CustomAnswerSheet

CustomAnswerSheet 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 WriteIn elements to handle open-ended questions.

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

Declaration

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "CustomAnswerSheet" property.

CustomAnswerSheet element includes Header and CustomRow elements. These elements are provided as an array of objects in the children property.

CustomAnswerSheet element structure

CustomAnswerSheet required properties

Name	Type	Description
element_type	string	Must be `"CustomAnswerSheet"` (case-insensitive).
amount	integer	The number of exam questions that the answer sheet corresponds to. Each question will correspond to a numbered answer.
columns_count	integer	The number of columns to arrange answers into. Use multiple columns to make the answer sheet more compact.
row_proportions	array	The content of each answer is divided into one or more columns. This attribute specifies the number of columns and their proportions. The number of columns is determined by the array length. Column widths (in percent) are provided as array items. The grand total of all column widths must not exceed 100.
children	array	Must contain Header and CustomRow elements.

CustomAnswerSheet optional properties

Name	Type	Default value	Description
name	string	n/a	Used as a reminder of the element’s purpose; for example, “Biology Quiz”.
border	string	“none”	Whether to draw a border around the field. `"none"` - no border. `"square"` - draw a rectangular border. `rounded` - draw a rectangular border with rounded corners.
border_size	integer	3	Width of all borders.
border_color	string	“Black”	Color of all borders. Can be picked from one of the supported values.
border_top_style	object	inherits border_size and border_color	Override the width and color of the element’s top border. Provided as the following object: `{"size": <border width>, "color": "<border color>", "disable": <true \\| false>}`. Specifying `true` in the `disable` property removes the top border.
border_bottom_style	object	inherits border_size and border_color	Override the width and color of the element’s bottom border. Provided as the following object: `{"size": <border width>, "color": "<border color>", "disable": <true \\| false>}`. Specifying `true` in the `disable` property removes the bottom border.
border_left_style	object	inherits border_size and border_color	Override the width and color of the element’s left border. Provided as the following object: `{"size": <border width>, "color": "<border color>", "disable": <true \\| false>}`. Specifying `true` in the `disable` property removes the left border.
border_right_style	object	inherits border_size and border_color	Override the width and color of the element’s right border. Provided as the following object: `{"size": <border width>, "color": "<border color>", "disable": <true \\| false>}`. Specifying `true` in the `disable` property removes the right border.
start_id	integer	1	The value from which the numbering of custom answer sheet rows begins. The number of each subsequent row is increased by 1.

Header element

The child element of the CustomAnswerSheet, which defines heading cells for answer’s columns. It must be the first item in the children array of CustomAnswerSheet element.

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "Header" property.

For each column defined in row_proportions property of the parent CustomAnswerSheet element, Header element must include a Column child element, which defines the heading text. All Column elements are provided as an array of objects in the children property of the Header element.

Column element

The child element of the Header, which defines the heading text for the corresponding column.

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "Column" property.

The text displayed in the column header cell is specified in the name property.

Column required properties

Name	Type	Description
element_type	string	Must be `"Column"` (case-insensitive).
name	string	A line of text displayed in the column header cell.

Column optional properties

Name	Type	Default value	Description
font_family	string	“Segoe UI”	The font family for the text.
font_style	string / array	“regular”	The font style for a text: `"bold"`, `"italic"` or `"underline"`. Several font styles can be combined by providing them as an array; for example `["bold", "italic"]`.
font_size	integer	12	Font size for the text.
align	string	“left”	Horizontal text alignment: `"left"`, `"center"` or `"right"`.
content_type	string	“Normal”	Set the value of this property to `"Cells"` to draw a border around every character, including spaces.

CustomRow element

This child element of the CustomAnswerSheet defines the structure on an answer.

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "CustomRow" property.

This element and its child elements can reference %index% variable, which is replaced with the current answer’s ordinal.

For example, Answer %index% for the 4th answer will be rendered as Answer 4.

For each column defined in row_proportions property of the parent CustomAnswerSheet element, add a child element of one of the following types (in any order or combination) to the children array of CustomRow element:

Content element which allows you to provide some explanatory text.
WriteIn element, used to provide your own answer to open-ended questions.
BubbleArray
CustomTrigger

CustomRow required properties

Name	Type	Description
element_type	string	Must be `"CustomRow"` (case-insensitive).
children	array	Defines the structure of an answer.

