reading]]. They can also be executed with the same shortcut ''Alt+X''. Note that ''Alt+X'' will work as a picture extract if (1) no text is selected, and (2) there is a picture available in the element.

When you press ''Alt+X'' on a picture, the element will be duplicated (as is the case with text extracts), the picture will be cloned (i.e. a duplicate of its original will be created), and you will enter the zoom&trim mode described [[#Zooming, slicing, trimming, and cropping pictures | above]]. Once you zoom onto a portion of the picture, press ''Esc''. You will be given the same options as when quitting the zoom&trim mode (i.e. leave the picture zoomed, permanently crop it, or unzoom). Choose '''Permanently cut/crop the zoomed/trimmed image file'''. You will return to the original element from which an extract has just been made. SuperMemo will ask ''Replace picture with a JPG image?''.

[[Image:Replace_picture_with_a_JPG_image.jpg|800px|center|SuperMemo: The choice given to the user whether to mark the extracted portion with a bright yellow-red rectangle in the original picture]]

If you choose '''''Yes''''', the old picture will be marked with a bright yellow-red extract rectangle. If extract rectangles overlap, you may wish to answer '''''No''''' to make sure the extracts themselves do not get marked; however, in such a case you need to remember which portions of the picture have already been extracted.

=== Example ===

This large picture of Freiburg panorama is too large to view details in SuperMemo. You can therefore extract all interesting portions for independent review. After producing an extract, yellow-red border can indicate which portions of the picture have already been processed:

[[Image:Freiburg panorama (original).jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: The original picture of the Freiburg panorama (too large to view its details) from which 4 picture extracts (marked with bright yellow-red rectangles) have been produced]]

Individual extracts are small enough to view details without zooming:

[[Image:Freiburg panorama (extract).jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: The 2nd extract produced from the original picture of the Freiburg panorama (now small enough to view its details)]]

Instead of extracting portions of the panorama, you might as well zoom in. However, if you extract only a tiny portion of pictures from a very large image, extracts will consume less disk space (portions of the picture you are not interested in, will be discarded).

== FAQ ==

=== You may need to reconfigure your mouse for zooming ===

{{Mail Header
|from=Miko
|country=Poland
|sent=Sat, Apr 04, 2009, 06:32:05
|subject=Middle button does not zoom
}}

'''Question'''

This help topic says that if I middle-click a picture I will be able to zoom in on its parts. My mouse is Logitech MX-1000 Cordless Laser Mouse that features the middle button yet it does not seem to work as described.

'''Answer'''

Please check your mouse settings and reconfigure them if necessary. It often happens, especially with more advanced mouse models, that manufacturers assign various non-standard tasks to extra buttons of their pointing devices.

In this particular example, in order to reconfigure the middle button do the following:

#Double-click the Logitech SetPoint software icon in the notification area (colloquially known as the system tray) to open it
#In the '''My Mouse''' tab, click the '''Mouse Button Settings''' subtab
#If you have several pointing devices, select the device you want to customize from the '''Select Mouse''' drop down list
#In the '''Select Button''' list, highlight '''Middle Button'''
#Select '''Other''' in the '''Select Task''' list (the '''Select Function''' button will appear to the right)
#Click the '''Select Function''' button to open the '''Select Other Task''' dialog box
#In the dialog box, select '''Middle Button''' from the '''Select Task''' drop down list, and press '''OK''' to close the box
#Press '''OK''' to save the new task assignment

Priority queue

2009-06-08T20:41:44Z

Murakdar:

== Volume vs. Retention Battle ==

[[Incremental reading]] makes it easy to import large volumes of learning material from the Internet. By default, all imported material enters the learning process. As a result, large volumes of unprocessed information begin to compete for your attention with most important pieces of knowledge that you decided to remember. It is a clash of priorities. On one hand you want to ensure high [[Glossary#retention | retention]] of your mission-critical knowledge (as in classical SuperMemo), on the other you want to devour more and more new knowledge.

Before SuperMemo, your learning would largely be based on reading and reviewing books or your own notes. With older SuperMemos, you would divide your time between reading (on paper) and repetitions (on the computer). With incremental reading, those competing processes were blended into one. You can read and review concurrently in SuperMemo. However, for the most avid incremental readers, the balance of priority will always dangerously shift in favor of new reading at the cost of the previously acquired knowledge. This comes from human nature. New reading provides instant gratification: ''Today, I learned something new. I am wiser now''. Reviewing the material you already know will always feel like a burden. We are always unhappy with our forgetful memory. It always feels that the nature should have given us a natural choice of what to forget and what to remember without the painful effort of reviewing what we already know.

To settle the Volume-vs-Retention battle and to resolve the perpetual clash of priorities, you need better weapons than those made available by older SuperMemos. Before the arrival of SuperMemo 2006, you would need to use a complex set of tools to employ massive learning and still protect the retention of your most important knowledge. You would use complex concepts such as [[Glossary#A-Factor | A-Factors]], [[forgetting index]], [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review) | subset learning]], [[Postpone | selective postpones]], [[Browser menu | repetition sorting]], etc. These tools were poorly automated and required substantial effort and knowledge on your part. In practice, most incremental readers would have to opt for the simplest prioritization tool: ''moderation''. You could best protect your previous investment in learning by limiting your hunger for knowledge.

SuperMemo 2006 introduces a simple and fully automated mechanism that will help you combine high volumes of reading with high retention of the most important material. This mechanism is based on the concept of the '''priority queue'''.

== Priority Bias in Incremental Reading ==

In SuperMemo 2006, each element receives a priority from 0% to 100%. Elements sorted by their priority form the '''priority queue'''. An element's priority can also be expressed as its position in the priority queue. The most important element in your collections will sit at Position=1 of your priority queue. The queue is a relative queue. This means that if you, for example, insert an important article at Position=3, all items and articles at higher positions will be shifted by one position up in the queue (i.e. towards lower priority). Thus the element at Position=999 will be pushed to Position=1000, while the element previously sitting at Position=3 will now occupy Position=4. The first two elements in the queue, i.e. Position=1 and Position=2, will not move. The relative nature of the priority queue will help you instantly inspect the current priority of each element in your collection. In earlier versions of SuperMemo, you could observe crowding of elements at high-priority ranks. For example, you could amass a large number of topics with A-Factor=1.01 and be practically unable to prioritize within that group. (A-Factor=1.01 is the lowest possible and would correspond to the highest priority.)

The fundamental rationale for using a relative priority queue is the existence of a form of cognitive bias, which we will call the ''priority bias''. This bias makes us always think that the newly found article is extremely important to read. The new article feels so important, because we underestimate the value of all the previously imported articles. Our memory is unable to produce an effective estimate of the importance of the current mass of remembered knowledge. Even less so is it capable of producing a remotely accurate estimate of the importance of the mass of knowledge stored in your incremental reading process (of which, usually, only a tiny fraction is part of your long-term memories). The net effect is that we always underestimate the volume of what we know, the volume of what we keep in incremental reading, and the importance distribution of those volumes of knowledge. This psychological mechanism is also the primary force that works against the universal adoption of SuperMemo. Humans are, by biological design, very weak at estimating the size of their knowledge, the cost of learning, and the power of forgetting. As a result, without an intimate knowledge of what SuperMemo is, individuals rarely ever pause to sense the need to use [[Glossary#spaced repetition | spaced repetition]]. This underestimation effect is by far more damaging in the case of [[Incremental reading | incremental reading]], which is far more complex and has still not been explained in sufficiently simple and catchy terms.

By employing the ''priority queue'', SuperMemo will help you visualize the ''priority bias'' and the process in which large volumes of new material quickly displace the old material from your learning focus. Moreover, SuperMemo highly automates the process in which you can handle material overflow and reconcile high retention with high volumes of learning. Incremental reading has always boasted of its capacity to bring the volume of learning to unprecedented levels. With the'' priority queue'', you can nearly take away the ''moderation'' factor and increase the volume of learning even further without undue worry about your hard-earned knowledge.

== Priority Queue in SuperMemo ==

You can define an element's priority by pressing ''Alt+P'' (or choosing '''Learning : Priority : Modify''' on the [[Element menu]]).

[[Image:Element priority.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: "Element priority" dialog box which you can use to modify the priority of an element]]

To set the element's priority, you can either choose the position of the element in the priority queue (from 1 to [[Statistics window|'''Total''']]), or you can choose the percent value (from 0% to 100%). '''Position'''=1 corresponds to '''Percent'''=0%. '''Position'''=[[Statistics window|'''Total''']] corresponds to '''Percent'''=100%.

'''Important! Low position and low percent mean high priority!''' This counterintuitive choice was made due to the fact that you are more likely to choose a high priority of 0% or 1% than the low priority of 99% or 100%. Typing the number ''2'' takes much less time than typing the number ''98'' (roughly 3-4 times less). As you are likely to set priority manually many times in the course of a single learning session, this choice will save you a lot of typing time over years of learning.

You can use '''Learning : Priority : Increase''' on the [[Element menu]] (''Shift+Ctrl+Up'') to increase the priority of an element, or '''Learning : Priority : Decrease''' (''Shift+Ctrl+Down'') to decrease it. Those operations also affect the forgetting index of [[Glossary#item|items]] and the A-Factor of [[Glossary#topic|topics]].

You can view your entire priority queue with '''[[View menu|View]] : Priority queue''' on the [[Main menu]].

== Sorting repetitions ==

In a high-volume incremental reading process, you will be served more elements in a single day than you could possibly manage to process in a week (or worse). It is therefore vital that you begin your review process from elements of the highest priority. Low priority elements might linger in the queue for months or years. High priority items should be reviewed at the exact time that SuperMemo finds optimum. Only this way will you be able to meet your [[Forgetting index | ''requested forgetting index'']] criteria for high-priority material while still being under no pressure to limit your hunger for knowledge. In simpler terms, in an overloaded learning process, the SuperMemo promise of "excellent memory" will only apply to your top-priority material. The lower the priority, the lower the retention (see: '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : [[Analysis]] : Graphs : Forgetting index vs. Priority''' for empirical evidence).

By default, your repetitions will be '''auto-sorted''' at the beginning of each learning day (unless you uncheck '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Sorting : Auto-sort repetitions'''). This means that the elements reviewed on a given day will be ordered by priority. In addition to auto-sorting, you can also sort the learning queue manually at any time with '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Sorting : Sort now'''.

You will quickly discover that a precise sort executed strictly along the priority criteria has serious flaws. On one hand, due to the ''priority bias'', you will quickly displace older high-quality material with whatever dominates your current interests. That would be a throwback to your pre-SuperMemo times when you kept reading new material, while forgetting your previous investment in learning. New material always feels very important and will always show a tendency to shift all your previous learning towards lower priority. In addition, you might overwhelm your classical SuperMemo repetitions (i.e. question-and-answer review) with the inflow of new articles to read. Again, instead of making sure your previous investment becomes durable, you keep rushing through new material and forgetting the old.

