sdapsclassic class

This is the main class which currently should be used to create questionnaires. It builds on top of the other packages and adds new macros and environments which are similar to the ones from the original SDAPS LaTeX class.

Please note that the environments from the sdapslayout package cannot be used directly as using these environments will cause conflicting macro definitions. Instead one can simply use the aliases provided in this class.

The entire document should be wrapped using the questionnaire environment.

The following macros and environments exist:

  • questionnaire: Main environment wrapping everything

  • info: Style definition for information block

  • \addinfo: Add metadata to the project

  • \sdapsinfo: Print the standard instructions for filling out

The following question types exists for your use:

  • \singlemark: A single range or mark question

  • \singlemarkother: A single range or makr question with an alternative answer in case it isn’t applicable

  • \textbox: A large and optionally scalable textbox for freeform content

  • choicequestion: A multiple choice question with a number of answers

  • choicegroup: A list of multiple choice questions layed out in rows (or columns)

  • optionquestion: A single choice question with a number of answers

  • optiongroup: A list of single choice questions layed out in rows (or columns)

  • markgroup: A list of range or mark questions layed out in rows (or columns)

You should only use \section{} for structuring the document.

Class Options

Argument

Description

sdaps_style

The markings style to use. Either “code128”, “qr” (default: code128)

checkmode

The mode for checkbox recognition can be any of:
  • checkcorrect: check to mark, fill to correct (unmark) (default)

  • check: check or fill to mark

  • fill: fill to mark

disable_recognition

Disable all recognition related page markings. This must not be used when intending to ues the SDAPS program for optical mark recognition. An example use case would be creating a PDF form using the SDAPS LaTeX classes. (default: not set)

twoside_barcode

Where to draw barcodes if in twoside/duplex mode:
  • both: draw on front and back (default)

  • front: only draw on the front of the page

  • back: only draw on the back of the page

globalid

A global identifier to be printed on the document (as barcode)

globalidlabel

The label for the barcode (only code128)

no_print_questionnaire_id

Disable printing of questionnaire IDs

print_questionnaire_id

Enable printing of questionnaire IDs

General macros and environments

\begin{questionnaire} [kwargs]
content
\end{questionnaire}
Keyword Arguments

noinfo – Suppress the generation of the standard information text

This is the main environment. You should have exactly one of these environments containing the entire document.

\begin{info}
content
\end{info}

A simple environment which places a line on top and below the content.

\addinfo {key} {value}

Attach further metadata to the SDAPS project. This may be used for any purpose and the information will also appear on the cover page when generating a report using the main SDAPS program.

\sdapsinfo

Print the instruction text that is printed at the top of the page unless the noinfo keyword argument is given to questionnaire.

Place into a info block to get the same visual appearance as the default information text.

\sdapspagemark

This macro must be executed once for every page. By default it is placed into the center footer and as such should not be executed unless the footer is modified.

While this command is provided, use it at your own risk. No guarantees are made on how the class uses this macro internally. If you use it, you need to verify the behaviour whenever the class is updated and ensure that everything is functioning appropriately. In particular, this macro must not be executed twice per page.

Question Environments

\begin{choicequestion} [kwargs] {text}
content
\end{choicequestion}
Arguments

text – Text of the choice question. Fragile content is currently not supported.

Keyword Arguments
  • cols – Number of columns

  • colsep – Spacing added on the left/right of every cell. This defaults to 6pt.

  • rowsep – Extra distance between rows. This defaults to 0pt.

  • var – Variable name for this question (to be appended to context).

  • text – Replacement text for metadata

  • type – the question type “multichoice” or “singlechoice”

  • multichoice – switch to multichoice “Choice” question mode

  • singlechoice – switch to singlechoice “Option” question mode

The content should only contain \choiceitem, \choicemulticolitem and \choiceitemtext.

\begin{choicequestion}[cols=3]{This is a choice question}
  \choiceitem{First choice}
  \choicemulticolitem{2}{Second choice with a lot of text}
  \choiceitemtext{1.2cm}{3}{Other:}
\end{choicequestion}

\begin{choicequestion}[cols=3]{This is a choice question}
  \choiceitem{First choice}
  \choicemulticolitem{2}{Second choice with a lot of text}
  \choiceitemtext{1.2cm}{3}{Other:}
\end{choicequestion}

A choicequestion

\choiceitem [kwargs] {text}

A possible choice in a choicequestion. Will span exactly one column.

Arguments

text – The text for the choice. Fragile content is currently not supported.

Keyword Arguments
  • var – Variable name for this answer for multichoice (to be appended to context).

  • val – Value for this answer for singlechoice.

  • text – Replacement text for metadata.

\choicemulticolitem [kwargs] {cols} {text}

A possible choice in a choicequestion. Will span exactly cols columns.

Arguments
  • cols – The number of columns to span.

  • text – The text for the choice. Fragile content is currently not supported.

Keyword Arguments
  • var – Variable name for this answer for multichoice (to be appended to context).

  • val – Value for this answer for singlechoice.

