OmniForm User’s Manual CAERE CORPORATION 100 Cooper Court Los Gatos, California 95032-3321 USA
Caere GmbH Innere Wiener Strasse 5 81667 München, Germany Caere UK Information Centre 3 Catherine Place Westminster, London SW1E 6DX Centre d’informations Caere 72, rue Baratte-Cholet 94100 Saint-Maur, France Please Note In order to use this application, you should know how to work in the Microsoft Windows environment. Please refer to Windows documentation if you have questions about how to use menu commands, dialog boxes, scroll bars, edit boxes, and so on. OmniForm Version 4.
Table of Contents Welcome Getting Online Help..............................................................................................................2 Help menu.......................................................................................................................3 OmniForm Tutorials ......................................................................................................3 Context-Sensitive Help...............................................................................
Printing a Form....................................................................................................................34 Before you Print Your Form .......................................................................................34 Importing an Existing Electronic Form.....................................................................36 Printing Your Form as a Macro..................................................................................37 Searching a Form......................
Defining a Fill Graphic Object....................................................................................84 Setting Serial Numbers................................................................................................85 Changing Object Appearance on a Form.........................................................................86 Adding Color to a Form .....................................................................................................92 Adjusting Colors...................
Pasting a Linked OLE Object....................................................................................151 Setting Up Linking Options......................................................................................152 Using the Object Commands ....................................................................................153 Chapter 6 Filling a Form The Fill View Window......................................................................................................
Protecting Your Database.................................................................................................197 Protecting Data ...........................................................................................................197 Protecting the Form ...................................................................................................198 OmniForm Filler.........................................................................................................
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Welcome Welcome to OmniForm, and thank you for using our software! OmniForm is the easiest way to convert your paper forms to electronic forms. Use OmniForm to edit, design, and fill forms, manage information databases, and print and mail forms among other functions. The following documentation has been provided to help you learn about OmniForm. This User’s Manual This manual introduces you to the basics of using OmniForm.
Getting Online Help Using This Manual This manual is written with the assumption that you know how to work in the Windows environment. Please refer to your Windows documentation if you have questions about how to use dialog boxes, menu commands, scroll bars, drag and drop functionality, shortcut menus, and so on. The following conventions are used in this manual. Convention Purpose Italicized text • Emphasizes menu commands, dialog box options, and labeled buttons For example: “Choose Open...
Getting Online Help Help menu Use the commands in the Help menu to find information about OmniForm topics. OmniForm Help is the first command in the Help menu. Use it to get contents and index listings for all Help topics. Select OmniForm Help to obtain OmniForm’s main Help topics. Select Getting Started to begin OmniForm’s tutorials. Select How to Use Help to get Microsoft Windows Help topics that explain how to use and customize Help.
Product Support Context-Sensitive Help You can get on-the spot information about a particular OmniForm command, toolbar button, or dialog box option in the following ways: • Click the Help button in the OmniForm design/fill toolbar to turn your cursor into a question mark icon. Click any command, button, or portion of the window to open context-sensitive help for that topic.
Product Support • Caere Product Support document Read the Caere Product Support document to get a list of support telephone numbers, including ones for international product support. This document has been provided to you as an electronic document in PDF format. To open this document, click Start in the Windows taskbar and choose Programs Caere Applications Caere Documents Product Support. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.
Product Support 6
Chapter 1 Installation and Setup This chapter describes how to install OmniForm and begin using it. For technical and troubleshooting information, please see Chapter 9, “Technical Information.
System Requirements System Requirements To install and run OmniForm, you need the following setup: • Computer with an 80486 or higher processor • VGA or SVGA monitor (24-bit display adapter recommended for color forms) • Windows-compatible mouse • CD-ROM drive • A minimum of 25MB hard disk space for OmniForm and up to a maximum of 45MB • A minimum of 10MB hard disk space for OmniForm Filler and up to a maximum of 20MB • A compatible scanner if you plan to scan documents Please see Scanner Setu
Registering OmniForm • Double-click Add/Remove Programs. The Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box appears. • Click Install... in the Install/Uninstall tab. • Click Next> and then Finish. The OmniForm install screen appears. 3 Select OmniForm 4.0. 4 Follow all the instructions in the dialog boxes that appear. During installation, you will be prompted to enter a serial number. You can find the serial number on the label of the CDROM. OmniForm installs by default to the location c:\Program Files
Starting OmniForm 4 Follow the instructions on the screen. OmniForm will decide on the best method of registration according to your country and computer system. It may try using modem, FTP, or HTTP (Internet) connections to transmit your registration information directly. Or, it may prompt you to call a phone number or print out and mail in your registration information. After registration is complete, you will be given a registration number.
Starting OmniForm The Form Assistant dialog box appears. It contains six options. Each is a basic OmniForm procedure. 2 Installation and Setup Select an option and click Next>. Proceed to Chapter 3, “OmniForm Procedures,” for detailed information on the basic OmniForm procedures. Or, if you are new to OmniForm try the online tutorials. Click Getting Started in the Help menu to access the tutorials. Click Cancel to close Form Assistant if you do not want to choose a particular option.
Starting OmniForm 12 Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Form Usage This chapter describes basic OmniForm concepts you should know before scanning, importing or designing a new form.
Using Form Assistant Using Form Assistant Form Assistant is a dialog box that appears when launching OmniForm. If you are new to OmniForm, you might prefer to use the Form Assistant, which makes decision-making easy when processing a form. Later, you might choose to use the commands in the design toolbar or menu. See Chapter 3, “OmniForm Procedures,” for more information about using the commands.
Using Form Assistant Form Assistant Options This section gives a brief description of each option in Form Assistant. Through a series of dialog boxes, Form Assistant easily steps you through the process of converting your form into an electronic form. Scan a Form or Image File Select Scan a form or image file to scan a paper form or import an image file and to determine how you will work with the form in OmniForm.
Form Usage Options Form Usage Options Form usage affects the way you can use a form once it is in OmniForm. This section contains the following topics: • Choosing a Form Usage Option • Where to Select Form Usage Options • Changing Form Usage Decide how you will use a form in OmniForm before you scan or import it: as a designed form, as an original form, or as a nondesigned form image as described below.
Form Usage Options Where to Select Form Usage Options Different form usage options are available depending on whether you open Form Assistant or choose Scan Form... in the File menu. Form Assistant You can choose to scan in or import either a designed form or an original form in Form Assistant. Designed form option Original form option This dialog box is one of several in Form Assistant and appears during the scanning or import process. See “Form Assistant Options” on page 15 for more information.
Form Usage Options Changing Form Usage Choose Form Usage... in the View menu to change the way you can use a form. For example: • If you have an original form but decide to change the design, then you would change the form to a designed form. • If you have a designed form that you have edited but want to mail the original form to someone, then you would change the form to an original form. There is no original view for a form that you design yourself in OmniForm.
International Settings You can change the form usage from a nondesigned form to a designed form. However, the form will be blank except for any fillable objects you may have added. International Settings OmniForm supports different language and cultural conventions. You can choose from 45 different locales in the International tab in the Options dialog box. A locale — as defined for OmniForm usage — is a combination of a language and a region.
International Settings You can only change the language for this option if you open the Options dialog box in design view. 5 Select a language for the current form. 6 Click New Forms. The Language drop-down list displays the default language that will be used for the next form you open, scan, or import. The language selected for a new form will also become the Current Form selection when that form opens in OmniForm. 7 Select a language for new forms. 8 Click OK.
International Settings The readouts show: • How OmniForm expects data to be entered in fill view. • How OmniForm will format data in fill view if it is not entered correctly. (Formatting takes place after you move the cursor out of a field.) See the next section for formatting examples. Formatting Examples Currency If you select German (Austrian) as the Current Form language, the numbers 123456 entered in an appropriately defined currency field would display as öS 1.234,56.
International Settings The Scan Form Dialog Box The New Form language selection appears in the Options dialog box, which is selected from the Scan Form dialog box. You cannot change the New Forms language if you select this option. Click Options... to view the current language for your form or to change the language selection. • Click Options... to view the language of your current form and to change the language for your new form.
International Settings When you select Allow Multiple Languages, OmniForm turns off dictionaries during optical character recognition (OCR) so that all recognizable characters are allowed. If dictionaries were on, special characters such as umlauts might be discarded or questionable words in one language could be mistaken for words in another language. Do not select Allow Multiple Languages for a single-language form. OCR may not be as efficient with dictionaries turned off.
International Settings 24 Chapter 2
Chapter 3 OmniForm Procedures This chapter describes basic OmniForm procedures, including the following sections: • Scanning a Paper Form • Importing an Image File • Proofing a Form • Filling a Form • Printing a Form • Importing an Existing Electronic Form • Searching a Form • Creating a New Form • Opening a Form • Mailing a Form • Saving a Form • Publishing a Form to the Web 25
Scanning a Paper Form Scanning a Paper Form This section describes how to use the Scan Form... command to turn your paper form into an electronic form. You can also use the Form Assistant dialog box to scan a form. See “Using Form Assistant” on page 14. You can scan paper forms directly into OmniForm if you have a scanner. Forms should be blank with crisp, dark text for best results. OmniForm can scan black-and-white and color forms.
Scanning a Paper Form 5 Click Set Up Scanner... to choose a page size and adjust scanning brightness. • Select an option under Page Size. Select Letter if the form is 8.5 by 11 inches. Select Legal if the form is 8.5 by 14 inches. Select A4 if the form is 21 by 29.7 centimeters (European). • Select how light or dark the scanned image will be under Brightness. Select Lighten if the form has very thick or run-together text, or if the background is smudged, shaded, or colored.
Scanning a Paper Form • Select Flipped to automatically rotate a portrait page 180 degrees during the scan. • Select Flipscape to automatically rotate a landscape page 180 degrees during the scan. The Flipped and Flipscape options are useful for scanning pages in a book that needs to be turned upside down or sideways. 8 Select import options under the Settings options. • Select Auto Form Design to use Logical Form Recognition in order to recognize text and fillable fields in the form.
