Select Document dialog

To view and/or modify the application definition of an existing document, open the Select Document dialog using the following steps:

Select Document from the ScanTools Application module menu bar; then click on Select. The Select Document dialog appears.
Use the Title list appears to select the document you want.
Click OK.

Sections of the Select Document dialog

Top Left - The top left section of this dialog provides information about the entire document, including all sheets in the document. See Document Information below.
Bottom Left - The bottom left section of this dialog provides information about one specific sheet in the document. The particular sheet is selected by using the Sheet control at the top of this area. See Individual Sheet Information below.
Right - The right side section of this dialog provides information about Image Scanning Options for one specific sheet in the document.
If you are using an image scanner, make appropriate settings for your scanner and application.
If you are using an OMR scanner, no settings in this section are required. Any settings you do make are ignored by ScanTools.

Document Information

Title

The title of the document selected. Click on the down arrow to view the drop-down menu of document titles to select from. Then click on a document to view and/or modify its application definition.

Number

The number of the document. This is assigned by ScanTools software in the order in which documents are created within an application. You cannot change it.

Number of Sheets

This shows the current total number of sheets in the document. Use this to change the number of sheets in the document. You can type in a new number or use the arrows. Changes are made to the end of the document, after the last currently defined sheet. You do not need to be on the last sheet to add more sheets to the end. The number entered here also appears as reference in the Sheet <number> of <number> area in the Individual Sheet Information section of the dialog.

Form ID Search

These check boxes broadly define the locations where a mark is considered to be a form ID mark, when you are scanning to define form ID marks and timing marks, or when you are using a background form image to define form ID marks and timing marks. When a box is checked, marks ONLY in that area are interpreted as form ID marks. The Top Side and Timing Mark 1 check boxes can be used together. Example: If both are checked, then all marks on timing mark one of the top side are considered to be form ID marks. If both are not checked, then all marks on all timing marks on both sides of a sheet are considered to be form ID marks.

Top Side Only

When checked, only the top side of the sheet is checked for form ID marks.
If not checked, both top and bottom sides are checked for form ID marks.

For Image Scanners Only: If the application has form ID marks defined on the bottom side of a sheet and OMR From Image is selected in the Application Settings dialog, you must enable the image for the bottom side by setting Enable Image to Top and Bottom in the Application Settings dialog.

TM (Timing Mark) 1 Only

When checked, only the first timing mark is checked for form ID marks.
If not checked, all timing marks are checked for form ID marks.

Booklet Sequencing

For booklets only, this section enables you to determine how strictly ScanTools software checks for missing sheets in booklet documents.

Sequential - all sheets in a document must be present and scanned in the proper order. No missing or out of order sheets are allowed.
Ascending - sheets in a document must be scanned in the proper order. Missing sheets are allowed as long as the first and last sheets are both present.

Scan All button

If you do not have a background form image TIFF file, load a sample document in your scanner and click this button to start scanning all sheets, as currently defined in the Number of Sheets area above. Information about all marks on all sheets, including form ID marks, timing marks, and any response marks filled in, as well as the number of sheets are transferred to the dialog. If you use an image scanner, a grayscale image of the non-dropout elements on the sheet is also displayed and saved.

TIP: The grids on your form are typically not visible on the scanned background form image because the ink is not visible to the scanner. You can easily overcome this disadvantage by pencil marking grid outlines on your form before scanning, as shown in Application Design Window Settings. This mark up will enable you to easily draw your grid definition.

The images are saved in the C:\Program Files\Scantron\ScanTools Plus\Applications directory with a specific naming convention. The images are also loaded as the background images for the document, replacing any existing background images that were loaded.

If you do not have a background form image, this is the recommended button to use, unless you need to scan a booklet one sheet at a time.

NOTE: If ScanTools Plus is unable to acquire the form ID or timing marks (e.g. because of a skew problem), then the image will not be loaded as your background form image. A synthesized image is used instead.

