HisGrace ExaminerX is the server / control-hub edition of the CBT software. It pairs with the standard HisGrace Examiner running on each student computer, letting you deliver a Computer-Based Test over a local network — and monitor, message, and remotely capture screens during the exam. This guide walks through setting up the server, configuring the clients, connecting them, and running the exam end to end.
Prefer to run a CBT on a single computer with no network? See Examiner: Conduct an Offline CBT instead.
On this page
Phase 1: Setting Up the Server Computer
The server computer needs HisGrace ExaminerX installed — that's the edition that acts as the control hub.
Launch ExaminerX on the server
Open HisGrace ExaminerX on the computer you've designated as the server. 0:10
Log in as admin
Sign in with the default admin username and password. 0:25
Open Manage Exams & upload the module
On the left menu, click Manage Exams, then click Upload Exam Module at the top left. 0:35
Exam modules are created in HisGrace Exam Maker — see Exam Maker: Build & Publish a CBT if you haven't built one yet.
Activate the module
Select the exam module file, click open, and click Yes when asked to make it the active examination. 0:43
Configure Settings (Mode & Auto-connection)
Go to Settings on the left menu. Perform the following configurations:
- Mode: Under the Mode panel, choose Windows Application (if using the desktop client on student PCs) or Web Browser (if students will connect via web browsers).
- Web Customizations: If you chose Web Browser mode, you can upload a custom Webpage Login Background and define the penalty/action under the When Examinee minimize / switch tab dropdown.
- Auto-Connection: Tick the box to allow the examination connection to be created automatically each time the application opens.
Click Save Settings to apply your configurations. 1:05
Start the connection
Return to the dashboard and click Start Connection. Watch the status bar at the bottom — it turns green when the connection is active. 1:18
Note the server's IP address or Web URL
Take note of the connection information shown on the green status bar at the bottom. Once the server is properly connected to your local network, it displays the network IP. For Web Browser mode, it will show a full address in the format: Web URL: [IP-Address]:[Port] (e.g. Web URL: 192.168.1.100:8539) — you will need this URL on the client devices. 1:34
Phase 2: Connecting the Client (Examinee) Devices
Choose one of the two methods below to connect the students' computers or devices to the examination server:
Option A: Using the HisGrace Examiner Application
Use this option if you want to run the examination inside the dedicated desktop client application on Windows PCs. This mode offers maximum security as it can lock down the desktop environment.
The client computers need the standard HisGrace Examiner application installed — not ExaminerX.
Launch Examiner on the client
Open HisGrace Examiner on a client computer. 1:56
Log in as admin
Sign in with the default admin username and password. 2:03
Switch to Server Mode & enter the server IP
Open Settings in the left menu, change the operational mode to Server Mode, and type in the exact IP address of the server computer you noted in Phase 1. 2:17
Boot straight to the examinee login
Set the application startup mode to Examinee Login Page so the app opens directly for students. 2:33
Repeat Option A on every client computer that will take the exam using the desktop application.
Option B: Using Web Browser Mode (No Client App Required)
Use this option to run the exam directly in standard web browsers. This is perfect for heterogeneous environments including Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, mobile devices, and macOS/Linux systems.
Ensure the device is on the same local network
Make sure the student's device (laptop, tablet, Chromebook, or phone) is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or local network router as the ExaminerX server computer.
Open a web browser
Open any modern, standard web browser (such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox) on the student's device.
Enter the server's web URL
Type the full web address into the browser's address bar exactly as shown in the Web URL field on ExaminerX's status bar — it follows the format http://[server-ip]:[port] (for example, http://192.168.1.100:8539) — then press Enter. The examinee login page will load in the browser.
Web Browser Mode extras (configured in ExaminerX Settings):
- Webpage Login Background: Upload a custom background image to brand the student-facing login page.
- When Examinee minimize / switch tab: Choose an action (e.g. Do Nothing, End Exam) to apply if the student switches away from the exam tab.
- Use Username only for candidate login page: Tick this to require only a username (no password) on the student login page.
Save the URL as a browser bookmark on each student device to make it easy to reopen the exam page on subsequent exam days.
Phase 3: Connecting & Starting the Exam
Wait for the connection to go green or page to load
If you configured the desktop client (Option A), the status bar at the bottom will start red and turn green once connected. If you are using Web Browser Mode (Option B), the examinee login page will load directly as soon as the URL is entered. 2:52
Examinee log in
The examinee can now log in with their assigned username and password to start their test. 3:00
Verify on the server dashboard
Back on the server computer, the dashboard updates to show the newly connected client (whether desktop application or web browser) and the examinee's active status. 3:07
Phase 4: Admin Monitoring & Remote Control (Server Side)
Once students are connected and taking the exam, the admin can monitor and act on them directly from the server computer.
Target a specific computer
Before using any remote function, select the specific connected computer from the list on the server dashboard. Every remote action applies to whichever client is currently selected. 3:36
Send a notification
Use the remote control panel on the left to send a direct notification message — it pops up on the selected examinee's screen. 3:36
Capture the examinee's screen
Click the screen capture tool to fetch a real-time screenshot of the selected computer to confirm the student is on task. 4:02
Review results
You can check an examinee's performance and examination details directly from the server once they finish. 4:11
Export the data
Just like in local mode, you can export all aggregated results to Microsoft Excel from the server dashboard. 4:33