CustomRow optional properties

Name	Type	Default value	Description
name	string	n/a	Used as an identifier of each generated row. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example, `"Row %index%"`.

BubbleArray element

Inserts a specified amount of bubbles.

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "BubbleArray" property.

BubbleArray required properties

Name	Type	Description
element_type	string	Must be `"BubbleArray"` (case-insensitive).
answers_list	array	Characters to be drawn inside bubbles. Array length determines the total number of bubbles.

BubbleArray optional properties

Name	Type	Default value	Description
name	string	n/a	An identifier, which can be used by CustomTrigger element. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example, `"Bubbles %index%"`.
bubble_size	string	“normal”	Size of bubbles: `"extrasmall"`, `"small"`, `"normal"`, `"large"`, or `"extralarge"`.
bubble_type	string	“round”	Bubble style: `"round`” or `"square"`.
font_family	string	“Segoe UI”	The font family for the bubble character.
font_style	string / array	“regular”	The font style for the bubble character: `"bold"`, `"italic"` or `"underline"`. Several font styles can be combined by providing them as an array; for example `["bold", "italic"]`.
font_size	integer	12	Font size for the bubble character.
recogintion_values	array	Same as `answers_list`	The values returned in recognition results (numbers and/or characters). The array length must exactly match the length of `answers_list` array.

CustomTrigger element

Inserts a special bubble that, when marked, replaces the value of the specified BubbleArray with the value property of the CustomTrigger element. It can be used to offer the respondent the option to intentionally skip certain questions, or to control processing of WriteIn elements.

This element is declared as an object with "element_type": "CustomTrigger" property.

CustomTrigger required properties

Name	Type	Description
element_type	string	Must be `"CustomTrigger"` (case-insensitive).
target	string	Name of BubbleArray element whose value will be replaced. Use %index% variable to point to the same row where the CustomTrigger element instance is rendered; for example, `"Bubbles %index%"`.
value	string	The replacement value to be used when the element is marked; for example `"Prefer not to answer"`.

CustomTrigger optional properties

Name	Type	Default value	Description
name	string	n/a	An identifier of the CustomTrigger element. Use %index% variable to guarantee the uniqueness; for example, “Own choice %index%”.
trigger_type	string	“ReplaceValue”	Action when the bubble is marked. `"ReplaceValue"` replaces the value of the BubbleArray specified in target property with the value property. This property is reserved for future use; you can omit it.
bubble_size	string	“normal”	Size of bubbles: `"extrasmall"`, `"small"`, `"normal"`, `"large"`, or `"extralarge"`.
bubble_type	string	“round”	Bubble style: `"round`” or `"square"`.

Example

{
	"element_type": "Template",
	"children": [
		{
			"element_type": "Page",
			"children": [
				{
					"element_type": "CustomAnswerSheet",
					"amount": 15,
					"columns_count": 3,
					"row_proportions": [15, 45, 25, 15],
					"children": [
						{
							"element_type": "Header",
							"children": [
								{
									"element_type": "Column",
									"name": "#",
									"font_size": 6,
									"font_style": "bold",
									"align": "center"
								},
								{
									"element_type": "Column",
									"name": "Choice",
									"font_size": 6,
									"font_style": "bold",
									"align": "center"
								},
								{
									"element_type": "Column",
									"name": "Own value",
									"font_size": 6,
									"font_style": "bold",
									"align": "center"
								},
								{
									"element_type": "Column",
									"name": "Skip",
									"font_size": 6,
									"font_style": "bold",
									"align": "center"
								}
							]
						},
						{
							"element_type": "CustomRow",
							"name": "Row %index%",
							"children": [
								{
									"element_type": "Content",
									"name": "%index%",
									"font_size": 6,
									"align": "center"
								},
								{
									"element_type": "BubbleArray",
									"name": "Bubbles %index%",
									"answers_list": ["A", "B", "C", "D"],
									"font_size": 5,
									"bubble_size": "small"
								},
								{
									"element_type": "WriteIn",
									"name": "Own value for %index%",
									"required": true
								},
								{
									"element_type": "CustomTrigger",
									"name": "Skip question %index%",
									"value": "Prefer not to answer",
									"target": "Bubbles %index%",
									"bubble_size": "small"
								}
							]
						}
					]
				}
			]
		}
	]
}

CustomAnswerSheet example

Grid CompositeGrid