Scanning a Paper Form • Select Detect paper color automatically if your form’s background has color and you want OmniForm to recognize the color during OCR. If you deselect this option, the form’s background will be detected as white. • Select Show Proofreader after recognition to open the Proofreader after your form has been recognized. See “Proofing a Form” on page 32 for more information. • Click Font Mapping... to open the Font Mapping dialog box.
Importing an Image File How your form appears depends on whether or not you chose Auto Form Design in the Scan Form dialog box. 12 Click the Save button in the design toolbar or choose Save... in the File menu to name and save your file. Color forms generally use more memory than black-and-white forms. If you are scanning a color form and are concerned about the amount of memory you might use, do not save your color form image with the file. Choose Save As...
Importing an Image File To import an image file as a form: 1 Click the Scan button in the design toolbar or choose Scan Form... in the File menu. The Scan Form dialog box appears. 2 Select Image File(s) in the Source box to recognize a form in a supported image format. 3 Click Select Files. The Select Files dialog box appears. • Locate and select a file. This could be a form created in another program or one received as a fax file. • Click Add File to add the file to the Files to Process list box.
Proofing a Form 8 Begin to fill or edit your form. See Chapter 4, “Designing a Form,” for detailed information on defining, moving, resizing, and creating fields, as well as other design functions. See Chapter 6, “Filling a Form,” for detailed information on the kinds of fields you may find on a form and how to fill them. Proofing a Form After you scan or import an image file, you can use the Proofreader option to make improvements to your form.
Proofing a Form The following Proofreader window appears. Proofreader Index panel: The red bullet indicates what will be displayed in the Proofreader Instruction panel. Proofreader Instruction panel: This panel displays all the options in the Proofreader. This window displays all the options in the Proofreader. Click a bulleted topic in the Proofreader Index panel to display that section in the Proofreader Instruction panel. To close the Proofreader window, click the Tools button in the design toolbar.
Filling a Form If you would like to keep this toolbar on your desktop, see “Customizing Toolbars” on page 58 for more information. See the online help or the panels in the Proofreader for more information about how to use this toolbar. Filling a Form This section describes how to fill a form. You can also use the Form Assistant dialog box to fill a form. See “Using Form Assistant” on page 14.
Printing a Form 3 Select an option in the Apply to drop-down list. • Select Current page only to have your selections apply to only the current page. • Select Current page forward to have your selections apply to the current page of your form and all subsequent pages. • Select All pages to have your selections apply to all the pages of your form. 4 Click OK to apply your options and close the dialog box. To print your form: 1 Click the Print button in the design toolbar or choose Print...
Printing a Form 3 Select an option in the Data drop-down list. This option is only available if Form and Data or Data Only is selected in the Form/Data drop-down list. • Select Current Record Only to print just the current record. • Select Current Record Set to print the current found set of records. • Select All Records to print every record in the database. 4 Select Collate to assemble multiple printed copies in the proper sequence.
Printing a Form To print your form to OmniForm: 1 Open the form in the application in which it was created. Remove any colored or shaded background from the form. 2 Choose Print in the File menu. 3 Select OmniForm in the Name drop-down list. 4 Click OK. OmniForm automatically scans in the form. The OmniForm window displays the scanning progress of the form. Your form opens in OmniForm. To make any corrections to the form, see Chapter 4, “Designing a Form.
Searching a Form 4 Select any other options that you want and click OK. See your macro programming utility documentation for an explanation of the way a stored macro is printed. Searching a Form This section describes how to perform a search on a form. You can also use the Form Assistant dialog box to search a form. See “Using Form Assistant” on page 14. To search a form: 1 If you have a form open and are in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu.
Creating a New Form Creating a New Form This section describes how to create a new form. You can also use the Form Assistant dialog box to create a new form. See “Using Form Assistant” on page 14. See Chapter 4, “Designing a Form,” for detailed information on form design. To create a new form: 1 Click the New button in the design toolbar or choose New in the File menu. OmniForm opens a blank form in design view. 2 Use the design view tools to create fields and objects on your new form.
Mailing a Form The Open dialog box appears. 3 Make sure OmniForm Form is selected in the Files of type dropdown list. 4 Locate and select a file. 5 Click Open. The form opens in the last view in which it was saved: design or fill. You can switch the view if you wish. 6 If you are in design view and want to switch to fill view, click the fill view button on the design toolbar.
Mailing a Form The Options dialog box appears. 2 Click the General tab and select an option under Mail System. Select either Lotus cc: Mail/Lotus Notes or Microsoft Exchange/ Outlook. OmniForm selects your installed mail application by default if you have only one installed. 3 Click OK. To send a form: OmniForm Procedures 1 Open or scan in the form that you want to send. 2 Click either the design or fill view button in the design toolbar. (You can also choose Design or Fill in the View menu.
Mailing a Form 4 Select an option. • Select Send the Form and Data to send all text, graphics, and any information in fillable fields. This option is available only in fill view. • Select Send the Data only to send just the information you have typed in the fillable fields. This option is available only in fill view. • Select Send the Form only to send the form as it would appear in design view, without any information in the fillable fields.
Saving a Form 9 Enter the information in your mail program’s dialog box. Refer to your mail program’s documentation for more information. The following box shows the Lotus CC: Mail application dialog box. 10 Click Send to mail your message and form as specified. Adding a Routing Slip Microsoft Exchange/Outlook users can add a routing slip to mail. See the Microsoft Exchange/Outlook documentation for detailed information. To add a routing slip: 1 Open or scan in the form to send.
Saving a Form To save your form in various formats: 1 Choose Save As... in the File menu. The Save As dialog box appears. 2 Select an option from the Save as type drop-down list. • Select OmniForm Form to save to OmniForm’s default format. • Select OmniForm 3.0 Form to save to OmniForm’s 3.0 version. • Select OmniForm 2.0 Form to save to OmniForm’s 2.0 version. This is useful if you have users with a 16-bit Filler. You save your form in 2.0 so that users of the 16-bit Filler can access the form.
Saving a Form • If you have selected PDF, click Options... and proceed to page 47. To set your options for Word conversion: 1 Select an option under Word Version. 2 Select an option under Line Retention. • Select None if you do not want the converter to change the text to fit the lines. • Select Size line by Scaling (Word 97 only) to change the width of the characters to fit the lines. • Select Size line by Character Spacing in order to change the amount of space between the characters to fit the lines.
Saving a Form To set your options for HTML conversion: 1 Select an option under HTML Version. • Select HTML Version 4.0 & CSS to support HTML version 4.0 and cascading style sheets, which provide the exact placement of objects on a form. • Select HTML Version 3.2 to support HTML versions earlier than 4.0. 2 In the option under Form Fields, select whether you want to add a submit button, a reset button, or both. • Select Submit Button to add a submit button to the bottom of your form.
Saving a Form 4 Select Calculation and Validation Support if you want calculations, validation, and field formatting options to be converted. 5 Select Convert Tables to Layers if you have tables and other objects on your form and you want to maintain the position of the objects. 6 Click OK to close the dialog box. 7 Click Save to save your form to your chosen format. OmniForm converts your form to HTML with your selected options.
Saving a Form • Select Submit Button to add a submit button to the bottom of your form. This will allow you to submit your form to a Web address after your form has been converted. To do so, first type the Web address in the Submission tab of the Properties dialog box. See “Setting Submission Information” on page 136 for more information. • Select Reset Button to add a reset button to the bottom of your form.
Publishing a Form to the Web Publishing a Form to the Web OmniForm can easily publish your forms on intranets and to the Internet. To publish forms to the Web you will need Microsoft’s Web Publishing Wizard installed on your system. If your system does not have Microsoft Web Publishing Wizard installed, you can obtain this Wizard by 1) installing the full application of Internet Explorer 4.
Publishing a Form to the Web 3 Select whether you want to publish the current form or previously saved forms. • Select Publish the current form to publish the form you have open. • Select Publish previously saved forms to publish saved forms. 4 Click Next>. • If you have selected Publish the current form, proceed to step 5. • If you have selected Publish previously saved forms, enter the file name or folder name in the dialog box that appears and proceed to step 8.
Publishing a Form to the Web You can select OmniForm Form, OmniForm 3.0, OmniForm 2.0, OFML 2.0, OFML 1.0, HTML, PDF or Microsoft Word (RTF). For information about these file types, see page 44. • If you have chosen HTML, PDF, or Microsoft Word (RTF), click Options... to set specific formatting options. For information about these options, see page 44. • If you have selected OmniForm Form, OmniForm 3.0, OmniForm 2.0, or Microsoft Word (RTF), proceed to step 8. • If you have selected OFML 2.0, OFML 1.
Publishing a Form to the Web • The action could point to a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script on a Web server; for example: http://www.caere.com/location-bin/script.pl This would tell OmniForm to submit data to a script on Caere’s Web server. • If the file is saved as HTML or PDF, the action could be an email address; for example: mailto:name.othername@company.com The form data would be submitted to that e-mail address. 7 Select a means of submitting data in the Method drop-down list.
Publishing a Form to the Web OmniForm Internet Filler can operate within a Web browser or on its own. When it runs within a browser, you can hyperlink to an OFML form and fill it out online. When it runs on its own, you can work with OFML forms off-line. Installing OmniForm Internet Filler OmniForm Internet Filler is included on your CD-ROM. Close all applications — including screen savers, virus checkers, and mail applications — before installing OmniForm.
Publishing a Form to the Web 54 Chapter 3
Chapter 4 Designing a Form This chapter discusses how to design new forms and edit existing ones in OmniForm. OmniForm contains numerous tools in design view that let you create fields and objects, define calculations, and decide how your form will look. This chapter contains the following sections: • The Design Process • The Design View Window • The Design View Toolbars • Creating Objects on a Form • Defining Objects on a Form • Changing Object Appearance on a Form • Editing a Form The OmniForm\Sample For
The Design Process The Design Process This section gives a brief overview of how to design a new form. A form can be as simple as you need or as complex as OmniForm allows. Although the steps below are not required, they are recommended. See “Editing a Form” on page 95 for information on how you can change existing forms. To design a new form: 1 Choose New in the File menu to open a new, blank form. 2 Choose Page Setup... in the File menu. 3 Select page size, orientation, and margins, and click OK.
