Hi Heather!
You're absolutely right to be puzzled — if 8 out of 12 GIFT files are uploading fine with the same template, it likely means there's something small but specific in those 4 files that’s tripping up the parser.
Here are common GIFT formatting mistakes that could cause a parsing error, even if you're using a correct template:
1. Missing or extra curly braces {}
Each answer block must open and close with {}. One missing brace will cause the entire question to fail.
Correct:
What is the capital of France? {=Paris ~London ~Berlin ~Madrid}
Incorrect:
What is the capital of France? =Paris ~London ~Berlin ~Madrid}
2. Unescaped special characters
Some characters must be escaped with a backslash (\) or placed carefully. These include:
-
~ (used for wrong answers)
-
= (used for the correct answer)
-
# (starts comments)
-
: (in question titles)
-
{ and } (used for answer options)
Example:
Who said \"I think, therefore I am\"? {=Descartes}
Will break:
Who said "I think, therefore I am"? {=Descartes}
3. Malformed question title lines
If you’re using question titles, they must follow the format:
::Title Here:: Question text? {answers}
Even an extra colon or missing one can cause issues.
Some other small things that can cause issues are:
Line breaks within questions. If a question is split over multiple lines improperly, the parser may break. Keep each question fully on one line or use consistent formatting if multiline is supported.
Extra blank lines or hidden characters can also cause issues. Sometimes copying and pasting from Word or Excel can introduce hidden characters like smart quotes or even non-breaking spaces. Opening the file in a plain text editor like Notepad++ or TextEdit can help you spot these.
If you continue to see issues with the remaining 4 files, I would suggest opening a Support ticket. The team is amazing at spotting things I miss all of the time :)
Thanks so much for posting your question!
Happy Learning!
Karen
Your Scaled Success Team
Thanks so much for this, Karen!
