Frequently Asked Questions
Categories:
Getting Started
Test Administrator Training
Ordering Materials
Activating Tests
Online Activation
Semi-adaptive Print-based Version
Administration and Scoring
Score Management Software
Technical Support
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What are the minimum system requirements for using BEST Plus on my computer?
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Can I run BEST Plus in Windows 2000/XP, Vista, or Windows 7 without administrator rights?
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How can I transfer the test administrations that I have on one PC to another PC?
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How can I open the scores.mdb file? The file is password protected.
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Why do I get an "authorware runtime" error message when trying to run the BEST Plus Test CD?
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Why am I getting a runtime error when entering semi-adaptive print-based scores?
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I tested a student using the wrong name. How do change it to the correct name?
Trainer Certification
How can I get technical support?
You can contact our user support staff Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM ET by phone at 866-845-2378, option 1, or by e-mail.
What is the password for the red BEST Plus CD?
The password is mexico.
What are the minimum system requirements for using BEST Plus on my computer?
BEST Plus requires, at minimum, the following software and hardware:
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4X CD-ROM Drive
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Mouse
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10 MB of hard drive space
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100 MHz Pentium® Processor
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16 MB RAM
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A monitor with 800 by 600 pixels with 256 colors
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Windows 95® or later
In addition, BEST Plus must be installed while logged in with full Administrator Rights. If using Windows XP®, Power User rights must be given to the test administrator after installation is complete. If using Windows Vista® or Windows 7®, please see these instructions. These privilege requirements are a security feature built into the Miscrosoft® software and are designed to protect the integrity of your computer and test data.
Windows based computers are recommended, however Macintosh computers may be able to run the software if they are configured properly, use Intel or AMD chips, and have the right software installed which allows them to run PC-based programs. Older Macs may not be able to run all Windows software. If you want to use this software with a Macintosh, please ask your technical support staff to check what is available for your Mac.
BEST Plus is not working. What do I do?
If BEST Plus is not running properly on your computer, please check the following:
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The red BEST Plus Test CD is in the computer
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Your computer is configured properly and meets the minimum requirements
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Your CD or DVD-ROM drive is functioning properly
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Your computer’s language settings are for English (United States)
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The short date format on your computer is set to M/d/yyyy
If you continue to experience trouble with BEST Plus, please write down or copy and paste screen shots of any error messages you receive so that we can quickly diagnose the problem. You can find solutions to the most common issues in these FAQ’s. User support is available Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM ET by phone at 866-845-2378, option1, or by e-mail.
Lastly, it is important to know who your local technical support staff is, how to contact them, and what their schedules are. They are often the best resource to go to when problems arise.
Can I run BEST Plus in Windows 2000/XP, Vista, or Windows 7 without administrator rights?
No. You must run BEST Plus using an account with at least power-user rights for Windows 2000 or XP and with administrator rights on Vista or Windows 7.
Does BEST Plus work with Windows Vista or Windows 7?
Yes. BEST Plus can run on Windows Vista or Windows 7 by following the steps below:
1. Ensure that your Windows Vista or Windows 7 user account is set up with Administrator Rights.
2. Insert the maroon BEST Plus Test CD.
3. Go to My Computer or Windows Explorer and browse the CD.
4. Right click on the CD and select "Explore" to see all the files on the CD (some computers may show "Expand" instead).
5. Open the "Program_Files" folder and right click on "BEST_Plus.exe" application.
6. From the menu, select "Create Shortcut" and save it to the desktop.
7. Exit My Computer and go to your desktop.
8. Right click on the BEST Plus shortcut and select "Properties" and then "Compatibility".
9. In the section that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" select Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or 3).
10. Select "Run program as an Administrator," then click "Apply," and then click "Ok."
11. Before running BEST Plus, you will need to install the database again. To do so, go to Start, select run and type D:\Program_Files\DAO\DAO_Setup.exe (You will need to know the specific drive letter for your CD-ROM, usually labeled as "D" on most machines.) This step only needs to be done once and does not need to be repeated when setting up the Score Management Software.
12. Right click on the icon and select Rename.
13. Rename the icon to ‘BP’ so that you can easily find it again (You will need to do the same for the Score Management Software – rename it ‘SMS’).
