OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP

[Claude Lamontagne]

Hi all,

I am looking around to find out a not too expensive software or plug-in
to do optical mark recognition of anwer sheets (multiple choice
questions) using a all in one ink jet printer related to a Filemaker Pro
application (version 6 (preferably) or above, Windows XP or Vista) doing
the test scoring.

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.

Claude

FMP 6 and above, Windows XP, Vista.

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[Michael Gilman]

Claude,

I created a solution for this without a plug in. I used a software called
Simple index and a scanner. This software has command line functions so I
was able to control it from filemaker. (It did require the use of Troi
Activator plug in to manipulate the folders). Simple index was around
1200.00 for the full version. The site to see all about the software is
www.simpleindex.com We used it to capture data from lead cards that
potential clients mailed in. This way the data entry folks did not need to
try to read the information and then retype it, just scan and review for
accuracy.  We also used a function for OMR (optical mark reader) to capture
the boxes that were checked on the card (much like you are looking for).
This all worked very well once we got all the bugs out of it. (unfortunately
not all of our marketing material that was created without scanning in mind
made it quite the task setting up the templates but once we got it down pat
it worked and continues to work great) We were also creating other functions
for it to "read" loan applications and "look" for missing signatures and
dates, the tests were successful but since I am no longer work for that
company I do not know if they took it to the next step and put it into the
work flow.

Michael Gilman

-----Original Message-----
From: FileMaker Talk [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Claude
Lamontagne
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:54 PM
To: FileMaker Talk
Subject: OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP

Hi all,

I am looking around to find out a not too expensive software or plug-in
to do optical mark recognition of anwer sheets (multiple choice
questions) using a all in one ink jet printer related to a Filemaker Pro
application (version 6 (preferably) or above, Windows XP or Vista) doing
the test scoring.

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.

Claude

FMP 6 and above, Windows XP, Vista.

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[David W. Vaklyes]

At 11:54 PM -0400 10/31/09, Claude Lamontagne wrote:
>I am looking around to find out a not too expensive software or plug-in
>to do optical mark recognition of anwer sheets (multiple choice
>questions) using a all in one ink jet printer related to a Filemaker Pro
>application (version 6 (preferably) or above, Windows XP or Vista) doing
>the test scoring.

Four years ago I searched for a OMR solution which would work on the Mac, use a run-of-the mill scanner, and not require purchased forms. Struck out on a Mac application, but I did find a Windows application which did the job.

I settled on Remark Office OMR ($995) <http://www.gravic.com/remark/officeomr/> to solve my OMR problem. It is not a seamless solution, but it works quite well.

While you may scan directly into the software with a large number of scanners (I used a Brother MFC-440), the software now reads from PDF, TIFF, PCX and JPEG files, so now I use a SnapScan 300 scanner on my Mac to scan into a PDF, which I then feed into Remark Office running in Parallels. I process the data in Remark Office, then export it as an Excel file (there are 30 other formats it can use) which I import into FileMaker.

Not a perfect system, but it works pretty well. I can scan in 50 tests, process them and print out the results in about an hour. Beats doing it by hand.

Hope this helps.

Dave Vaklyes


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[Claude Lamontagne]

Thanks Michael. I'll look at this solution attentively.

Claude
---------
Michael Gilman a écrit :

