Media Banks

If you use media in TG Desktop/LAN, we recommend importing your media into TG’s Media bank (a.k.a., folders, directories). Start by creating one or more banks. Media banks can be organized by media type, user, subject or any classification system you wish to use. If you have, or plan on having, multiple administrative-level users preparing tests, we recommend establishing a TG media use policy. This may help prevent the indiscriminate use of duplicate and/or extremely large media files, which may hamper your testing performance.

After creating your TG media banks, locate and organize the media on your computer in a way that will simplify locating the media content you want to import into TG’s Media bank. One ready-made option is the various media directories (e.g. My Pictures, My Video) located under your computer’s My Documents directory. You can also organize your media into directories of your choosing, or use a media organization software tool.

If using TG LAN or TG Web with a Sql database, your media options include the importing and storing of media under TG’s Media banks and/or the embedding of media in a test’s question and answer fields. Where possible, we recommend importing your media into TG’s Media banks. Using this method allows you to use the same media in one or more questions within the same test or across multiple tests. It is one piece of media you can use multiple times without increasing the size of your database.

Media can also be embedded in a test’s question and/or answer fields. By embedded we mean media objects cut and pasted into the question and/or answer fields. These media objects are created/edited/processed using a media editing tool (for example, Paint Shop Pro. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Flash, or even Windows Paint).

Embedded media is only associated with the question or answer fields into which it is embedded. Unlike media imported into the Media bank, it cannot be re-purposed for use in other questions or tests. Each instance of the media becomes a separate file in the database.

If you embed media in your questions/answers, we recommend you establish clear guidelines regarding the use and administration of these files. Indiscriminate use of embedded objects leads to a confusing array of media types, file sizes and a bloated database.

1. Select/highlight the Media module icon.

2. Right-click and select New Media Folder from the popup menu to open the New Media Folder dialog.

3. Type a name for the new folder.
   
   Tip: choose a name that describes the subject matter, for example, HR, Biology, Security, P&P.

4. Click OK.

Sub-folders allow you to further organize your material. Each media bank (folder) can have multiple sub-folders. You can also create nested sub-folders if you wish to organize your data at various levels under the parent bank.

1. Select/highlight a media bank.

2. Right-click and select New Media Folder Under: <your folder name> from the pop-up menu to open the New Media Folder dialog.

3. Enter a name for the new folder.

4. Click OK to create a sub-folder under the root media folder.

You can also create subfolders under a main folder.

1. Select the media folder into which you wish to import one or more files.

2. Select File > Import > Media from the menu to open the Import Media window.

3. Navigate to the directory containing the media files.
   
   Ideally, your files are centrally located under one directory on your computer, or on a server. To save time and increase your efficiency, we recommend organizing your media files in a manner that simplifies locating and importing them into the media banks you have created.

4. At the bottom of the Import Media window, under Files of type, select > All Files from the pull-down menu (or simply type *.* in the Name field and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

5. Select the media file. You can select multiple files by pressing Ctrl on the keyboard and selecting the file with the mouse.

6. Click Open in the lower right-corner of the Import Media window to import your media file and place it in the media folder selected in step 1.

7. Repeat as necessary for additional media files.

TG does not include a media editor for the creation, editing or processing of media files. There are numerous media editing tools available in the marketplace, including Window’s Paint, which is included with Windows. There are also more sophisticated media tools available for purchase.

If you need to edit/modify your media for use in a test, you should do so before you import your media into TG. If you discover you need to edit the file you imported into TG, you can always delete the imported file (select the media in the media bank and click the Delete button). This process does not delete your original file. Locate your original file and, using your media editing software, edit the original (or make a copy and edit the copy) and then re-import it into the appropriate media bank.

1. Select/highlight the Media module icon. Folders containing media have a + sign.

2. Select the folder containing the media you want to view by clicking the + sign to expand the folder and display its media contents.

3. Selecting a file displays the media on the right side of the screen. If your media file dimensions are large, you may only see a portion of the image. If the media file has been assigned to a test, you can view the entire image in the published test.

1. Select and highlight the media folder you wish to delete.

2. Right-click and select Remove Media Folder from the pop-up menu
   OR
   Click the Delete icon
   OR
   Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

1. Select and highlight the media file you wish to move.

2. Click and drag the file into media folder X.
   
   Note: Media can be moved between folders using drag and drop. Media cannot be dragged into any other tree view module.