Creating a Response Grid using the Grid Wizard

Select Tools > Grid Wizard to start the Grid wizard. This is a series of dialogs that prompts you for information about the response grid. Set options on each wizard dialog, then click Next. The effect of your choices appears on each wizard screen on the left-hand side. At any time during response grid creation you can click Finish to create the grid; the defaults are used for the remaining options. You can modify these choices for the entire grid later, as necessary.

TIP: Response grids created by the Grid Wizard are group shapes. If you later want to modify a grid that was created by the Grid Wizard, you must first ungroup it before you can modify the individual components of the grid.

Understanding Data Types

Scantron DesignExpert software gives you flexibility in defining response grids. There are few constraints built into the software regarding data types for designators, scanning ScanTools software data types, and merge data types. The following table suggests combinations that are compatible:

Designator Type	Merge Data Type	ScanTools Data Type	Example of Use
Alpha, no space	Alpha, no space	Alpha, no space	Name grid
Alphanumeric	Alphanumeric	Alphanumeric	Address grid
Binary Coded Decimal (BCD)	BCD	BCD	Pre-slug ID number (For Office Use Only)
none	Litho-code/binary	binary	Pre-slug ID number or serial number
none	Litho-code/binary	binary, with parity	Pre-slug ID number or serial number
none	Litho-code	Litho-code	serial number
none or custom	N/A	mark all that apply	multiple choice
numeric	numeric	numeric	Social Security Number grid
1-digit response	1-digit response	1-digit response	multiple choice
2-digit response	2-digit response	2-digit response	multiple choice
true/false	1-digit response	1-digit response	multiple choice (example of custom designator)
yes/no	1-digit response	1-digit response	multiple choice (example of custom designator)

Understanding Print Personalization

You can to merge information from a database file and print it on your cut sheet forms using your local laser printer. For OMR and OMR Laser Printer Only Documents, this includes print personalization of text, caption text, bar codes, and pre-slugged OMR response grids.

Print Personalization - General Process Overview

To use the print personalization feature, you first define text areas, caption text areas, and/or OMR response grids as variable data placeholders, and then use the Merge Wizard to link them to specific fields in your database file. You can then print your documents with your laser printer, using the Merge Wizard Printing function. The variable data from the database record is printed in the appropriate area; text characters are printed in the text or caption text areas, OMR response grids are pre-slugged with the appropriate data.

The overall process for implementing the print personalization feature is shown in the figure below. This example shows an OMR response grid with a caption above it; the response grid is available only in OMR documents. Click a step in the diagram below to learn more about it.

NOTE: Scantron DesignExpert software does not support print personalization (merge printing), including pre-printing, pre-slugging, and bar coding, for continuous forms, multi-parts, or finished booklets. Merge printing can, in some cases, be performed with booklet pages before the booklet is bound.

Database Support

Database file types supported by Scantron DesignExpert software are:

• Comma Separated Text - Windows comma delimited file that contains ASCII text with each field separated by a comma. By convention, the extension .csv is used for this file type when you perform a Save As in a program such as a word processor, database, or spreadsheet. You may use a comma separated text file that is in the correct format, but has a different extension, or no extension. The first record MUST contain the database field names used by the Merge Wizard. The names can appear in any order.
• Tab Delimited Text - Windows tab delimited file that contains ASCII text with each field separated by a TAB character. By convention, the extension .txt is used for this file type when you perform a Save As in a program such as a word processor, database, or spreadsheet. You may use a tab delimited text file that is in the correct format, but has a different extension, or no extension. The first record MUST contain the database field names used by the Merge Wizard. The names can appear in any order.
• Microsoft Excel - This file type is from the Microsoft Excel program and has the extension .xls. Use of the "Text" data type is recommended.

TIP: See Merge Wizard Overview for additional information about Microsoft Excel database support, including our recommendation to convert Excel files to either comma separated or tab delimited text files.

• Microsoft Access - This file type is from the Microsoft Access program and has the extension .mdb.