The Design View Window The Design View Window This section provides an overview of the design view window. If a form is open in fill view, click the Design button in the fill toolbar or choose Design in the View menu to switch to design view. To open a shortcut menu, click the right mouse button and choose Design in this menu. The design view window (after registration) contains five toolbars and seven menus.
The Design View Toolbars The Design View Toolbars This section describes each toolbar in design view and defines its buttons. There are seven toolbars: • The design toolbar • The font/text toolbar • The drawing toolbar • The arrange toolbar • The proofing toolbar (See “Proofing a Form” on page 32 for information on this toolbar and its functions.) • The calculation toolbar (See Chapter 8, “Using Calculations,” for information on this toolbar and its functions.
The Design View Toolbars To customize toolbars using the Toolbars tab: In the Toolbars tab, you can: • select and deselect the toolbars that you want displayed on your desktop, • select or deselect the Show ToolTips option, • create a new toolbar, • reset a toolbar to its original state, or • delete a toolbar that you have created. Designing a Form 1 Choose Customize... in the Tools menu. The Customize dialog box appears. 2 Click the Toolbars tab if it is not selected.
The Design View Toolbars The New Toolbar dialog box appears. • Type the name of your new toolbar in the Toolbar name text box. • Click OK to apply your name. Your new toolbar appears on your desktop. If you want, you can drag the new toolbar to another location on your desktop. • To add buttons to your new toolbar, drag the buttons of other toolbars to your new toolbar. 6 Click Delete if you want to delete a toolbar that you have created.
The Design View Toolbars Click the Commands tab in the Customize dialog box. 2 • Select a toolbar from the Categories list box. The corresponding buttons for that toolbar are shown in the Buttons box. • Click the button that you want and drag it to another toolbar on your desktop. The button now appears in the other toolbar. • Keep clicking and dragging buttons to another toolbar until you have finished customizing the toolbar. Click OK to close the dialog box and apply your selections.
The Design View Toolbars The Font/Text Toolbar Use the font/text toolbar to format text. This toolbar is only active when a fill text, comb, comb element, circle text, or table cell object is selected.
The Design View Toolbars The Arrange Toolbar Use the arrange toolbar to arrange and align objects on a form. Refer to the online help for a brief explanation of each button’s function. These buttons correspond to the Align, Bring to Front, and Send to Back commands in the Format menu. The last six buttons on the toolbar are only active when multiple objects are selected. Each button gives a thumbnail example of how it aligns objects.
Creating Objects on a Form Creating Objects on a Form This section explains how to create objects on your form. You can create fillable objects that a user fills in fill view, and nonfillable objects such as lines and rectangles that contribute to a form’s design. This section discusses general creation guidelines and then lists all objects in the same order as they appear in the drawing toolbar. All instructions assume that you are in design view using either a new form or a designed form.
Creating Objects on a Form Creating a Text Object A text object is most often used as a title, label, or header. Text object used as label The State fill text field To create a text object: 1 Click the Text tool in the drawing toolbar. 2 Draw the text object. 3 With the object still selected, type the text that you want to replace the word Label. Creating a Line Object Use a line object to separate sections of a form or as a design element.
Creating Objects on a Form To create an oval object: 1 Click the Oval tool in the drawing toolbar. 2 Draw an oval. To create a circle, hold down the Shift key as you draw. Creating a Rectangle Object Use a rectangle object to highlight areas on a form or as a design element. To create a rectangle object: 1 Click the Rectangle tool in the drawing toolbar. 2 Draw a rectangle. To create a square, hold down the Shift key as you draw.
Creating Objects on a Form The screen splits to show the form both as it was designed with Logical Form Recognition and as it was originally scanned. Designed form without graphic Horizontal bar Original form with graphic Each view window has its own scroll bar so that you can scroll to the same place in each form.You can use the horizontal bar inbetween the two windows to resize the view.Your cursor turns into a resize cursor over the bar. 3 Click the Graphic tool in the drawing toolbar.
Creating Objects on a Form To create a square graphic object, hold down the Shift key as you draw. The Graphic Definition dialog box appears. 3 Select Graphic File in the Source drop-down list. 4 Type a file name in the File Name text box. Or, click Browse... if you need to locate a file. • Locate and select a file. • Click OK to return to the Graphic Definition dialog box. The name of the selected file appears in the File Name text box.
Creating Objects on a Form • Select Scale Proportionally to fit the graphic in the fill graphic field while maintaining its exact proportions. • Select Stretch to Fit to change your graphic’s original shape and size to fit in the fill graphic field. This option does not maintain a graphic’s original proportions. Depending on the shape of the fill graphic field, your graphic may be stretched or compressed. You might want to use this for special effects.
Creating Objects on a Form 2 Draw the fill text object. To create a square field, hold down the Shift key as you draw. Creating a Comb Object Use a comb field to separate information into separate groups of elements while maintaining the field as a whole. For example, forms used in the United States typically require that you enter zip code numbers in five or nine separate boxes. To create a comb object: 1 Click the Comb tool in the drawing toolbar.
Creating Objects on a Form Creating a Circle Text Object Use circle text objects for Yes/No questions and for selecting one or more choices on a form. To create a circle text object: 1 Click the Circle Text tool in the drawing toolbar. 2 Draw a circle text object. To create a circle instead of an oval, hold down the Shift key as you draw. 3 With the object still selected, type the text that you want to replace the number in the object.
Defining Objects on a Form The number of rows and columns in the comb field increase as you drag the mouse. Let go of the mouse button when the table contains the number of rows and columns that you want. To create a square table, hold down the Shift key as you draw. Creating a Fill Graphic Object Use a fill graphic object to allow the person who fills in the form to add a graphic. For example, suppose you have designed a real estate form that requires a picture of the property.
Defining Objects on a Form When you define an object you can: • Give it a unique name that is useful when sorting or searching records, arranging tab order, or defining calculations. • Provide filling options such as a list of possible entries and help messages that appear in fill view. • Set validation options such as whether a field must be filled or can be skipped. See the previous section, “Creating Objects on a Form” on page 64 to learn how to create objects.
Defining Objects on a Form To set property options for fill text objects: 1 Click the Properties tab. 2 Type a unique name in the Name text box. Each object must have a unique name. A descriptive name such as Address makes a field easy to find when sorting, searching, defining calculations, and so forth. 3 Select a field type in the Type drop-down list. The field type will be displayed in the status bar in fill view when the cursor is in that field.
Defining Objects on a Form 5 The next two options are enabled when Number, Currency, or Percentage is selected in the Type drop-down list. • Select Use 1000’s Separator to separate a series of three digits with a separator specific to the form’s language. See “International Settings” on page 19 for detailed information on selecting a language for a form. • Select Enclose Negatives in Parentheses to display negative numbers within parentheses in the field; for example, -123 would display as (123).
Defining Objects on a Form • If you select Can be Filled, then an empty field can be filled and a filled field can be changed in fill view. The Can be Filled option, when deselected, overrides the Must be Filled in option when it is selected in the Validation tab. 4 You can either select or deselect the Tab Stop. • Select Tab Stop so that the cursor automatically moves to the selected field when the user presses the Tab key. • Deselect Tab Stop so that the cursor tabs past the selected field.
Defining Objects on a Form 2 Select Must be Filled in to display a prompt in fill view if the user does not fill the field. The Can be Filled option in the Filling tab, when deselected, overrides the Must be Filled in option when it is selected. 3 Select Data Must Match Field Type to display a prompt in fill view if the user enters incorrect information in the field. If the selected field type is Number, for example, the user cannot enter text in the field; 5 is acceptable but five is not.
Defining Objects on a Form Defining a Comb Object Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu to open the Comb Definition dialog box when a comb object is selected. This dialog box contains most of the same options as the Fill Text Definition dialog box, but with these additions: • It contains an Interpret As drop-down list in the Properties tab instead of a Format drop-down list. • It contains an Elements section in the Properties tab. • It contains a Fill Right to Left option in the Filling tab.
Defining Objects on a Form Element Options You have three element options: number of elements, width of elements, and inter-element spacing. To set the Element options: 1 Click the Properties tab. 2 Type a number in the Number of Elements text box. A zip code field for the United States, for example, would have either five or nine elements. 3 Type a number in the Width of Elements text box to set how wide all comb elements will be.
Defining Objects on a Form Defining a Comb Element Object Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu to open the Comb Element Definition dialog box when a comb element is selected. This dialog box allows you to: • Designate the border height of the element. • Create a prefill element. • Enter a number to designate the amount of allowable numbers for each element. To define a comb element: 80 1 Select left and right border measurements under Border Height.
Defining Objects on a Form Defining a Check Box Object Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu to open the Check Box Definition dialog box when a check box object is selected. This dialog box allows you to set property, filling, and validation options for your selected check box. To set property options for check boxes: Designing a Form 1 Click the Properties tab. 2 Type a unique name in the Name text box. Each object must have a unique name.
Defining Objects on a Form To set filling options for check boxes: 1 Click the Filling tab. 2 Select a mark for the check box: a check mark, an X, or a fill. 3 Deselect Can be Filled so an empty field cannot be filled and a filled field cannot be changed in fill view. 4 Select Tab Stop so that the cursor automatically moves to the selected field when the user presses the Tab key. Deselect Tab Stop so that the cursor tabs past the selected field.
Defining Objects on a Form Defining a Table Object Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu to open the Table Definition dialog box when a table object is selected. This dialog box lets you: • Set tabbing properties so that you can tab either from left to right or top to bottom. • Select the amount and width of columns. • Select the amount and height of rows. To define a table object: 1 Define the table object. Click the Properties tab and type a unique name in the Name text box.
Defining Objects on a Form 7 Set row height: Type the row height in the Height of Rows text box. If you have unequal row height and would like all the rows to be the same height, then select Make Rows Equal Height. OmniForm resizes rows to an equal height without changing table size. If you had two rows, one four centimeters high and the other two centimeters high, for example, each would be resized to three centimeters high. 8 Click OK to apply the option.