SuperMemo solves the problems of the ''priority bias'' and the problem of the massive inflow of topics by letting you define (1) the proportion of topics in learning, and (2) a degree to which the learning queue is randomized.

[[Image:repetition_sorting_criteria.jpg|547px|center|SuperMemo: Sorting items and topics taking part in the learning process using various criteria (priority, randomization, proportion of topics, etc.)]]

<blockquote>

''Sorting criteria in SuperMemo (click to enlarge). Only a small proportion of time-consuming topics is allowed in the learning queue. This proportion is chosen to maximize the fun and efficiency of learning: sufficient inflow of new material combined with the necessary review of your previous investment. Some degree of randomization in the learning sequence is permitted. This way you can re-discover precious articles that were displaced in priority by a massive inflow of new material.''

</blockquote>

You can determine the sorting criteria by using '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Sorting : Sorting criteria'''.

You need to adjust the proportion of topics and the degree of randomization by trial and error. This will all depend on your goals and preferences. If you admit too few topics in the process, you will not gain much new knowledge. If you admit too many topics, you will start forgetting previously learned material. If you randomize the learning queue too much, the whole prioritization mechanism will unravel, and your retention of high-priority material will drop. If you sort repetitions strictly by priority, the new material will keep displacing the old material due to the ''priority bias''. Even for item repetitions, where the ''priority bias'' is less prominent, a degree of randomization will help you increase the priority of less appreciated items, disperse clozes generated from the same extract, and compensate some loss in retention by improving the overall speed of learning (through [[Glossary#spacing effect | ''spacing effect'']]).

== Auto-sorting and auto-postpone ==

It is recommended that you leave two default options checked:

* '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Sorting : Auto-sort repetitions''' and
* '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Postpone : Auto-postpone'''. 

This way you will nearly never have to worry about material overload. Each time you start SuperMemo for the first time on a given day, it will first postpone repetitions that you failed to execute on previous days. It will use default postpone criteria which you can always modify (e.g. with '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : [[Postpone | Postpone]] : All elements'''). After postponing the backlog of repetitions, SuperMemo will sort today's repetitions and those that were left outstanding by auto-postpone. Auto-sort will use sorting criteria specified earlier with '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Sorting : Sorting criteria'''.

With auto-postpone and auto-sort, you can always begin your day with a manageable portion of material sorted by priority. Your learning sequence will be optimized with no options to choose, and no keys to press.

== Random repetitions ==

To make sure you have a good understanding of the contents and distribution of material in your collection, you should make thoroughly randomized repetitions from time to time. You can randomize repetitions with '''[[Learn menu | Learn]] : Random : Randomize repetitions''' (''Shift+Ctrl+F11''), or with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Mercy]]''' with '''[[Mercy criteria | Criteria]] : Sorting options''' set to '''Randomize'''.


Occasional random repetitions may be quite revealing as they will not favor any portions of your material. Accurate processing will not be increased for elements with: short intervals, specific element type (e.g. articles, extracts, question-and-answer items, etc.), contents (i.e. branch of the knowledge tree), the degree of processing, nor (perhaps most importantly) the priority. Random repetitions will help you better understand possible negative trends such as excessive inflow of new material, lower retention (mostly as a result of frequent rescheduling), poor formulation of newly created cloze deletions, low quality or applicability of the acquired knowledge, excessive emphasis on certain subject at the cost of other subjects, etc. Most importantly though, random repetitions should help you sense the power of the ''priority bias''.

== Summary ==

* SuperMemo 2006 introduces the priority queue in which each element has a specific priority from 0% to 100%
* The highest priority is 0%. The lowest priority is 100%
* SuperMemo 2006 can auto-postpone the excess of the outstanding material
* SuperMemo 2006 uses the priority queue to auto-sort the learning queue. This means that each day, you will first be served high-priority elements
* Priority queue softens the need for ''moderation'' in learning; however, it does not entirely solve the ''priority bias'' (i.e. your tendency to attach excessive priority to new material)
* SuperMemo 2006 automates ''moderation'' by strictly limiting the inflow of topics into the learning process
* SuperMemo 2006 helps you combat the ''priority bias'' by a degree of randomization in sorting the learning queue
* In a heavily overloaded learning process, the retention of low-priority material will drop substantially
* New tools introduced in SuperMemo 2006 will help you '''increase the volume of learning''', and yet '''increase the retention of top-priority material'''

Forgetting index

2009-06-08T05:40:59Z

Murakdar:

== You can choose the speed of learning ==

Forgetting index is the proportion of elements that are not remembered at repetitions. It is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, if you choose the forgetting index to be 10%, SuperMemo will try to make sure that you remember 90% of elements at repetition time. '''The higher the forgetting index, the faster you learn, but the less you remember!''' You can choose the default forgetting index with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]'''.

== Extreme values of the forgetting index can be frustrating ==

SuperMemo makes it possible to choose a forgetting index in the range from 3% to 20%. Very often users of SuperMemo ask why there is a limitation on this range. Many of you would be tempted to set the forgetting index to 1% or even 0%. This would only result in unnecessary waste of time. A forgetting index of 0.00% would mean that the intervals between repetitions should equal 0! If you decided to choose a forgetting index of 1%, the repetitions would be so frequent that you would probably be discouraged to never come back to SuperMemo, without ever discovering its power. In addition, the [[Glossary#spacing effect | spacing effect]] would make your memories very weak. This would shorten intervals further and add more work and frustration.

If you do not have much experience with SuperMemo, you should set the forgetting index to 10%. This value is important for psychological reasons as well. If the forgetting index is too high, your repetitions will be stressful due to constant problems with recall. Your material will seem difficult to remember. This can be quite frustrating. On the other hand, if the forgetting index is too low, your repetitions will be annoyingly frequent. You will experience a sense of wasting your time on needless repetition.

<div class="inset" style="background-color: yellow;">

'''If you feel you remember too little, reduce the forgetting index. If you feel you repeat too often, increase the forgetting index. In most cases, the value of 8%-13% will work best'''

</div>

== Changing the forgetting index ==

# You can change the default forgetting index in your collection with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]'''
# You can change the default forgetting index of a given [[Categories | category]] by setting its '''Forgetting index''' field (e.g. in '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Categories'''). Use zero for the category forgetting index to make it reflect changes in the default forgetting index set in '''[[Options]]'''. Newly created categories use the default forgetting index set in '''[[Options]]'''
# You can also quickly change the forgetting index of individual items with [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+Shift+Up'']] and [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+Shift+Down'']]. Those operations affect the priority of elements, as well as the forgetting index of items, and the A-Factor of topics. For example, Ctrl+Shift+Up increases the priority of elements by decreasing priority percentage value, decreasing the forgetting index of items, and decreasing the A-Factor of topics.
# You can also change the forgetting index of elements with the [[Element parameters dialog box | '''Element parameters''']] dialog box (''Ctrl+Shift+P'') as well as with the [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | '''Element Priority''']] dialog box (''Alt+P'')

== Forgetting indexes used in SuperMemo ==

It is easy to confuse some terminology related to the forgetting index. Here is a short glossary:

* '''requested forgetting index''' - forgetting index that you want to achieve in learning. You ask SuperMemo to plan repetitions in such a way that your ''measured forgetting index'' reaches a given value. The requested forgetting index may be set for individual items (see: individual forgetting index) or for many items at once. To change the forgetting index for many elements, you can use the default forgetting index (see below) or branch operations in the contents window ('''[[Contents window | Contents]] : [[Contents menu#Node operations | Process branch]] : [[Contents menu#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]''')
* '''measured forgetting index''' - forgetting index as it is actually measured at repetitions. It is displayed in the [[statistics window]] as '''Measured FI'''. Measured forgetting index is usually higher than the requested forgetting index, esp. if the forgetting index is less than 5%. This comes from the fact that SuperMemo imposes some limitations on the length of intervals in order to prevent excessively frequent repetitions. Secondly, if you delay repetitions, skip repetitions on a given day, or use '''[[Postpone]]''', you step away from the optimum learning process and inevitably increase the measured forgetting index. Finally, in an overloaded learning process, the measured forgetting index of low-priority items is higher by design (see: '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : Analysis : Graphs : Forgetting Index vs. Priority'''. You can restart the measurements of the forgetting index with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : Reset parameters : Forgetting index record'''
* '''default forgetting index''' - requested forgetting index set for all items with the default individual forgetting index by means of '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]'''
* '''category forgetting index''' - requested forgetting index used in a given category. If it is set to zero, it is assumed to be the same as the '''default forgetting index'''
* '''individual forgetting index''' - requested forgetting index set for individual items. It can be seen in the [[Element data window]]. It can be set with [[Element parameters dialog box | '''Element parameters''']] dialog box ([[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+Shift+P'']]) or [[Priority of elements in incremental reading | '''Element Priority''']] dialog box (''Alt+P''). You can also set forgetting indexes for an entire branch in the [[Contents window | contents window]] with '''[[Contents menu#Node operations | Process branch]] : [[Contents menu#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]'''
* (optional) '''expected forgetting index''' - expected probability of failing to recall a given element if the repetition takes place at a given moment. Used internally by [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]
* (optional) '''estimated forgetting index''' - value of the forgetting index derived from the scored grade on the basis of the correlation graph showing the relationship between the expected forgetting index and the average grade obtained at repetitions ([[Analysis#G-FI graph | G-FI graph]]). Used internally by [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]

== Retention is higher than 100% minus the forgetting index! ==

If you set your forgetting index to 10%, you will remember 90% of the material at repetitions. This does not imply that your knowledge retention will be 90% only. Your average retention will be nearly 95%! This comes from the fact that 90% refers to the retention at repetitions, while the initial retention right after the repetition is theoretically 100%. During the inter-repetition interval, retention is decreasing from 100% to 90%. On average you roughly remember 95% of the material. The exact formula linking the forgetting index with the retention is as follows ([http://supermemo.com/articles/theory.htm source]):

<div class="center">

''retention = -(forgetting index)/'''ln'''(1-(forgetting index))''

{| border="1"
| align="center" | '''Forgetting index'''
| align="center" | '''Retention'''
|-
| align="center" | '''3%'''
| align="center" | '''98.49%'''
|-
| align="center" | '''5%'''
| align="center" | '''97.47%'''
|-
| align="center" | '''10%'''
| align="center" | '''94.91%'''
|-
| align="center" | '''15%'''
| align="center" | '''92.29%'''
|-
| align="center" | '''20%'''
| align="center" | '''89.62%'''
|}

</div>

The reason that the retention is not equal to 1-0.5*(forgetting index) is that forgetting is approximately exponential in nature. Immediately after the repetition, forgetting proceeds at the highest rate.