Record Numbering Support

Record numbering is supported via the Merge Wizard database interface for any database type. Specify it using the Merge Wizard Setup Record Numbers dialog. Apply record numbering as a number or as a bar code and as a pre-slugged OMR response grid. Use Caption text as a record number merge field for numbers and bar codes.

Serial Numbering Support

Serial numbering is supported via the Merge Wizard database interface, although a database file is not actually used during the operation. Serial numbers are generated according to values you specify on the Merge Wizard Setup Serial Numbers dialog. Apply serial numbering as a number or as a bar code and as a pre-slugged OMR response grid. Use caption text as a serial number merge field for numbers and bar codes.

Document Type Support

Print personalization is supported for cut sheets in all Scantron DesignExpert software document types. Features vary somewhat between document types:

• For OMR documents printed at Scantron Print Services

  Load your documents into your local laser printer and print the variable data in the appropriate text, caption text, and/or OMR response grid areas, using the Merge Wizard.

  The printed document can be a stock form or a custom-designed one that was printed at Scantron.

  As an alternative, you can send your database files to the printing facility, and Scantron Print Services will print the variable data onto the appropriate form. Files printed at Scantron Print Services also use additional file types, Scantron DesignExpert underlay (.deu) and Scantron DesignExpert overlay (.deo). These file types enable you to protect the design for the printed base form in an underlay, while using flexible overlays to control the print personalization.

• For OMR documents printed with the PrintFlex option

  Load your plain paper into your local laser printer and print the entire document, including variable data, in the appropriate text, caption text, and/or OMR response grid areas, using the Merge Wizard.

• For OMR Laser Printer Only documents

  Use Scantron DesignExpert stock form number 103188 or 265914 as your paper stock. Load it into your local laser printer and you can print both the fixed shapes of the Scantron DesignExpert document and the variable data from the database records in one pass.

• For OMR Laser Printer Only documents printed with the PrintFlex option

  Use plain paper. Load it into your local laser printer and you can print both the fixed shapes of the Scantron DesignExpert document and the variable data from the database records in one pass.

Print Personalization Field Support

Print personalization is supported in Text and Caption Text fields and in OMR response grids. Features vary somewhat between them.

• Text

  Variable text fields can be added to Text and linked to your database via the Merge Wizard.

  The variable text placeholder is {VARIABLE_field}, where "field" is a name of your choosing. For example, {VARIABLE_student} or {VARIABLE_customer}.

  One or more variable text placeholders can be embedded within a text block. For example, you can insert a name from your database into a paragraph.

  A variable text placeholder can be the only text within a text block. For example, you can print an entire text block from your database.

  Merge text style controls can be applied in your database to enable you to vary font, color, style, and so forth on a sheet by sheet basis. See Modifying Text Styles.

• Caption Text

  Caption Text can be defined as a variable text field and linked to your database via the Merge Wizard. For example, {Name}. Note that the field name is enclosed in braces.

  Caption Text can be defined as a serial number field controlled via the Merge Wizard. For example, [Serial]. Note that the field name is enclosed in square brackets.

  Caption Text can be defined as a record number field controlled via the Merge Wizard. For example, <Record>. Note that the field name is enclosed in angle brackets.

  A Code 39 bar code font can be used for a variable text, serial number, or record number field if the information merged from your database must be interpreted by a bar code reader.

  Merge text style controls can be applied in your database to enable you to vary font, color, style, and so forth on a sheet by sheet basis. See Modifying Text Styles.

• OMR Response Grids

  OMR response grids can be defined as pre-slug fields and linked to your database via the Merge Wizard so that response bubbles are automatically marked during printing.

