Data Capture Process
Capturing Form Images
Document Scanner
FormReturn uses scanned images of your forms, which have been uploaded into the software, and processes them, using OMR technology into captured data. The most efficient way of scanning multiple Forms is to use a document
scanner. The scanned images are saved onto your computer as Tif, Gif, Png or PDF files (don't save them as JPEG files).
The scanned image quality is important when you are using OMR software to detect data from form images, because the software needs a very clear image for accurately reading the barcodes and response marks made in checkboxes.
Important information: on scanning form images see Capturing Form Images in this help guide.
Uploading Form Images
The scanned form image files which have been saved on your computer, are uploaded into FormReturn's Processing queue. It usually takes only a few seconds for each image to be processed into captured data.
Uploading Form Images can be done manually in Processing Queue, or form images can be polled for automatically by setting up the folder monitor in FormReturn's server.
If the Form ID Barcode on any form isn't recognized, the image will be sent to the Unidentified Images table in the Processing Queue. FormReturn has a re-processing screen for unidentified images which allows you to change errors in the reading of the Form ID Barcode manually, so inidentified forms can be processed without having to re-scan them.
Managing the Processing Queue
The Form Processor
The form processor in FormReturn's server processes the dark response marks in checkboxes, and sends the processed response data to be stored in Captured Data.
The Form Processor in FormReturn's Server
Captured Data
The Captured response Data is stored with the published form template it belongs to, the data table records it belongs to and the image of each scanned form page.
The scanned image of each processed form page and it's captured response information can be viewed in Captured Data and the captured response information can be exported to a spreadsheet.
Captured Data Management
Exporting Captured Data
FormReturn can save Captured Response Data as a CSV file which is exported to and opened, in an external spreadsheet.
Note: you must have an office package such as Microsoft Office or Open
Office installed on your computer for exporting captured data into.
Exporting Captured Data