Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Running Vista? If you turned off User Account Control, the program will not install properly. You must either turn on User Account Control or right click on setup.exe and click “Run as Administrator” to properly install.
Having trouble activating? First, try deactivating your firewall and antivirus and try again.
General Questions:
I
just bought your program. Are you going to ship it to me?
I
want to use your program now, but I want a backup copy. Is this possible?
I
have a MAC. Will your program work on a MAC?
Do you have printed out US History flashcards that you will send me when I buy
your product?
Can I print out
your flashcards from your program?
How do I print?
How much is it?
How do I buy your program?
Can I add my own flashcards?
How come your flashcards are so much less than other companies? Does that
mean they are no good?
How will you
mail the CD (if I purchased shipping)?
Do you have a tracking
number for me?
Specific Questions:
What is "Spaced Learning?"
How do I turn on "Spaced
Learning?"
How do I turn off "Spaced
Learning?"
I keep seeing
the same question over and over again? Why?
I thought if you mark a card as "Excellent" on the first time you see the
card, you won't see the card for 5 days. I am seeing the card in 1 day, is
something wrong?
I am confused by the intervals in Spaced Learning. Can you explain it?
Can I
just use Spaced Learning and forget about the details?
Can I trust Spaced Learning?
Why is Spaced Learning better than Manually Tracking Responses?
What are the shortcuts
for your program?
Can I paste a picture and/or text from another program like Word?
I've spent a lot of time adding my own flashcards. How do I backup my
flashcards?
How do you save your added
flashcards?
How do I add movies?
What format of movies can I add?
Can I add mp3s and wav
files to the cards?
Is
there a way to alphabetize cards in a user-created set?
I'd like to alphabetize my flashcards alphabetically by the text in the
front card. Is this possible?
How
do I move multiple cards from one card group to another?
Is there a way
to count the number of flashcards?
Can cards be arranged in the order I wish and into separate groups as I
wish?
Can cards be
edited? Not cards I make, but your cards.
Is there a way to adjust the default font size for editing my own cards, so
I won't have to adjust their size manually?
What does the Reorganize
button do?
What
is the difference between a card group and a card set?
I still can’t add a
card to my card group, why?!
I can’t delete my card
group! Why not?
I want to add 100 cards, but it will take me forever to go file -> new card
a 100 times. Is there a faster way?
How do I add text to my card?
OK, I put my text in. Can I resize text & pictures and move it around?
How do I move the
text/pictures around?
How do I delete a card? I keep pressing the button and the card won’t
delete!
What does the red bar do?
What does the blue bar do?
Can I paste a picture or text in from another program like Microsoft Word?
General Questions
I just bought your program. Are you going to ship it to me?
You have the option to buy the downloadable version or the CD version. If you buy the downloadable version, we will e-mail you within 24 hours with instructions on how to download the program. You will receive an unique key code as well.
If you ordered the CD version, we will ship you a CD to the billing address listed.
I want to use your program now, but I want a backup copy. Is this possible?
Sure. Buy the CD Version, send us an email, and we will e-mail you with instructions on how to download the program, and we'll ship you a CD as well. You can get started right away.
I have a MAC. Will your program work on a MAC?
Unfortunately, no. Our program supports Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista (both 32 and 64 bit), and Windows 7 (both 32 and 64 bit).
Do you have printed out US History flashcards that you will send me when I buy your product?
No. US History Flashcards is a computer program that contains over 850+ high quality US History flashcards. Remember, however, that you can print out the flashcards from the program.
Can I print out your flashcards from your program?
Yes. The program does has the feature to print out flashcards if you wish to do so.
Click here to see how to print.
The cost of the program is $29.99 without shipping.
Click on the "Buy" button (or click here). Then click on the Buy now button and go through Google Checkout or Paypal to purchase.
Yes you can. The specifics of how to do this is located here.
How come your flashcards are so much less than other companies? Does that mean they are no good?
We offer the finest flashcards that will really help you prepare for the AP US History Exam. Since US History Flashcards is a program, there are not as many expenses such as printing, packaging, and distribution. Because of this, we would like to pass the savings on to you.
How will you mail the CD (if I purchased shipping)?
We mail CD's first class, and it should arrive between 2-5 business days.
Do you have a tracking number for me?
No, since we are mailing it first class, we cannot offer tracking numbers. We have found that our packages actually get to our customers faster this way, and it is cheaper, so we do not have to charge so much for shipping.
