Command File Generation Options - Download

This dialog box appears when you select Command File Generation from the Options list.

When you select the Generate Button or select Generate Command File from the Actions list, a command file is created. Download software uses the application that is part of the current context (the context is made up of the choices defined in the fields of the Download main window). However, the information given to Download software by the fields on the main window can be overridden by the selections you make at this dialog box. In other words, you can change the options that govern the makeup of the command file from this dialog box.

Command files generated by Download software are stored in the ScanTools Data Files directory (C:\Program Files\Scantron\ScanTools Plus\Data Files). If the command file is packed, it has a .DLF extension; if it is unpacked, it has a .TXT extension.

Documents

The Documents list shows the documents in the current application. The default status is that all documents are included in the command file (they are all highlighted). You can select the documents you want in the application from this list. If there are documents you do not want to include, select them from the list. When they are no longer highlighted, they are not included in the generation of the command file.

NOTE: Downloading an empty command file (one that contains no documents) erases that application from the scanner’s memory.

Edit Profile

Use this area to select a specific Edit Profile when generating a Download Command File. This option is not available if Use Current is selected, see below.

Command File

Use this area to select a specific Download Command File when generating a Download Command File. This option is not available if Use Current is selected, see below.

Use Current

If you want to use the Edit Profile and Command File from the current context, ensure that the Use Current boxes are selected. If you want an edit profile or command file other than those shown on the Download main window, ensure that the Use Current box is not selected, and then, select the edit profile or command file you want from the list (next to the check box). The selection you make at this dialog box overrides the current context.

When the file is generated, the current context is updated to reflect the selections you have made here.

Create File in Packed Format

The command file you are creating can be either packed or unpacked. In unpacked format, the command file includes spaces to improve readability. It also includes comments that relate each command in it to a document or grid defined in the forms application file. You should select unpacked format if you intend to review and/or modify the file before downloading it to the scanner.

If you want to create the file in packed format, ensure that the Create File in Packed Format check box is selected.

Download software automatically packs unpacked command files as they are downloaded.

In packed format, the file contains no comments, spaces, or CR/LF delimiters. If you want to create an unpacked command file, ensure this check box is not selected. If the command file is packed, it has a .DLF extension; if it is unpacked, it has a .TXT extension.

Output Control Fields When Scanning

If you want output control fields when scanning, ensure that the Output Control Fields When Scanning check box is selected. If you check this selection, a 21 character Sheet Compile Header is written at the beginning of every data record produced using the downloaded command file. This table outlines the 21 character Sheet Compile Header control fields:

Download Firmware Version 2.0 or Higher

Checking this box informs Download software that the attached scanner has Download firmware revision 2.0 or higher installed. The default condition is that this box is selected.

To determine your firmware revision level (the firmware level is the same as the Download revision level), refer to "How to Change Default Modes after Power Up" in "Operating the Scanner" in the operator's guide for your scanner.

If your scanner is using revision level 2.0 or higher, ensure that this box is selected. If your scanner is using a revision level less than 2.0, ensure that this box is not selected.

If you specify a revision level that does not match the firmware version in your scanner, errors will be declared when you try to generate a command file.

Continuous Edit Numbering

Check this box if you want edit error numbers to be numbered sequentially throughout the ENTIRE APPLICATION, across all documents in the application. This means that the edit error numbers are assigned in each document based on the last number in the previous document. These numbers are stored in the Error Flags bytes (16-21) of the Sheet Compile Header.

If you do not check this box, the edit error numbers in the Error flags bytes of the Sheet Compile Header are numbered starting with 1 for each document.

Convert NCS Header to Filler

The default value for this option is not selected (do not convert the header to filler). If you want to eliminate the forty bytes of the record that were used for the NCS Header (thereby shortening your record by forty bytes), ensure that this box is not selected. When this box is not selected, there is no header.

For example, this is a ScanTools booklet application converted to Download syntax with the NCS Header converted to filler:

APL,735,S;DOC,1,S;SHT,1,54,54,2,1,4,1;FIL,40;ALN,1,H,43,17,1,2,21,1,N;

If you do not specify that Download software should convert the NCS Header to filler, FIL,40; would not be part of the record syntax, and the record would be 40 bytes shorter.

Stop on System Errors

Select this check box if you want scanning to stop when a system error is detected.

If you continue to scan with a system error, some scanned data can be unusable.

This check box and text is disabled if this is not applicable to your scanner.