diff --git a/config/env_exam.rb.SAMPLE b/config/env_exam.rb.SAMPLE
--- a/config/env_exam.rb.SAMPLE
+++ b/config/env_exam.rb.SAMPLE
@@ -16,5 +16,8 @@
   config.test_request_output_base_dir = RAILS_ROOT + "/data/test_request/output"
   config.test_request_problem_templates_dir = config.problems_dir + "/test_request"
  
+  # change this if you want the path on the output to be translated
+  config.test_request_org_output_base_dir = config.test_request_output_base_dir
+ 
   config.comment_report_style = :short
 end
diff --git a/config/env_grading.rb.SAMPLE b/config/env_grading.rb.SAMPLE
--- a/config/env_grading.rb.SAMPLE
+++ b/config/env_grading.rb.SAMPLE
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
   config.test_request_input_base_dir = RAILS_ROOT + "/data/test_request/input"
   config.test_request_output_base_dir = RAILS_ROOT + "/data/test_request/output"
   config.test_request_problem_templates_dir = config.problems_dir + "/test_request"
+
+  # change this if you want the path on the output to be translated
+  config.test_request_org_output_base_dir = config.test_request_output_base_dir
  
   config.comment_report_style = :full
 end
diff --git a/config/env_test.rb.SAMPLE b/config/env_test.rb.SAMPLE
--- a/config/env_test.rb.SAMPLE
+++ b/config/env_test.rb.SAMPLE
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
   config.test_request_output_base_dir = GRADER_ROOT + "/test/sandbox/test_request/output"
   config.test_request_problem_templates_dir = GRADER_ROOT + "/test/data/test_request/problems"
 
+  # change this if you want the path on the output to be translated
+  config.test_request_org_output_base_dir = config.test_request_output_base_dir
+ 
   #
   # These options are for testing
   #
diff --git a/lib/configuration.rb b/lib/configuration.rb
--- a/lib/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/configuration.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
     attr_accessor :test_request_output_base_dir
     attr_accessor :test_request_problem_templates_dir
 
+    # this is for linking output from test request
+    # TODO: find a cleaner way to do this.
+    attr_accessor :test_request_org_output_base_dir
+
     # Comment received from the grading script will be filtered
     # through Configuration#report_comment.  How this method behave
     # depends on this option; right now only two formats, :short and
diff --git a/lib/test_request_helper.rb b/lib/test_request_helper.rb
--- a/lib/test_request_helper.rb
+++ b/lib/test_request_helper.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 
 module Grader
 
+  def self.translate_filepath(filename, marker, new_base_path)
+    p = filename.index(marker)
+    end_path = filename[(p+marker.length)..-1]
+    return new_base_path + end_path
+  end
+
   def self.link_or_copy(src, des)
     begin
       FileUtils.ln_s(src, des)
@@ -104,8 +110,15 @@
       }
     end
 
+    def translate_input_filename(filename)
+      return Grader::translate_filepath(filename, 
+                                        'input', 
+                                        @config.test_request_input_base_dir)
+    end
+
     def link_input_file(test_request, problem_home)
-      input_fname = "#{test_request.input_file_name}"
+      input_fname = translate_input_filename(test_request.input_file_name)
+
       if !File.exists?(input_fname)
         raise "Test Request: input file not found."
       end
@@ -214,8 +227,9 @@
     
     def save_result(test_request,result)
       if result[:output_file_name]!=nil
-        test_request.output_file_name = link_output_file(test_request,
-                                                         result[:output_file_name])
+        org_filename = link_output_file(test_request,
+                                        result[:output_file_name])
+        test_request.output_file_name = translate_output_filename(org_filename)
       end
       test_request.graded_at = Time.now
       test_request.compiler_message = (result[:cmp_msg] or '')
@@ -232,6 +246,12 @@
     end
     
     protected
+    def translate_output_filename(filename)
+      return Grader::translate_filepath(filename, 
+                                        'output', 
+                                        @config.test_request_org_output_base_dir)
+    end
+
     def link_output_file(test_request, fname)
       target_file_name = random_output_file_name(test_request.user,
                                                  test_request.problem)