Graybox Tool dialog

NOTE:Graybox is an imaging function that cannot be implemented on OMR scanners. A graybox requires Enable Image to be selected in the Application Settings dialog for the side of the sheet that the graybox is located.

Use the Graybox Tool to define an area on the form to evaluate for the presence of data, to define the precise location and size of the graybox area, and for archiving an image clip.

Additionally, if you installed the RealTime Character Recognition optional component, ICR/OCR Parameters are defined and a recognition test sheet can be scanned using the Graybox Tool.

The area on the form that is evaluated for the presence of data is called the evaluate region.

The area on the form that is archived or displayed in the post-scan editor is called the clip region.

The result of the evaluation for the presence of data can be used for the following:

For both Standard and ICR/OCR Grayboxes, to archive a clip of the area, only if data is present, using Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving as described below. The Cutoff Value defined in the Graybox Tool dialog determines how significant a mark within this area must be to be considered data for conditional clipping.
For Standard Grayboxes, to present this area for key entry in the post-scan editor, using a graybox edit. The Graybox Threshold defined in the Graybox Edit determines how significant a mark within this area must be to be considered data for presenting to the post-scan editor.
For ICR/OCR Grayboxes, the Cutoff Value determines whether ICR/OCR data is present. If it is and RealTime Character recognition is installed, the recognition engine returns the highest confidence character according to the ICR/OCR Parameters defined; or an asterisk if the confidence level is not met. The post-scan editor, using a graybox edit, will display the clipped image plus the highest confidence character or an asterisk or a space, depending on the Graybox Edit Parameters.

NOTE: For grayboxes, the same edit type must be used at both scan-time and at post-scan editing.

Applications may be developed with the optional RealTime Character Recognition component and then either run with a version of ScanTools without that component or run with an OMR scanner. The ICR/OCR functions will automatically be reset to the ScanTools environment:

ICR/OCR Grayboxes will be handled as Standard Grayboxes.
Character recognition specific settings are disregarded.

Defining the evaluation region

There are two ways to define an evaluation region for a standard graybox or an ICR/OCR graybox:

Draw the graybox in the Grid Definition Area – If you have a background form image displayed in the grid definition area, move the mouse pointer to a corner of the area where you want to define the graybox, hold the left mouse button down and drag the pointer to the opposite corner of the graybox. When you release the left mouse button, a blue box appears showing you the border of the graybox. If you do not have a background form image to display in the grid definition area, we suggest you draw a box on your form to outline the area and then scan to define the location in the grid definition area.
Use the Grid Measurement dialog to enter the exact size and location of the evaluation region. You can define region size by response position location (Cell/TM method), in thousandths of an inch or hundredths of a millimeter, or by a combination (Hybrid) method.

TIP: If you are using absolute Units of Measurement (.001 in or .01 mm) and your Application Settings include either Enable ScanFlex or OMR/Merge Horizontal Adjustment, it may be helpful to define a larger region to accommodate image skew.

Defining the clip region

The clip region for a standard graybox or an ICR/OCR graybox is automatically defined when you define the evaluation region. By default, it is identical to the evaluation region. If desired, you can redefine a clip region so that it is different in size or shape than the evaluation region. There are two ways to do this:

Click+Drag in the Grid Definition Area:
New graybox (not yet appended): While pressing the CTRL key, move the mouse pointer to a corner of the desired clip region, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the pointer to the opposite corner of the desired clip region.
Existing graybox (already appended): Select the graybox and then select Edit Selected Grid. While pressing the CTRL key, move the mouse pointer to a corner of the desired clip region, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the pointer to the opposite corner of the desired clip region.

When you release the left mouse button, a box is displayed showing you the border of the defined clip region.

Use the Grid Measurement dialog to enter the exact size and location of the clip region. You can define region size by response position location (Cell/TM method), in thousandths of an inch or hundredths of a millimeter, or by a combination (Hybrid) method.

A graybox evaluation region and clip region must both be on the same side of the sheet.

NOTE: When ScanTools Plus takes a clip of an ICR/OCR graybox for use in the editor, ScanTools Plus will also save phantom clips for each resolved ICR/OCR character. However, if the defined clip region does not fully encompass the evaluation region, phantom clips will not be saved for that ICR/OCR graybox.

Cutoff Value

The Cutoff Value has several functions:

To increase the speed of data evaluation. Because evaluating a graybox is a compute-intensive operation, evaluation of a Graybox region stops as soon as the Graybox cutoff value has been reached.
To determine how significant a mark within the evaluation area must be to be considered data for conditional clipping. See the Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving description below.
To determine the presence of ICR/OCR data. When ICR/OCR Graybox Resolution is selected and the optional RealTime Character Recognition component is installed, the graybox is sent to the recognition engine if the graybox value is equal to or greater than the Cutoff Value. ICR/OCR data is considered to be "not present" if the value is less than the Cutoff Value.

Valid values are 0 - 15.

0 (zero) always produces data.
1 - 15, 1 causes very light marks to produce data, 15 requires very dark marks to produce data.

CAUTION: The Cutoff Value should not be less than the Graybox Threshold in a graybox edit or the edit will prevent data from ever appearing in the post-scan editor.

Output Length

Enter the number of bytes to reserve in the output record for data derived from the graybox.