Merge Data Type Support for Pre-Slugging

Scantron DesignExpert supports the following Merge Data Types:

• Numeric (0-9)
• Alpha, no space (A-Z)
• Alphanumeric (Space, A-Z, Special Characters)
• Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) (1-2-4-8-P)
• Binary/Litho-code
• 1-Digit Response (1-9)
• 2-Digit Response (01-99)

There is no Merge Data Type for custom response designators and special character pre-slugging. However, standard Merge Data Types and your database can be adapted for this purpose. See Creating a Response Grid using the Grid Wizard or Modifying Response Grids for additional information.

What's on the Screen?

The Grid Wizard includes the following steps:

1. Choose a Grid

   This step identifies the grid type and style.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Type	Select the format appropriate for the grid you are creating. This list provides a number of predefined grid formats for types of information commonly gathered on scannable forms, such as Social Security numbers and dates.
   Style	Select the style. Many of these choices affect borders and shading, which you can change in a later dialog of the Grid Wizard.
   Rows	Enter the number of rows you want in the response grid.
   Columns	Enter the number of columns you want in the response grid.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

2. Caption

   This step specifies the caption text, location, and alignment.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Text	Enter text for caption that labels the response grid.
   Font	View the font currently defined for the caption.
   Change Font	Select a different font for the caption text. See Font dialog for details.
   All Caps	Change the currently defined caption to all UPPERCASE characters. This applies only to alphabetic characters.
   Location	Define the position of the caption text in relation to the response grid. Choices are: Top - places the caption immediately above the top row of response positions. Left Edge - places the caption to the left-hand side of the first column of response positions. Text characters are placed in one column and rotated 90 degrees so text reads from bottom of grid to top. Left Edge, Stacked - places the caption to the left-hand side of the first column of response positions. Text characters are placed in one column, so text reads from top to bottom of grid. No Caption - a caption is not created for this grid.
   Alignment	Specify how the caption text aligns with the grid. Choices are: Center Left Right
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

3. Border

   This step specifies the appearance of any border around the response grid elements.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Border Style	Select a style for the border. Choices are: square rounded corners tombstone-shaped (top corners rounded, bottom corners square) None (no border around the grid)
   Border Thickness	Select whether the border lines are thin or thick.
   Write-in Area	Specify the appearance of the grid's write-in area. Write-in areas can help ensure data accuracy, as it helps the respondent focus on the correct form bubbles, and it helps data validation later by providing a different view of the data. Choices are: Top - places a write-in box immediately above the top row of responses Left - places a write-in box immediately to the left-hand side of the first column of responses None - a write-in box is not created for the grid.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

4. Designators

   This step specifies the labels that appear within the response bubbles in the grid.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Font	Select a font for the characters used as designators. The default font is Arial, 6 point, Bold. NOTE: OMR Laser Printer Onlydocuments. The required response designator font is Arial, 8 point, Bold.
   Rotation	Select the direction the characters should be rotated, in relation to the response grid.
   Designator Type	Choose the characters you want to appear in the response positions. Choices are: Standard Select from pre-defined types that Scantron provides. What are the pre-defined types? Title Characters Used as Designators None No designators are used, the response positions are blank, except for stroke and fill Numeric 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Alpha, no space A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Alphanumeric (blank space in first position, special characters after numeric) <space> A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 [ . < ( + \ & ! $ * ) ; ^ - / , % _ > ? : # @ ' = " 1-Digit Response 1 - 9 2-Digit Response 01 - 99 Binary-Coded Decimal 1 2 4 8 P True/False T F Yes/No Y N NOTE: When a comma (,) is used as a response designator, it will not appear on the screen display or laser printouts but will export to ScanTools correctly. The underscore (_) is difficult to see because it overlaps the bottom of the response. Custom Define your own list of designator characters. NOTE:If you use characters with adescender such as g, j, p, q, and y are used as response designators, the descender may be difficult to see because it overlaps the bottom of the response. Add Custom Type Define a new set of characters to use as designators. See Adding or Editing Custom Designators dialog for details. CAUTION: If you export this form to ScanTools, each named custom designator type and its designator list must be unique. For example, if two custom designator types have the same name but different designator lists, or if two custom designator types have different names but the same designator list, the ScanTools application generated by Export to ScanTools may contain errors. Delete Custom Type Use this button to delete a custom list. This removes the custom type from the list. Other grids using this custom type still show the custom designators; however, you may not longer apply the custom designators to new grids. You can edit custom designators you create. See Modify Response Grid - Designators for details. NOTE: If the OMR grid is longer than the characters in the designator set, no designators appear in the extra grid response positions. If the OMR grid is shorter than the characters in the designator set, only those designators that fit in the response positions appear.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