== Do you know that...? ==

* you can sort elements by the forgetting index by clicking the '''FI''' column in the [[Browser | browser]] (browsers are available from the [[View menu | View]] menu)
* you can search for elements with a given requested forgetting index by means of '''[[View menu | View]] : [[Element filter | Filter]]'''
* you can see how SuperMemo plots the forgetting curve graphs and derives the length of the interval from the forgetting index. Try''' [[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : [[Analysis]] : [[Analysis#Curves | Curves]]'''
* you can see correlations between the forgetting index and other learning parameters that have been measured in a [http://supermemo.com/english/ol/analysis30.htm group of 32 students]
* the concept of the forgetting index was introduced only in [http://supermemo.com/english/sms.htm#whatsm6 SuperMemo 6 for DOS] in 1991. Earlier versions of SuperMemo worked as if the requested forgetting index was 10%. This value could not be changed
* individual forgetting indexes are kept in the file ''elinfo.dat'', the default forgetting index is kept in ''<collection name>.kno'' file, and category forgetting indices are kept in the category registry (see: [[Collection files | files used by SuperMemo]])

== FAQ ==

''(Tomasz Szynalski, Poland, Oct 18, 1998)'' '''Question''': What value of the [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] ensures the optimum ratio of ([[Glossary#retention | retention]])/(time spent per day)? '''Answer''': Paradoxically, the highest speed of learning can be accomplished ... without SuperMemo! In our daily life we pick up lots of facts that stay in our memory for long with few repetitions in lifetime! The problem is that these are usually not exactly the facts or rules that are critical to our goals. In other words, not the speed of acquiring new items counts but the speed of acquiring new items bearing a given content.

It is difficult to determine exactly what forgetting index brings the highest [[Glossary#acquisition rate | acquisition rate]]. [http://supermemo.com/articles/theory.htm#maximum speed Simulation experiments] have consistently pointed to the value of 25-30%. You can even plot speed-vs.-forgetting graph using your own actual learning material in SuperMemo 98 using '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : Simulation'''. You will probably also arrive at similar results

As you perhaps know, SuperMemo disallows of the forgetting index above 20%. This comes from the fact that you should aim at achieving high speed of learning combined with high retention of the learned material. Setting the forgetting index above 20% would be like giving up SuperMemo altogether and coming back to remembering only that what is easy to remember. In highly interlinked material where new knowledge depends on the previously acquired knowledge, high forgetting rate can even be more harmful

Nevertheless, if you want to maximize the speed of learning with little control over what actually stays in your memory, [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting index | set the forgetting index to 20%]]

----

''(Tomasz Szynalski, Poland, Oct 18, 1998)'' '''Question''': What retention can I obtain with the [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] set to 9%? What if I then change it to 12%? '''Answer''': For the forgetting index of 9%, the retention should be 95.4% (see the [[#formula | formula]] above). For 12%, the same figure will be 93.9%. Note that if your material is very difficult, your measured forgetting index may be higher than the requested forgetting index. This comes from the fact that SuperMemo imposes some boundary conditions on the increase of intervals. Elements that have been forgotten more than five times should be reformulated with a view to reducing their difficulty or increasing their mnemonic component.

If you initially set the forgetting index to 9% and later on increase it to 12%, you will probably start with retention of 94-95% which will later gradually decrease to 92-93% (after the change)

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''(Peter Cool, The Netherlands, Nov 6, 1998)'' '''Question''': I started with SuperMemo 70 days ago (your French plus some words added by me; total 1000 words). In the first weeks I made a lot of mistakes so my measured [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] was 20%. Although I make very few mistakes now during repetitions the forgetting index decreases very slowly. Is this normal? '''Answer''': The [[Statistics window#Measured FI | measured forgetting index]] includes the record of all repetitions made since you started learning. That is why it changes at an ever decreasing rate. If your performance is good and you would like to more accurately check your current forgetting index, you might reset the forgetting index measurements with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : Reset parameters : Forgetting index record'''. It will not affect the learning process per se

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''(Manfred Kremer, Germany, Sep 7, 1998)'' '''Question''': I noticed that frequently I get '''Optimum interval''' in the [[element data window]] shorter than the last interval displayed as '''Interval'''. Is it a bug in SuperMemo? '''Answer''': No. If your [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] is very low, e.g. 3%, SuperMemo will often conclude that you will stand 97% chance of remembering a given element only if your next interval is shorter than the presently used one. In such cases, it will not accept the new value and the new interval will be at least 5% longer than the previous interval. Please note that the forgetting index equal 3% should only be used for selected high-priority items. Keeping the forgetting index at this level throughout the [[Glossary#collection | collection]] will make repetitions annoying frequent and ineffective

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''(David Mckenzie, New Zealand, Apr 8, 1998)'' '''Question''': Why does not the first repetition after forgetting occur the next day after the unsuccessful repetition (this is advised by Tony Buzan and others)? '''Answer''': In SuperMemo, the length of the first interval is computed from the forgetting curve plotted in the course of repetitions. This is to make sure that a defined proportion of items is remembered (usually 80-97%). This proportion is programmed by means of the forgetting index. Depending on the forgetting index, the length of the first interval may range from 1 to 20 days, and is not set arbitrarily. It is computed from the record of repetitions and determined by the desired forgetting index (requested forgetting index is the proportion of items that are not remembered at repetitions). While Buzan's recommendation is valid in many cases, you should not forget that SuperMemo computes intervals with a high degree of accuracy. Accurate intervals cannot easily be predicted without a computer

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''(David Mckenzie, New Zealand, Apr 8, 1998)'' '''Question''': Is there any point in keeping [[Glossary#collection | collections]] separate? '''Answer''': No. Once you master [[Categories | categories]], [[templates]], and [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | subset operations]], there is no point. You gain global search, global [[Using registries | registries]], global repetitions, global optimization, etc. This would not be advisable in SuperMemo 7 as item difficulty measure (E-factor) was dependent on the average difficulty of [[Glossary#item | items]] in the collection. Presently, the item difficulty measure ([[Glossary#A-factor | A-Factor]], or absolute difficulty factor) is absolute and does not depend on the context in which an item is placed. Only the length of the first interval will significantly be affected by the average difficulty of items in the collection. However, this shall not bear dramatically on the [[Glossary#acquisition rate | speed of learning]]. Especially that variable [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] for individual items makes it possible to set different first intervals for whole contents [[Glossary#category | categories]] or [[Glossary#hierarchy node | branches]] of the [[Glossary#knowledge tree | knowledge tree]]

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''(Noel Clary, USA, Aug 17, 1998)'' '''Question''': I have created my own database on plumbing and air conditioning. My [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]] is quite high. Are there any tools in SuperMemo which could help me remedy this situation? '''Answer''': You might want to use '''[[View menu | View]] : Other : [[Leeches]]''' and locate the [[Glossary#element | elements]] that cause most problems in learning. You must then go into your own mind to answer the question why these elements are hard to recall. Usually these are too complex, too long, too boring or too similar to other elements in the same collection. You can also send 3-4 most difficult items to us for review to receive some suggestions. Read more: [[leeches]], and [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 Rules of Formulating Knowledge]

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''(Matt Cassidy, New Zealand, Sep 11, 1997)'' '''Question''': Is it possible that with forgetting index equal to 3% I get the first interval equal to 6 days? '''Answer''': Yes. Especially if the material you work with is relatively easy. You should also remember about the random dispersion of intervals. In isolated cases, dispersion might produce intervals substantially longer (or shorter) than the optimum interval. For more read about [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]

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'''Question:''' Tony Buzan claims that 75% of information is lost if not reviewed in 24 hours. Does it not defeat the validity of SuperMemo in which the first interval is often longer than a week? '''Answer''': No. Buzan's claim may refer to textbook knowledge or complex knowledge structures (e.g. large mind maps). However, it does not seem accurate in reference to simple well-structured material in the light of results obtained with SuperMemo. In SuperMemo, if the student chooses the retention of 95%, the typical value of the first interval falls in the range 2-5 days depending on the student and the difficulty of the learned material. For retention 25%, the same interval might be as long as one month, though it cannot be verified experimentally with SuperMemo which limits the range of the forgetting index from 3-20%, which implies the overall retention in the range of 89-99%. For more see: [http://supermemo.com/articles/theory.htm Theoretical background of SuperMemo]

----

'''Question''': I used SuperMemo 2 shareware, and was accustomed to repeating forgotten items on the next day. It is very irritating that in new SuperMemo, I do not have this possibility '''Answer''': SuperMemo will schedule forgotten items in intervals that are determined by the [[Glossary#forgetting index | forgetting index]]. The greatest increase in the speed of learning in newer versions of SuperMemo as compared with SuperMemo 2 resulted from substantially increasing the length of the first interval. The student may be left with the feeling that he is likely to forget the item again if it is not repeated on the next day. Statistically, however, he will forget no more than the proportion defined by the forgetting index. By reducing the forgetting index to less than 5%, the length of the first interval is likely to drop to 1-2 days in most cases. Moreover, if you are particular about repeating a given item on the next day, you can choose [[Keyboard shortcuts | ''Ctrl+M'']] to memorize or rememorize an item with a selected first interval

----

'''Question''': I have an exam for a driver's license in 2 weeks. How can I best memorize the Traffic Regulations collection for SuperMemo? How can I increase the frequency of repetitions? '''Answer''': Although SuperMemo is not a cramming tool, and it would be much safer to start 2-3 months before the exam, the following shall work pretty well: (1) Set '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Glossary#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]''' at 3%. (2) When memorizing difficult items, choose ''Ctrl+M'' and provide the first interval value equal to one day. (3) Memorize the collection in equal portions in the period spanning from today to 2-4 days before the exam. Use '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Random review''' intensely over the last 2-4 days '''Warning!''' '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Glossary#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]''' will only affect the forgetting index in newly created categories and in element that use the default forgetting index (e.g. set in [[Element parameters dialog box | Element Parameters]] as 0). If your collection has the forgetting index of individual elements fixed, use '''Forgetting index : Set forgetting index''' in the [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | browser]] or in the [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser) | contents window]]

----

'''You can easily change the forgetting index from the keyboard''' ([[#5737-4493 |#5737]]) ''(J.P., Czech Republic, Sat, Jun 16, 2001 16:59)'' '''Question''': I find that changing the forgetting index of an element is pretty time-consuming without any keyboard shortcut '''Answer''': You can use ''Ctrl+Shift+Up'' and ''Ctrl+Shift+Down'' to quickly modify the forgetting index of an element. You can use also use ''Ctrl+Shift+P'' to open the [[Element parameters dialog box | Element Parameters]] dialog box and ''Alt+F'' to get to the forgetting index field

