custom_answer_sheet

Custom_answer_sheet element generates a numbered list of answers. Answers can be arranged in multiple columns to make more efficient use of space.

You can fully control the layout and content of answer rows and use write-in elements to handle open-ended questions.

Custom_answer_sheet is best suited for exam papers with open-ended questions.

Syntax

The element declaration begins with ?custom_answer_sheet=[name] statement and ends with &custom_answer_sheet statement. These statements must be placed on separate lines.

name property is used as a reminder of the element’s purpose; for example, “Biology Quiz”.

custom_answer_sheet element includes header and custom_row elements.

custom_answer_sheet element structure

Required custom_answer_sheet attributes

An attribute is written as [attribute_name]=[value]. Each attribute must be placed on a new line immediately after the opening ?custom_answer_sheet= statement or another attribute, and must begin with a tab character.

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
amount n/a The number of exam questions that the answer sheet corresponds to. Each question will correspond to a numbered answer. amount=30
columns_count n/a The number of columns to arrange answers into. Use multiple columns to make the answer sheet more compact. columns_count=3
row_proportions n/a The content of each answer is divided into one or more columns. This attribute specifies the number of columns and their relative proportions.
The attribute value is provided in the following format: {Column 1 width %}-{Column 2 width %}-...{Column N width %}. The grand total of all column widths must not exceed 100%.
row_proportions=15%-50%-20%-15%

Optional custom_answer_sheet attributes

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
border none Whether to draw a border around the block.
  • none - no border.
  • square - draw a rectangular border.
  • rounded - draw a rectangular border with rounded corners.
border=square
border_size 3 Width of all borders. border_size=10
border_color black Color of all borders. Can be picked from one of the supported values. border_color=red
border_top_style inherits border_size and border_color Override the width and color of the element’s top border in <border width> <border color> format. Specify none to remove the top border. border_top_style=10 red
border_bottom_style inherits border_size and border_color Override the width and color of the element’s bottom border in <border width> <border color> format. Specify none to remove the bottom border. border_bottom_style=10 red
border_left_style inherits border_size and border_color Override the width and color of the element’s left border in <border width> <border color> format. Specify none to remove the left border. border_left_style=10 red
border_right_style inherits border_size and border_color Override the width and color of the element’s right border in <border width> <border color> format. Specify none to remove the right border. border_right_style=10 red

Header element

This child element of the custom_answer_sheet defines the heading texts for answer’s columns. It must be the first child of custom_answer_sheet element.

The element declaration begins with ?header= statement and ends with &header statement. These statements must be placed on separate lines. For each column defined in row_proportions attribute of the parent custom_answer_sheet element, add a column sub-element, which defines the heading text.

Column element

This child element of the header defines the heading text for the corresponding column.

The element declaration begins with ?column= statement followed by a text to be displayed. This statement must be placed on a separate line.

Column element attributes

The column element can be customized by adding optional attributes to it.

An attribute is written as [attribute_name]=[value]. Each attribute must be placed on a new line immediately after the opening ?column= statement or another attribute, and must begin with a tab character.

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
font_family Segoe UI The font family for the text. font_family=Courier New
font_style regular The font style for a text: bold, italic or underline.
Several font styles can be combined by listing them separated by commas.
font_style=bold, italic
font_size 12 Font size for the text. font_size=16
align left Horizontal text alignment: left, center or right. align=center
content_type Set this attribute to cells to draw a circle around every character, including spaces. normal content_type=cells

Custom_row element

This child element of the custom_answer_sheet defines the structure on an answer. These statements must be placed on separate lines.

The element declaration begins with ?custom_row=[name] statement and ends with &custom_row statement.

name property is used as an identifier of each generated row. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example, "Row %index%".

For each column defined in row_proportions attribute of the parent custom_answer_sheet element, add a sub-element of one of the following types (in any order or combination):

Content

Standard content element which allows you to provide some explanatory text.

For example, ?content=A%index%.

Write_in

Standard write_in element, used to provide your own answer to open-ended questions.

Bubble_array

Inserts a specified amount of bubbles.

The element is declared with ?bubble_array=[name] statement. This statement must be placed on a separate line.

name property is used as an identifier by custom_trigger element. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example ?bubble_array=b_%index%.

Bubble_array element required attributes

An attribute is written as [attribute_name]=[value]. Each attribute must be placed on a new line immediately after the opening ?bubble_array= statement or another attribute, and must begin with a tab character.

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
answers_list n/a The number of bubbles and characters that will be drawn inside them. The value is provided in ({Character 1})({Character 2})…({Character N}) format. answers_list=(α)(β)(γ)(δ)(ε)
Bubble_array element optional attributes

An attribute is written as [attribute_name]=[value]. Each attribute must be placed on a new line immediately after the opening ?bubble_array= statement or another attribute, and must begin with a tab character.

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
bubble_size Normal Size of bubbles: extrasmall, small, normal, large, or extralarge. bubble_size=large
bubble_type round Bubble style: round or square. bubble_type=square
font_family Segoe UI The font family for the bubble character. font_family=Courier New
font_style regular The font style for the bubble character: bold, italic or underline.
Several font styles can be combined by listing them separated by commas.
font_style=bold, italic
font_size 12 Font size for the bubble character. font_size=16

Custom_trigger

Inserts a special bubble that, when marked, replaces the value of the specified bubble_array with its value attribute. It can be used to offer the respondent the option to intentionally skip certain questions, or to control processing of write_in elements.

The element is declared with ?custom_trigger=[name] statement. This statement must be placed on a separate line.

name property is used as an identifier of the CustomTrigger element. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example, “Own choice %index%”.

Custom_trigger element attributes

An attribute is written as [attribute_name]=[value]. Each attribute must be placed on a new line immediately after the opening ?custom_trigger= statement or another attribute, and must begin with a tab character.

Attribute Default value Description Usage example
value n/a The replacement value to be used when the element is marked. value=Prefer not to answer
target n/a Name of bubble_array element whose value will be replaced. Use %index% variable to point to the same row where the custom_trigger element instance is rendered. target=b_%index%
trigger_type ReplaceValue Action when the bubble is marked. ReplaceValue replaces the value of the bubble_array specified in target attribute with the value attribute.
This property is reserved for future use; you can omit it.
trigger_type=replaceValue
bubble_size Normal Size of bubbles: extrasmall, small, normal, large, or extralarge. bubble_size=large
bubble_type round Bubble style: round or square. bubble_type=square

Example

?custom_answer_sheet=Example
	amount=15
	columns_count=3	
	row_proportions=15%-45%-25%-15%
?header=Header
?column=#
	font_size=6
	font_style=bold
	align=center
?column=Choice
	font_size=6
	font_style=bold
	align=center
?column=Own value
	font_size=6
	font_style=bold
	align=center
?column=Skip
	font_size=6
	font_style=bold
	align=center
&header
?custom_row=Row %index%
?content=%index%
	font_size=6
	align=center
?bubble_array=Bubbles %index%
	font_size=5
	answers_list=(A)(B)(C)(D)
	bubble_size=small
?write_in=Own value for %index%
	required=true
?custom_trigger=Skip question
	trigger_type=replaceValue
	value=Prefer not to answer
	target=Bubbles %index%
	bubble_size=small
&custom_row
&custom_answer_sheet

Custom_answer_sheet example