5. Scanning

   This step defines how the grid will be scanned.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Field Name	Use this area to enter a unique field name for the data collected by this grid. The name can have a maximum of 24 alphanumeric characters. If you enter a name that is already used, you will receive a message telling you it must be unique. You can change this name later, using the Modify Response Grid Scanning tab. TIP: We recommend you provide a meaningful field name so that later, if you use the Modify Field Attributes dialog, you can identify the field that this grid is associated with. If you intend to use the Export to ScanTools feature, the field names are used. If you do not provide a meaningful name, Scantron DesignExpert uses a default name: Field#, where # is an assigned numeric value based on all fields currently defined for all documents currently open. This naming convention can lead to non-consecutive numbers being assigned to fields in a document, and may not be optimal when you go to the Modify Field Attributes dialog.
   Grid Attributes: Data Type	Use this list box to select the type of data associated with this grid. Choices are: Data Type ScanTools Output Characteristics and Compatibility Alpha No Space No leading space, A-Z. Only one mark allowed. Compatible with ScanTools Alphabetic, no space data type. Alpha-Numeric (includes special characters) Leading space, A-Z, 0-9, special characters [ . < ( + \ & ! $ * ) ; ^ - / , % _ > ? : # @ ' = ". Only one mark allowed. Compatible with ScanTools Alphanumeric data type. Note that the comma (,) is not included on the Scantron DesignExpert screen display or printout but does Export to ScanTools. BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) A five position string similar to binary. The first four positions are consecutive powers of 2, and the highest order position is used for parity checking (odd parity). The five positions represent 1248P. Only the decimal values 0 through 9 can be represented; 10 through 15 cause ScanTools to write an asterisk (*) to the output record. Multiple marks allowed. Compatible with ScanTools BCD data type. Binary Each position represents a consecutive power of 2. The first is 1, the second is 2, the third is 4, the fourth is 8, and so on. Multiple marks allowed. The value of the output equals all the marked responses added together. For example, marking the first (1), third (4), and fifth (16) positions produces 1 + 4 + 16 = 21 as the value for the grid. Compatible with ScanTools Binary data type. Note: The ScanTools Binary (Scoring) data type is not available in Scantron DesignExpert software. Binary with Parity Each position represents a consecutive power of 2. Multiple marks allowed. The highest-order position can represent a parity bit (odd parity). Like binary, the value of all the marked responses, except the last one, is added together. Compatible with ScanTools Binary with Parity data type. Litho-Code Unique serial numbers. Each position represents a power of 2. Multiple marks allowed. Compatible with ScanTools Litho-code data type. Mark All That Apply The grid must be a single row or column and can have as many marks as there are response positions. Mark = 1, No mark = 0. The edit type of NONE is usually used with this selection. This type of grid is commonly used for surveys. Note: Linked grids cannot use a Mark All That Apply data type. Compatible with ScanTools custom translate table; automatically created during Export to ScanTools. Numeric 0 - 9. One mark allowed. Compatible with ScanTools Numeric data type. One Digit Response 1 - 9. One mark allowed. Compatible with ScanTools One digit response data type. Two Digit Response 01 - 99. One mark allowed. Each response generates two characters of output. Compatible with ScanTools Two digit response data type. Use Custom Designators The characters defined in the custom designator set are used to create a translate table in ScanTools software. A translate table enables you to define a custom data type for a grid. The custom designator type name is used for the translate table name. Each individual designator character becomes an entry in the translate table, in the same order as the designators are defined. Compatible with ScanTools custom translate table; automatically created during Export to ScanTools.
   Grid Orientation	Select which response position is the first one for the grid. This assigns the order the designators are filled in under the response positions. Choices are: Left - the first response position is the left-most position. Designators start here and continue to fill in to the right. Show me Right - the first response position is the right-most position. Designators start here and continue to fill in to the left. Show me NOTE: Left and Right orientation grids are always resolved from top to bottom in the ScanTools software. Show me Up - the first response position is the top position. Designators start here and continue to fill in to the bottom. Show me Down - the first response position is the bottom position. Designators start here and continue to fill in to the top. Show me NOTE: Up and Down orientation grids are always resolved from left to right in the ScanTools software. Show me All examples show the designators printed in the Up orientation, which is defined in the Grid Wizard Designators step (described above).
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

