FoD-OMR can use data files in three distinct 'formats':

• Fixed data files have the same data field always at the same location on each line in the data file.
• Delimited data files have their fields separated by a character known as a delimiter.
• Delimited named data files are like the Delimited data files in that the fields are separated by a delimiter. They also have a header line which allows more flexibility in forms design.

Field are grouped together in records, which are terminated by the line feed character. For each record in a data file, FoD-OMR extracts the data from its fields and prints one form.

The pictures below show data files representing the same data in separated format with headings, separated format without headings and fixed format.

Delimited files with headers offer the most flexibility and are preferred as the data source. The ability for the field names to be carried as headers in the first record enables both simpler form design and ease of data manipulation.

The separated format uses the comma as the delimiter and double quotation marks surround text items. The double quotation marks are known as the text qualifier as they indicate text fields. These are optional.

The fixed format uses a fixed starting point on each line to identify the fields.