----

'''Retention statistic is based on the assumption of regular repetitions and well-structured learning material''' ([[#6918-2033 |#6918]]) ''(dansujp, Sun, Sep 16, 2001 3:07 PM)'' '''Question''': When I returned from vacation, I expected the retention to be something like 80% because I have not done any repetitions for two weeks. But it was exactly the same as before I left '''Answer''': The '''Retention''' statistic is derived directly from the measured forgetting index on the assumption of a negatively exponential forgetting curve. This curve is only representative of well-structured learning material. In addition, the forgetting index measurements are averaged over all recorded cases. A break in repetitions will invalidate the statistic. Resuming repetitions is not a guarantee of accuracy as the large number of earlier repetitions will result in overestimating the retention on a small-sample measurement. The only valid estimation of retention after a break in learning is the one that follows resetting the past forgetting index record ('''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : Statistics : Reset parameters : Forgetting index record'''). This will result in gathering new data that will approach true retention for the sample tested with accuracy proportional to the number of repetitions made

----

'''Use the default forgetting index to globally change the forgetting rate''' ([[#6321-4530 |#6321]]) ''(Jiri, Thursday, January 10, 2002 4:28 PM)'' '''Question''': What is the purpose of the default forgetting index available in '''[[Options]]'''? As far as I know, all newly created elements have the forgetting index set according to their categories and there I cannot choose the default forgetting index '''Answer''': '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : Learning : Forgetting Index''' (default forgetting index) will be used in items that have their requested forgetting index set to ''Default'' (internally represented as zero). All items with the default setting will use the default forgetting index currently selected in '''Options'''. You can set the default forgetting index with contents and browser operations ('''Forgetting index : Default forgetting index''')

----

'''Topics also use a forgetting index''' ([[#20768-5627 |#20768]]) ''(Terrence T., Feb 14, 2004)'' '''Question''': What is the meaning of forgetting index in topics? Should not this field be disabled? '''Answer''': The forgetting index field in topics has no impact on the way a topic is handled in the learning process. However, all cloze deletions generated from that topic will inherit its forgetting index. Also, all extracts will propagate the forgetting index to all its descendants. This way, you can reduce the forgetting index on very important articles to ensure better retention of the derived material. Lower forgetting index will also be used to protect your material from postpones when there is a heavy learning overload

----

'''A drop in the measured forgetting index is highly undesirable''' ([[#24805-2227 |#24805]]) ''(mahabharatta, Wednesday, March 31, 2004 6:28 PM)'' '''Question''': My measured forgetting index went up to 90%. I introduced a HUGE load of material over a short time period around 4 months ago. There was a 4 day burden of 900. In the last 3 months I've been introducing new materials sporadically, never more than 100 elements in one day, 300 in a week. During this period the measured forgetting index has been dropping. Today it is 29.9%. Is this normal? '''Answer''': Forgetting index of 90% tells you, you have introduced too much material at once. The time needed to recover will depend on the degree of overload and the complexity of the material. With forgetting index above 30%, your learning efficiency will not be much better from that achieved without SuperMemo. However, in the long run, if you make order in the learning process, this hectic period can still bring fruit.

Analysis

2009-06-08T04:09:53Z

Murakdar:

__NOTOC__

The tabbed dialog available with '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : Statistics : Analysis''' in SuperMemo provides graphs and tables that illustrate the current state of the learning process in the currently opened collection.

The following tabs are available in the '''Analysis''' dialog box:

*[[#Distributions|Distributions]]
*[[#Curves|Forgetting curves]]
*[[#3-D_Curves|3-D Curves]]
*[[#Graphs|Graphs]]
*[[#3-D_Graphs|3-D Graphs]]
*[[#Approximations|Approximations]]
*[[#Matrices|Matrices]]
*[[#Use|Use]]

In addition to '''Analysis''', SuperMemo provides multiple other [[Theory|analytical tools]].

== Distributions ==
<blockquote>
'''Intervals''' - distribution of inter-repetition intervals in a given collection. By changing the setting of the combo box at the bottom of the dialog, you can see interval distributions for all elements in the collection, for only items, and for only topics.
 
'''A-Factors''' - distribution of [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factors]] in a given collection. The distribution itself is not used in [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm Algorithm SM-11], and merely results from it. Note that topics and items use different A-Factor categories. Choose ''Items only'' or ''Topics only'' at the bottom to see distributions for items or topics. If you choose ''All elements'' you will see a less meaningful conglomerate distribution indexed by A-Factor category number.
[[Image:AFactors distribution.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Distributions : A-Factors shows you how A-Factors are distributed in your collection]]
 
'''Repetitions''' - distribution of the number of repetitions of items or topics in a given collection; only [[Glossary#memorized_element|memorized elements]] are considered in the distribution, i.e. there is no zero-repetitions category.
 
'''Lapses''' - distribution of the number of times particular elements in the collection have been forgotten; only [[Glossary#memorized_element|memorized elements]] are considered. As topics are never "forgotten" at repetition time, there are no lapses listed in '''Lapses''' if you select ''Topics only'' in the element type combo box.
[[Image:Lapses distribution.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Distributions : Lapses shows you how memory lapses are distributed in your collection]]
</blockquote>

== Forgetting Curves ==

400 forgetting curves are independently plotted in order to compute the RF matrix in [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm Algorithm SM-11]. These correspond to twenty repetition number categories multiplied by twenty [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]] categories. (Note that for data representation convenience, the columns of the RF matrix for the first repetition are indexed by the number of [[Glossary#lapse|memory lapses]] rather than A-Factor.) By choosing a proper combination of tabs at the bottom of the graph, you can select a forgetting curve of interest. Horizontal axis represents time expressed as: (1) U-Factor, i.e. the ratio of subsequent inter-repetition intervals, or (2) days (only for the first repetition). Vertical axis represents [[Glossary#retention|knowledge retention]] in percent.

[[Image:Forgetting curves.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Forgetting Curves graphs for 20 repetition number categories multiplied by 20 A-Factor categories]]

Blue circles in the picture represent data collected during repetitions. The larger the circle, the greater the number of repetitions recorded. The red curve corresponds with the best-fit forgetting curve obtained by exponential regression. (Note that for ill-structured material the forgetting curve is crooked, i.e. not exactly exponential.) The horizontal green line corresponds to the [[Forgetting index#requested_forgetting_index|requested forgetting index]], while the vertical green line shows the moment in time in which the approximated forgetting curve intersects with the requested forgetting index line. This moment in time determines the value of the relevant R-Factor, and indirectly, the value of the optimum interval. (For the first repetition, R-Factor corresponds to the first optimum interval.) The values of O-Factor and R-Factor are displayed at the top of the graph. They are followed by the number of repetition cases used to plot the graph. At the beginning of the learning process, there is no repetition history and no repetition data to compute R-Factors. It will take some time before your first forgetting curves are plotted. For that reason, the initial value of the RF matrix is taken from the model of a less-than-average student. The model of average student is not used because the convergence from poorer student parameters upwards is faster than the convergence in the opposite direction.

== 3-D Curves ==

These graphs show the forgetting curves in 3 dimensions. Each graph corresponds with a different A-Factor (from 1.2 to 6.9). The X axis represents time (as in '''Forgetting curves'''). The Y axis represents repetition category. The vertical Z axis represents retention in percent. For better visibility, you can rotate 3-D forgetting curves with '''Rotate''', or smooth them with '''Smooth'''. Note that smoothing proceeds along the Y axis. This makes it possible to align incompletely plotted forgetting curves from different repetition categories. However, once you click '''Rotate''', Y axis smoothing will produce a different result. For the best illustration of the forgetting process, smooth the graph before you rotate it.


== Graphs ==
<blockquote>
'''Forgetting Index vs. Priority''' - this graph shows you how forgetting depends on the [[Priority of elements in incremental reading|priority]] of the learning material. If you always go through your outstanding material in time and if you stick to the [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of knowledge formulation], your [[Glossary#measured_forgetting_index|measured forgetting index]] should be the same as the [[Glossary#requested_forgetting_index|requested forgetting index]]. This graph will then show a flat straight line passing horizontally at the level of the forgetting index. However, once you start overloading the learning process and using '''[[Postpone]]''' or '''[[Mercy]]''', your measured forgetting index will increase. If you always sort your repetitions by priority (e.g. by leaving '''[[Learn menu|Learn]] : Sorting : Auto-sort repetitions''' checked), you should still ensure that your measured forgetting index equals the requested forgetting index for high priority elements (i.e. on the left side of the graph). Your measured forgetting index for low priority material will be higher, and the greater the overload the greater the difference. If you change your repetition sorting criteria by increasing randomization of repetitions, this graph will be flatter and the measured forgetting index for high priority material will be higher.
 
'''First interval''' - the length of the first interval after the first repetition depends on the number of times a given item has been forgotten. Note that the first repetition here means the first repetition after forgetting, ''not'' the first repetition ever. In other words, a twice repeated item will have the repetition number equal to one after it has been forgotten; the repetition number will not equal three. The first interval graph shows exponential regression curve that approximates the length of the first interval for different numbers of [[Glossary#lapse|memory lapses]] (including the zero-lapses category that corresponds with newly memorized items). In the graph below, blue circles correspond to data collected in the learning process (the greater the circle, the more repetitions have been recorded).
 
''In the graph below, which includes data from over 130,000 repetitions, newly memorized items are optimally repeated after seven days. However, items that have been forgotten 10 times (which is rare in SuperMemo) will require an interval of two days. (Due to logarithmic scaling, the size of the circle is not linearly proportional to the data sample; the number of repetition cases for lapses=0 is by far larger than for lapses=10, as can be seen in '''Distributions : Lapses'''.)''
[[Image:First interval.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Graphs : First Interval shows you exponential regression curve that approximates the length of the first interval for different numbers of memory lapses]]
 
'''D-Factor vs. A-Factor''' - DF-AF graph shows decay constants of the power approximation of R-Factors along columns of the RF matrix. You need to understand [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm] to understand this graph. The horizontal axis represents [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]], while the vertical axis represents D-Factor (i.e. Decay Factor). D-Factor is a decay constant of the power approximation of curves that can be inspected in the '''Approximations''' tab of the '''Analysis''' dialog box.
 
'''First Grade vs. A-Factor''' - G-AF graph correlates the first grade obtained by an item with the ultimate estimation of its [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]] value. At each repetition, the current element's old A-Factor estimation is removed from the graph and the new estimation is added. This graph is used by [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm] to quickly estimate the first value of A-Factor at the moment when all we know about an element is the first grade it has scored in its first repetition.
 