6. Merge

   This step sets up how data will be merged (pre-slugged/personalized) in this response grid.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Merge Field Type	Define the type of data that will be printed in the response grid variable print placeholder area. CAUTION: Make sure the response grid contains enough response positions to accept and print (pre-slug) the data. If the grid is not long enough, only some of the data will be pre-slugged when you print, the remainder is truncated, and you do not receive a warning message during the Merge process. Selection of the following: None - This OMR response grid is not used for print personalization when using the Merge wizard. Pre-Slug Variable Data - Pre-slugs the grid response positions with data from a field in the database file. Pre-Slug Serial Number - Pre-slugs the grid response positions with a serial number you define in the Merge Wizard Setup Serial Numbers dialog. Pre-Slug Record Number - Pre-slugs the grid response positions with the record number from the database file. Pre-Slug Fixed Data - Pre-slugs the grid response with fixed data you define in the Merge Field Name/Fixed Data field. NOTES: When you select Pre-Slug Fixed Data, the OMR Grid must contain the fixed data for pre-slug and the data type for the data to be pre-slugged. If you select Pre-Slug Variable Data or Pre-Slug Fixed Data, you must select a Data Type.
   Merge Field Name (Used only for Pre-slug Variable Data)	Enter the name of the variable or fixed data for this response grid print personalization field, using a maximum of 32 alphanumeric characters. This name can be used later in the Merge Wizard to link this variable print field to a database field name. TIP: If you use the same name as the database field name, you will be able to automatically match this field with the database field when you use the Merge Wizard.
   Data Type	Select the data type that is appropriate for the data contained in the database field that will be linked to this field. CAUTION: It is your responsibility to make sure your database files contain the appropriate data of the type defined. If the database files do not actually contain the appropriate data type, either the field will not be available for use, or no data or incorrect data will be printed. Supported ASCII characters for each merge data type Merge Data Type Merge Data Characteristics None This should be used only when the merge field type is also None. Numeric 0-9 Alpha No Space No leading space, A-Z using the Standard Alpha-No Space Designator Type. The characters must be in the order specified for this Designator Type. If you are using a Custom Designator Type, the A-Z can be followed by special characters in any order you define. Alpha-numeric Leading space, A-Z, 0-9, special characters [ . < ( + \ & ! $ * ) ; ^ - / , % _ > ? : # @ ' = ". The characters must be in the order specified for this Designator Type. If you are using a Custom Designator Type, the Space, A-Z, 0-9 can be followed by special characters in any order you define. Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) A five position string, 1248P. The first four positions - 1248 - are consecutive powers of 2, and the highest order position - P - is used for odd parity checking. Litho-Code/Binary Unique serial numbers. Each position represents a power of 2. Multiple marks allowed. No parity checking is available with Litho-code. One Digit Response 1 - 9 Two Digit Response 01 - 99. Use leading zeros if necessary. The data must be two characters.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

7. Shading

   This step defines how rows and columns are shaded. Shading makes it easier for respondents to be sure they are marking the correct response bubble.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Alternate Shading	Select which area of grid response positions you want shaded.
   Shade Write-in area	Determine whether you want the write-in area of the grid to be shaded. Check the box to shade the write-in area. Clear the box to leave the write-in area unshaded.
   Shade Responses	Determine whether you want the inside of the response positions to be shaded. Check the box to shade the response positions. Clear the box to leave the response positions unshaded.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

8. Color

   This step defines what colors and screens are used for the grid. Specify the colors for each area of the response grid.

