Note: If you got here using a web search engine, you can find the program here.

Disclaimer: Although HyperScanTron seems to work fine, it is distributed "as is". Use at your own risk. So there.

HyperScanTron is a HyperCard stack that will read in a set of ScanTron optical mark reader forms and, after possibly grading them, save the data in several different formats. This stack requires HyperCard 2.2 or later. Support has been added for the newish subjective fields, but that has not been extensively tested. Recently, I've seen forms with subjective fields on both sides, but I'm not sure exactly how to handle this. For now, these forms are not supported.

Also included are the "Item Analysis" Excel macros. To use them, read in your forms and save them in Excel format. Be sure that you have graded them and included the "Label" and "Question" rows. Then, use Excel to open both the macro worksheet and the data file. You will need to run the first macro "Format & Stats" that will format the page and generate some basic statistics. Then select the rows that you want to count and run "Item Analysis A-E". This will generate new rows at the bottom giving you a breakdown of the tests (numbers correct, percentages, etc.). These macros do not do any kind of reliability testing, because there is no single formula that everyone likes.

Version History:

2.2.5 (27-Feb-98)

• Added support for 888-E form.

2.2.4 (4-Nov-97)

• The "Include Label/Key rows" alert now also says that the rows are required if the Item Analysis Excel macros are to be used.

2.2.3 (22-Sep-97)

• Added 815 (E) form.
• Added support for adding ID digits for the forms whose ID Maps are 123450. This allows for numbers > 5 to be entered, e.g., fill in bubbles 4 and 5 for a 9.

2.2.2 (19-Mar-97)

• Added 882-NES form.
• Selecting "Save" menu now brings up an alert telling user to click the "Save" button instead.

2.2.1 (22-May-95)

• Fixed bug when grading forms without subjective fields.
• Closing stack without clearing data now re-enables buttons, etc.

2.2 (10-Jun-94)

• Removed support for some forms that are really "duplicates" of others (e.g., FormĘ886 Mini Blue Book has the same layout as Form 882).
• Changed the "Ignore ID" check box to "Use ID".
• Added support for subjective scores (Form 882-ES). The subjective score is added to the raw score before it is saved or graded.
• Rewrote the conversion XFCNs.
• Changed the format of the stack somewhat. There are (or will be) instructions on using the stack on the same card as the "Fine Print".
• Requires HyperCard 2.2 in order to take advantage of several new features including button families ("radio groups"), standard button styles, true disabling of buttons, etc. It should usually be saved as a standalone application, so HC 2.2 won't be necessary to run it.
• Modified scripts to use the "BalloonHelp" balloon help XCMD instead of using HCBalloon and BHelp.

2.1.2 (16-Feb-94)

• Now informs the user that the ScanTron reader will not mark incorrect answers in the second column of two-column forms except for Form 22000.

2.1.1 (17-Dec-93)

• Now informs the user to turn the ScanTron off and on when grading two sides.

2.1 (5-Oct-93)

• Note that 2.1 is not a major update to Hyper ScanTron, but just fixes some bugs. I just didn't want to number it 2.0.10.
• At startup, Hyper ScanTron now notifies the user it is locked (i.e. locked in Get Info or on a locked disk).
• Fixed a problem with the read from "idle" handler so that if it takes multiple passes to read a form, it clears out the "raw data" chunk.
• Fixed some balloon help text.

2.0.9 (27-Mar-92)

Fixed the problem with bad data.

2.0.8 (9-Mar-92)

• Put a experimental check in the read form card "idle" handler. If the data that is sent from the ScanTron reader does not have a return (ASCII 13) at the end then assume that the data is truncated and the next read will be the full burst of data.

2.0.7 (3-Mar-92)

• Changed the row of question numbers (on graded forms) to say "Q1 Q2 Q3" etc. instead of just numbers. This allows them to be used as database "field" names for the new Item Analysis macro.

2.0.6 (20-Feb-92)

• Changed the "ID" text field to "TheID" text to fix a "feature" in Excel. (Excel assumes that a text file with the first two characters "ID" is a SYLK file and craps out.

2.0.5 (10-Feb-92)

• Added "Undo" button to read card to "undo" the last form read.

2.0.4 (2-Dec-91)

• Added ScanTron 2100 switch setting info to "Comm Setup" card. The wiring for a female DB25 - Mod 8 is also included.

2.0.3 (22-Nov-91)

• Added Balloon Help.

2.0.2 (6-Nov-91)

• The new version of MicroGrade no longer ignores data after the second column (i.e. actual results).
• Split the Excel/MicroGrade button into two separate buttons. Had to get rid of the Custom button in order to make room - will put it back later.
• Modified Save Data button so that if the output format is MicroGrade, it only writes the first two columns (ID and raw score). If the format is MicroGrade and the data has not been graded, the user will be told that it must be graded and gives the user the choice of Cancel or Grade. If Grade is selected, it will send a mouseUp to Grade Tests, then continue with the save.

2.0.1 (17-Oct-91)

• Added support for MicroGrade output. This program can handle tab delimited fields, so the Excel button has been changed to Excel/MicroGrade.
• Because MicroGrade does not like the first two lines of graded forms (i.e. Label and Key rows) the Save Data button asks the user if the rows should be skipped.
• openStack handler now checks to see that the userlevel > 1 and sets it.

2.0 (1-Sep-91)

• Initial release of new version.
• Hyper ScanTron now uses the serial toolkit XCMDs from Apple. This may cause problems in the future when running System 7. All of the serial reading is done during the idle loop so there may be timing/flow control problems.

Pre 2.0

• The original version of Hyper ScanTron was so bad, that it had to be re-written. If you come across a copy, destroy it - before it's too late...

If you have any questions, comments, (constructive) criticism, or bug reports please let me know. You can contact me at the address(es) below.

-cb

Carl_Bell@baylor.edu
Carl Bell's Web Page
Stuff I've Written

Snail Mail:

Carl W. Bell
Academic and Research Computing Services
Baylor University Electronic Library
One Bear Place #97148
Waco, TX 76798

(254) 710-4065

When permission has been granted to make copies of this software, data and/or documentation, the above notices must be retained on all copies. Permission is hereby granted for non-commercial use and distribution of HyperScanTron.