Defining Objects on a Form Setting Serial Numbers You can keep track of your form by using serial numbers. You can set serial numbers for fill text objects and comb objects. You define serial numbers in design view and they appear in fill view. As a new record is created in fill view, serial numbers will automatically change by the increment you have entered. You can also use serial numbers in calculations.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form 6 Click OK in the Serial Number Settings dialog box to apply your settings. 7 Click OK in the Fill Text Definition dialog box to close the dialog box. Changing Object Appearance on a Form This section describes the options in the Object Appearance dialog box and how they affect a selected object. See the section “Creating Objects on a Form” on page 64 to learn how to create objects. To change object appearance: 1 Select an object or objects in design view.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form Color For background color of the object, select a color from the Color dropdown palette. For custom colors, click More Colors.... The Color dialog box appears. To customize a color, enter a number from 0 to 255 in the text boxes (Hue, Sat, Lum, Red, Green, and Blue). Or, drag the crosshair across the Color box. See “Adding Color to a Form” on page 92 for more information about the Color dialog box and how to add color to a form’s background.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form Gradient You can select from Gradient (Horizontal) and Gradient (Vertical). • Select Gradient (Horizontal) to have the background color gradually change to the pattern color, from top to bottom. • Select Gradient (Vertical) to have the background color gradually change to the pattern color, from left to right. Pattern Color For a color for the background pattern, select a pattern color from the Pattern Color drop-down list.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form Weight To change the border thickness, select Weight from the drop-down list. You can select from a 1- to 12-point thickness. Clear Select Clear to hide the border and OmniForm will display any paint layers beneath it. See“Paint Order” on page 92 for an explanation of how paint order affects border display. Borders The Borders section lets you remove borders from your object. The rectangle in the Borders section represents your object.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form Options in this tab are only active for selected fill text objects. Text alignment must be set to Top or Exactly in the Text dialog box before fill lines can be set. See “Formatting Text” on page 97 for information. Fill lines appear inside the object much like lines appear on writing paper. Color Select a color for the fill lines in the Color drop-down palette. See “Color” on page 87 for more information about how to choose color.
Changing Object Appearance on a Form See “Paint Order” on page 92 for information on how paint order affects fill line display. Start Fill Line at First Line Indentation Select Start Fill Line at First Line Indentation to indent the first fill line the same amount as the first line of text entered in the field. See “To format the placement of text objects:” on page 98 for more information. Visible Options Visible options pertain to how you want the selected object to appear to the user.
Adding Color to a Form Paint Order OmniForm uses a specific paint order. For example, a table object itself is painted first, then the cells inside the table, and then objects inside the cell. This makes it possible to have three layers of paint. The last layer painted in an object overrides all other layers. Because objects inside a cell are painted last, they will cover up the cells and portions of the table.
Adding Color to a Form 3 Select the color you want from the Color drop-down palette. 4 Click More Colors... to customize colors. The following Color dialog box appears. 5 Customize a color and click OK. 6 To customize a color, enter a number in the boxes; or, drag the crosshair across the Color box. • Hue is the color itself. Enter a number from 0-225 in the Hue box, or drag the crosshair horizontally in the Color box. • Saturation is the intensity of the color.
Adjusting Colors • In the Red text box, enter a number from 0 to 255 to adjust the amount of red in the color. The larger the number, the more red the color contains. • In the Green text box, enter a number from 0 to 255 to adjust the amount of green in the color. The larger the number, the more green the color contains. • In the Blue text box, enter a number from 0 to 255 to adjust the amount of blue in the color. The larger the number, the more blue the color contains.
Editing a Form 3 Select a color from the drop-down color palette. For more information about the drop-down color palette, see the previous section. 4 Click OK to apply your changes and close the dialog box. Editing a Form This section describes how to edit a form using the design view tools and commands. Once you have created objects, you may want to move, resize, or convert them. You may also want to make changes to a newly scanned or imported form.
Editing a Form • Choose Select Special... in the Edit menu to select all objects of the same type. Moving an Object You can move a selected object or objects in several ways. • Hold down the mouse button and drag the selected object to another location. • Choose Size and Position... in the Format menu to position the selected object precisely on the form. • Use the Align commands in the Format menu or the corresponding button in the arrange toolbar to align selected objects.
Editing a Form Deleting an Object Choose Delete in the Edit menu or press Delete on your keyboard to delete one or more selected objects. Formatting Text Use the Font... and Text... commands in the Format menu or the corresponding buttons in the font/text toolbar to format text in selected objects. See “The Font/Text Toolbar” on page 62 for information about each button in the toolbar. To format fonts: 1 Select the text/fill objects that you want to format.
Editing a Form A preview of your choices appears in the Sample box. 7 Click OK to apply the formatting. To format the placement of text objects: 98 1 Select the text/fill objects that you want to format. Text entered in fill view takes on formatting assigned to fill objects in design view. 2 Choose Text... in the Format menu. The Text dialog box appears. 3 Click the Alignment tab. 4 Select a horizontal alignment option: Left, Center, Right, or Justify.
Editing a Form • Select Flow Text Across Lines to enter text in a field with automatic word-wrapping. • Select Make Text Fit to Lines to fit text to the size of the line. This can alter the appearance of text. Each line can be selected separately and resized. Press Enter to create a new line of text. Each new line can be resized separately from other lines. OmniForm uses the Make Text Fit to Lines option to design forms during scanning and importing.
Editing a Form To format a table: 1 Select a table. 2 Choose Table AutoFormat... in the Format menu. The Table AutoFormat dialog box appears. 3 Select the Yes option to enable the Appearance list box. 4 Select an appearance option for your table. 5 Click Next> if it is available to open the Naming window. Depending on your appearance selection, the Naming window may not be available. In that case, click Finish.
Editing a Form You cannot regroup the objects once you break them apart. For this reason, you might want to save your table before you break it apart; and if you do not like what you have created, you can always revert to the saved copy. To break a table apart: 1 Select a table in your form. 2 Choose Break Table Apart in the Format menu. You can now select and drag sections of your table to rearrange in the order that you want.
Editing a Form • Select Center Horizontally to align the selected objects by their horizontal centers. Horizontal centers Horizontal centers’ alignment midpoint • Select Top to align all selected objects by their top edges. • Select Bottom to align all selected objects by their bottom edges. • Select Center Vertically to align the selected objects by their vertical center. Vertical centers Vertical centers’ alignment midpoint The objects align according to the chosen command.
Editing a Form Changing Tab Order on a Form Tab order is the order in which the cursor moves from field to field on a form in fill view. You should check the tab order on all the forms you design or scan. To change tab order: 1 Click the Tools button in the design toolbar or choose Tab Order in the Tools menu. The Tools window appears to the left of the form. 2 Click the Tab Order tab in the Tools window if either the Proofreader or Scrapbook window appears.
Editing a Form • Click the Move Up button in the Tab Order window to move the selected fields up. Click as many times as needed to move the fields into place. Or, you can right-click your mouse button to get a shortcut menu to move the selected fields up. • Click the Move Down button in the Tab Order window to move the selected fields down. Click as many times as needed to move the fields into place. Or, you can right-click your mouse button to get a shortcut menu to move the selected fields down.
Editing a Form To group check boxes or circle text objects: 1 Click the Tools button in the design toolbar or choose Tab Order in the Tools menu. The Tools window appears to the left of the form. 2 Click the Tab Order tab in the Tools window if either the Proofreader or Scrapbook window appears. 3 Select the check boxes or circle text objects on the form or in the Tab Order window. 4 Right-click your mouse button in the Tab Order window to open a shortcut menu. 5 Select Option Group...
Editing a Form 3 Click a field in the Field Name list (one that has a plus sign in front of it) to display its list of contained fields. 4 Select and drag the fields within the group, or use the Move Up or Move Down buttons (either in the Tab Order window or rightclick your mouse button to get a shortcut menu). 5 Click the Tools button in the design toolbar or choose Tab Order in the Tools menu to close the Tab Order window.
Editing a Form Converting an Object to Another Type of Object You can convert any selected object to another type of object. You might, for example, want to convert objects in table cells to check boxes. Be careful when converting objects in an existing form. If the old object contained information, you will permanently lose that object’s information in every record.