14. Double left click on the BEST Plus shortcut on your desktop and the test will run.
You will need to repeat this process to run the Score Management Software (BEST_Plus_SMS.exe), the Test Transfer Program (available on the February 2005 CD - CD-ROM:\Transfer\ BEST_Plus_Test_Transfer_Utility.exe or on our Web site), and the same files on the black BEST Plus Practice CD if you plan to use it. After going through all the steps, you will not need to repeat the process when running BEST Plus.
Can BEST Plus be run on a network?
Yes. A network version of BEST Plus is available at an additional cost. Contact user support Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM ET by phone at 866-845-2378, option 1, or by e-mail.
I did not install BEST Plus initially as the administrator in Windows 2000/XP. How can I re-run the setup?
Insert the red BEST Plus Test CD into your computer and re-run the setup file (located at CD-ROM:\Program Files\DAO\DAO_Setup.exe).
What do I do if my CD doesn't work or doesn't auto-load?
Go to "Start" and click on "Run." Then type "D:\BEST_Plus_Menu.exe" (D: is typically the default CD-ROM drive letter) and click "OK."
If that does not work, try the maroon BEST Plus Test CD in another computer. If the CD works on another computer, the problem is probably with the original computer, and you will need to contact your program's local technical support staff. If the BEST Plus Test CD does not work on the second computer, and other CDs work on both computers, the BEST Test Plus CD might be damaged. Contact BEST Plus user support Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM ET by phone at 866-845-2378, option 1, or by e-mail with information about the type of computer you are using and what exactly happened when you tried to use the CD.
If the CD works but gives you an error message about needing administrator rights, make sure you have administrator or power-user rights to the computer. If you do not know, contact your local technical support staff.
How can I transfer the test administrations that I have on one PC to another PC?
The BEST Plus Test Transfer Program is included on the February 2005 version of the BEST Plus Test CD, with accompanying instructions in the February 2005 Test Administrator Guide. The Test Transfer Program can also be downloaded for free here, along with the instructions on how to install and use it.
How can I back up my student data?
You can use the Backup function in the Score Management Software. For more information, please see Section II, page 12, of the Score Management Software User Guide located in the back pocket of the Test Administrator Guide.
If my computer crashes or my hard drive is reformatted, will I lose saved score data or test administrations?
You will have to consult with your technical support staff to determine if your computer or files from your computer prior to the crash or reformat can be saved. It is important to back up your data regularly to a secure location (diskette, network drive, flash drive, etc.) by using the backup function in the Score Management Software to avoid losing data saved to your computer’s hard drive (see Section II-12 of the Score Management Software User's Guide).
Unused test administrations that are lost to such circumstances and that cannot be transferred using the BEST Plus Test Transfer Program may be reinstated only one time for your program. To request a reinstatement of lost tests, write a short letter on program letterhead stating exactly what happened (why you lost the tests or why the computer is no longer available) and how many test administrations were lost. Please include both your signature and that of your supervisor, if applicable. This letter may be faxed to BEST Plus User Support at 1-888-700-3629 or send an e-mail. Each case will be evaluated on a case by case basis
Once this letter is received and approved, user support will contact you and confirm that your program has been given the one-time credit for lost tests, rounded to the nearest ten. A new Purchase Code can be obtained at that time.
What happens if the computer crashes while I am giving the test? Will I have to start the test over again?
Yes. Any test score data at the time will not be saved. You will have to re-administer the test. You should not lose a test administration if your computer crashes before a score report is generated.
What if we are using protection software such as Deep Freeze or Clean Slate? Will that affect the BEST Plus software?
BEST Plus cannot be used while protection software programs are running. These programs prevent the BEST Plus test program from saving student records or test administrations to the hard drive. We recommend that your local technical support staff contact the makers of the protection software you are using to find out how you may be able to save to the hard drive while the protection software is running.
BEST Plus does not require Internet to function. If possible, you can use computers not connected to the Internet that do not need protection software like Deep Freeze or Clean Slate.
You may want to consider the network version of BEST Plus which saves all data to a centralized network location managed by your progam if are not able to work around the protection software.For more information about the network version of BEST Plus, please contact 1-866-845-2378 or send an email.
What if the computer screen is too large or too small?
Consult your local technical support staff before you make any changes to the display settings on your computer.
To change the display settings:
1. Click on "Start," select "Settings," then select "Control Panel."
2. Double-click on "Display."
3. Click on the "Settings" tab and check to make sure the screen size is set to 800x600 pixels. If it is not, change it and click "OK."
I can’t get the score reports to print, what should I do?