> Claude,
>
> I created a solution for this without a plug in. I used a software called
> Simple index and a scanner. This software has command line functions so I
> was able to control it from filemaker. (It did require the use of Troi
> Activator plug in to manipulate the folders). Simple index was around
> 1200.00 for the full version. The site to see all about the software is
> www.simpleindex.com We used it to capture data from lead cards that
> potential clients mailed in. This way the data entry folks did not need to
> try to read the information and then retype it, just scan and review for
> accuracy.  We also used a function for OMR (optical mark reader) to capture
> the boxes that were checked on the card (much like you are looking for).
> This all worked very well once we got all the bugs out of it. (unfortunately
> not all of our marketing material that was created without scanning in mind
> made it quite the task setting up the templates but once we got it down pat
> it worked and continues to work great) We were also creating other functions
> for it to "read" loan applications and "look" for missing signatures and
> dates, the tests were successful but since I am no longer work for that
> company I do not know if they took it to the next step and put it into the
> work flow.
>
> Michael Gilman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: FileMaker Talk [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Claude
> Lamontagne
> Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:54 PM
> To: FileMaker Talk
> Subject: OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am looking around to find out a not too expensive software or plug-in
> to do optical mark recognition of anwer sheets (multiple choice
> questions) using a all in one ink jet printer related to a Filemaker Pro
> application (version 6 (preferably) or above, Windows XP or Vista) doing
> the test scoring.
>
> Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.
>
> Claude
>
> FMP 6 and above, Windows XP, Vista.
>
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> This list is a free service of LassoSoft: http://www.LassoSoft.com/
> Search the list archives: http://www.ListSearch.com/FileMaker/Browse/
> Manage your subscription: http://www.ListSearch.com/FileMaker/
>
>
>
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> Search the list archives: http://www.ListSearch.com/FileMaker/Browse/
> Manage your subscription: http://www.ListSearch.com/FileMaker/
>
>
>
>
>  

--
Claude Lamontagne

Recherche et développement
I.R.P.A., inc.
Institut de recherche sur le profil d'apprentissage, inc.
3030, rue Howard
Arrondissement Saint-Hubert
Longueuil, Qc, Canada, J3Y 4Z6

Site Internet : http://www.irpa.qc.ca

Courriel : [hidden email]
           [hidden email]

Téléphone : 450.462.1948
Télécopie : 450.676.3187


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[Michael Gilman]

When I researched this for our solution I found Gravics also, and it was
highly recommended by the outside developer we were utilizing at the time,
however, they found that it would only do OMR (optical mark reader) and we
desired the ability to OCR (optical character reading) as well.  For our
solution actually read the customer id and mailing campaign number encoded
on the card. (we have since moved up to bar coding as well as the actual
id's) Plus as I stated early we also desired the ability to "read" loan
packages as well as appraisals that were scanned into the system to detect
compliance issues with the data provided.  It actually was a pretty cool set
up for the appraisals as now I only needed to script the compliance issues
and not teach everyone how to read a appraisal. Red flags were just a
flying! They are both good solutions. Also on last note I think I stated
that you needed a plug in to manipulate the files, we were using Troi
Activator but you could use the one from 360works (I think that is their
name) file manipulator it is free.

Michael Gilman

-----Original Message-----
From: FileMaker Talk [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David
W. Vaklyes
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:42 AM
To: FileMaker Talk
Subject: Re: OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP

At 11:54 PM -0400 10/31/09, Claude Lamontagne wrote:
>I am looking around to find out a not too expensive software or plug-in
>to do optical mark recognition of anwer sheets (multiple choice
>questions) using a all in one ink jet printer related to a Filemaker Pro
>application (version 6 (preferably) or above, Windows XP or Vista) doing
>the test scoring.

Four years ago I searched for a OMR solution which would work on the Mac,
use a run-of-the mill scanner, and not require purchased forms. Struck out
on a Mac application, but I did find a Windows application which did the
job.

I settled on Remark Office OMR ($995)
<http://www.gravic.com/remark/officeomr/> to solve my OMR problem. It is not
a seamless solution, but it works quite well.

While you may scan directly into the software with a large number of
scanners (I used a Brother MFC-440), the software now reads from PDF, TIFF,
PCX and JPEG files, so now I use a SnapScan 300 scanner on my Mac to scan
into a PDF, which I then feed into Remark Office running in Parallels. I
process the data in Remark Office, then export it as an Excel file (there
are 30 other formats it can use) which I import into FileMaker.

Not a perfect system, but it works pretty well. I can scan in 50 tests,
process them and print out the results in about an hour. Beats doing it by
hand.

Hope this helps.

Dave Vaklyes


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[David W. Vaklyes]

At 11:28 AM -0500 11/2/09, Michael Gilman wrote:
>desired the ability to OCR (optical character reading) as well.  For our

The new version of Remark Office now apparently (I haven't upgraded) does OCR and reads barcodes. I think making espresso is coming later. ;-)

Dave

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[Claude Lamontagne]

Thank David and Michael.