Add All Images button

If you have a background form image TIFF file, use this to add or replace the top and bottom background form image files for one or all sheets of the document. The Add/Replace Background Form Images for Sheet # of # dialog appears. A background form image provides an accurate visual representation of the printed form, making it easier to define grids for the application. Form ID marks and the number of timing marks are automatically detected from the background form image.

Suppress Writing Output Record

When this checkbox is checked, the data for the document will not be written to the data file during scanning. This feature is typically used in conjunction with sticky fields to propagate data to forms following a "header" form without writing the "header" data to the output record. For details see: Output Field Entry dialog StickyField.

Individual Sheet Information

Sheet <number> of <number>

Use this control to move to a specific sheet within the document, so you can define timing mark, sheet thickness, form ID, and skew mark information. You can type in a new number or use the arrows.

The second number is for reference only, and tells you the total number of sheets currently defined, from the Number of Sheets area in the Document Information section of this dialog.

Scan Sheet button

If you do not have a background form image TIFF file, use this button to scan a single sheet. Information about all marks on the sheet, including form ID marks, timing marks, and any response marks filled in are transferred to the dialog. If you use an image scanner, a grayscale image of the non-dropout elements on the sheet is also displayed and saved.

The image is saved in the C:\Program Files\Scantron\ScanTools Plus\Applications directory with a specific naming convention. The image is also loaded as the background image for the document, replacing any existing background image that was loaded.

Insert Sheet button

Adds a new sheet before the current sheet.

Delete Sheet button

Removes the current sheet from the document.

Add Image button

If you have a background form image TIFF file, use this to add or replace the top and bottom background form image files for this specific sheet. The Add/Replace Background Form Images for Sheet # dialog appears. A background form image provides an accurate visual representation of the printed form, making it easier to define grids for the application. Form ID marks and the number of timing marks are automatically detected from the background form image.

Move Sheet Up button

Changes the order of the sheet in the document. Move Up moves it one sheet closer to the beginning of the document, giving it a lower sheet number. The sheet that was in front of it moves down one sheet. Example: Current sheet is sheet 3, Move Up makes sheet 3 become sheet 2, and what was sheet 2 becomes sheet 3.

Move Sheet Down button

Changes the order of the sheet in the document. Move Down moves it one sheet closer to the end of the document, giving it a higher sheet number. The sheet that was after it moves up one sheet. Example: Current sheet is sheet 3, Move Down makes sheet 3 become sheet 4, and what was sheet 4 becomes sheet 3.

Timing marks on top

The number of timing marks on the top side of the sheet. The range of valid numbers is 0 - 125.

Timing marks on bottom

The number of timing marks on the bottom side of the sheet. Range of valid numbers is 0 - 125.

NOTE: You can define a single sheet that does not contain timing marks or form ID marks. See Forms Without Timing Marks, Archiving Single Sheets without Form ID Marks or Timing Marks, Graybox Tool, and Grid Measurement for additional information.

Sheet thickness

The thickness of the sheet displayed is used as a value for thickness checking. The range of valid values is 0 - 13 mils (1 mil = .001 inch). The default value is zero.

NOTE: Some scanners do not use this information. For details on thickness checking by scanners, see Sheet Thickness Checking.

For iNSIGHT 20 and iNSIGHT 30 Scanners: iNSIGHT 20 and iNSIGHT 30 scanners do NOT support sheet thickness checking; any values defined in the application are ignored when scanning with an iNSIGHT 20 or iNSIGHT 30 scanner.

For EZData Scanners:The EZData scanner does NOT support sheet thickness checking; any values defined in the application are ignored when scanning with an EZData scanner.

Form ID Mark Locations

This area shows the position of each form ID mark currently defined on the form. It gives the position according to Cell number, Timing Mark number, and Side of sheet. Form ID marks defined using this control appear as red rectangles in the application definition design window.