Technical Questions
Spaced Learning is based off the Leitner system
for studying a lot of information. In essence, the method allows you to rate
your card based on how well you answered the question. See below:
| Answer | Meaning |
| Excellent | Knew the question right off the bat and did not hesitate or have to think very hard to come up with the correct answer. |
| Good | You answered the question correctly but you had to think deeply to come up with the correct response |
| OK | It took an extremely long amount of time to come up with the answer, and/or part of your answer was partially wrong. |
| Fail | You got the answer incorrect, or you did not know. |
Once you have graded your card, "Spaced
Learning" will then calculate the next interval for repetition of that
paricular card based on an algorithm that takes into account how many times
you answered the question correctly.
Thus, you will review the cards that you do not know more often and review
the cards that you DO know less often. The advantage of this is that you do
not waste valuable time reviewing information you already know!
For example, lets say that I first see a card
that I am very familiar with. I look at the answer for verification, and I
then mark the card as "Excellent." Since it is the first time, I will not
see this card again for 5 days.
5 days goes by and I see the same question again. I still remember the
answer to the question with ease and again answer Excellent, so the interval
increases to 13 days.
If you see the question for the third time and answer correctly, the
interval time increases exponentially until you do not see the card again
for a very long time (in essence the card is in your long term memory, and
you do not need to study it anymore).
This allows you to focus your efforts on the material that you struggle with
and not worry about information you already know.
How do I turn on "Spaced Learning?"
You go to edit -> Spaced Learning. This will turn spaced learning on. When you go to play your flashcards, spaced learning will be activated.
How do I turn Spaced Learning off?
If you'd like to shut Spaced Learning off, you can just go to edit -> Spaced Learning and deselect it.
I keep seeing the same question over and over again? Why?
Once you mark a card as "Fail", it will be moved to the repeat pile. As long as you keep marking the card as "Fail", you will continue to see the card in the review pile. You will see the card as many times as is necessary until you memorize the answer and answer correctly with an "Excellent" or a "Good."
I thought if you mark a card as "Excellent" on the first time you see the card, you won't see the card for 5 days. I am seeing the card in 1 day, is something wrong?
No. Once you mark a card as "Fail", it will go to the repeat pile. When you then memorize the correct answer, and the second or third time (or however long it takes to memorize the card), you will repeat the card in 1 day because you had trouble with the card. If you see the same card the next day and answer it "Excellent", you then will not see the card for 5 days.
I am confused by the intervals in Spaced Learning. Can you explain it?
We understand that this maybe seem like a new concept, but most people are surprised that they are already familiar with these concepts if they use flashcards. They have a stack of flashcards, and they separate them into different piles depending on how they are answered. Some separate them into "Right" and "Wrong" piles, and more emphasis is placed on the "Wrong" piles. We do the same thing albeit a little more sophisticated, but the concept is the same.
Can I just use Spaced Learning and forget about the details?
Yes. The program was designed to just be used and for the user not to worry about the complexities that is going on in the background. Just answer the questions in the card set (or the entire program), and rate your answers honestly. As you continue to study, answer the questions as they come due for review, and forget about the interview. You will learn faster and will retain the information longer by using Spaced Learning.
We have used and tested Spaced Learning for thousands of hours, and it is a trustworthy and efficient way of studying material.
Why is Spaced Learning better than Manually Tracking Responses?
We feel that you learn more efficiently using Spaced Learning. Each card is customized to the optimal repetition based on your responses. It can be a little different to get used to, but we are confident that as you continue in your studying, you will realize the power of Spaced Learning, and how it will help your learning at a fast rate.
What are the shortcuts for your program?
| Function | Shortcut |
| Flip Card | SpaceBar Button |
| Next Card | Right Arrow |
| Previous Card | Left Arrow |
| Add Text | Double Click on Card |
| New Card Group | Ctrl + G |
| New Card Set | Ctrl + T |
| New Card | Ctrl + N |
| Exit | Ctrl + Q |
| Paste | Ctrl + V |
| Manually Track Responses | |
| Mark Card as New | N |
| Mark Card as Correct | C |
| Mark Card as Missed | M |
| Spaced Learning | |
| Mark Card as Excellent | E |
| Mark Card as Good | G |
| Mark Card as OK | O |
| Mark Card as Fail | F |
Can I paste a picture or text from another program like
Microsoft Word?