   Use this element…	…to…
   Color	Define color, including black and white, for response grid elements. The list of available colors is based on the current list of document colors (created when you set up your document). Select a color from the list. See Edit Color Palette dialog for details on changing the colors available. CAUTION: Some colors may be marked as discontinued. These colors are no longer supported by Scantron Print Services. If you will be using Scantron Print Services to print your form, do not use any color marked as discontinued. CAUTION: If you plan to use a color laser printer to print your forms (with the PrintFlex option or with Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914), you can use either color or black for any grid parameter. Some colors may interfere with scanning so you must choose your color and screen percentages carefully and perform scanner testing to make sure your selections work. For example, red, pink, or orange colors for OMR response stroke, fill, or designators are less likely to interfere with scanning; blue, green, purple, or other dark colors are more likely to interfere with scanning. Testing with your scanner is the only way to know for sure.
   Screen	Define screen percentage for response grid elements. Screen percentage controls how dark the color you have selected is printed. 100% is darkest and 10% is lightest. Screen percentage can be set in 10% increments (plus 15%). If you chose not to use shading for a grid feature (in the previous step), then the controls for that feature are not available. Screen percentage selection for Laser Printer forms If you are designing a laser printer form and plan to use a color printer, you can use color or black for any grid parameter. Some colors may interfere with scanning so you must choose your screen percentages carefully and perform scanner testing to make sure your selections work. Screen percentages for black If you print the response stroke, fill, or designators in black, the recommended screen percentage is 10%. Screen percentages can be 10%, 15%, 20%, or 30% if desired. When screen percentages greater than 10% are used, we recommend that you test your forms to determine if the black printing interferes with scanning. Screen percentages for color If you print the response stroke, fill, or designators in color, screen percentages can range from 10% to 100% in increments of 10% (plus 15%). When you use screen percentages greater than 10%, we recommend that you test your forms to determine if the color printing interferes with scanning.
   Show Entire Grid	If you created a large grid that exceeds the display, only part of it shows in the dialog. To display a scaled version of the entire grid, select Show Entire Grid. Clear this box to see a full-scale version of a representative portion of the grid.

How do I…

…add a custom response designator set?

1. At the Designators step (described above), click Add Custom Type.
2. Provide a name for the designators.

CAUTION: If you export this form to ScanTools, each named custom designator type and its designator list must be unique. For example, if two custom designator types have the same name but different designator lists, or if two custom designator types have different names but the same designator list, the ScanTools application generated by Export to ScanTools may contain errors.

3. Specify the designators, separated by commas. See Adding or Editing Custom Designators for more details.

…edit a custom response designator set?

You cannot edit an existing customer response designator set in the Grid Wizard. To make changes, select the custom designator set that is closest to what you want, or create a new set.

…set up forms for pre-slugging using custom designators or special characters?

Scantron DesignExpert software provides several ways to pre-slug custom response designators or special characters:

• Pre-Slug Special Characters with Custom Response Designators and Alpha No-Space Grids

  You can design your own response grid, with custom response designators, to capture an Email Address. The grid will include letters A through Z, numbers 0 through 9, and special characters "@" and "." . It uses the Alpha No-Space data type. Follow these steps:

  1. Select Tools > Grid Wizard and create an OMR response grid with a 38 response position height for A-Z plus 0-9 plus the @ and . characters. Make the response grid wide enough for the email addresses you want to capture or pre-slug..
  2. At the Designators step, click Add Custom Type in the Designator Type area to open the Add Custom Designators dialog.
  3. Enter a Name for the custom designators such as "Email".
  4. Enter the designators you need. Each character must be separated by a comma. For this example, the entry is:

  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,@,.