Cell number is based on position relative to the timing track. The OMR response cell next to the timing track is cell 1.
TM (Timing Mark) number is based on position relative to the lead edge of the sheet is it passes through the scanner. The timing mark closest to the lead edge is TM 1.
Side is based on whether the sheet is face up or face down in the scanner input hopper. Top is face up and Bottom is face down.
Type is based on whether the form ID mark is black or white. Black means that the form ID is present in the specified location (it reads at or above the form ID mark threshold). White means that the form ID is NOT present in the specified location or is lighter than the form ID threshold (it reads less than the ordinary mark threshold).

This is useful in handling cases in which the black form ID marks of two (or more) different sheets in the same application are interpreted as being the same because they are a superset or subset of each other. For example, in the following diagram, one of the forms is narrower than the other, at least one black ID mark on the larger sheet is outside the width of the narrower sheet, and the first four ID marks of both forms are the same. ScanTools is unable to distinguish between them with Normal Form ID Matching and black ID marks only.

ScanToolscan distinguish between the forms however by either

Using a combination of white and black form ID marks with Normal Form ID Matching or,
Using black form ID marks only with Enhanced Form ID Matching

See the Form ID Matching dialog for additional information.

NOTE: When form ID marks are determined automatically by scanning a document, only black marks are picked up. White marks must be defined manually, using the Add Form ID dialog.

To change an existing form ID mark, select it from the list so it is highlighted and double click on it. You receive the Add Form ID dialog where you can change the information for an existing mark.

TIP: If a form ID mark is used in conjunction with the horizontal adjustment feature, be sure to enable the appropriate OMR/Merge Horizontal Adjustment check box on the Applications Settings dialog.

Add button

Use this button to add a new form ID mark. The Add Form ID dialog appears where you can define information for a new ID mark.

Delete button

Use this button to delete an existing form ID mark from the document. First select (by highlighting) the form ID mark definition in the Form ID Mark Locations window and then click the Delete button. You receive a delete confirmation message only if Confirmations are set to include Minor deletes.

EZData Scanner Only

Bias Bar Location on Top Side: The EZData scanner requires a bias bar be defined for every sheet of every document. A bias bar is a row of 12 black cells and is used at scanning time to make sure the scanner read head is functioning properly. The bias bar is on all printed forms used by the EZData scanner. EZData scanners are single-side read scanners so the bias bar is always on the top side of the document.

Enter the number that corresponds to the location of the timing mark on which the bias bar is printed. If you use the Scan button to define the EZData document, the timing mark number is automatically inserted. Valid values are 1 through the highest timing mark number on the document. Zero (0) is an invalid number for the EZData scanner.

Skew Mark Locations

If skew marks are printed on the document, they must be defined manually. Skew marks are not automatically defined by scanning a sheet and/or adding a background image .tif file. This area shows the position of each skew mark currently defined on the form. It gives the position according to Cell number, Timing Mark number, and Side of sheet. Skew marks defined using this control appear as green squares in the application definition design window.

Cell number is based on position relative to the timing track. The OMR response cell next to the timing track is cell 1.
TM (Timing Mark) number is based on position relative to the lead edge of the sheet is it passes through the scanner. The timing mark closest to the lead edge is TM 1.
Side is based on whether the sheet is face up or face down in the scanner input hopper. Top is face up and Bottom is face down.

Add button

Use this button to add a new skew mark. The Add Skew Mark dialog appears where you can define information for a new skew mark.

Delete button

Use this button to delete an existing skew mark from the document. First select (by highlighting) the skew mark definition in the Skew Mark Locations window and then click the Delete button. You receive a delete confirmation message only if Confirmations are set to include Minor deletes.

To edit a currently defined skew mark, select (highlight) the entry in the Skew Mark Locations list, and double click on it. The Add Skew Mark dialog appears with the currently defined values. You can change the values, use the OK button to exit, and the new values will appear in the list.

Note: (For iNSIGHT 20 and iNSIGHT 30 scanners only.) When using .200 line read spacing, using skew marks within the form design is recommended for optimum accuracy.

