Skip to main content

Process Checkmark

Processes an image to detect and recognize checkmarks using ABBYY Cloud OCR service.

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.

Inputs​

  • Image Path - Path to the image file containing checkmarks or checkboxes to be detected.

Options​

  • Checkmark Type - Type of checkmark shape to detect (default: circle). Options:
    • Circle - Circular checkboxes or radio buttons
    • Empty - Empty boxes (detect unmarked checkboxes)
    • Square - Square checkboxes
  • Region - Optional region coordinates to scan for checkmarks (format: "left,top,right,bottom").
  • Description - Optional description for the processing task.
  • PDF Password - Password for encrypted PDF files if applicable.
  • Correction Allowed - Whether to allow automatic correction of detected checkmarks (default: false).

Outputs​

  • Task - ABBYY task object containing checkmark detection results with state (checked/unchecked) for each detected box.

How It Works​

The Process Checkmark node detects and determines the state of checkboxes in form images. When executed, the node:

  1. Reads the form image file
  2. Optionally limits scanning to a specific region
  3. Uploads the image to ABBYY Cloud
  4. Detects checkboxes of the specified type (circle, square, or empty)
  5. Determines if each checkbox is checked or unchecked
  6. Applies correction if enabled
  7. Returns a task object with checkbox states and locations

Requirements​

  • Valid ABBYY Cloud credentials
  • Clear form image with visible checkboxes
  • Correct checkmark type selection matching your form

Error Handling​

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrImagePath - Image path is invalid or file not found
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrImageData - Cannot read image file
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrOption - Invalid checkmark type selected
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrRegion - Invalid region format
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrDescription - Invalid description
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrPDFPassword - Invalid or incorrect PDF password

Usage Example​

Scenario: Extract checkbox states from a survey form

1. Process Checkmark node:
   - Image Path: "C:/forms/survey_001.jpg"
   - Checkmark Type: Square
   - Correction Allowed: true

2. Wait Task node:
   - Task: {{ $.task }}
   - Timeout: 30 seconds

3. Parse results to determine:
   - Which questions were answered
   - Which options were selected
   - Multiple choice selections

Scenario: Check specific region for a single checkbox

1. Process Checkmark node:
   - Image Path: "C:/forms/agreement.pdf"
   - Checkmark Type: Square
   - Region: "450,800,470,820"
   - PDF Password: ""
   - Correction Allowed: false

2. Validate agreement checkbox is checked

Common Use Cases​

  • Survey Processing - Extract responses from paper surveys
  • Form Data Entry - Automate checkbox data entry from scanned forms
  • Test Scoring - Score multiple-choice tests and quizzes
  • Agreement Verification - Verify checkboxes on contracts and agreements
  • Application Processing - Extract selections from application forms
  • Ballot Counting - Count votes from paper ballots
  • Quality Control - Verify completion of inspection checklists
  • Insurance Claims - Process checkbox fields on claim forms

Checkmark Types​

Square​

  • Standard square checkboxes
  • Most common in forms
  • Clear check mark (✓ or ✗) or filled box

Circle​

  • Circular checkboxes or radio buttons
  • Often used for single-choice questions
  • Filled circle or checkmark inside

Empty​

  • Detect empty/unchecked boxes
  • Useful for validation
  • Identify incomplete forms

Detection Results​

For each detected checkbox:

  • Location - Coordinates of the checkbox
  • State - Checked or unchecked
  • Confidence - Confidence level of detection
  • Type - Shape type (if multiple types present)

Tips and Best Practices​

  • Checkmark Type Selection:
    • Match the type to your form design
    • Use "Square" for standard checkboxes
    • Use "Circle" for radio buttons or circular marks
    • Use "Empty" to find unfilled boxes
  • Image Quality:
    • Use high resolution (300 DPI minimum)
    • Ensure checkboxes are clearly visible
    • Avoid shadows on checkboxes
    • Keep form flat (no curves or folds)
  • Region Usage:
    • Specify region for single checkbox verification
    • Process entire form to find all checkboxes
    • Use multiple nodes for different regions
    • Region coordinates from image editor
  • Correction Allowed:
    • Enable for automatic ambiguity resolution
    • Useful when checkmarks are faint or unclear
    • May help with poorly marked forms
    • Disable for strict verification
  • Form Design:
    • Clear checkbox outlines work best
    • Adequate spacing between checkboxes
    • Consistent checkbox sizes
    • High contrast (black on white)
  • Batch Processing:
    • Process multiple forms in a loop
    • Use consistent form templates
    • Enable Continue On Error
    • Track processing errors separately
  • Data Validation:
    • Verify expected number of checkboxes found
    • Check for mutually exclusive selections
    • Validate required checkboxes are marked
    • Flag forms with unclear marks
  • Multi-Choice Handling:
    • Process all checkboxes, then filter by region
    • Group checkboxes by question
    • Validate single-select vs multi-select rules
    • Handle "select all that apply" questions
  • Edge Cases:
    • Partially marked checkboxes may be ambiguous
    • Stray marks can be detected as checks
    • Very light marks might not be detected
    • Implement manual review for critical forms
  • Performance:
    • Processing time depends on image size
    • Region limits improve speed
    • Batch multiple forms for efficiency
  • Integration:
    • Map checkbox positions to question IDs
    • Export to database or spreadsheet
    • Calculate scores or statistics
    • Generate reports from results
  • Common Issues:
    • Checkmarks outside boxes may not detect
    • Filled-in boxes work better than checkmarks
    • Faint marks may need enhancement
    • Alignment issues with scanned forms