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Scanning into Excel
To process a batch of score sheets, which do not have to be in any particular order:
(Steps are explained in greater detail below.)
1. Start the BubbleScan OMR software.
2. Open the Event Scoring Spreadsheet from within the BubbleScan OMR software.
(File - Open , or Recent) and delete old records (if necessary).
3. Specify the folder where the scanned images are stored.
4. Begin scanning.
5. Review the data, load/modify the answer key, scale or names.
6. Generate the reports.
Note: Our software does not rotate images.
All forms must be oriented correctly as they are fed through the scanner!
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.
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.
In Interactive Mode BubbleScan OMR automatically writes every processed form into the spreadsheet. This is a bit slower, but you may find it more convenient, particularly when you are processing low volumes of several dozen or so forms.
You can do change the MODE through the Data menu.
2. The Event Scoring Spreadsheet
If you did not open the Event Scoring spreadsheet through the BubbleScan OMR software, then save your spreadsheet and exit Excel.
In order for the BubbleScan OMR software to interact with the Event Scoring spreadsheet, the spreadsheet must be opened from within the OMR software.
Start the BubbleScan OMR software, click on File, then Open then select the Event Scoring spreadsheet. After the initial use, BubbleScan OMR adds the most recent spreadsheet to a 'recent' list. If you use the same spreadsheet repeatedly, simply click on Recent in the menu bar and recall the desired spreadsheet.
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If you have old data records in the Excel spreadsheet, clear them out by clicking on the gray button labeled <Clear Records>. Then click Yes to confirm that you really do want to delete all records.
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When the spreadsheet is open, the BubbleScan OMR software will prompt you for the image folder. [You many need to click on our software window again to display the 'Select Folder to Save and Score Images' menu.]
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 store. Then simply click DONE on the next scanning window.
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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Note/Tip:
When our software processes an image, it sets a flag in one of the file properties. This ensures we don't process the same image twice. If you want to reprocess a particular image or an entire image folder, the easiest way is to copy and paste. This resets the flag in the file properties which causes our software to process the 'new' image(s) again.
To change the currently selected image folder, click on Utilities and select 'Read Images in Directory'. This will reopen the 'Select Folder to Save and Score Images' window shown above.
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After selecting the image folder, the BubbleScan OMR software brings up the 'Multi-Page Scanning' window.
If you are scanning 'indirectly' (i.e. you are scanning using a 3rd party software, maybe even even on a different computer, and saving the scanned images into a (networked) folder) click <Done> to close the Multi Page Scanning window. As soon as you add new images to the monitored folder, BubbleScan OMR will process (i.e. READ) those images.
When the software has processed all images - a good indication of that is that the Read counter is no longer incrementing, click <Write DB to Excel> .
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Proceed to step 4.5
If you are scanning 'directly' (i.e. you are interfacing with a locally attached scanner through our interface), keep on reading.
4. 1. 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.
4. 2. Leave all other settings as they are and click <Scan>.
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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!
4. 3. Click <Scan> one more time and proceed to scan all your forms. When you are done scanning, click <Done>.
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4. 4. This will update the counters in the BubbleScan OMR window.
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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!
4.5. The Event Scoring 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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