ScanFlex Rules for Success - Introduction

The optional ScanFlex feature within ScanTools software, when used with a Scantron image scanner, enables you to scan data collection forms manufactured using a wide variety of printing technologies, and printed on plain paper. For example, you can print your own forms using a laser printer, plain paper, and Scantron DesignExpert software with the PrintFlex option or MergePrint utility software with the PrintFlex option and a Scantron DesignExpert software merge template file.

This functionality is possible because ScanFlex adapts to variations in data collection form printing: scanning-critical form features, including timing marks, form ID marks, skew marks, and OMR responses can all vary somewhat in location from form-to-form without affecting scanning performance or data integrity. This enables less tightly defined printing tolerances and therefore the use of laser printers. Instructions and tools, including the ScanFlex Forms Rules for Success, the ScanFlex Alignment Guide, and the ScanTools Sheet Image Diagnostic, are provided to enable you to design, print, and scan forms successfully.

PrintFlex

The Scantron DesignExpert PrintFlex option, using a laser printer, enables you to print OMR forms on plain paper. For example, you can design OMR forms and then elect to either print them on high-quantity printing presses by Scantron Print Services or on your own laser printers, as required for your scanning applications. And, if you are designing OMR Laser Printer Only forms to print with Scantron stock form 103188 or 265914, you can elect to print them yourself.

If you are using the MergePrint Utility, you can personalize both types of forms with variable information from a database via the Merge Wizard feature. With printed forms, the variable information is added during laser printing; with stock form 103188 or 265914, the variable information and the form itself are laser printed at the same time.

This functionality is possible because PrintFlex enables you to print all form elements, including timing marks, because the Printer Alignment feature enables you to make printing adjustments to meet ScanFlex requirements, and because of Scantron DesignExpert’s built in tools for drawing OMR response grids, form ID marks, and timing marks and for managing print color and screen percentage.

MergePrint utility software with the PrintFlex option expands this capability by enabling you to print OMR forms on plain paper with a laser printer. Form printing and personalization can both be performed at the same time if the merge template files provided by your application developer are set up for it. And, you can continue to personalize printed forms and stock form 103188 or 265914.

An additional PrintFlex feature is the ability to export background form images, for each page of your form, for use with ScanTools software and your Scantron image scanner. These files can be merged with scanned form images, enabling users to see data on forms in the context of the formatted areas of the form.

You can also perform "Blank" form printing, without personalization, using form design files provided by your application developer. This includes printing OMR forms on blank paper and printing OMR Laser Printer Only forms on blank paper instead of on Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914.

Instructions and tools, including the ScanFlex "Rules for Success" and the ScanFlex Alignment Guide, are provided with MergePrint Utility software to enable you to test the scannability of your PrintFlex laser printed forms. Additional ScanFlex and PrintFlex testing tools and information are provided with ScanTools Plus with ScanFlex and Scantron DesignExpert software.

ScanFlex Functions

• Timing Track Location - If the timing track is printed within a defined area of the form, ScanFlex will find it and adapt to its location. See Printing Forms for ScanFlex.

Scantron DesignExpert with PrintFlex automatically prints the timing track for your form design in approximately the correct location. The Printer Alignment feature enables you to adjust print location, if necessary.

• Timing Mark Height and Width - ScanFlex expects timing marks to be a consistent height and width. It can optionally be set to ignore doodling or other marking in the timing track that is not consistent with average timing mark height and width. See Designing Forms for ScanFlex and Applications Settings dialog box.

Scantron DesignExpert with PrintFlex automatically prints timing marks of the correct height and width for your form.

• OMR Response Spacing - After the timing track has been located, ScanFlex locates OMR responses relative to the OMR response spacing you selected in theyour ScanTools Plus Application Settings dialog box.

Scantron DesignExpert with PrintFlex automatically prints OMR responses at approximately the correct spacing. The Printer Alignment feature enables you to adjust OMR response spacing, if necessary.

• OMR Response Scaling - ScanFlex can optionally adapt to small variations in OMR response spacing. See Designing Forms for ScanFlex, Printing Forms for ScanFlex, Testing Forms for ScanFlex, and the ScanTools Plus Applications Settings dialog box.

