Modify Field Attributes dialog (OMR)

View a list of the fields that will be included in the ScanTools software output record. It includes the following:

• Fields (Folders)

  • Each folder is a field that you defined in your form for an OMR response grid or a bar code. This definition is done in the Modify Response Grid - Scanning dialog for OMR and the Modify Caption Text - Scanning dialog for bar code.
  • The field name is what you defined in the Scanning dialog. If you want to rename the field, click on it to highlight it and then edit it. If you rename the field in the Modify Field Attributes dialog, it will automatically be updated in the Scanning dialog.
  • The number in parentheses to the right of the field name is the field number.
  • The fields are listed in the order you defined them. This order determines the field order in the ScanTools output record. If you want to change the field order in the output record, use drag and drop to select a field, drag it to a different place in the list, and drop it where you want it. The field number will change automatically.
  • The + sign to the left of the field name indicates that a grid or bar code is associated with the field. Click on the + sign to display them. The + sign changes to a - sign when the elements are displayed. Click on the - sign to close the field folder.
  • Click on a field to highlight it. The attributes for fields containing OMR grids are automatically displayed in the Field Attributes area to the right. There are no user-defined Field Attributes for bar codes.
• Elements (Grids or Bar Codes)

  • Click + to the left-hand side of the field name to display the element(s) associated with the field. Each "page" is an OMR response grid or a bar code element.
  • Each element is identified as a "Grid" or a "Bar Code," based on what you defined in your form. Fields cannot contain both grid and bar code elements.
  • For grids, coordinates are provided that indicate its location on the Scantron DesignExpert workspace relative to the top left of the page. For example, "11 x 4" indicates that the grid starts at the 11th response position from the left and the 4th response position from the top. Response rows that are not associated with a timing mark are not counted. This information is useful when your form design contains a large number of grids and fields and you need to make sure you are associating the correct grid with a field.
  • The number in parentheses to the right of the element name is the grid or bar code number within the field. A field may have more than grid associated with it. A field may only have a single bar code associated with it.
  • If more than one grid is associated with a field, the grids are listed in the order you defined them. This order determines the data order in the field. If you want to change the grid order in the field, use drag and drop to select a grid, drag it to a different place in the list, and drop it where you want it. The grid number will change automatically. If desired, you can use the same technique to move a grid to a different field.
  • Click an element to highlight it. The attributes for this element are automatically displayed in the Element Attributes area to the right.

Select a list item to define the data type for a field and edits, if any, that will be performed on this field. The data type information is included in the ScanTools application and the editing information is included in the edit profile when you use Export to ScanTools. Field Attributes can be defined for OMR response grids but not for bar codes.

Specify the type of data that will be stored in the field in the ScanTools output record. Choices are:

• Alpha-Numeric includes any printable characters.
• Numeric includes the digits 0 through 9.
• 1 Digit Item includes the same characters as alphanumeric. Each character in the grid is treated as if it were a separate field when the data is processed. For example, 1-digit fields have edits that define the number of omits and multiples, rather than left-justified, right-justified, etc. Also, 1- or 2-digit item is the required data type for items that will be scored in ScanTools.
• 2 Digit Item includes the same characters as alphanumeric. Each character in the grid represents a 2-digit item. The two digits are treated as a unit for processing purposes after they have been written to the data file. Also, 1- or 2-digit item is required for data types that will be scored in ScanTools.
• Date includes a numeric field (0-9) that is four, six, or eight characters in length. ScanTools software stores date information in the following date formats:
• mmyy
• mmddyy
• mmddyyyy

In ScanTools, this information appears, and can be modified, in the application definition Output Field Entry dialog Name area.

Define an edit for this field. The items you select here are used for creating the ScanTools edit profile. This is not enabled for bar code fields.

Compatible with ScanTools Full Edit. If your application requires Partial Edit, Graybox Edit, or Always Edit, you must modify your Edit Profile in ScanTools software.

Specify whether or not the field must have data.

If checked, the field must have data; if there is no data, it is considered an omit, and is flagged for editing.

If clear, there does not have to be a data character in this field; that no response (omit) is acceptable. This is the same as Can Be Blank in ScanTools software.

Compatible with ScanTools Cannot Be Blank / Can Be Blank edit.

Specify whether data must be valid: Choices are:

• Optional means you do not need to correct invalid data; you can leave it uncorrected in the data file. You are prompted for correction by the editor, but you can proceed without correcting.
• Mandatory means that invalid data is not acceptable for this field and you must correct the data before it is written back to the data file. If Mandatory is selected, and you are performing online editing, you must correct the data before you can proceed.

Compatible with ScanTools Correction Optional / Correction Mandatory edit.

Specify whether the data must be complete. Choices are:

• None means the completeness of data in the field is not checked.
• Left Justified means the responses positions marked on the document must start with the leftmost position; can contain no multiple marks; and must be contiguous (no omits).
• Right Justified means the responses positions marked on the document must start with the rightmost position; can contain no multiple marks; and must be contiguous (no omits).
• Complete means every position in the grid must have a response marked. A complete field contains no multiples and no omits.
• No Multiple Marks means each response position in the grid may not contain more than one mark for each position.

Compatible with ScanTools No Completeness, Left Justified, Right Justified, Complete, and No Multiple Marks edits. If your application requires Preslug Edit or Mod 10 Check Digit Edit, you must modify your Edit Profile in ScanTools software.

The items under this group contain data that is written to the ScanTools edit profile regarding what ScanTools and the scanner are to do when an edit failure occurs.