'''Grade vs. Forgetting Index''' - FI-G graph correlates the expected forgetting index with the grade scored at repetitions. You need to understand [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm] to understand this graph. You can imagine that the forgetting curve graph might use the average grade instead of the [[Glossary#retention|retention]] on its vertical axis. If you correlated this grade with the [[Forgetting index|forgetting index]], you would arrive at the FI-G graph. This graph is used to compute an estimated forgetting index that is in turn used to normalize grades (for delayed or advanced repetitions) and estimate the new value of item's A-Factor. The grade is computed using the formula: ''Grade=Exp(A*FI+B)'', where A and B are parameters of an exponential regression run over raw data collected during repetitions.
[[Image:Grade vs Forgetting index.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Graphs : Grade vs. Forgetting index graph]] </blockquote>

== 3-D Graphs ==

3-D graphs that visually represent RF, OF, and Cases matrices (see: [[#Matrices|'''Matrices''']] below)

== Approximations ==

Twenty power approximation curves that show the decline of R-Factors along columns of the RF matrix. You need to understand [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm] to understand these graphs. For each [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]], with increasing values of the repetition number, the value of R-Factor decreases (at least theoretically it should decrease). Power regression is used to illustrate the degree of this decline that is best reflected by the decay constant called here D-Factor. By choosing the A-Factor tab at the bottom of the graph, you can view a corresponding R-Factor approximation curve. The horizontal axis represents the repetition number category, while the vertical axis represents R-Factor. The value of D-Factor is shown at the top of the graph. The blue polyline shows R-Factors as derived from repetition data. The red curve shows the fixed-point power approximation of R-Factor. The green curve shows the fixed-point power approximation of R-Factor derived from the OF matrix; this is equivalent to substituting the D-Factor obtained by fixed-point power approximation of R-Factors for the D-Factor obtained from DF-AF linear regression. A fixed-point approach is used for both approximations since for the repetition number equal to two, R-Factor equals A-Factor.

== Matrices ==

You need to understand [http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm] to understand these tables.
<blockquote>
'''OF matrix''' - matrix of optimal factors indexed by the repetition number and [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]] (except for the first repetition, A-Factor is replaced with memory lapses)
 
'''RF matrix''' - matrix of retention factors
 
'''Cases''' - matrix of repetition cases used to compute the corresponding entries of the RF matrix (double click an entry to view the relevant forgetting curve). This matrix can be edited manually (e.g. if you want to change the weight of some measurements during repetitions)
 
'''Intervals''' - matrix of optimum intervals derived from the OF matrix '''D-Factors''' - vector of D-Factor values for different [[Glossary#A-factor|A-Factor]] values (also repetition cases used in computing particular D-Factors)
</blockquote>

== Use ==

Graphs of changes in the statistics of the learning process over time. These graphs record daily changes to statistics such as the number of memorized items, measured forgetting index or the number of outstanding items for a given day. The first non-zero value of the day is recorded. If that value increases afterwards, that increase is ignored (except a few cases such as the statistic of newly memorized items, etc.). If you have a break in learning, the last recorded non-zero value will propagate through the period in which you did not use SuperMemo (except a few cases such as the statistics of repetitions made, etc.).

To zoom in on a portion of the graph (as in pictures below), sweep the portions of the graphs that are to be removed with the mouse, i.e. point at the day of focus, move the mouse left and release the mouse button. This cuts away part of the graph in the direction that the mouse was moved. You can also use ''Ctrl+Left'' and ''Ctrl+Right'' buttons to zoom in.

Here are the statistics recorded daily by SuperMemo and displayed on the '''Use''' tab:

#'''Work done'''
#*'''Use time''' - your daily total time in which you actively used a given collection (as recorded in '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : Timeline''')
#*'''Recall time''' - your daily total time which you spent on trying to recall answer to questions
#*'''Repetitions''' - your daily recorded number of item and topic reviews
#*'''Item repetitions''' - your daily record of item repetitions
#*'''Topic repetitions''' - your daily record of topic reviews
#'''Outstanding''' - number of outstanding elements scheduled for a given day
#*'''Outstanding''' - number of all outstanding elements scheduled for a given day
#*'''Outstanding items''' - number of outstanding items scheduled for a given day
#*'''Outstanding topics''' - number of outstanding topics scheduled for a given day
#'''Burden'''
#*'''Burden''' - current [[Glossary#burden|''Burden'' parameter]] record. Burden estimates the number of elements scheduled for repetition daily on the assumption of no delays in the learning process. Burden is the sum of interval reciprocals. '''Burden = Item burden + Topic burden'''
#*'''Item burden''' - current '''Burden''' for items
#*'''Topic burden''' - current '''Burden''' for topics
#'''Element count'''
#*'''Elements''' - total number of elements in the collection as recorded on a given day (i.e. topics + items + tasks)
#*'''Items''' - number of items in the collection as recorded on a given day
#*'''Topics and tasks''' - number of topics and tasks in the collection as recorded on a given day (see an exemplary graph below)
#'''Memorized'''
#*'''Memorized''' - number of elements taking part in the learning process (i.e. not dismissed and not pending)
#*'''Memorized items''' - number of items taking part in the learning process
#*'''Memorized topics''' - number of topics taking part in the learning process
#'''Newly memorized'''
#*'''Newly memorized''' - new elements memorized on a given day (see an exemplary graph below)
#*'''New items''' - new items memorized on a given day
#*'''New topics''' - new topics memorized on a given day
#'''Efficiency'''
#*'''Forgetting index''' - [[Forgetting index|measured forgetting index]]
#*'''Retention''' - retention as measured on each day
#*'''Topic load''' - proportion of topics scheduled for review on a given day among all elements scheduled
#'''Overload''' - the number of executed repetitions divided by the number of outstanding repetitions (i.e. the percent of the actually executed repetitions)
#*'''Elements''' - the percent of all outstanding repetitions executed
#*'''Items''' - the percent of outstanding item repetitions executed
#*'''Topics''' - the percent of outstanding topic reviews done
#'''Priorities missed''' - your processing capacity for high priority material on a given day. If your graph oscillates around Priority of 3%, you will know that only top 3% of your learning material is guaranteed a timely repetition. You can increase that number by doing more work, reducing inflow of new material, or reducing the randomization degree for the outstanding queue sorting criteria.
#*'''Items''' - the highest priority item (with the lowest %) that was missed in repetitions. (The actual % in the outstanding queue can be much higher (because you mostly review high priorities))
#*'''Topics''' - the highest priority topic (with the lowest %) that was missed in repetitions. (see an exemplary graph below)

Exemplary graph showing the total number of topics stored in the collection. The data displayed at the bottom depends on the position of the mouse. In this example, it indicates that on Mar 6, 2009, there were 251,228 topics in the incremental reading process.

[[Image:Topics and tasks count.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Use : Element count : Topics and tasks shows you how many topics and tasks there were in your collection on individual days]]

Exemplary graph showing the number of elements memorized on individual days. By sweeping away the left and right part of the graph, it is possible to zoom in on a small section of the learning process. The period shown on the graph spans from Jul 1, 2008 to Mar 19, 2009.

[[Image:Newly memorized.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Use : Newly memorized shows you how many elements you memorized on individual days]]

Exemplary graph enabling a more meaningful analysis of the forgetting index: changes to forgetting index in '''Analysis''' use the daily measured forgetting index (previously: less informative cumulative measured forgetting index value was used taken for the entire period since the last use of '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : Statistics : Reset parameters : Forgetting index record'''). Note that the priority queue may distort the actual retention in your collection as measured values are primarily taken from top-priority material. Thus measured forgetting index should be understood as "forgetting index measured at repetitions", not as "overall measured forgetting index".

[[Image:Daily measured forgetting index.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Use : Efficiency : Forgetting index shows you the changes to the measured forgetting index on individual days]]

Exemplary graph showing the highest priority topic (with the lowest priority %) that was missed in repetitions. The data displayed at the bottom depends on the position of the mouse. In this example, it indicates that on Feb 13, 2009, the worst miss amongst topics was a topic with Priority equal to 3.11% standing at the position 85 of the queue of the most important topics to review.

[[Image:Priorities missed Topics.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Statistics : Analysis : Use : Priorities missed : Topics shows your actual processing capacity for high-priority topics on individual days]]

== Further reading ==

*[http://supermemo.com/faq/memory.htm FAQ: Memory and learning]
*[http://supermemo.com/articles/theory.htm SuperMemo Theory]
*[http://supermemo.com/english/algsm11.htm SuperMemo Algorithm]

Concepts

2009-06-05T06:05:40Z

Murakdar: /* What are categories? */

== What are categories? ==

When you work with a [[Glossary#collection | collection]] which includes material belonging to different subjects, you will want to keep different subjects in different sections of the [[Glossary#knowledge tree | knowledge tree]] (in the [[Glossary#contents window | contents window]]). You may also want to design a different look for [[Glossary#items | items]] related to literature, and a different look for questions related to mathematics. For example, you could use pictures to illustrate your anatomy branch, sounds to illustrate your foreign language section, spell-pads to make your spelling section work best, etc.

To help you organize different subjects in one collection, SuperMemo introduces the concept of a [[Glossary#category | category]]. A category can be seen as a tool for building a section of the [[Glossary#knowledge tree | knowledge tree]]. One category is used for adding material related to one subject. [[Glossary#element | Elements]] added to a given category may use their own [[Glossary#template | template]] that determines their look (e.g. images, sounds, colors, fonts, sizes of text fields, number of shape components, etc.). It is highly recommended that you learn about templates before using categories. See: [[Templates | Using templates]].

Once you understand the concept of the category, it will become very easy to manage a large number of items belonging to entirely different areas of knowledge.

== Creating a category ==

You can easily create a new category using the following steps:

# Choose '''Edit : Create category''' on the [[main menu]]
# Choose a branch in the knowledge tree where a category should be inserted and click '''Next'''
# Type in '''Category name''' (e.g. ''geography'', ''biology'', etc.) and click '''Next'''
# If you want your category to use a different template use the '''Change''' buttons to select a new template. If you are not sure about templates, click '''Finish''' and SuperMemo will use default templates for your category. You can change category templates later by means of '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Categories'''. '''Template for items''' will determine the look of your question-answer items in the category. You can also choose other template formats for items (e.g. occlusion test, multiple choice test, etc.). '''Template for topics''' will determine how your category articles will look like (e.g. when you import them with ''Ctrl+Alt+N'' in [[incremental reading]])

=== Tips ===

* When you first create a category, SuperMemo will root it in an element in the knowledge tree (it will create a new element or use an existing element for that purpose). This new element is not the category itself. This new element is a special element called the [[Glossary#root node | '''root node''']]. Initially, it will have been assigned as both the root node and the hook node since it is the only element in the category for now. All elements that are descendents of this first element will be considered to be "''in''" the category.
* Press ''Alt+A'' if you want to add some elements to your new category. If you click '''Contents''', you will see your newly added elements become children of the root element (i.e. the branch created with '''Edit : Create category''').
* While there can be more than one category, there can only be one "current" category. As you create new elements (using any means other than directly in the [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | knowledge tree]]) they will be added to the current category. What this means is that they will be added as a child of the element currently assigned as the hook node. This is why it is called the "hook" node. It is the one that catches all the new elements. In addition to determining the new element's location, the current category determines most of the default properties for the new element. Most important is the default template
* If your [[Toolbar dock | '''Tools''' toolbar]] is visible, in the category combo box, you will see that your new category became the current category. This means that choosing '''Add new''' will add new items to your new category.
* You can also create a category by right-clicking on an existing branch in the [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window | knowledge tree]] and choosing '''New : Category'''. The location where to insert the category and the name will be automatically filled in based on the branch you right-clicked on. However, it will not convert that branch into a category. It will create a new branch that looks identical to the selected branch except that it is the root node for the new category
* By default, the top-most branch of any collection is a root node of the default category created while creating the collection. This category receives the same name as the collection

== Using categories ==

When you click the '''Add New''' button, the new element is created in the location and using the template determined by the current category as chosen in the drop down list of the combo box in the [[Toolbar dock | '''Tools''' toolbar]]. While you are creating new elements, if you decide you want this element to go into a different major portion of the knowledge tree then all you have to do is change the current category before creating the new element. That new element will then be placed in the appropriate location of that other section of the tree and the appropriate template will be used. If you start creating elements for a different subject then you just change the category again. In order to achieve this convenience it may be necessary to create a rather large set of categories, especially if you keep all your information in one collection. You may want to create categories for more than just each major "category" of information. You may want to create one for each type of question you might ask for each different subject. You may even want to break your subjects down into smaller sub-topics so that you can choose an appropriate category to get the new elements closer to other related information. In [[incremental reading]], instead of frequently changing categories while adding new items, you are more likely to use a big ''TO DO'' category, and move individual items to their final categories only when they are finished in the incremental learning process (e.g. with ''Shift+Ctrl+P'').