Yes you can. You can paste both text and pictures from the clipboard, but
not at the same time. You will have to copy and paste one at a time.
I've spent a lot of time adding my own flashcards. How do I backup my flashcards?
There are 2 ways of doing this and option #1 is more reliable:
#1 -- If you have XP, goto Documents and
settings/All Users/Application Data/US History Flashcards. Now you can backup
this folder which contains all your cards, images, animations, and videos.
Note: Application Data is a hidden folder, so you will need to unhide your
hidden folders.
If you have Vista/Windows 7, goto C:\ProgramData\US History Flashcards. Now you can backup this folder which contains all your cards, images, animations, and videos.
Note: ProgramData is a hidden folder, so you will need to unhide your hidden folders.
#2 - You can also just go to file -> Save as and save your flashcards as a .vfc file. This however does not backup your pictures, animations, or videos if you have added any to the program.
How do you save your added flashcards?
You can save to a separate file, or you can simply exit the program. The program will save your work upon exiting the program.
How do I add movies? What format of movies can I add?
Click here to learn how to add movies. You can add any format of movie
What format of movies can I add?
You can add any format of movie that can be played in Media Center as long as the codecs are installed.
Can I add mp3s and
wav files to the cards?
Yes. In the add video tab, just click
"add video" and browse to your wav or mp3 file and you can add it to the
card of your choice.
Yes, the reorganize button will numerically organize and alphabetize by the card name.
I'd like to alphabetize my flashcards alphabetically by the text in the front card. Is this possible?
Not directly. Probably the best method to doing this would be if
you have these cards saved in a word document or an excel document. You can alphabetize them in the word or excel document and then import them into the program. Please check out our tutorial for more info on how to do this.How do I move multiple cards from one card group to another?
You also have the ability to move as many cards as you want to a different card group by selecting a card, holding down the shift button down, and selecting another card (it will highlight all the cards in between) and you can move these cards to a different card set by holding down the Ctrl button and dragging them to a different card group.
You can count the number of cards by selecting the card set you'd like to count and click on "Play card set" look in the statistics bar to see how many cards are in that particular card set. If you'd like to know how many cards are in the entire program, click of "Play all cards" and look at the statistics panel.
Yes. Both sets of cards can be edited: the cards that come installed in the program, and yours as well.
Is there a way to adjust the default font size for editing my own cards, so I won't have to adjust their size manually?
Yes.
The Default size can be changed in Edit -> Admin and New Text Size. Make it bigger if you want it to make the text size bigger when you add new text to a flashcard.It numerically orders and alphabetizes a selected card set based on the card name
What is the difference between a card group and a card set?
A card group is the general category such as “Physics” and the card set is a subcategory such as “Equations” or “Experiments”
I still can’t add a card to my card group, why?!
To better organize your cards, you must have a card set in order to add cards. To add a card set to your new group simply highlight your new card group by clicking on it and then clicking on “Create new card set.”
Note: You can also add a new card set by clicking file -> New Card Set
I can’t delete my card group! Why not?
You first need to delete all card sets and in order to delete all card sets, you need to delete all the cards. Please read the tutorial which goes over this in detail.
I want to add 100 cards, but it will take me forever to go file -> new card a 100 times. Is there a faster way?
Yes. Simply click on the new card icon and a new card will appear. Rapidly click this until the desired number of cards appears. You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + N to make a new card.
Click on the desired card (front or back – you can tell because it will be outlined with a red box). Next click on the add text.
OK, I put my text in. Can I resize text & pictures and move it around?
Yes. Click on the text and a blue box will appear on the top of the desired text. Note that even if the text is very long, the blue box will appear only at the top of the selected text. If you’d like to make the text box longer, go to the very edge of the box until horizontal arrows Again, this is covered in detail in the tutorial.
How do I move the text/pictures around?
Move your mouse to the middle of the box and the hand cursor should appear. Left click down and you can move the text to the desired position.
How do I delete a card? I keep pressing the button and the card won’t delete!
To delete a card simply press the “Delete Card button.” Do not confuse this with the other “X” button located at the right. This is the “Delete Asset” button that deletes selected text or a selected picture.
The red bar increases the size of the viewable card.
If you click above the white line or below the white line it will shift the cards order. Card 1 will now be shifted down one card and card 5 will now be on the top.
Can I paste a picture or text in from another program like Microsoft Word?
Yes. Please see the tutorial for the detailed answer to this question.