Contents - Index

Printer Alignment


Response sheets which are to be overprinted (see Preprinted vs Overprinted) always have an ID line (see Overprinted ID Line). During overprinting marks are made on this ID line which identifies the sheet when scanned. It is essential that the printer is correctly aligned or the marks may be misread by the scanner and the sheet rejected or the data misinterpreted. See How OMR Scanning Works to understand this further.

Important: The parameters for printer alignment are stored in the Windows/System folder so to vary these settings will require write access to that folder. If in any doubt contact Speedwell for further advice (see Contacting Speedwell).

To align a printer
  • Decide which printer to use. Subsequently changing printers may necessitate realignment.
  • Place the response sheets in the appropriate tray. Ensure the tray to be used is the default tray for the printer. Subsequently changing trays may necessitate realignment. 
  • Response sheets can clearly be placed four different ways in a tray. Face up or down and head leading or trailing. Unfortunately not all printers feed the same way.
  • Some trays have a significant amount of play (space around the sheets). Ensure that the response sheets are positioned in an easily repeatable way (pushed hard against the top/bottom left/right).
  • Ensure there is a questionnaire opened (see Creating Questionnaires or Opening Existing Questionnaires).
  • In the Configure menu select Align Overprint. The Align Overprinting dialog will be displayed.


  • Select the printer to be aligned in the Printer To Align drop down.
  • Click the Print Test button to print a questionnaire grid.
  • Examine the printed grid and use the Primary Mark values to move the location of the top left of the printed grid.
  • Use the Secondary Mark value to adjust the widthways stretch of the printed grid.
  • Use the Tertiary Mark value to adjust the lengthways stretch of the printed grid.
  • When the printed grid is overprinting the response sheet accurately click the Done button.

    The Primary Mark values equal approximately hundredths of an inch. So to move the overprinted grid a tenth of an inch to the left replace 100 with 90 in the first Primary Mark value to move the overprinted grid a tenth of an inch two tenths of an inch down replace 100 with 120 in the second Primary Mark value.

    The Secondary Mark and Tertiary Mark values represent the percentage of the width or length of the sheet in thousandths. So to reduce the width of the overprinted grid by 50% replace 1000 with 500 in the Secondary Mark value or to increase the length of the overprinted grid by 10% replace 1000 with 1100 in the Tertiary Mark value.