=== Tips ===

* If you define a new look for items in your collection, you can press ''Ctrl+Alt+M'' to save the look as the default template for the current category ('''Template : Save as default''' on the [[element menu]])
* You can right-click anywhere in the knowledge tree and choose '''New : Item''' and SuperMemo will create an element there. However, it will then use its own pre-defined item template. This can be confusing
* Since there is no way to tell by looking at it whether an element in the tree is a root node of a category it may be a good idea to prefix the names of these elements with ''Cat:'' (or similar)
* If you delete a category from the category registry, it does not delete the associated portion of the knowledge tree. You can create a new category for that portion, or leave it without a category assignment. Conversely, if you delete the root node of a category, it does not delete the category. However, SuperMemo does issue a warning and changes the root and hook of that category to the top-most element in the tree
* It is possible to have more than one category have the same root and/or hook. This could be useful for quickly choosing among multiple templates while still putting new elements in the same location

== Category properties ==

If you would like to change category properties, choose '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Categories''' on the [[main menu]], or click the yellow button to the right of the categories drop down list in the [[Toolbar dock | '''Tools''' toolbar]]. You will see the category [[Registry window | registry]] with all categories that you have defined for the collection:

[[Image:Category_registry.jpg|800px|center|SuperMemo: Category registry which you can use to review categories (and change their properties) used in your collection]]

Each category in the registry is characterized by the following properties (compare with the picture above):

* '''name''' - the name of the category (e.g. ''Geography''). All category names are displayed on the left in the category registry. Category names are unique. If you try to create a second ''Geography'' category, SuperMemo will change the new name (e.g. to ''Geography#'', ''Geography@'' or similar)
* '''template''' - [[Glossary#template | template]] that determines the look of [[Glossary#item | items]] in the category
* '''root''' - the [[Glossary#element | element]] which is the ancestor of all elements included in the category (i.e. all elements in the category are [[Glossary#descendant | descendants]] of the root). By default, this is the same element that was added when using '''Edit : Create category'''
* '''hook''' - the element to which new category elements are added as children when you choose '''[[Add new]]''' (e.g. by pressing [[Keyboard shortcuts | Alt+A]]). This element is chosen automatically by SuperMemo and you do not have to change it. Hook is either equal to the root (e.g. at the beginning of the category's life) or is a descendant of the root (when the root already contains many children). Note that '''Add new''' adds elements to the hook of the current category (as selected in the category combo box on the [[Toolbar dock | '''Tools''' toolbar]]). Once the [[SuperMemo tab in Options#Limit | number of children]] in a given hook exceeds a defined limit, a new hook node is chosen automatically by SuperMemo. By default, this is also the same element that was added by using '''Edit : Create category'''
* '''ordinal''' - default ordinal in the category (use zero to make SuperMemo generate ordinals corresponding with the number of elements in the collection)
* '''forgetting index''' - default value of the requested forgetting index in the category (use zero to make the category reuse the [[Forgetting index | default forgetting index]] defined with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options | Learning]] : [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting index | Forgetting index]]''')
* '''auto-apply''' - property which determines if [[Templates | '''Apply template''']] is to be used automatically on elements transferred from another category to the category in question (as with ''Shift+Ctrl+P''). If '''Auto-Apply''' is checked, the template will be applied automatically. If it is unchecked, template will not be applied. If it is grayed, SuperMemo will prompt you before applying the category template (use the grayed option if you are not sure which one is appropriate)
* '''topic template''' - template used for topics in the category
* '''task template''' - template used for tasks in the category

== Using category registry ==

The category registry can be opened with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Categories''' on the [[main menu]]. Category registry is useful in the following circumstances:

# If you want to change the name of a category, use '''Rename''' in the category registry
# If you want to change the template used for items in the category, click the '''Template''' button in the category registry, select a new template from the template registry and choose '''Accept'''
# To delete a category, choose '''Delete''' in the category registry
# To decide if a template should be applied automatically when moving items into the category , use the '''Auto-Apply''' checkbox

It is not recommended to change '''Root''' or '''Hook''' manually (unless you fully understand the way SuperMemo builds category folders under the category root). Choosing it wrongly may result in an unexpected rearrangement of your entire knowledge tree (SuperMemo rebuilds the category tree when you add too many elements to its hook node).

== Conclusion ==

While it may seem complicated at first, with categories, it is really quite simple to create new elements. You can just keep pressing the '''Add new''' button confident that the new element is going to go right at the end of the list of elements under the hook node of the category you are currently working with. If you decide to look at some other element in the knowledge tree, you can go right back to adding new elements and they will still be added where they were being added before. This way, if you are reviewing elements in the tree and decide to add another element, it will go at the end of the list of elements for that category where it belongs.

== Summary ==

Here is the typical way of working with categories:

# Use '''Edit : Create category''' to create a category
# Use ''Ctrl+Alt+M'' to save the default item template (or use '''Search : Categories''' to change category templates)
# To start adding items to another category (e.g. to start working with ''Chemistry'' after finishing your work with ''Geography''), choose the new category in the category combo-box on the [[Toolbar dock | '''Tools''' toolbar ]]
# To move items from ''TO DO'' category to a target category (e.g. ''Chemistry''), press ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' and change the category in the '''Category''' combo and choose '''OK'''

== Further reading ==

[http://supermemo.com/help/faq/categs.htm FAQ: Categories in SuperMemo]

Access tab in Options

2009-06-05T05:57:34Z

Murakdar: grammar, etc

'''Access''' tab in '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]]''' (''Ctrl+Alt+O''):

[[Image:options_access.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Tools : Options : Access tab]]

* '''Secondary storage''' - path to the [[Glossary#secondary storage | secondary storage]] (e.g. a DVD drive) where large multimedia files are stored. If this path is left empty then the secondary storage path will be equal to the [[Glossary#primary storage | primary storage]] path, i.e. the path where the [[Glossary#collection | collection]] is located. You can move files of a given [[Glossary#registry | registry]] from a DVD to your hard disk with '''Tools : Internalize files''' on the [[registry menu]]. If you then delete the secondary storage path, you will be able to use the collection without a DVD drive.
* '''Access level''' - determines the difficulty level of SuperMemo (same as in '''[[File menu | File]] : [[Levels | Level]]'''):
** '''Beginner''' - provides only the most fundamental options: '''[[Learn]]''', '''[[Add new]]''', [[Contents window | '''Contents''']], '''Search''', etc.
** '''Basic''' - adds the possibility of creating and editing [[Glossary#component | components]], editing titles, etc.
** '''Middle''' - add many options of advanced user without rarely used options available only on the professional level
** '''Professional''' - provides access to all options implemented in SuperMemo
* '''Access mode''' - determines the scope of system editability:
** [[Glossary#read-only mode | '''read only''']] - makes it possible only to review the collection (e.g. on CD-ROM)
** [[Glossary#learn-only mode | '''learn only''']] - makes it possible to review the collection, learn new material, and repeat [[Glossary#outstanding material | outstanding material]]. Modifying the collection is not possible
** [[Glossary#full access mode | '''full access''']] - makes it possible to learn and edit the collection without limitation
* '''Default element''' - default element that is displayed when ''Esc'' is pressed or when the collection is first opened. To clear the default element, press ''Esc'' in the contents window while selecting the default element
* '''Password''' - password that is asked at the moment of opening a collection. '''Caution:''' SuperMemo does not use any sophisticated encryption; this password is easy to crack. Please do not store confidential data in your collection as this could easily be inspected with any file editor. Nevertheless, the password can be useful to prevent your kids from messing with your learning material or your colleague making accidental repetitions with your collection
* '''Compile lexicon on-the-fly''' - request for a [[Using registries#lexicon
| lexicon]] of words used in your collection to be compiled as you add new material. Leave this unchecked unless your collection is very small. This way your lexicon will only be rebuilt when you run '''[[File menu | File]] : Repair collection''' and check '''Rebuild lexicon'''. The lexicon is the list of all words used in the collection and is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Find word''' button in the element window. Remember that if you uncheck this option, your lexicon may include words that no longer exist in your collection and may not list words from newly added texts
* '''Move to next on category change''' - if you check this option, each time you move an element to a new category, the next element will be displayed. By default (with the option unchecked) the moved element is displayed. This option is useful if you are distributing large portions of the learning material between various categories; in such cases you often want to get to processing the next element once the previous one has been moved to its target branch
* '''Hide element toolbar''' - hide the caption and the [[element toolbar]] in the [[Glossary#element window | element window]]. This option can be used to take full control over the navigation in your own collection which you want to spread among others (e.g. your multimedia presentation). Instead of using the toolbar buttons '''[[Contents window | Contents]]''', '''Search''', etc. you can add your own buttons or hyperlinks. For example, [http://supermemo.com/english/ae.htm Advanced English 97] starts with the [[element toolbar]] hidden to reduce the chances that the user would stray from the introduction to Advanced English basics
* '''Hide Level menu''' - hide the '''Level''' submenu on the '''File''' menu. Use this option only if you want to produce an educational CD/DVD and you do not want your customers to move to levels other than the one you chose (e.g. to make sure that non-English users do not venture into complex English interface of '''Middle''' and '''Professional''' levels)
* '''Debugging version''' - maximize error checking in SuperMemo. This option will result in reporting bugs that otherwise would not disturb your work with SuperMemo. Use this option only if you participate in beta- or gamma-testing of SuperMemo

Using registries

2009-06-05T05:21:42Z

Murakdar: added link targets, like in Glossary

[[Registry window | Registries]] in SuperMemo are sorted sets of objects such as texts, pictures, fonts, templates, categories, tasklists, stylesheets, etc. Each registry is composed of [[Glossary#registry member | registry members]], which are named objects used by the collection.