Editing a Form 108 Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Advanced Features This chapter discusses how to use some of the advanced features in OmniForm. Although these are advanced features they are not hard to learn. After you have become familiar with some of the basic form design options in OmniForm, try some of these features. These features can really enhance the design of your forms. For a description of OmniForm’s basic design features, see Chapter 4, “Designing a Form.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Using the AutoFill Wizard, you can set up a form for automated data entry. You can create or use an AutoFill list to provide a drop-down list of possible entries for the person who fills in a form or to provide an automatic filling of specific fields on a form.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry The following AutoFill Wizard dialog box appears. Advanced Features 5 Select Create or edit the AutoFill of the current field to create a list for your selected field and click Next>. The following dialog box appears. 6 Select Show a list of choices and click Next>.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry The following dialog box appears. 112 7 Select Manually entered list to create the information for your AutoFill list and click Next>. The following dialog box appears. 8 Click Add and type the information that you want to include in your list in the provided text box. Each item in a column can have a maximum of 100 characters. After each entry, press Enter. Continue adding information to your list and, when you are finished, click Next>.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 10 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard and, if selected, to save your list. The Fill Text Definition dialog appears. 11 Click OK to apply your settings and close the dialog box.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry • To remove an entry, select the entry and then click Delete. • To remove all entries from the list, click Delete All. Click Next> when you are finished customizing the list. 8 Select whether you want to save your list. If you are saving your list, type a name. OmniForm saves your list as a .txt file. 9 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard and, if selected, to save your list.The Fill Text Definition dialog box appears.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 8 Select whether you want to save your list. If you are saving your list, type a name. OmniForm saves your list as a .txt file. 9 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard and, if selected, to save your list. The Fill Text Definition dialog box appears. 10 Click OK to apply your settings and close the dialog box. Create an AutoFill List From an OmniForm Form or Database You can create an AutoFill list from an OmniForm form or database for your current field.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry The following dialog box appears if you have selected OmniForm Form. 9 Type the file name of the OmniForm form (or OmniForm database) you will be using in the File name text box. Or, click Browse... to locate your file. • Locate and select a file. • Click OK to return to the AutoFill Wizard dialog box. The name of the selected file appears in the File name text box. 10 Click Next>. 11 Specify the columns (or fields) that you want to use in your drop-down list.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Create an AutoFill List From an ODBC Source You can create an AutoFill list from an ODBC source and use the information for your current field. To create an AutoFill list from an ODBC source: 1 Open a form and select a field where you want to create an AutoFill list using information from an ODBC source. 2 Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu. The Fill Text Definition dialog box appears.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry • Select the data source you will be using from the Data Source drop-down list. • Select a Table you would like to use from the Table drop-down list. 9 Click Next>. A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 10 Specify the columns (or fields) that you want to use in the dropdown list. Also, select the field that you want to appear first in the drop-down list. You can have a maximum of 10 columns displayed in your drop-down list.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Automatically Fill Fields on a Form You can automatically fill fields on your form with AutoFill lists from a variety of sources. You can fill fields automatically using lists you create, or information from ODBC sources, OmniForm forms or databases. This section describes how to create an automatic filling for your form. You create an automatic filling by allowing specific fields to be filled automatically after a certain field has been filled.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 8 Specify the fields that you want to be filled automatically. • Select the fields in the Available fields list and click the rightarrow button. The fields you choose appear in the Fields to fill list. The Available Fields list displays all the fields on your form. The Fields to fill list displays all the fields on the form that you want filled automatically.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 10 Type the entries that you want in the columns. The first column, the Name field is the selected field on your current form. Once the Name field (or John Smith) is filled, the other fields on the form, that is, Address (or in this case, 123 Main St.), City (that is, Gould), and State (that is, CO) fields, will be filled automatically. Click Next> when you are finished. 11 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard. The Fill Text Definition dialog box appears.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 8 Type the file name of the OmniForm form or database you will be using in the File name text box. Or, click Browse... to locate your file. • Locate and select a file. • Click OK to return to the AutoFill Wizard dialog box. The name of the selected file appears in the File name text box. Click Next>.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Automatically Fill Fields on a Form With an ODBC Source You can have fields on your form automatically filled with information from an ODBC source. First specify a field so that once it is filled other fields will be automatically filled. Next, select the ODBC source that you want to use. Finally, specify the fields on the form that you want automatically filled and then define the information that will be automatically filled in each field.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 10 In the Column/field drop-down list, select the column (or field) from your database that you want to match against the data in the current selected field on your form. Click Next> when you are finished matching the data with the field on your form. 11 Specify the fields that you want filled automatically. • Select the fields in the Available fields list and click the rightarrow button.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 13 Specify the links between the fields to be automatically filled in the form and the columns in the database. By linking the fields to the columns, you tell OmniForm what database information needs to be placed in what field on your form. • Select an entry from the Fields in form and then an entry in Columns in database. Click <>. Your selection appears in the Links box.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry Creating an AutoFill List and Automatically Fill Fields You can create both an AutoFill list and have fields automatically filled for your form. You can automatically fill fields by using a list you create, information from an ODBC source, OmniForm form, or database. The AutoFill Wizard can easily do both.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 10 Type the entries in the appropriate columns. For example, the first column in this dialog box, the Company field, is the selected field on your current form; that is, the field that contains the drop-down list. The second column, the From field, is the field that will be automatically filled once the Company field is filled. 11 Click Next>. 12 Select whether you want to save your list.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 7 Select ODBC Database to use information from a database (such as dBASE or Microsoft Access) and click Next>. Each item in a column can have a maximum of 2000 characters. 8 Specify a data source and table. If you have not set up your data source previously, click Administrator... and follow all the dialog boxes for your specific database. For more information about these dialog boxes, please see your specific database documentation.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 12 Specify the links between the fields to be automatically filled in the form and the columns in the database. By linking the fields to the columns, you tell OmniForm what database information needs to be placed in what field on your form. • Select an entry from the Fields in form and then an entry in Columns in database. Click <>. Your selection appears in the Links box. • You can let OmniForm automatically link fields with columns. Click <>.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry 8 Type the file name in the provided text box. Or, click Browse... to locate your file. • Locate and select a file. • Click OK to return to the AutoFill Wizard dialog box. The name of the selected file appears in the File name text box. 9 Click Next>. 10 Specify the columns (or fields) that you want to use in the dropdown list. Also, select the field you want to appear first in the drop-down list.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry • To remove an entry in the Links box, select the entry and click Unlink. If you want to remove all entries in the Links box, click Unlink All. 14 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard. The Fill Text Definition dialog box appears. 15 Click OK to apply your settings and close the dialog box.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry A dialog box similar to the one below appears. 7 Type the entry to be replaced in the Replace column and type the replacement in the With column. 8 Click Next> when you are finished. 9 Select whether you want to save your list. If you are saving your list, type a name. 10 Click Finish to close the AutoFill Wizard and, if selected, to save your list. The Fill Text Definition dialog appears. 11 Click OK to apply your settings and close the dialog box.
Setting up a Form for Automated Data Entry The following dialog box appears when you have chosen to fill fields automatically. • Select All other fields in the form to show all the available fields on the form. • Select All fields not in this table to show just the fields outside of the table. • Select Fields in the current row to display just the fields in the current row of the table. • Select Fields in the current column to display just the fields in the current column of the table.
Setting Attributes for a Form • Select No if you do not want the AutoFill settings to apply to the rest of the fields in the table. • Select Yes if you want the AutoFill settings to apply to the rest of the fields in the table. Setting Attributes for a Form Setting Up a Shared Form You can set up a shared form whenever you need to do so. By creating a shared form, you allow other users to have access to the form. You also allow multiple users to open and fill the form at the same time.
Setting Attributes for a Form Setting Summary Information Using the Summary tab, you can enter pertinent information about the form. To set summary information: Advanced Features 1 Choose Properties in the File menu. The Properties dialog box appears. 2 Click the Summary tab. 3 Enter information appropriate to your form. 4 Click OK to apply your settings.
Setting Attributes for a Form Setting Submission Information Using the Submission tab, you can set how you will submit your form and where you will send your form after you submit it. To set submission information: 1 Choose Properties in the File menu. The Properties dialog box appears. 2 Click the Submission tab. 3 Type an action in the Action text box. It will be saved in the dropdown list for selection the next time you open this dialog box.
Adding Security to Your Forms Adding Security to Your Forms If your work environment contains several work groups, you might want to add security properties to your forms. Security properties can protect both the user who fills out the form and the user who processes the filled out form. To add security properties to a form: • First create a user database. This is a place to store the names of the users and their passwords. • Next, create a signature field or fields on the form.
Adding Security to Your Forms To create a user database: 1 If you are in fill view, click the Design button in the fill toolbar or choose Design in the View menu to switch to design view. 2 Choose Security... in the Tools menu. The Security Database dialog box appears. 3 Type the name of your database file in the File name text box. Or, click Browse... to locate your file. • Locate and select a file. • Click OK to return to the Security Database dialog box.
Adding Security to Your Forms To add a user to the database: 1 If you are in fill view, click the Design button in the fill toolbar or choose Design in the View menu to switch to design view. 2 Choose Security... in the Tools menu. The Enter Administrator Password dialog box appears. 3 Enter your password in this dialog box. 4 Click OK. The Security Database Administration dialog box appears. In the Users list box, all the current users are displayed.
Adding Security to Your Forms To update a password or full name: 1 In design view, choose Security... in the Tools menu. The Security Database Administration dialog box appears. In the Users box, all the current users are displayed. 2 In the Users list box, select the user that you want to update. Updating a user’s password will cause all records previously signed by this user to become unverified. The user will no longer be able to unsign those records.
Adding Security to Your Forms To create a signature field on a form: 1 In design view, select a fill text field on the form where you want to create a signature field. 2 Choose Object Definition... in the Format menu. Or, open a shortcut menu by clicking the right-mouse button over the selected object. Choose Object Definition... in this menu. 3 Click the Properties tab in the Fill Text Definition dialog box. 4 Select Signature in the Type drop-down list. 5 Click the Settings button.
Adding Security to Your Forms To sign a signature field: 1 Click the signature field. • If you are online, the Signature Required dialog box appears. You will be prompted for a valid user name and password. • If you are offline, the Signature Required (Offline) dialog box appears. You will be prompted for a user name and password. 2 Enter your user name and password. 3 Click OK.
Adding Hyperlinks to Your Forms 3 Click OK to close the dialog box. Adding Hyperlinks to Your Forms You can easily set up hyperlinks on your forms. A hyperlink is a connection from a place on your form to a file or Web site. For example, the person who fills out the form can link from a place on the form to your company’s Web site. To add hyperlinks to your forms: 1 If a form is open in fill view, click the Design button in the fill toolbar or choose Design in the View menu to switch to design view.
Using the Scrapbook 7 Choose Options... in the Tools menu if you would like to be able to view the link address. The Options dialog box appears. Select ScreenTips. When in fill view, if you place your cursor over the hyperlink area, a pop-up window appears displaying the link address. 8 Click OK to apply your settings and close the dialog box. 9 Right-click your mouse button over the hyperlink object to check your hyperlink while in design view. Select Follow Hyperlink.
Using the Scrapbook To open a scrapbook: 1 Choose Scrapbook in the Tools menu. The scrapbook opens to the left of the OmniForm window in the Tools window. Scrapbook Commands icon Current scrapbook Stored graphic file (a scrap) 2 Select a scrapbook to view in the Scrapbook drop-down list, or create your own. See “To create a new scrapbook:” on page 146 for information. To copy objects to the scrapbook: 1 Open the desired scrapbook.
Using the Scrapbook To place scraps in a form: 1 Open the desired scrapbook. 2 Select a scrap and drag it into your form. Or, select a scrap and choose Copy Scrap in the Scrapbook Commands icon menu. You can select only one scrap at a time. The selected scrap appears as the original object in your form. To rename a scrap: 1 Select a scrap. 2 Choose Rename Scrap in the Scrapbook Commands icon menu. 3 Type a new name for the scrap and press Enter to accept the name.