  5. Click OK to save your designators.
  6. At the Scanning step, enter a Field Name such as Email Address. Select Alpha No-Space in the Grid Attributes Data Type area.
  7. At the Merge step, click Pre-Slug Variable Data in the Merge Field Type area. Enter a Merge Field Name such as Email. Select Alpha No-Space for the Data Type.
  8. Click OK.

  You now have a grid that you can pre-slug with a typical email address. Use the Merge Wizard to perform your pre-slugging: Select Database, Link Database and Document Fields, and Print.

  This technique can also be applied via the Modify Response Grid dialog.

  TIP: When you use the Alpha No-Space Data Type, A through Z must be included in your custom response designator set as the first 26 characters.

• Pre-Slug Special Characters with Alpha-Numeric Grids

  You can design your own response grid, with custom response designators, to capture an Email Address. The grid will include Space, letters A through Z, numbers 0 through 9, and special characters "@" and "." . It uses the Alpha-Numeric data type. Follow these steps:

  1. Select Tools > Grid Wizard and create an OMR response grid with a 39 response position height for Space plus A-Z plus 0-9 plus the @ and . characters. Make the response grid wide enough for the email addresses you want to capture or pre-slug..
  2. At the Designators step, click Add Custom Type in the Designator Type area to open the Add Custom Designators dialog.
  3. Enter a Name for the custom designators such as "Email".
  4. Enter the designators you need. Each character must be separated by a comma. For this example, the entry is:

   ,A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,@,.

  Don’t forget the "Space" before the "A" in the character set.

  5. Click OK to save your designators.
  6. At the Scanning step, enter a Field Name such as Email Address. Select Alpha-Numeric in the Grid Attributes Data Type area.
  7. At the Merge step, click Pre-Slug Variable Data in the Merge Field Type area. Enter a Merge Field Name such as Email. Select Alpha-Numeric for the Data Type.
  8. Click OK.

  You now have a grid that you can pre-slug with a typical email address. Use the Merge Wizard to perform your pre-slugging: Select Database, Link Database and Document Fields, and Print.

  This technique can also be applied via the Modify Response Grid dialog.

  TIP: When you use the Alpha-Numeric Data Type, Space, A through Z, and 0 through 9 must be included in your custom response designator set as the first 37 characters.

• Pre-Slug Response Grids with Database Adaptations

  In addition to the methods described above, you can also pre-slug special characters in any field by modifying the data in your database fields. For example, if you have a "Gender" OMR response grid, you can use custom response designators "F" and "M" for Female and Male, labels that are meaningful to the form user.

  If you want to pre-slug your Gender response grid, there is no way to link to a database Gender field containing just F and M because there is no Gender Merge Data Type. You can however adapt one of the standard Merge Data Types and your database to meet your needs. The steps are as follows:

  1. Create your Gender response grid with custom response designators "F" and "M" and with Merge Data Type set to "One-Digit Response."

  Valid data for One-Digit Response Merge Data Type is defined as numbers 1 through 9.

  Since your Gender response grid contains two bubbles, F and M, they are equivalent to 1 and 2 in the One-Digit Response Merge Data Type.

  2. Change the data in the Gender field of your database from F and M to 1 and 2.
  3. Use this dialog to perform your pre-slugging: Select Database, Link Database and Document Fields, and Print.

  TIP: If you are pre-slugging an OMR form and you are working with ScanTools software, you can use a Translate table in your ScanTools application to convert the pre-slug marks from 1 and 2 back to F and M in your data file. If you export your form to ScanTools, the translation for custom response designators is automatically included in the exported ScanTools application.

  You can use other Merge Data Types in similar fashion for other response grids where you have defined custom designators.

Related Topics

Export to ScanTools

Modify Response Grid

Add Custom Designators dialog