'''Important!''' Registries in SuperMemo have nothing to do with the Windows registry (SuperMemo have been using registries before the release of Windows 95)!

[[Image:Image_registry.jpg|741px|center|SuperMemo: Image registry which you can use to review images used in your collection]]

<div class="center">

''An image registry is a set of image files sorted by image names. The picture presents a typical image registry. There are 9095 images in the registry (as displayed in the caption). Two images inguinal canal (fascia removed) and inguinal canal (posterior internal) are selected for further processing. Image names are displayed on the left. The currently displayed picture is one of inguinal canal (posterior internal). Individual elements in SuperMemo can focus on small portions of this large picture (e.g. external iliac vessels, inferior epigastric vessels, etc.). The list of elements using a given picture can be displayed at the bottom by clicking '''List'''. The status bar displays selected information about the current image. It is the 3794th image in the alphabetical order. It is used by 23 elements (items or topics). It is located on physical position 7691 in the registry. It occupies the file slot 235539 in the ELEMENTS subfolder. Its path and filename in the element folder is displayed next. The file is 90,455 bytes large. It was imported or created on Feb 02, 2008 at 7:12 am.''

</div>

By using registries, SuperMemo minimizes the space used by multimedia files by making sure that each object is stored only once and used by as many elements as necessary (through the access to the registry via so-called registry links). For example, if you import an image file into an image component of a given element (using [[Component menu#Import file | Import file]]), you can later link the same image file with another image component by means of '''Links : [[Component menu#Registry member | Registry member]]'''. By default, the name is the same as the original image filename, but you can change it at import or later on (e.g. with ''Alt+R'' if the image component is the current component).

These are the most important registries used by SuperMemo:

* '''text registry''' - stores all texts used in the collection (including sound texts, RTF texts, [[HTML component | HTML texts]] and Spell-Pad texts). Text registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Texts''' (''Ctrl+Alt+X'')
* '''lexicon registry''' - stores words used in the collection and keeps the record of text registry members that use a given word. Lexicon registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Lexicon'''. If your collection is very large or includes long texts, you may want to speed SuperMemo up by unchecking '''Compile lexicon on-the-fly''' in '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Access tab in Options | Access]]'''. If you do not compile the lexicon in real time, you can build it with '''File : Repair collection''' by checking '''Rebuild lexicon'''
* '''image registry''' - stores all images used by the collection (e.g. ''BMP'', ''GIF'', ''JPEG'', ''PNG'', etc.). Image registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Images'''
* '''sound registry''' - stores all sounds used by the collection (e.g. ''WAV'', ''MID'', ''MP3'', ''RMI'', etc.). Sound registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Sounds'''
* '''template registry''' - stores all [[Glossary#template | templates]] defined in the collection. You cannot link a template to a component. Instead, you apply a template to an element to change its appearance. Template registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Templates'''. You can view the templates on the right in the template registry window. Read more: [[Templates | Using templates]]
* '''category registry''' - stores all [[Glossary#category | categories]] used by your collection. You can use this registry to delete, rename or change the properties of categories. Most of all you will need this registry to change templates associated with a category. Category registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Categories'''. Read more: [[Categories | Using categories]]
* '''tasklist registry''' - stores all tasklists associated with your collections. You can use this registry to add, delete, rename or edit tasklists. For example, you can change the category in which tasks will be stored and the archive where the tasks will be moved after choosing '''Dismiss'''. Tasklist registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Tasklists'''. Read more: [[Tasklist manager]]
* '''reference registry''' - stores all references used in the collection. Reference registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : References'''
* '''font registry''' - stores fonts that can be used in [[Using text components | text components]]. Font registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Font'''
* '''translation registry''' - stores translation texts that correspond with the text registry in the currently selected translation language ('''[[Tools menu |Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options | Language]] : Collection translation'''). Translation registry, if created, is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : <Language> translation''' (<Language> here is the name of the translation language, e.g. ''French'', ''Swahili'', ''Spanish'', etc.). Current translation registry language can be changed with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options | Language]] : Collection translation'''
* '''phonetic transcription registry''' - is the only twin registry that is built of two conjunct registries: one containing individual words and the other containing their respective phonetic transcriptions. Transcription registry, if installed, is available from '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Pronunciation by word''' (individual words) or '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Pronunciation by sound''' (transcriptions). You can select a transcription registry suitable to a given language with '''[[Tools menu | Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Language tab in Options | Language]] : Phonetic transcription'''
* '''comment registry''' - stores comments used in the collection. Note that comments used in references are not stored in the comment registry. They are stored in the text registry along all other reference texts. Reference comments are comments on processed articles, while element comments are your private notes on articles, elements, learning process, etc. If you develop collections for others, treat reference comments as public comments, and element comments as your private comments. You can easily delete all element comments from a collection by deleting comments registry. Comments registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Comment'''
* '''video registry''' - stores video files. Video registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Video'''
* '''binary registry''' - stores all kinds of files used by your collection (''DLL'', ''EXE'', ''HLP'', ''MPEG'', ''MOV'', ''DOC'', ''PDF'', etc.). Binary registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Binary'''
* '''style registry''' - holds stylesheets used to format HTML texts. Style registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Style'''
* '''script registry''' - stores all scripts used in the collection. Script registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : Script'''
* '''OLE registry''' - stores [[OLE component | OLE objects]] imported from other applications (such as a Word file or Excel chart). OLE registry is available with '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Other registries : OLE object'''

It is worth noting that the lexicon registry stores all words used in a collection. The difference between the lexicon registry and the remaining registries is that individual words are not stored as links to a registry; therefore, deleting a word from the lexicon registry does not delete it from the collection. Instead, this word becomes unavailable from '''[[Search menu | Search]] : Lexicon'''. Newer versions of SuperMemo do not automatically build the lexicon for performance reasons. To build a lexicon check '''Rebuild lexicon''' while running '''[[File menu | File]] : Repair collection'''. Note that this process takes very long even for smaller collections.

Text translations are also stored as registries. These are equivalent to text registries and can be easily replaced by means of copying and renaming registry files. For example, if you have [[Translating collection | translated your collection]] to German by creating a translation registry called ''German'', you can copy ''German.*'' to ''text.*'' in the [[Collection files | ''REGISTRY'' subfolder]] and your original texts in the collection will be replaced with their translations to German (note that you will need to rebuild the lexicon in order to generate a lexicon of German words).

Components which use particular registry objects store only registry references, not objects themselves. For example, a sound component may store a reference to a sound registry for its sound file, and to text registry for its text. This approach makes sure that large objects (e.g. video files) can be reused without wasting disk space. Each time you import an new object with '''Import file''' on the [[component menu]], you add it to the appropriate registry. Similarly, each time you type a new text to text, spell-pad or sound components, you add it to the text registry.

Each time you link a [[Glossary#registry member | registry member]] with [[Component menu#Registry member | Links : Registry member]], the reference count of this particular member is incremented. In other words, SuperMemo knows how many components in the collection use that particular member. If you delete the last reference to a particular member, i.e. its reference count drops to zero, the corresponding registry object will be deleted with or without confirmation. For example, if the last component using a given image is deleted, you will be asked if you want that image to be removed from the image registry. However, if the last reference to a given text is deleted from the collection, its corresponding registry member will be deleted without confirmation

Subset operations

2009-06-05T04:58:09Z

Murakdar:

You can process all elements in a given collecton, in a given branch of the [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window|knowledge tree]] or in a [[Browser]] by means of the subset processing menu. This menu is available as '''Process collection''' on the [[File menu|File]] menu, as '''Process branch''' on the [[Contents menu]], or as '''Process browser''' on the [[Browser menu]]. It can also be accessed in the [[Contents_window|contents window]] and in the [[Browser|browser window]] with a dedicated menu button on the toolbar (second from the left in both cases).

The options of the subset processing menu are listed below. ''Subset elements'' should be understood as ''the elements of a given collection'', ''the elements of a given branch'' or ''the elements listed in the browser'' (depending on the context in which the menu is used: [[File menu|File]] menu, contents, or browser, respectively).