Using the Scrapbook A new, empty scrapbook appears. To rename a scrapbook: 1 Open the scrapbook to rename. 2 Choose Rename Scrapbook... in the Scrapbook Commands icon menu. 3 The Rename Scrapbook dialog box appears. 4 Type a name in the New Name text box. 5 Click OK. The new scrapbook name appears in the Scrapbook drop-down list. To delete a scrapbook: 1 Open the scrapbook to delete. 2 Choose Delete Scrapbook in the Scrapbook Commands icon menu. You cannot undo the Delete Scrapbook command.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form Scraps are listed in the order they were created in both Icon and List views. Inserting OLE Objects in a Form This section describes how to use object linking and embedding (OLE) to insert objects in a form. Inserting objects is a convenient way to place information from other sources in OmniForm. OmniForm supports objects created in a variety of applications.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form How to Insert OLE Objects 1 Choose Insert New Object... in the Edit menu. The Insert Object dialog box appears. 2 Select an object type in the Object Type list box. 3 Select one of the following. • To create a new object of the type selected and embed it in your form, select Create New. Proceed to step 4. • To import a file of the type selected and either embed it or link it to your form, select Create From File. The dialog box changes.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form Creating a New OLE Object See the previous section, “How to Insert OLE Objects” on page 149 if you need to insert an object. How your object appears depends on the options you selected in the Insert Object dialog box. If you selected Display As Icon in step 4 in the previous section, the source application launches. Use its commands and tools to create your object. Choose Exit in the File menu to insert the object as an icon.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form Creating an OLE Object From a File See steps 1–3 in the section “How to Insert OLE Objects” on page 149 if you need to create an object. The Insert Object dialog box changes when you select Create from File. 1 Type a file name in the File text box. Or, click Browse... to locate a file. Select a file, and click OK to return to the Insert Object dialog box. 2 Select Link if you want to link the object to its source file. Otherwise, the object will be embedded.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form 4 Choose Paste Link in the Edit menu. OmniForm pastes the information as a linked OLE object. Use the Links... command in the Edit menu to set linking options for any linked object. See the next section for information. Setting Up Linking Options This section describes the Links... command. This command is only active if you have linked objects in the current form. Use the Links... command to update or break links, open an OLE object, or change an OLE source file.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form • To change the source file to which the object is linked, click Change Source. The Change Source dialog box appears. Select a new source file for the object and a file type in the Files of type drop-down list. Item Name is assigned automatically by the server application, if one exists. Click OK to return to the Links dialog box. You can use the Convert... command to assign a new name to the object after its source has changed. See “Convert...” on page 154 for information.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form • Linked objects and objects displayed as icons open in the source application. Choose Exit in the File menu when you are done. • Unlinked objects not displayed as icons open in the window in which you created them. Click outside this window when you are done. Edit Choose Edit in the Object cascading menu to edit a selected OLE object in its source application or in the OLE window in which it was created. Or, double-click the OLE object to open it.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form 5 Click OK. The object is converted. Play Choose Play in the Object cascading menu to play a selected OLE object in its source application or in the OLE window in which it was created. This command is only available for video clip, media clip, and MIDI sequence objects. • Linked objects and object displayed as icons open in the source application. Play the object and choose Exit in the File menu when you are done.
Inserting OLE Objects in a Form 156 Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Filling a Form This chapter describes how you or another user would fill out a form created in OmniForm. This chapter contains the following sections: • The Fill View Window • Moving Through Fields • Filling Fields • Spell Checking • Saving in Fill View You must first open, scan, or import a form in order to fill it.
The Fill View Window The Fill View Window This section provides an overview of the fill view window. If you are in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. To open a shortcut menu, click the right mouse button and choose Fill in this menu. The fill view window contains a toolbar and seven menus. Fill toolbar The Status bar displays the current activity and settings.
The Fill View Window The Fill Toolbar Use the fill toolbar for basic file operations such as saving and printing. Use it also to move through records in a database. New Save Form Print Assistant Preview Cut Paste Open Scan Form Print Spelling Copy Highlight Fill Areas Fill Design Zoom First Record Next Record Previous Record Record Number New Record Last Record Help All these buttons correspond to menu commands of the same name.
Moving Through Fields Moving Through Fields You can click in any field to place the cursor there or you can use the following keyboard commands to move the cursor within a form. 160 Action Key Combination Place the cursor in a field When a form first opens, press Tab to place the cursor in the first field.
Filling Fields Filling Fields This section describes each type of fillable field in OmniForm, how to fill it, and how to check spelling. It contains the following topics: • Type Ahead • Shrink Text to Fit Fields • Fill Text • Comb • Check Box • Circle Text • Table • Fill Graphic • List Fields • Fields Defined by a Calculation • Field Validation These instructions assume that the cursor is already in a field.
Filling Fields Shrink Text to Fit Fields When filling a form, the text you enter may not always fit in the fill text fields. You can make your text automatically fit your fields. To shrink text to fit fields: 1 Choose Options... in the Tools menu. The Options dialog box appears. 2 Click the Filling tab. • Select Automatically shrink text to fit within fields if you want this option. • Deselect Automatically shrink text to fit within fields if you do not want this option. 3 Click OK.
Filling Fields Check boxes are commonly used for Yes/No questions and for selecting an item in a group, as in the two examples below: Fill Check Check boxes may be grouped; this means that only one can be selected. Selecting one check box automatically deselects another checked box in the group as in the example below. To move through grouped check boxes, use the arrow key on your keyboard. Circle Text Click a circle text field to fill it. A border appears around the filled field.
Filling Fields The user clicks this cell to fill it in the same way as a check box field. See Chapter 4, “Designing a Form,” for information on tables, converting fields from one type to another, inserting objects in table cells, and so on. Fill Graphic A fill graphic field contains a graphic you select. You can import an existing graphic or you can select a TWAIN-compatible scanner source and scan an image directly into the fill graphic field. This section describes both options.
Filling Fields • Select Scale Proportionally to fit the graphic in the fill graphic field while maintaining its exact proportions. • Select Stretch to Fit to change your graphic’s original shape and size to fit in the fill graphic field. Depending on the shape of the fill graphic field, your graphic may be stretched or compressed. You might want to use this for special effects. • Select Specify Width & Height to specify the graphic’s size.
Filling Fields • Deselect Transparent if you want the graphic to be opaque. You will not be able to see information behind the graphic. 7 Click OK. OmniForm imports the graphic and displays it in the fill graphic field. To import a graphic from a TWAIN source: 1 Click the fill graphic field or tab to the field and press the Space bar. The Fill Graphic dialog box appears. 2 Select TWAIN in the Source drop-down list. 3 Click Select Source to open the Select Source dialog box.
Filling Fields To delete a graphic from a fill graphic field: Select None in the Fill Graphic dialog box to delete a graphic from the form and leave the fill graphic field empty. List Fields Fields can contain a list of selectable entries. A drop-down list arrow appears when the cursor is in the field. Click the arrow to open the list Select an entry. The entry appears in the field.
Spell Checking Field Validation Fill text fields can be configured by the creator to: • Require that you enter information in a field and do not leave it blank. • Require that you enter specific information in a field. • Require both of the above. • Require that you choose from a list of choices. This is field validation and ensures that information entered in a form is consistent. For example, you may be required to enter a date in a validated Date field.
Spell Checking The Language selection is grayed out but readable in fill view. 4 If the language selection for Current Form is incorrect, click Cancel and proceed to “To Select a Language for Your Form:” on page 19. 5 Click OK if the language is correct. Spell Checking Multiple Languages You may have scanned in a form with the Allow Multiple Languages option selected. (See “The Allow Multiple Languages Option” on page 22.
Spell Checking Spell Checking Your Form OmniForm has two ways to spell check your form. • OmniForm automatically places a red wavy line under misspelled words and double entries. You simply right-click the error and select the correction from the menu that appears. If you want to turn off this automatic spell checker, choose Options... in the Tools menu. In the dialog box that appears, select the Spelling tab. Deselect Check spelling automatically to turn off the automatic spell checker.
Saving in Fill View Saving in Fill View OmniForm automatically saves in fill view. OmniForm saves after numerous user actions, such as, moving from one record to another, printing or closing a form, before importing or exporting data, and in many other situations. You would rarely need to use the Save command in fill view except to: • Save changes to the entire form, both changes made in design view and data entered in fill view.
Saving in Fill View 172 Chapter 6
Chapter 7 Managing an OmniForm Database This chapter introduces basic database concepts, including the following sections: • What Is a Database? • Managing Database Records • Protecting Your Database See Chapter 4, “Designing a Form,” for detailed information on defining fields in a form so that all your records contain the proper information. See Chapter 8, “Using Calculations,” for detailed information on using calculations. Calculations automate data entry and reduce potential user errors.
What Is a Database? What Is a Database? A database is a collection of information stored as individual records. Each record uses the same form design but can contain different information in its fields. OmniForm automatically creates a database when you scan in or import a form. As soon as you fill in the form, it becomes the first record in a new database. Any user of this database can create a new, blank form using the record as a template and then filling in new information to create another record.
Managing Database Records Managing Database Records This section tells you how to create a database of records and manage its information.
Managing Database Records To create a new record: 1 Open or scan in a form. 2 If the form opens in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. 3 Click in a field with the cursor or press Tab to place the cursor in the first fillable field. 4 Enter information in the field. OmniForm cannot create a new record until you fill at least one field in an empty form.
Managing Database Records 6 Fill in as many fields as you like. 7 Click the New button in the fill toolbar or choose Go To in the Records menu and New in its cascading menu. OmniForm creates and displays a new, empty record with the same form design as the first one. 8 Fill in this record with the appropriate information. 9 Continue to create new records in this way as necessary.
Managing Database Records To duplicate a record: 1 Open or scan in a form. 2 If the form opens in design view, click the Fill button in the fill toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. 3 Fill in the information that you want duplicated. 4 Choose Duplicate Record in the Records menu. OmniForm duplicates and displays the new record. To change an entry in a filled field, tab to a field or drag your cursor over the entry to highlight it and then type a new entry.
