Moodle

As suggested, the solution is some JavaScript to stop the enter key having an effect.

On a suitable element (the form?) add onkeypress="return check_enter(event);"

and in some JavaScript function, define the check_enter function:

function checkEnter(e) {
var target = e.target ? e.target : e.srcElement;
var keyCode = e.keyCode ? e.keyCode : e.which;

// Stifle Enter on anything except submit buttons and textareas
if(keyCode==13 && (Unable to render embedded object: File (target.type ) not found.='submit' && target.type!='textarea')))
return false;
else
return true;
}

(That solution is courtesy of OpenMark.) I need to check that this works with the HTML editor in essay questions.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about this when JavaScript is turned off.

Fix implemented as described in the last comment.

The problem is related to the fact that when you click on the enter key, the default active submit button is the last one encounter on the page or if there is no other submit button the next one.
On a simple quiz containing two questions if you use the preview function the submit buttons encountered are
<start again>
[question 1 text input]
<submit>
[question 2 text input]
<submit>
So if to type enter in [question 1 text input] you (or the default HTML functionning) will activate the <start again> but not submit the question1
if you o type enter in [question 2 text input] you will (or the default HTML functionning) will activate the <submit > of question 1 but not submit the question2 and so on.
The best way to solve the problem without javascript is to have 2 <submit>buttons for each question, one at the beginning and one at the end.
So if you type the enter key anyplace between these two submits ( for example in a cloze question) the question will be the one submitted.
However this will change the usual quiz display but this can be managed.

Pierre > "The best way to solve the problem without javascript is to have 2 <submit>buttons for each question, one at the beginning and one at the end. "
I disagree; there are far too many buttons on the Quiz screen (especially in Adaptive mode) at the moment, we certainly do not want the interface to be MORE cluttered! I think that Tim's de-activating of the Enter key is a good workaround.
Joseph

This is not completely exact, I was mixed up by the fact the question grade was fixed to maximum score and that I tested it with just two questions
On a closer look at the HTML code the <start again> is in a different <form> than the questions <form>.
So the more exact way the system works is that if you type the enter key in the question 1 text field the question 1 is graded.
If you type the enter key in the question 2 text field the question 1 is graded.
If you type the enter key in the question 3 text field the question 1 is graded.
And so on.
As for my proposal ...
Is there a way to deactivate the enter key without javascript because javascript is not always activated and as the quiz is often part of the student evaluation, it should be "fullproof" ?

Javascript is the only way to disable the enter key. About 95% of people have Javascript on. (http://www.thecounter.com/stats/2007/September/javas.php). For those that don't, the situation is no worse that it was before, they just need to learn not to press enter. Considering how few reports of this problem we got, I would say that very few people do anyway.

Tim > Javascript is the only way to disable the enter key. About 95% of people have Javascript on.
Yes, I often wonder how on earth one can navigate the Internet and, more specifically, how one can use Moodle without Javascript ON...

>For those that don't, the situation is no worse that it was before, they just need to learn not to press enter. Considering how few reports of this problem we got, I would say that very few people do anyway.
I expect it's advanced users (like... ourselves) who tend to favour using the keyboard over using the mouse whenever possible and "normal" users who will use the mouse.

I just backported this fix to Moodle 1.8.

I still have this problem during teacher's preview of quiz in 1.9 Stable with javascript on.

OK, my commit on 12th Dec broke this. Fixed again now.

Disabling Enter key in quiz: works OK on 1.9, still does not work on 1.8.
Joseph

Please be more specific!

One suggestion:
Users who are used to pressing the Enter key after filling in an input text zone might be surprised that the Enter key is now inactive. What about adding a message to tell them to click the Submit button instead?
something like:
function check_enter(e) {
var target = e.target ? e.target : e.srcElement;
var keyCode = e.keyCode ? e.keyCode : e.which;
if (keyCode==13 && target.nodeName!='a' &&
(!target.type || !(target.type=='submit' || target.type=='textarea'))) { alert("Please click the Submit button"); return false; } else { return true; }
}
But I do not know how the hardcoded alert message could be made a language string here.
Joseph

Now fixed again. The JavaScript function was being defined inside a PHP if statement. How embarassing. And no wonder I moved the JavaScript into a separate file in 1.9.

I really don't like the alert idea. 99% of the time it would just annoy people. 1% of the time it might help. But I think if pressing enter does not work, people will naturally go to the submit button.

I agree with Tim.
Consider also that when there are multiple input fields which is normally the case with quizzes, you don't use the enter key until your at the end of the page.

Pierre > Consider also that when there are multiple input fields which is normally the case with quizzes, you don't use the enter key until your at the end of the page.
I don't, but my students do it (all the time).
Joseph