*'''Learning'''
**[[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review)|'''Learn''']] (''Ctrl+Alt+L'') - make outstanding repetitions on elements included in the subset. The sequence of repetitions is determined by how elements are sorted in the subset (i.e. not by the global repetition schedule). Once outstanding repetitions are made, proceed with memorizing subset elements that are listed in the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]]
**[[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review)|'''Review all''']] - review all elements in the subset. Elements that are not outstanding are subject to mid-interval repetition. Mid-interval repetition results in optimally rescheduling the element. If the review interval is much shorter than the optimum interval, the new interval will not be much longer than the preceding interval. If the review interval is close to the optimum interval, the new interval will be nearly as long as if the repetition took place at optimum time. Dismissed elements are not subject to review. Elements that have already been reviewed on this particular day will also be skipped. Use '''Review all''' if you urgently need to review a portion of material (e.g. before an exam). You could use '''Learn''' before using '''Review all''' to make sure you start from the outstanding material (incl. items that are most likely to be forgotten). Alternatively, you could sort the subset by the date of the next repetition (starting from the earliest dates) to maximize subset recall in case you do not manage to complete the entire review
**'''Review topics''' - review topics only. Unlike '''Review all''', this option does not review items. This makes it possible to use it often without a detriment to the learning process. Abusing '''Review all''' can result in an increase in total workload and a decrease in retention. In particular, important items may be sent to excessively long interval due to repetition clustering (i.e. similar items serving as answer cues and masking recall problems)
**'''Dilute''' - same as '''[[Postpone]]''' but with this difference that all elements in the subset will be affected (not only outstanding elements)
**'''Spread''' - reschedule all elements equally in a given period of time (e.g. make sure that all items related to geography are rescheduled in equal portions of 20 items per day in the period of one month). Please note that you might want to first choose '''Child : Outstanding''' to make sure that you reschedule only outstanding repetitions, i.e. not all repetitions in the entire subset. You can also choose '''Child : Items''' to make sure you reschedule only item repetitions. For more details see: [[Mercy]]
**'''Remember''' - memorize all elements that have not yet been memorized
**'''Forget''' - remove all memorized elements from the learning process and put them at the end of the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]]
**'''Dismiss''' - [[Glossary#dismiss|dismiss]] all elements, i.e. ignore them in the learning process
**'''Undismiss''' - return all dismissed elements to the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]]
**'''Done''' - execute '''Done''' on all elements. Upon confirmation, '''Done''' will delete the contents of individual elements, dismiss them, and delete the elements that have no children (for more see: [[Incremental reading]])
**'''Add to drill''' - add all elements in the subset to the end of the [[Glossary#final_drill|final drill]] queue
**'''Reset history''' - reset the repetition history of all elements in the subset
*'''[[Postpone]]''' (''Ctrl+Alt+P'') - increase intervals of all outstanding repetitions in the subset by a selected factor (e.g. 1.02 will increase intervals by 2%)
*'''Advance''' - opposite to '''Postpone'''. In the case of topics, elements will be rescheduled with new intervals falling into a selected range. For example, if you want to thoroughly review all topics related to ''whiplash injury'' over the period of two weeks, search for ''whiplash'' (''Ctrl+F''), choose '''Advance''', and select 14 (number of days in the review period). '''Advance''' works differently for items. All items will be rescheduled within the period of the advance interval starting with tomorrow. Unlike in the case of topics, item intervals may still be very long. Just short enough to fall within the review period. For those items that are lucky to retain long intervals, if your recall is good, you will not need to waste time on reviewing them frequently after the review period. The formula for the next repetition date is the same for topics and items: ''today+[1..Advance Interval]''. The formula for the new interval is: ''[1..AdvanceInterval]'' for topics and ''(Today + [1..AdvanceInterval) - LastRepetition)'' for items.
*'''Priority''' - change the [[Priority of elements in incremental reading|priority]] of all elements in the subset
**'''Increase''' - increase the priority of elements in the subset. If you choose the default change of 50%, all priorities will be multiplied by 0.5. For example, elements with priority 70% will have their priority increased to 35% (70%*0.5=35%). Note that in massive changes to priority, elements listed at the beginning of the subset will be modified first. This means that modifications to priority to later elements will affect the priority of elements modified first. Not always will you get the exact increase in priority as indicated by the '''Change''' field
**'''Decrease''' - decrease the priority of elements in the subset. If you choose the default change of 150%, all priorities will be multiplied by 1.5. For example, elements with priority 50% will have their priority decreased to 75% (50%*1.5=75%)
**'''Spread''' - spread the priority of elements within a selected range. For example, if you choose a range from 1% to 10%, and the subset has 10 elements, they will roughly receive the priorities of 1%, 2%, 3%, etc. Remember that rounding errors may produce different figures if the collection is small. In addition, in a narrow priority range, elements processed first may be displaced by elements processed later due to rounding errors. If there aren't enough priority positions to spread within the subset, only as many elements will be processed as there are priority positions available
**'''Adjust''' - adjust priorities to match a specified priority range
*'''Forgetting index''' - change the [[Glossary#forgetting_index|forgetting index]] of all elements in the subset
**'''Set forgetting index''' - assign a given forgetting index
**'''Default forgetting index''' - make all elements use the default forgetting index. The default forgetting index is set with '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Learning tab in Options|Learning]] : [[Learning tab in Options#Forgetting_index|Forgetting index]]'''
*'''A-Factor''' - change the A-Factor of all elements in the subset:
**'''Set A-Factor''' - set the A-Factor to a selected value
**'''Modify A-Factor''' - multiply A-Factors by a selected number
*'''Ordinal''' - change the [[Glossary#ordinal_number|ordinal number]] of all elements in the subset:
**'''Set ordinal''' - give all elements the same ordinal number
**'''Set difficulty ordinal''' - give all elements ordinals derived from item difficulty (easier items will get lower ordinals). This makes it possible, for example, to sort the pending queue in such a way that easy elements come first in learning
**'''Spread ordinals''' - give all elements ordinals increasing in equal steps from a given lower limit to a given higher limit
**'''Blend ordinals''' - set ordinals by position in the subset weighed against the position in another subset. If you have the same set sorted in two different ways, you can find a sorting order that falls into the middle between these two sorting orders. For example, if you have a collection that has been ordered by the position of elements in individual branches, you can set up a pending queue in such a way that difficult elements are pushed slightly towards the end of the queue. To accomplish this goal, sort the set by difficulty and save it in a subset file. Then sort the set by the original order and blend ordinals with the previously saved difficulty order set. The blend factor will determine how much the current sorting order is modified (0 for no change and 1 for the order from the subset file)
**'''Set position ordinal''' - give all elements ordinal numbers equal to their physical position in the [[Glossary#collection|collection]] (e.g. to sort the pending queue in the order of adding elements into the collection)
**'''Set pending ordinal''' - give all elements ordinal numbers equal to their position in the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]]
*'''Export''' - export all elements in the subset
**'''Document (HTML)''' - export all elements into a single text file
**'''Q&A text file''' - export all elements into a Q&A text file
**'''All texts''' - export all elements into a single unformatted text file
*'''Move'''
**'''To a branch''' - move the elements to a selected [[Glossary#hierarchy_node|branch]] in the [[Glossary#knowledge_tree|knowledge tree]]
**'''To a category''' - move the elements to a selected [[Glossary#category|category]]
*'''Template''' - template operations (for more details see: [[Templates|Using templates]])
**'''Apply template''' - apply a selected template to all elements in a given element subset. Unlike in earlier versions of SuperMemo, this operation is reversible. You can always apply a different template or use '''Detach template''' on the [[Element menu]] to remove the applied template from individual items
**'''Impose template''' - execute '''Impose template''' operation on all elements in the subset. This will make sure that the source template of all elements is overwritten with the template applied to those elements
**'''Detach template''' - detach template from all elements in the subset and display their original template-less source data
**'''Replace template''' - replace the template in all elements (see [[Templates|Using templates]]). This operation is similar to '''Apply template''' but it is not reversible, i.e. the source template of all elements will be overwritten
**'''Add template''' - add a template to all elements (see [[Templates|Using templates]]). You can use this option, for example, to add a specific component to all elements in the subset
**'''Insert picture''' - add a picture illustration to all elements in the subset
*'''Type''' - change the type of topics or items (tasks will not be affected)
**'''Make items''' - convert all topics to [[Glossary#item|items]] (see also: [[Items, topics and tasks|Topics vs. items]])
**'''Make topics''' - convert all items to [[Glossary#topic|topics]] (see also: [[Items, topics and tasks|Topics vs. items]])
*'''Set title''' - assign a given title to all elements in the subset
*'''Statistics''' (''Shift+Ctrl+B'') - collect learning statistics for all elements in the subset. In the example below, a subset of 2455 elements is being analyzed. Some exemplary statistics of interest: the average item interval is 988 days, the average number of repetitions is 3.9, and the measured forgetting index is slightly higher than the requested forgetting index (this is quite understandable considering a high number of postpones). The forgetting index for the first repetition equals 27% only to drop to 8.4% for most recently executed repetitions. Overall retention is 95% and the total size of texts in the subset is 280 KB.
<blockquote>''SUBSET STATISTICS (Apr 9, 2009)'' ''c:\sm2008\systems\all'' ''Elements: 2455'' ''Items: 2423'' ''Topics: 32'' ''Tasks: 0'' ''Memorized: 2423'' ''Dismissed: 32'' ''Items: 2.36% of all items'' ''Topics: 0.02% of all topics'' ''Memorized: 1.20% of all memorized'' ''Burden: 4.143 elements/day (0.34%)'' ''Item Burden: 4.143 items/day (1.83%)'' ''Topic Burden: 0 topic/day (0%)'' ''Item Repetitions: 3.87'' ''Topic Repetitions: 0'' ''Item Interval: 988.063'' ''Topic Interval: 0'' ''Item A-Factor: 4.923'' ''Topic A-Factor: 1.56'' ''Average item postpones: 5.125'' ''Average topic postpones: 0'' ''Total postpones: 12418 + 0'' ''Requested forgetting index: 9.96%'' ''Measured forgetting index: 10.26%'' ''First repetition f. index: 27.3%'' ''Last repetition f. index: 8.38%'' ''Forgetting index cases: 11313'' ''RETENTION: 94.78%'' ''Item text size: 280.909 KB'' ''Topic text size: 0 bytes'' ''Total text size: 280.909 KB'' </blockquote>

Introduction

2009-06-05T04:46:00Z

Murakdar:

'''SuperMemo will help you learn faster!''' It is enough that you now spend 3 minutes reading this page to be able to begin learning!

For a good start, you only need to use two things:

# '''[[Add new]]''' - to add new questions and answers to SuperMemo (keyboard: ''Alt+A'')
# '''[[Learn]]''' - to review the material that you want to remember (keyboard: ''Ctrl+L'')

[[Image:Add_new.jpg|center|SuperMemo: Adding new questions and answers at the Beginner Level]]

Start learning now! Initially you may doubt the power of SuperMemo. Trust it for 1-2 weeks and you will begin to understand it better. Add at least 50-100 questions-answer pairs related to your job, your life, or your interests. See how SuperMemo schedules the material for review.

'''Important! Learn''' will only ask you to review your material after a few days. For that reason, spend your first days on adding new material for learning.

'''Summary''': The '''ABC of SuperMemo''':

* Add new material with '''[[Add new]]''' (''Alt+A'')
* Be sure to review your daily dose of material with '''[[Learn]]''' (''Ctrl+L'')
* Cherish the blessing of empowering wisdom! (which in simple English means: [http://supermemo.com/articles/power.htm Have fun with your new knowledge])

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'''Important reading'''

* [http://supermemo.com/faq/begin.htm Beginner's '''FAQ'''] - questions most often asked by SuperMemo beginners
* [[Step-by-step to SuperMemo mastery | 25 steps to SuperMemo Mastery: '''User's Guide''']] - this step-by-step course of SuperMemo will help you learn the most important skills of an advanced SuperMemo user in a sequence that will maximize the gradual increase in your productivity
* [[Backing up the learning material | '''Backup''' copy]] - to make sure you never lose your learning investment, you must learn how to back up your learning material!
* [http://www.antimoon.com/how/usingsm-firstcoll.htm Starting your first SuperMemo collection] - ABC of SuperMemo by [http://www.antimoon.com Antimoon.com]
* [http://supermemo.com/articles/users/ABC-SM.htm Introduction to SuperMemo for Windows] - ABC of SuperMemo written by two Irish teenagers
* [http://supermemo.com/articles/decalog.htm SuperMemo Decalog] - SuperMemo beginners tend to make the same mistakes. This text will help you avoid these mistakes and enjoy efficient learning
* [http://supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm 20 rules of formulating knowledge] - the way you put your questions and answers together may determine the degree of your success
* [[Incremental reading]] - adding questions and answers is the "old way" in SuperMemo. The new way is "incremental reading". Incremental reading is slightly more complex and requires more experience. However, it is by far the best way to learn new material imported from the Internet
* [http://wiki.supermemo.org/index.php?title=Main_Page SuperMemopedia] - Encyclopedia of SuperMemo written by users of SuperMemo