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Scanning into Excel
To process a batch of sample forms:
1.Start the BubbleScan OMR software.
2.Make sure the software is set to 15 or 44 Column Mode and we generally recommend Interactive Mode.
3.Open the Project and select the customized Excel spreadsheet we provided.
It is important that the spreadsheet is opened from within the the BubbleScan OMR software.
4.Select the Scan Source
6.Review the data, load/modify the answer key, scale or names.
7.Generate the reports.
When the BubbleScan OMR Software processes a scanned image it extracts the bubbled-in data and temporarily stores this data in an internal database.
This process is called 'reading'. A counter for the number of forms 'read' is displayed in the BubbleScan OMR window.
2. 44 Column Mode & Interative Mode
By default BubbleScan OMR operates in Database Mode, where it stores all read data in its internal database and requires you to click 'Write DB to Excel' to write the data into the Excel spreadsheet. This is faster and the preferred method for most applications, particularly higher volume applications.
However, for processing smaller batches of forms the Interactive Mode is probably a better choice. Here, BubbleScan OMR automatically writes every processed form into the spreadsheet. This is more convenient and given low volumes of several dozen or so forms it might actually be faster than Database Mode. We recommend you change BubbleScan OMR to Interactive Mode.
If you are unsure if you need 15 or 44 column mode check the form ID printed on your BubbleScan form. If it starts with "S2-" and/or has fairly wide, oval bubbles, you need 15 column mode. If the form ID starts with "OMR44" and/or the bubbles are small circles, you need 44 column mode.
3. Open the Project (i.e. the the Excel Spreadsheet)
If you did not open the Excel spreadsheet through the BubbleScan OMR software, then save your spreadsheet and exit Excel.
In order for the BubbleScan OMR software to interact with the Excel spreadsheet, the spreadsheet must be opened from within the OMR software.
Start the BubbleScan OMR software, click on Open Project then select the desired Scoring spreadsheet. After the initial use, BubbleScan OMR adds the most recent spreadsheet to a 'recent' list.
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This would also be the perfect time to clear any old records out of the spreadsheet - before new records get added to the spreadsheet.
Click on the button labeled 'Clear Records'. Then click Yes to confirm that you really do want to delete all records.
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If it's not already, deselect 'Show Scan Screen'. This is totally optional, but avoids you having to click through a somewhat unnecessary screen later.
When you are ready to process forms click on <Start Scanning>.
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The BubbleScan OMR software will prompt you for the image folder.
If you are scanning indirectly (i.e. you are scanning using the scanner manufacturer's software separate and outside of our OMR software) then you should browse to the directory where all the images are stored.
If you are scanning directly through our software, then either select an existing image directory or create a new one using the 'Create new Folder' icon in the top right hand corner.
Make sure to properly select the image folder so that the full path shows up in the Selected Path: field at the bottom of the window.
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Click OK.
If this is the first time you clicked on <Start Scanning> during this session, you can now select if you are ONLY monitoring a folder or if you are ALSO directly interfacing with the scanner software.
Note - selecting 'Scanner' means you want to use the BubbleScan OMR software to directly communicate with the scanning software to scan more images. Selecting 'Scanner' will ALSO monitor the previously defined folder.
Selecting 'Folder' will ONLY monitor the folder.
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DON't click OK just yet.
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Make sure the software found and selected your scanner by clicking on the 'Select a TWAIN Source' button.
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Usually, scanners are installed with TWAIN and WIA drivers. You must select the TWAIN version, which unfortunately doesn't say TWAIN (usually), but can be identified because it is the one that doesn't say WIA.
Select the correct scanner and then click on <Select> and then <OK>.
With 'Show Scan Screen' unchecked, this will now open the scanner manufacturer's scanning interface. In the example below we are using an Epson GT-S50.
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Notice, that we are scanning Single-Sided, Letter, Black & White, 200dpi. We've selected Text Enhancement, which brings out marks a little more and Correct Document Skew, which helps if the forms go through the scanner a little crooked. We have not selected Remove Punch Holes. Avoid this setting!
Click Scan one more time and proceed to scan all your forms. The window will automatically close when all forms are scanned.
Notice that the counters in the BubbleScan OMR window will update as you scan and as the software processes (reads) images and writes them into Excel.
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If you are running BubbleScan OMR in Interactive Mode, each page will be written into Excel as soon as it is read. Make sure not to edit any cells in Excel during this process.
If you are running in Database Mode, wait until all scanned forms are read (i.e. Scanned counter and Read counter are the same) then click on Write DB to Excel. Make sure not to write before all scanned forms are read!
The spreadsheet collects data into the Records worksheet.
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Each processed page will show up as a new line added to the Records worksheet
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