Resolution

Select the value that represents how data in the graybox is resolved. Valid values are:

Standard Graybox – data in this area is for standard graybox data detection. The graybox area are evaluated for the presence or absence of data using the Cutoff Value. When Standard Graybox Resolution is defined, the Grids: list in the lower left corner of the screen shows Graybox for identification.
ICR/OCR Graybox – available only if the optional component RealTime Character Recognition is installed. If this is selected, the ICR/OCR Parameters button on the Graybox Tool is enabled, allowing you to define characteristics to use for character recognition. The image of the written or machine printed characters in the graybox evaluate area is submitted to the installed character recognition engine. The recognition engine returns the highest confidence character as data; or an asterisk if the confidence level is not met. If the resolution of a graybox is changed from ICR/OCR Graybox to Standard Graybox, all currently defined ICR/OCR Parameters are deleted. When ICR/OCR Graybox Resolution is defined, the Grids: list in the lower left corner of the screen shows Graybox (OCR) for identification.

CAUTION: You cannot define an ICR/OCR graybox without having installed the full function RealTime Character Recognition optional component on your machine. However, if RealTime Character Recognition is not installed on your machine, you can change the Resolution of an ICR/OCR Graybox to Standard Graybox. If you make this Resolution change, all ICR/OCR graybox parameter definitions are lost.

Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving

Conditional clipping is supported by both scan-time (iNAME) and post-scan image archiving.

If Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving is checked, only graybox clip regions with data (as determined by the Cutoff Value) are archived.
If Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving is not checked, all graybox clip regions are archived.

NOTE: Clipping for edit failures overrides conditional clipping for image archiving. If a graybox edit produces a clip, the clip is archived, whether Conditional Clipping is enabled or not.

Unit of Measurement

Unit of measurement can be selected or modified. The currently defined unit of measurement appears.

To define a unit of measurement for a new graybox, draw the grid in the grid definition area, select the unit of measurement using the list, and then select Append in the fields and grids area.
To change unit of measurement without displaying the Grid Measurement dialog, select a graybox, select Edit Selected Grid, change the unit of measurement using the list, and then select Replace in the fields and grids area.

NOTE for OpScan iNSIGHT 2/4 (with Imaging) Scanner Users:

As absolute Units of Measurement (.001 in and .01 mm) is an advanced feature of ScanTools Plus software, utilizing the full capabilities of OpScan iNSIGHT 2/4 (with Imaging) scanners, you should ensure that your scanner includes the advanced features in scanner Manufacturing Level ML013 or greater.

To verify your scanner Manufacturing Level, look at the serial number label on the back of the scanner and read the “ML” number.

If the ML number is less than ML013, call Scantron Customer Support at 800-338-5544 to arrange to have your scanner enhanced to this Manufacturing Level.

For International users, contact your local sales representative.

Edit Selected Grid button

If you want to change any attributes for an existing graybox, first select the graybox in the Grids list in the lower left corner of the application screen and then use this button.

When the Edit Selected Grid button is used, the Append button in the lower left corner by the list of Field names changes to a Replace button. Use the Replace button after you have made your changes to the graybox attributes to make the changes take effect.

You can change the following attributes of a graybox:

Size and shape of the evaluation region - place the mouse pointer on any corner of the evaluation region, press the left mouse button, drag to make the change, and release the mouse button.
Size and shape of the clip region - the clip region must be redrawn. To do this, while pressing the CTRL key, move the mouse pointer to a corner of the new clip region, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the pointer to the opposite corner of the new clip region. When you release the left mouse button, a box appears showing you the border of the new clip region.
Location of the evaluation and clip regions - place the mouse pointer inside the evaluation region, press the left mouse button, move the graybox, and release the left mouse button.
Cutoff Value - see above
Output Length - see above
Enable Conditional Clipping for Image Archiving - see above
Clip Attributes - see below
ICR/OCR Parameters - see below

Clip Attributes button

Use this to access the Clip Attributes dialog box to define the way the graybox clip region is generated.

Grid Measurement button

Use this to access the Grid Measurement dialog box to view, define, or modify the unit of measurement and location of the graybox clip and evaluate regions.

ICR/OCR Parameters button

Use this to access the Print Type and related dialogs, to define character recognition. This is available only if the optional component RealTime Character Recognition is installed and the graybox Resolution selected is ICR/OCR. The character recognition component uses the defined parameters on the image of the written or machine printed characters in the graybox area.

Test Recognition button

Use this to access the Recognition Results dialog box, to view character recognition results of a sample scanned sheet containing hand print or machine print characters. This is available only if the optional component RealTime Character Recognition is installed and the graybox Resolution selected is ICR/OCR. This requires an image scanner.

Graybox Area and OMR Scanners

If you define a graybox area in your application and then use an OMR scanner, the graybox field is blank filled in the output record and no image clips are captured. Any graybox edits included in your Edit Profile are ignored in online editing and online edit correction. However, in post-scan editing, a graybox edit may be presented for correction, depending on a combination of factors including whether other edit failures are present in the record and whether Program Action is set to No Action or Require key entry. See On Failure dialog for graybox edit behavior details.

NOTE: Graybox is not available on the current scanner.

If your configured scanner is not an image scanner, the message NOTE: Graybox is not available on the current scanner.appears in red in the dialog.