Scantron DesignExpert with PrintFlex automatically prints OMR responses at approximately the correct spacing. The Printer Alignment feature enables you to adjust OMR response spacing, if necessary.

• Image Clipping - If image clipping is performed, ScanFlex will automatically adjust the size of the clip area to compensate for variations in print location. See Applications Settings dialog box.
• Graybox Evaluation - If grayboxes are analyzed, ScanFlex will automatically adjust the size of the Evaluate Region to compensate for variations in print location.

NOTE: The grayboxes must use Cell/TM Position Units of Measurement for Evaluate Regions and Clip Region location. See Applications Settings dialog box and Grid Measurement.

• Software Bar Code Evaluation - If software bar codes are decoded, ScanFlex will automatically adjust the size of the evaluation area to compensate for variations in print location.

ScanFlex Alignment Guide

An Alignment Guide is provided with ScanFlex to enable you to determine if your forms are printed within ScanFlex tolerances. See Testing Forms for ScanFlex.

Scanner Compatibility

• You can use ScanFlex/PrintFlex with Scantron image scanners, such as the iNSIGHT 4ES, only.
• ScanFlex is not available for use with OMR Only scanners, such as the OpScan, iNSIGHT 2/4 (OMR only), or EZData scanners.
• You can use background form images created in Scantron DesignExpert with ScanTools software.

Forms Design

You can use Scantron DesignExpert software to design forms. It has drawing tools and other functions specifically engineered for data collection form design. In addition, it has a PrintFlex option that enables you to print forms for use with ScanTools Plus with ScanFlex. Other popular graphic design software can also be used to design forms although such products may not be specifically intended for data collection form design and printing.

See Designing Forms for ScanFlex for additional information.

Printing Forms

• Printing Technology - You can use a laser printer or an offset printing press to print your forms. Other printing technologies are also possible.
• Paper- Use white, 24# bond paper with 84 brightness.
• Ink - Laser printer toner (ink) is usually scanner readable. Data collection forms require both scanner readable and non readable areas. You can control whether printing is scanner readable or not by setting colors and screen percentages in your form design and by testing your printed forms.
• Testing Tools - In addition to the ScanFlex Alignment Guide described above, you can use the Sheet Image Diagnostic tool provided with ScanTools Plus software and with the MergePrint Utility optionally available with ScanTools DesignExpert to verify that your printing is either scanner readable or not readable, as required, and that marks are in the correct response positions.

See Printing Forms for ScanFlex and Testing Forms for ScanFlex.

Scanning

• Background Form Images - If required for your application, background form images can be merged with image clips (archiving and editing) when ScanFlex is enabled. However, the images may not align well. Variations in either the quality of the forms scanned or the background form images used, or both, may result in misalignment between the scanned and background form images.

If your form has the required form ID mark and timing marks, you can use the OMR/Merge Horizontal Adjustment in the Application Settings dialog box to improve the alignment of the background form image to the scanned image.

NOTE: No horizontal adjustment is made for background form images if you use absolute Units of Measurement (.001 in or .01 mm) for the locations of Standard Graybox, ICR/OCR Graybox, or software bar code Evaluate Regions and Clip Regions. You must use Cell/TM Position Units of Measurement in the Grid Measurement dialog box.

Exporting Background Form Image Files

Use this feature to create a Tag Image File Format (.tif) graphic file for each page of a Scantron DesignExpert file. These graphic files can be used as background form images in your ScanTools application.

• When scanning with a Scantron image scanner, background form image files can be merged with scanned form images. This enables image scanner operators and other users to view data on a form within the context of printed formatting such as response positions, captions, lines, boxes, and shading. This formatting is otherwise invisible since it is typically printed in a dropout color, a color the scanner does not see.

• Background form images can be displayed in the ScanTools Plus (version 7.0 and later) Application Module grid definition area, making it easier for the ScanTools application developer to define grids for the application.

This feature is only available if you are using the PrintFlex option with Scantron DesignExpert software.