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Understand SRF and Log Files for Browser-based TestNav

When a student responds to a test question, TestNav saves the response in a saved response file (SRF) and sends response bundles to the Pearson server. After the responses successfully save to the Pearson server, TestNav deletes the SRF.

TestNav also writes to a log file during the testing session. These files help Pearson troubleshoot issues, if they occur.

By default, TestNav automatically creates a Pearson folder in the user's home directory (the user account or login typically determines the directory name). The SRF saves in a SRF folder, and log files save in a Logs folder. 

For Windows and Mac OS X, you must configure student accounts to have complete read, write, and delete access in all save locations.  Pearson strongly recommends that you configure a shared network folder that can be accessed from all testing computers as a secondary save location to ensure that you do not lose responses, even if a student cannot continue to test on the same computer. Verify you can access the location from multiple testing computers.

Secondary Save File Location

You can place backup files in a directory on the network file server or on the student's testing computer.

The following table outlines the pros and cons of each option; however, you should use both location options - one for the primary save location and the other for the secondary save location.

Back up location options
Pros
Cons
Directory on network computerBackup file is accessible from other computers.
  • Uses more internal network bandwidth.
  • Responses save to local directory slower than to the network drive, and test items load faster as a result.
Local directory on testing computer (TestNav client)
  • Uses less internal network bandwidth.
  • Responses save to local directory more quickly than to the network drive, and test items are presented more quickly as a result.
Backup file is not accessible from any other computer.

Whether you are using test content caching or not, you should check and configure your response file backup locations.

TestNav has a default setting for the primary location where it stores student response files. A primary save location is required. The default setting works well for most situations, but you may change it. As a best practice, Pearson recommends using both a primary and secondary backup location.

You can choose to save backup files to either the student’s testing computer or to a network file server directory.  

Recommended folder structure for student’s computer - TestNav client

If you use a network file server as a backup location, whether primary or secondary:

  • Do NOT use spaces in the save location path
  • Do NOT use a location that requires authentication. If authentication is required, TestNav will not be able to access the shared location.

Pearson recommends that you: 

  • Specify a mapped drive location, such as D:\TopDirectory\NextDirectory\SaveLocation
  • Do not use a Windows UNC (Uniform Naming Convention) or network path, such as \\ComputerName\SharedFolder\Resource unless necessary


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