Remark Office OMR is quite impressive with its statistical package. It
is highly relevant for an educator and a researcher as I am. However, it
is too much because my need is only to read the marks and feed my
Filemaker application to do the desired calculations and produce the
reports. My practical concern is to make available an affordable
application for the schools being aware that, most of the time, their
budget is tight : Remark Office OMR or SimpleIndex + a scanner/printer +
my application and, maybe, a dedicated new computer. According to my
evaluation, it would be too much. I need to look for a less expensive
solution taking into account what people in public education can afford.

Claude

-----
David W. Vaklyes a écrit :

The new version of Remark Office now apparently (I haven't upgraded) does OCR and reads barcodes. I think making espresso is coming later.  ;-)

Dave


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[Michael Gilman]

Claude, you might want to check into the plug in called pdf manipulator, I
have not used it but, I know it will take a pdf and glean data off of it. I
am know it does ocr but not sure if it does omr.  Do you have the ability to
alter your test forms? I am pretty sure with all the developers here that
someone could come up with a neat solution based on pixels that filemaker
could determine if a set area was clear or not.

Michael Gilman

-----Original Message-----
From: FileMaker Talk [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Claude
Lamontagne
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:26 AM
To: FileMaker Talk
Subject: Re: OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP

Thank David and Michael.

Remark Office OMR is quite impressive with its statistical package. It
is highly relevant for an educator and a researcher as I am. However, it
is too much because my need is only to read the marks and feed my
Filemaker application to do the desired calculations and produce the
reports. My practical concern is to make available an affordable
application for the schools being aware that, most of the time, their
budget is tight : Remark Office OMR or SimpleIndex + a scanner/printer +
my application and, maybe, a dedicated new computer. According to my
evaluation, it would be too much. I need to look for a less expensive
solution taking into account what people in public education can afford.

Claude

-----
David W. Vaklyes a écrit :

The new version of Remark Office now apparently (I haven't upgraded) does
OCR and reads barcodes. I think making espresso is coming later.  ;-)

Dave


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[normanwinn]

I finally read through this thread and decided to check if there are any
open source solutions to this problem. I found this one:

http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~a3seth/udai/OMRProj/

which I found from here:

http://thegraffiti.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/optical-mark-recognition-a-handy-tool-for-cross-sectional-research/

Sounds that is needs some effort but that it works.

Also, if it is for schools a lot of people get to use it and maybe one
of them will want to work on it to better adapt it for your purpose.

Certainly solves the initial cost problem,

Norman

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[Claude Lamontagne]

Thank Norman.

I'll check it out too.

Claude
-------
norman a écrit :

> I finally read through this thread and decided to check if there are
> any open source solutions to this problem. I found this one:
>
> http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~a3seth/udai/OMRProj/
>
> which I found from here:
>
> http://thegraffiti.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/optical-mark-recognition-a-handy-tool-for-cross-sectional-research/ 
>
>
> Sounds that is needs some effort but that it works.
>
> Also, if it is for schools a lot of people get to use it and maybe one
> of them will want to work on it to better adapt it for your purpose.
>
> Certainly solves the initial cost problem,
>
> Norman
>
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[Michael Gilman]

Nice that it is free, but it looks like there is a lot of work to set it up
and keep it going.
Michael Gilman

-----Original Message-----
From: FileMaker Talk [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of norman
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 6:21 AM
To: FileMaker Talk
Subject: Re: OMR, Optical Mark Recognition and tests scoring with FMP

I finally read through this thread and decided to check if there are any
open source solutions to this problem. I found this one:

http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~a3seth/udai/OMRProj/

which I found from here:

http://thegraffiti.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/optical-mark-recognition-a-handy
-tool-for-cross-sectional-research/

Sounds that is needs some effort but that it works.

Also, if it is for schools a lot of people get to use it and maybe one
of them will want to work on it to better adapt it for your purpose.

Certainly solves the initial cost problem,

Norman

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[normanwinn]

> Nice that it is free, but it looks like there is a lot of work to set it up
> and keep it going.
> Michael Gilman
Yes. I looked further afterwards and this one looks better supported:

http://quexf.sourceforge.net/

Says it is web based. Didn't read enough to find out just what that means,

Norman


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