Contact your local technical support to make sure your printer and your computer are configured properly.
If you still cannot get your score reports to print, you can go to the Score Management Software, Manage Students tab, select the student you want to print, and select View Score Report. Select the report you want to print and click the Save button. This will allow you to save the report to a disk, flash drive, or network folder as a document that can opened and printed on another computer. See Section II-9 of the Score Management Software User Guide located in the back pocket of the Test Administrator Guide for more information.
How can I open the scores.mdb file? The file is password protected.
The scores.mdb file (or the MS Access file created when backing up data or when using the "Export Record(s)" button) should not be opened under any circumstances. It is password protected to ensure the security of the information stored in it. Use the "Export Scores" function to create a file containing your test data that can be opened outside of BEST Plus.
For information on how to view your student data outside of BEST Plus, click here.
Why do I get an "authorware runtime" error message when trying to run the BEST Plus Test CD?
You probably did not have administrative rights for the computer when you ran BEST Plus for the first time. Be sure you are logged in as "administrator" for the computer and re-run the setup file (located at CD-ROM:\Program Files\DAO\DAO_Setup.exe) by double-clicking on it. If you are not sure whether you have administrative rights or power user rights check with your local computer support staff.
When I try to export student scores my computer says, "cannot read data from the database. The DAO database cannot open any more tables." What should I do?
This is most likely caused by a limitation in a previous version of the software. Try exporting 10 students at a time. If that doesn't work, contact user support at bpsupport@cal.org or 1-866-845-2378, option 1, to order the current version of the BEST Plus Test CD.
Why do I get a "Could not open data base (C:\BEST_Plus\Scores.mdb) DAO.workspace. The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file C:\BEST_Plus\Scores.mdb. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data." error message when trying to run the BEST Plus Test CD?
You probably did not have administrative rights for the computer when you ran BEST Plus for the first time. Be sure you are logged in as "administrator" for the computer and re-run the setup file (located at CD-ROM:\Program Files\DAO\DAO_Setup.exe) by double-clicking on it. If you are not sure whether you have administrative rights or power user rights check with your local computer support staff.
Why am I getting a runtime error when entering semi-adaptive print-based scores?
You are probably using the mouse instead of the number keys to enter the score. You must enter the scores using the number keys on your keyboard. Please see your Test Administrator Guide, Section II, pp. 14-16, for more information on using the print-based version of BEST Plus.
I tested a new student but when I finished and clicked “score test”, I got an error reading "Could not save data to database (C:\BEST_Plus\scores.mdb)." What is the cause of this error?
This error is due to special characters being used in either the name or registration number fields in the student's information. The special characters to avoid are " $ % ^ * ( ) < > ? \ / : |. These characters are not permitted by Windows to appear in file names when saving any data. When you score a test, the BEST Plus software uses the registration number and name fields to create a file name. Thus, when you use a special character in either field, your document will not be able to be saved upon scoring your test.
Fortunately, when this happens, you will be able to view the score report through the Score Management Software. In order to save or print the report, however, you will need to edit the student’s Registration Number to remove any special characters (see Section III-5 of the Score Management Software User Guide for more information).
Do not use any non-alphanumeric characters except for space, period ( . ), hyphen ( - ), apostrophe ( ' ), or underscore ( _ ) in any data field in BEST Plus (Student Name, Registration Number, Class, Test Administrator, Site). Standard A through Z alphabet (upper and lower case) and 0 through 9 digit use is recommended. Accented characters or marks should not be used.
Why do spaces seem to appear between names on my student list? When I go to click on a student below a space, the wrong name comes up.
This is due to too many characters appearing in the Registration Number field. Run the Score Management Software and from the Manage Students tab select the student's name from the list, click on Edit Student Info, and change the Registration Number so that it is not more than 9 to 13 characters long (size depends on your computer’s available memory and spaces count as characters).
When I test new students, why don't their records appear in my list of previously captured test scores?
This is due to your computer not having enough memory to display all the data at one time. Run the Score Management Software and from the Manage Students tab, click on Filter and search for the missing students' names. To find out more information about "Filters," please see Section III-3 of the Score Management Software User Guide.
Also, try deleting old students who are no longer in your program from the Manage Students tab.
I tested a student using the wrong name. How do change it to the correct name?
You will need to download and install the Score Management Software enhancement in order to edit the student’s score report to reflect the correct name. This cannot be done using the version on the red BEST Plus Test CD.