Managing Database Records Next Record Click the Next Record button or choose Go To in the Records menu and Next in its drop-down menu to move to the record that is after the one you are viewing. If you are viewing record 3, for example, the next record is record 4. Last Record Click the Last Record button or choose Go To in the Records menu and Last in its drop-down menu to move to the last record in your database.
Managing Database Records To simplify searches, give each field a more descriptive name. Otherwise, you will have fields named FillText1, FillText2, and so forth, making it difficult to determine which fields contain what information. See “Defining Objects on a Form” on page 72 for detailed information. 4 Select a condition in the Condition drop-down list. A condition describes how to look for information entered in the Value text box.
Managing Database Records • is less than: find records of lesser value than the Value entry. This finds records that have entries in the Customer field beginning with a symbol, a number, or letters earlier in the alphabet than the entry, for example, France or Dharma Dogs. • is less than or equal to: find records of equal or lesser value than the Value entry. This finds records that have entries in the Customer field beginning with a symbol, a number, or the letter A up to the entry name itself.
Managing Database Records • contains: find records that contain the Value entry. This search finds records that have Franich & Halsey entered anywhere in the Customer field. Be careful when selecting contains as one of your conditions. In a search for the value male, for example, your search would include any records that contained the word male. It would, therefore, also include records for female. • does not contain: find records that do not contain the Value entry.
Managing Database Records OmniForm searches for and retrieves all records that contain the information you specified in the Search dialog box. Click Clear Search to return to the full record set. Search information: the found set contains five records. Under the fill toolbar, OmniForm displays the search information and number of records in the found set. If you need to narrow the search further, choose Search... again.
Managing Database Records The Sort dialog box appears. 3 Select the field by which to sort in the Field Name drop-down list. All the fields in your form are listed here. To make sorting as easy as possible, give each field a unique name after it is created. Otherwise, you could have fields named FillText1, FillText2, and so forth, making it difficult to figure out which fields contain what information. See “Defining Objects on a Form” on page 72 for detailed information. 4 Select a sort order.
Managing Database Records For example, suppose you changed the mileage calculation in an expense form to reflect the latest rate. All new records would use the new calculation and reflect this rate. You do not want older records to use the new calculation because the original rate was correct at the time. If you recalculated all records after adding the new calculation to the expense form, the mileage rates on your old records would also change. They would then be incorrect.
Managing Database Records You cannot undo a recalculation. 4 Click OK. OmniForm recalculates the records according to your specifications. 5 Click OK in the dialog box that informs you how many records were recalculated successfully. Deleting Records This section describes how to delete one or more records in a database. Use this command to get rid of old, unwanted, or duplicate records. You cannot undo a record deletion.
Managing Database Records To delete all records: 1 If you are in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. 2 Choose Delete All Records in the Records menu. A warning dialog box appears. 3 Click Yes to delete all the records permanently. To delete a found set of records: 1 If you are in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view.
Managing Database Records To save a record: 1 If you are in design view, click the Fill button in the design toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. 2 Choose Save Record in the Records menu. OmniForm saves your record to the database. Exporting Information This section explains the benefits of exporting information, how to prepare for export, and how to export information from an open OmniForm form.
Managing Database Records For example, suppose you export information in the fields Customer, Title, and Product, in that order. You have the same field information in the import database, but the fields are named What Bought, Name, and Position, in that order. You could link Customer Name/Title Position/ Product What Bought easily but importing hundreds of fields with different names and field order would be difficult and time-consuming.
Managing Database Records The Export As dialog box appears. • A file name appears in the File name text box. The file is named by default with the name of the currently open database. You can change the file name if you want. • The database file type you selected in the previous dialog box appears in the Save as type drop-down list. 5 Use the Save in drop-down list to select a location for the file. 6 Click Save. The Export dialog box appears.
Managing Database Records 7 Select each field that contains the information to export and click Add>> to move it to the Fields to Export list box. • Shift-click to select or deselect multiple adjacent records, or hold down the mouse button and drag the cursor over adjacent records. • Ctrl-click to select or deselect multiple nonadjacent records. • Select a field on the right and click <
Managing Database Records ODBC Options Installed ODBC database drivers appear in the Available Data Sources list box when you select ODBC Database in the Export To drop-down list. Depending on your database driver, you can export up to 255 fields at a time. To export your data to an available data source: 1 Choose Export in the File menu. The Export Setup dialog box appears. 2 Select ODBC Database in the Export To drop-down list.
Managing Database Records To set up the shared form location: 1 Select or create a folder for your shared OmniForm forms. You can make the form read-only so users can only open a copy of the form, not the original. 2 In OmniForm, choose Options... in the Tools menu. The Options dialog box appears. 3 Click the File Locations tab. 4 Select Shared Forms in the File Types drop-down list. 5 Type the path to your shared form(s) in the Location text box. 6 Click OK.
Managing Database Records • Any supported database source, such as FoxPro Available sources depend on the installed database drivers. • An OmniForm Mailable Filler Data consists of information entered in fields, such as text, check marks, and calculations. Importing data saves you the time of entering the same data manually and allows you to share data with other database users. You must first export data from another database in order to import it into OmniForm.
Managing Database Records The type of dialog box that appears next depends on the type of database file you have selected. The Select Import Files dialog box appears if you have selected OmniForm Database. An OmniForm Data (OFD) file has a different icon than a Form (OFM) file. The first New Address file in the picture above is a data file. 6 Locate and select a Data file to import. 7 Click OK. Depending on the database source you have chosen, more dialog boxes may appear.
Managing Database Records 8 Link fields on the left to fields on the right. This tells OmniForm which field data to import from the other database and where to import it in the current database. • To link individual fields, select a field on the left, select its corresponding field on the right, and click Link. • Click Auto to automatically link all fields with the same name. Linked fields appear in the Links list box. • Select a link in the Links list box and click Unlink to unlink it.
Protecting Your Database Protecting Your Database It is important to protect information and form design in your database. This section describes how to use the OmniForm protection options to protect both your data and form design from potential deletions or changes, as well as the benefits of using the OmniForm Filler program. If your OmniForm database has an administrator, check with the administrator first before making any changes. Protecting Data Many databases have multiple users.
Protecting Your Database Information in fill view is now read-only. All the commands and buttons associated with protected operations are grayed out. 6 Click the Fill button in the fill toolbar or choose Fill in the View menu to switch to fill view. 7 Place your cursor in a fill text field and try to type text. A dialog box appears. 8 Click OK to close the dialog box.
Protecting Your Database 4 If you wish, type a password in the Password text box. Passwords are case sensitive. You will be prompted to reenter your password for confirmation. The next time anyone tries to change the form’s design, a dialog box appears, informing the user of the protection status. The user will not be able to make any changes unless the user knows the password and can turn off the protection. If you lose or forget your password, it cannot be recovered. 5 Click OK.
Protecting Your Database OmniForm Filler is included on your OmniForm CD-ROM. However, before you can use OmniForm Filler you must purchase an unlock code. To obtain an unlock code in the U.S. or to purchase additional versions of OmniForm Filler, please call (800) 535-SCAN. Alternatively, you can purchase an unlock code on the Caere Web site, which is www. Caere.com.
Chapter 8 Using Calculations This chapter describes how to use OmniForm’s calculation features. OmniForm automatically performs calculations when you fill in the appropriate fields. Use calculations to automate data entry and prevent errors. For example, the average person might find it time-consuming to add a column of 100 numbers, and easy to make an error, but OmniForm can return an error-free sum in a fraction of a second.
Calculation Overview Calculation Overview This section gives an overview of how to create calculations. It contains the following topics: • Creating a Calculation • Calculation Guidelines • Using the Recalculate... Command • Usage Conventions See the online tutorial for step-by-step instructions on creating a simple calculation. Creating a Calculation Calculations are created in design view. You can create a calculation for fill text, comb, check box, and circle text objects.
Calculation Overview • Calculation Builder button Click this to open the Calculation Builder dialog box and create your own calculation. • Auto Calculation button Click this to have OmniForm attempt to define a calculation automatically. OmniForm can determine an auto calculation for an entire table in some circumstances. • Calculation text box The calculation for the selected field appears here. Click in the text box to edit a calculation manually.
Calculation Overview • Functions list This list contains all available functions that can be used in a calculation. (Functions are sorted by category. Click the plus sign in front of a category to open it.) Double-click a function to insert it in the calculation text box, or select it and click Paste. See “Functions” on page 212 for detailed information. Operators List of available functions List of fields in your form 2 Select the operators, fields, and functions that you need for your calculation.
Calculation Overview Suppose you wanted to create a calculation for a Subtotal field in an invoice. The Subtotal field is the sum of the Price1 and Price2 fields. There is often more than one way to create a calculation. Here are two calculations you could create: • [Price1]+[Price2] • Sum([Price1],[Price2]) Both calculations return the same result. The first calculation is simple addition. It is easy for new users to create.
Calculation Overview The Auto Calculation dialog box appears if OmniForm proposes an auto calculation. 3 Accept or cancel OmniForm’s proposed calculation. • Click OK to accept the calculation. The calculation appears in the toolbar’s text box. • Click Cancel to close the dialog box without creating a calculation.
Calculation Overview The Calculation List The Calculation List dialog box lists all of your form’s calculations and allows you to make changes to the calculations. To change your calculations: 1 Click the Calculation List button in the calculation toolbar. The Calculation List dialog box appears. 2 Double-click the Field Name that you want to change. Or, select the Field Name that you want to change and click Edit. The calculation that you want to change appears in the Calculation Edit text box.
Calculation Overview • Parentheses ( () ) must enclose an entire function. Sum([Price1],[Price2]) This tells OmniForm where the function begins and ends. You may have more than one function in a calculation. • You must insert a list separator between fields in a manually created function. Sum([Price1],[Price2]) Use the list separator from the Windows Control Panel. Use the List Separator selection in the Number tab of the Regional Settings control panel.