Image Scanner Options

Top Side/Bottom Side Dynamic Threshold Type

Top Side Dynamic Threshold Type sets the Dynamic Threshold Type - Document/Sheet Level used on the image for the top of the sheet and Bottom Side Dynamic Threshold Type sets the Dynamic Threshold Type - Document/Sheet Level used on the image for the bottom of the sheet.

Setting Dynamic Threshold Type selects the method of processing the grayscale data in an image to try to choose the best grayscale level to set as the largest grayscale value which is left unchanged in a grayscale clip or full page image on the image for the top or bottom of the sheet. These values are known as the Top and Bottom Upper Grayscale Filters. All pixels with values greater than this Upper Grayscale Filter are set to the same value to clean up the background and increase compressibility. The Upper Grayscale Filter is chosen such that the maximum undesirable background is removed while preserving all the good image data. This Dynamic Threshold type method also governs the way the bitone level is chosen, since the bitone level is referenced from the grayscale level. The method by which the bitone point is referenced is also determined by the Dynamic Threshold type. There are four different possible methods of accomplishing these two things. These four are Normal, Light/Little Data, Paper Eliminating, and Manual Grayscale Threshold.

Normal - This is the method which is appropriate for most situations except for the special cases listed below. This method, in normal situations, will best locate the Upper Grayscale Filter. This method will also adapt the best to the various Dynamic Threshold Data Types for Bitone Clips of any method to determine the best possible bitone point. This is the default method. This method was used in earlier versions of ScanTools before the user was able to select the desired method.
Light/Little Data - This is the second best choice for a Dynamic Threshold type unless the user wishes to more closely control the result. This method should be used whenever, as the name implies, the sheet the Dynamic Threshold type is being selected for has either too little data and/or the data is too light. This method should also be tried for any case where the Normal Dynamic Threshold method doesn't give the desired results for any reason. The bitone point for this Dynamic Threshold method is determined as a fixed amount (differing for each Dynamic Threshold Data Type) below the grayscale level.
Paper Eliminating - Method which will allow the user to control the amount of background removed while adapting to any differences in the form. It accomplishes this, first, by finding the center of the grayscale area which represents paper. Next, it finds the standard deviation of the fall off of this grayscale paper area. Next, it determines the grayscale point by subtracting a user selected number times this paper standard deviation from the high point of this grayscale paper area. The bitone level for this Dynamic Threshold method is set just below the grayscale level, since it is assumed the user has tuned the paper standard deviation to the correct point to keep the data, while eliminating the desired amount of background. This method should only be used if the user wishes to take some control (but not total control) of the grayscale and bitone levels, or if the other two methods don't achieve the desired results.
Manual Grayscale Threshold - This method allows the user to directly specify the Upper Grayscale Filter. This method should be used ONLY if the user wishes to take total control of the Upper Grayscale Filter or if all the other methods have failed to achieve the desired results. Values are based on 0 = black and 255 = white. The bitone level for this method is set using the adaptive method as described in the Normal Dynamic Threshold method above.

If you wish to select a Manual Bitone point, this is done through the Dynamic Threshold Data Type for Bitone Clips in the Image Clips dialog or the Clip Attributes dialog.

Paper Eliminating Dyn. Thresh. Std Dev

Paper Eliminating Dynamic Threshold Standard Deviation allows setting of the value used by the Paper Eliminating Dynamic Threshold Type - Document/Sheet Level to determine how much of the grayscale range representing paper (in 0.1 standard deviation units) to eliminate when setting the Top and/or Bottom Upper Grayscale Filters on the image for the top and/or bottom of the sheet. This control is enabled only when either the top or bottom Dynamic Threshold Type is set to Paper Eliminating. The value set by this control applies to both the top and bottom images.

TIP: Making this value larger will clean up more of the background and achieve better compression but might remove valuable image data. Making this value smaller may help keep light image data but might produce an image with a dirtier background and cause a less compressible image.