Grid Types

These are the grid types used in ScanTools applications. They are created using the tools provided in the application module. Once a grid is created, it needs to be Appended (Append button) to an Output Field, see Output Field Entry dialog.

CAUTION: We do not recommend combining different grid types in a single field. Results may be undesirable.

Alphabetic, no space

This type contains the characters A-Z, with no beginning space before the A. The alphabetic, no space type is provided with the Translate Tool and is also displayed on the OMR Tool list. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Alphabetic, no space."

Alphanumeric

The first position is a blank space, followed by these characters:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789

[ . < ( + \ & ! $ * ) ; ^ - / , % _ > ? : # @ ' = "

Only one mark in an alphanumeric string is allowed. The alphanumeric type is provided with the Translate Tool and is also displayed on the OMR Tool list. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Alphanumeric."

Bar Code

An area of a form can be evaluated for the presence of bar code data. Bar codes can be printed directly on a form or affixed to a form as a label. This type is provided with the Bar Code tool. There are two types of bar code:

Hardware Bar Code

The area of the form is evaluated for the presence of data by a hardware bar code reader installed on the scanner.  In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Hardware bar code."

Software Bar Code

The area of the form is evaluated for the presence of data. If data is present and an imaging scanner is used, it can be interpreted as text. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Software bar code."

BCD (binary-coded decimal)

A five-position string (1248P) similar to binary, except that only the decimal numbers 0 through 9 can be represented by the response position string. (10 through 15 cause an asterisk (*) to be written to the document record.) The fifth position is a parity bit. ScanTools software uses odd parity. If the parity bit is incorrect, an asterisk (*) is written to the document record. Multiple marks are allowed in each string. This type is provided with the OMR tool.

If only four positions (1248) are used, the parity bit is not present and no parity checks are made.

NOTE: Binary coded decimal grids CANNOT have pre-slug resolution defined as an attribute in the Output Field Entry dialog box. Also you CANNOT define a pre-slug edit in an edit profile (Edit Profile - Edit Checking popup) for this grid type.

In View Application, this grid type is identified as "BCD" if a parity bit is not used and "BCD w/parity" if a parity bit is used.

Binary

Each position in the string represents a power of two. The first bubble represents one, the second bubble two, the third bubble four, and so on. Multiple marks are allowed. The value of all the marked bubbles is added together as the result of the grid. For example, marking the first (1), third (4), and fifth (16) bubbles will produce 1 + 4 + 16 = 21 as the value of the grid. This type is provided with the OMR tool.

NOTE:Binary grids CANNOT have pre-slug resolution defined as an attribute in the Output Field Entry dialog box. Also you CANNOT define a pre-slug edit in an edit profile (Edit Profile - Edit Checking popup) for this grid type.

In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Binary."

See Also: Output Characters for Binary Grids.

Binary (Scoring)

Binary (Scoring) works the same as the Binary grid type with one exception, the Mark Threshold is one (1) level higher than the Mark Threshold value used for all other grid types in the application (Mark Threshold default value = 5). Example:

Mark Threshold = 5

Binary (Scoring) grids will have a Mark Threshold = 5 + 1 or 6

This grid type matches the read level of a SelfScore scanner, which uses a default Mark Threshold of 6, and a Mark all that Apply level of 7. If you are using a SelfScore scanner or need to match the output of a SelfScore scanner, the ScanTools application should have the following defined:

• Mark Threshold = 6, defined in the Read Controls dialog
• Define all Mark all that Apply grids as Binary (Scoring)

Each position in the string represents a power of two. The first bubble represents one, the second bubble two, the third bubble four, and so on. Multiple marks are allowed. The value of all the marked bubbles is added together as the result of the grid. For example, marking the first (1), third (4), and fifth (16) bubbles will produce 1 + 4 + 16 = 21 as the value of the grid. This type is provided with the OMR tool.

NOTE: Binary scoring grids CANNOT have pre-slug resolution defined as an attribute in the Output Field Entry dialog box. Also you CANNOT define a pre-slug edit in an edit profile (Edit Profile - Edit Checking popup) for this grid type.

In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Binary (Scoring)".

See Also: Output Characters for Binary Grids.

Binary with Parity

Each position in the string represents the number 0 or 1. The highest-order position represents a parity bit. ScanTools software uses odd parity. If the parity bit is incorrect, an asterisk (*) is written to the document record. If no bubble is marked in a response position string, a zero (0) is written in the data record. Multiple marks are allowed in each string. This type is provided with the OMR tool.

NOTE: Binary with parity grids CANNOT have pre-slug resolution defined as an attribute in the Output Field Entry dialog box. Also you CANNOT define a pre-slug edit in an edit profile (Edit Profile - Edit Checking popup) for this grid type.

In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Binary w/parity."

See Also: Output Characters for Binary Grids.

Graybox

An area of a form can be evaluated for the presence of data. This type is provided with the Graybox tool. There are two types of graybox:

Standard Graybox

The area of the form is evaluated for the presence of data. If data is present, it can be key entered from the form or, if an imaging scanner is used, it can be key entered from the scanned image presented to an operator during editing. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Graybox."

ICR/OCR Graybox

The area of the form is evaluated for the presence of data. If data is present, and the optional RealTime Character Recognition component is installed, and an imaging scanner is used, it can be interpreted as text. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "ICR/OCR Graybox."

Literal

A character or character string that is included in the record without being read from the form. This type is provided with the Literal tool. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Literal."

Litho-code

A unique, scanner readable, serial number that is applied when the form is printed. The coding scheme is the same as binary, except that no parity bit is provided for. This type is provided with the OMR tool.

NOTE: Litho-code grids CANNOT have pre-slug resolution defined as an attribute in the Output Field Entry dialog box. Also you CANNOT define a pre-slug edit in an edit profile (Edit Profile - Edit Checking popup) for this grid type.

Litho-code grids :

• Match-number each sheet of a 4- or 8-page booklet.
• Assign a control number to a single-page form for distribution or processing purposes.

The bubble with the lowest value is indicated by the box around it.

In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Litho-code."

See Also: Output Characters for Binary Grids.

Numeric

The decimal numbers 0 through 9. Only one mark is allowed in each string. The numeric type is provided with the Translate Tool and also appears on the OMR Tool list. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Numeric."

One-digit response

The decimal numbers 1 through 9. Only one mark is allowed in each string. The one-digit response type is provided with the Translate Tool and also appears on the OMR Tool list. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "One digit response."

Two-digit response

The decimal characters 01 through 99. Only one mark is allowed in each string. Each response generates two characters of output. The two-digit response type is provided with the Translate Tool and also appears on the OMR Tool list. In View Application, this grid type is identified as "Two digit response."

Translate

Each position in a response grid is translated to one or more characters defined in a translation table. The translated characters are what is written to the output field for that grid. The ScanTools application module provides the following standard translate tables:

• alphabetic, no space
• alphanumeric
• numeric
• one-digit response
• two-digit response

You can create your own translate tables in addition to the ones provided by ScanTools. You can also import translate tables from a different application into the currently open application, see Importing Translate Tables. By design, every translate table name appears as a Type in the OMR Tool list in all documents in the application.

In View Application, this grid type is identified by the Table name assigned in the Translate Tool dialog.