Operators Usage Conventions Substitute the appropriate field name where you see num and str in the function examples. Parentheses are required where indicated. Below is a list of conventions showing operator and function usage.
Operators OmniForm automatically inserts commas, parentheses, and brackets when you create a calculation with the Calculation Builder or the Auto button, and when you click the Accept Calculation button. Operator Buttons See “Calculation Overview” on page 202 for instructions on creating calculations.
Operators Operators — Quick Reference See “Usage Conventions” on page 209 for information on how to interpret the examples in the following table.
Functions Functions Functions are single words used by OmniForm to represent operations within a calculation. Functions can use field values, information you enter, and information from outside sources such as the computer date. Please refer to the online help for a definition of each function and instructions on how to use a function in a calculation. See “Creating a Calculation” on page 202 for instructions on creating calculations.
Functions Functions — Quick Reference See “Usage Conventions” on page 209 for information on how to interpret the examples in the following table. Or, refer to online help for an example of each function. The following table lists a brief description and usage of each function. Function Type Abs mathematical Absolute Value: returns the value of num Abs(num) Avg statistical Average: returns the average for num1, num2, and so forth Avg(num1, num2, ...
Functions ln mathematical Natural Logarithm: returns the natural logarithm (base e — approximately 2.71828) of num; inverse of Exp function of num ln(num) Log mathematical Base 10 Logarithm: returns the base 10 logarithm of num Log(num) text Lower: converts the str to lowercase Lower(str) statistical Maximum: returns the maximum (highest) value for num1, num2, and so forth Max(num1, num2, ...
Functions Replicate text Replicate: repeats a str for num times Replicate(str, num) Right text Right: returns characters for str beginning from the right and proceeding to the left for num characters Right(str, num characters) Round mathematical Round: returns the value of num rounded to the specified num of decimal places Round(num, num of decimal places) Second time Second: returns the second for a given time Second(time) Sign mathematical Sign: returns the sign of num.
Functions Functions Sorted by Type The following table lists each function by type. (The Calculation Builder dialog box contains folders for each type of function listed.
Chapter 9 Technical Information This chapter explains how to troubleshoot common problems you may encounter. It also provides technical information on such topics as how to improve Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and scanning performance.
General Troubleshooting Solutions General Troubleshooting Solutions If you have a problem with OmniForm, first check that your computer, scanner, and other applications are functioning properly. Make backups of OmniForm files regularly, preferably in a location other than your hard drive. This could save you hours or days of work if the unexpected happens: file deletion or corruption caused by disk crashes, viruses, or user error.
OmniForm Setup Issues OmniForm Setup Issues This section contains information on some common installation problems and information on how to optimize the installation process. Memory and Installation Close all applications — including screen savers, virus checkers, and mail applications — to free up memory before starting the OmniForm setup program. Installing OmniForm 4.0 over Older Versions Select your current OmniForm folder during installation to install OmniForm 4.0 over a 3.0, 2.0 or 1.x version.
Scanning and Recognition Scanning and Recognition This section describes common scanning and recognition problems and possible solutions: • System Hang During Scan • System Hang During Auto Form Design • Scanner Compatibility System Hang During Scan A system hang during a scan could have several possible causes: • An interrupt conflict between your scanner and another device such as a bus mouse or network card. Check interrupt addresses for a possible conflict. See your device documentation.
Operation Scanner Compatibility If you experience a problem between OmniForm and your scanner, make sure your scanner is one that OmniForm supports. Please refer to Scanner Setup Notes for a list of compatible scanners and more detailed information about how to solve scanning problems.
Operation Low Memory Low memory can cause a number of problems, from persistent lowmemory error messages to system hangs. You need a minimum of 16MB RAM for Windows 95 or 98 and Windows NT. More memory is recommended if you run multiple applications. Close Open Applications and Windows You may receive out-of-memory error messages or find that OmniForm works slowly and accesses the hard drive frequently. Try closing open OmniForm windows and other applications to free up memory.
Operation You can click Virtual Memory... if you want to change virtual memory settings but it is recommended that users let Windows manage the virtual memory settings. 4 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box and return to the Control Panel. Virtual Memory OmniForm uses virtual memory when memory runs low. Windows uses disk space to simulate the RAM it does not have available. Your system runs more slowly when it has to use virtual memory.
Improving Performance Improving Performance If you scan typeset, high-quality printed pages, text recognition accuracy should be very high. With lesser-quality pages, however, text recognition may not be as accurate. This section discusses a number of factors that affect scanning and recognition performance: • Document Quality • Scanning Angle • Scanner Glass Clarity • Paper Transparency Document Quality OmniForm recognizes characters in almost any font from 6 to 72 points in size.
OmniForm Compatibility Paper Transparency Some paper is thin enough that the scanner sees text printed on the opposite side of a two-sided page. To correct this problem, put a black piece of paper behind the page between the page and the lid of the scanner. OmniForm Compatibility This section provides OmniForm compatibility lists. Database Information Exchange OmniForm uses industry-standard ODBC to exchange information with the following databases: • Microsoft Access (2.
OmniForm Compatibility Scanners The Scanner Setup Notes contains information about supported scanners and related issues. To open this PDF file, click Start in the Windows taskbar and choose Programs Caere Applications Caere Documents Scanner Setup Notes after OmniForm has been installed.
Glossary ADF See automatic document feeder. arrange toolbar The toolbar that contains buttons for aligning and moving multiple selected objects. auto calculation A calculation automatically created by OmniForm when you select a field and click the Auto button in the calculation toolbar. The calculation is based on field name and type, column header labels, and the names of surrounding fields.
cursor A symbol, displayed on the screen, marking where the next action will take effect or where the next typed character will appear. data The plural of datum; used here to refer to any information entered in a field such as text and numbers. database A collection of similar information stored as records. Each record in an OmniForm database contains the same fields but the fields in each record can contain different information. define a calculation To create a calculation for a selected object.
punctuation marks, and other typographical symbols with a consistent appearance; the size can be changed readily. font/text toolbar The toolbar that contains buttons for formatting characters and paragraphs. Form Assistant A dialog box that is set by default to open automatically upon OmniForm launch. It contains buttons that initiate basic OmniForm functions such as scanning forms. form usage In OmniForm, how you can view and use a form. format The form in which information is organized or presented.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) A feature that enables users to insert and use objects created in other applications into a form. OCR See Optical Character Recognition. ODBC An acronym for Open Data Base Connectivity. OmniForm uses an ODBC data source, such as FoxPro, to import and export information to and from a database. Database drivers are installed during OmniForm installation. OLE See Object Linking and Embedding.
database that consists of one record. You can create a new, blank record using the first form as a template. The record looks exactly like the first record, but it can be filled with different information. redesign To edit a form in design view. You can create, delete, convert, reposition, and resize objects, among other features. resolution The fineness with which a scanner, printer, or other device stores or prints information. It is expressed in dots per inch (dpi).
Glossary 232
Index Symbols A Add Routing Slip command 43 Adobe Acrobat Reader, installing 5 Align align to bounding box 101 commands 101 Arrange toolbar 63 Auto calculations 205 to 206 AutoFill list create a list and automatically fill fields 126 create a list from an ODBC source 117 create a list from an OmniForm form or database 115 creating a new list 110 for tables 132 use a previously saved list 113 use an AutoFill list from another field 114 use from another source 113 AutoFill Wizard 110 Automated data entry 110
Delete Record command 186 Design toolbar commands 61 described 61 Design view button 57 changing object appearance 86 creating objects 64 to 72 defining objects 72 to 84 editing a form 95 to 107 entering a macro number 37 inserting OLE objects 148 to 153 overview 57 toolbars 58 to 63 using the scrapbook 144 to 148 Designed form usage option 18 Designing forms aligning objects 101 breaking a table apart 100 changing tab order 103 converting objects 107 deleting objects 97 formatting text 97 to 99 merging tex
changing tab order 103 converting objects 107 deleting objects 97 formatting text 97 to 99 moving objects 96 overlapping objects 102 placing objects in table cells 106 resizing objects 96 selecting objects 95 table redesign 100 using OLE 148 to 153 Form image horizontal bar 66 select source 66 Form Image command 66 Form protection 198 Form usage Auto Form Design option 28 changing 18 selecting an option 17 Use Designed Form option 18 Use Original Form option 18 where to select 17 Form Usage dialog box 18 Fo
Auto linking 196 data sources 193 field data 193 linking field names 195 Improving performance 224 Insert New Object command 149 Insert Object dialog box Change Icon option 149 Create From File option 151 Create New option 150 Installation installing 4.0 over a 3.0, 2.0 or 1.x version 219 installing OmniForm Internet Filler 53 on Windows 95, 98 and Windows NT 4.
font/text toolbar 62 installation 8 limits 221 shortcut menu 57 starting the program 10 system requirements 8 OmniForm Filler 199 OmniForm Internet Filler 52 OmniForm Registration see Registering OmniForm OmniForm tutorials 3 Online help 2 Open command 39 Open dialog box 39 Operators buttons 210 overview 209 to 210 quick reference chart 211 Optical Character Recognition see OCR Option group 81 Options dialog box check/change for spell checking 168 to 169 selecting a language 19 selecting a mail system 40 sh
Scanning and paper thickness 225 angle 224 books 28 factors affecting recognition accuracy 224 paper forms 26 to 30 paper forms with the Scan Form command 26 problems 220 to 221 system hang during 220 Scrapbook copying objects to 144 defined 144 deleting scraps 146 opening 144 using 144 to 148 views 147 Search Clear Search button 182 conditions 180 to 182 found set 179, 183 procedure 179 to 183 results 182 Search command 38, 179 Search dialog box 38 Security adding a user to the database 139 adding to forms
system hang 220 temp directory 223 uninstalling OmniForm 219 unrecognizable characters 224 Tutorials see OmniForm tutorials TWAIN scanning in a graphic with 166 Type Ahead 161 U Uninstalling OmniForm 219 Unrecognizable characters 224 V View menu commands Form Image 66 Form Usage 18 Views with Form Image 67 Virtual memory 223 W Web Caere site 4 Web toolbar 52 Windows 95/98 and NT 4.
240 Index