  • text – Replacement text for metadata.

\choiceitemtext [kwargs] {height} {cols} {text}

A possible freeform choice in a choicequestion. The text field will be of height height and it will span exactly cols columns.

The text item can currently only be used in multichoice environments.

Arguments
  • cols – The number of columns to span.

  • text – The text for the choice. Fragile content is currently not supported.

Keyword Arguments
  • var – Variable name for this question (to be appended to context).

  • text – Replacement text for metadata.

\begin{optionquestion} [kwargs] {text}
content
\end{optionquestion}

Alias for choicequestion which simply sets it into singlechoice mode by default.

\begin{optionquestion}[cols=3,singlechoice]{This is a single choice question}
  \choiceitem{First choice}
  \choicemulticolitem{2}{Second choice with a lot of text}
\end{optionquestion}

\begin{optionquestion}[cols=3,singlechoice]{This is a single choice question}
  \choiceitem{First choice}
  \choicemulticolitem{2}{Second choice with a lot of text}
\end{optionquestion}

A choicequestion

\begin{info}
content
\end{info}

A simple block to typeset important information differently.

\begin{info}
  Just a block to write some information in, will have a line above and below.
\end{info}

\begin{info}
  Just a block to write some information in, will have a line above and below.
\end{info}

An info block

\begin{markgroup} [kwargs] {text}
content
\end{markgroup}
Arguments
  • text – Common question for all subquestions. Fragile content is currently not supported

  • kwags – Same as rangearray

\begin{markgroup}[align=mygroupalignment]{A set of mark questions}
  \markline{First question}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Second question}{lower 2}{upper 2}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[align=mygroupalignment]{Another set of mark questions which is aligned to the first}
  \markline{First question}{a}{c}
  \markline{Second question}{b}{d}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[other]{Another further set of questions with an alternative answer}
  \markline{First question}{lower}{upper}{other}
  \markline{Second question}{a}{b}{c}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[align=mygroupalignment]{A set of mark questions}
  \markline{First question}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Second question}{lower 2}{upper 2}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[align=mygroupalignment]{Another set of mark questions which is aligned to the first}
  \markline{First question}{a}{c}
  \markline{Second question}{b}{d}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[other]{Another further set of questions with an alternative answer}
  \markline{First question}{lower}{upper}{other}
  \markline{Second question}{a}{b}{c}
\end{markgroup}

A group of range questions (used to be called mark)

Todo

The spacing in the “other” case is not sane, we need a larger default spacing in general.

\begin{choicegroup} [kwargs] {text}
content
\end{choicegroup}
Arguments
  • text – Common question for all subquestions. Fragile content is currently not supported

  • kwags – Same as choicearray

Note

The choicegroup environment is an alias for the choicearray environment. At this point the only difference is that the choicegroup environment correctly prints the header and that it creates the \groupaddchoice and \choiceline aliases.

\choice [kwargs] {text}

A possible choice inside inside the group.

Arguments

text – The choices (header) text.

Keyword Arguments
  • text – A replacement text for the metadata, if set fragile content is permitted inside the text argument.

  • var – Variable name for this answer for multichoice (to be appended to context).

  • val – Value for this answer for singlechoice.

\groupaddchoice [kwargs] {text}

Alias for \choice for compatibility.

\question [kwargs] {text}

A single question inside the group. All choices need to be defined earlier using \choice.

Arguments

text – Question text.

Keyword Arguments
  • text – A replacement text for the metadata, if set fragile content is permitted inside the text argument.

  • var – Variable name for this question (to be appended to context).

  • range – Specify which chekcboxes to show. Needs ot be given an in order list of variables (multichoice) or values (singlechoice) also allowing specifying for any amount of items.

\choiceline [kwargs] {text}

Alias for \question for compatibility.

\begin{choicegroup}{A group of questions}
  \choice{Choice 1}
  \choice{Choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something]{Another question}
  \choice{Some choice 1}
  \choice{Some choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something]{Another group of questions which is automatically aligned to the previous}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}{A group of questions}
  \choice{Choice 1}
  \choice{Choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something]{Another question}
  \choice{Some choice 1}
  \choice{Some choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something]{Another group of questions which is automatically aligned to the previous}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

Example of a choicegroup environment

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated,vertical]{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 1}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated,angle=45,vertical]{A group of questions with a smaller angle}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 1}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated,vertical]{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 1}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated,angle=45,vertical]{A group of questions with a smaller angle}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 1}
  \groupaddchoice{Choice 2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

Example of a vertical choicegroup environment also showing the "rotated" header layouter

\begin{choicegroup}[colsep=2pt,singlechoice]{Please select a date}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \groupaddchoice{3}
  \groupaddchoice{4}
  \groupaddchoice{5}
  \groupaddchoice{6}
  \groupaddchoice{7}
  \groupaddchoice{8}
  \groupaddchoice{9}
  \groupaddchoice{10}
  \groupaddchoice{11}
  \groupaddchoice{12}
  \groupaddchoice{13}
  \groupaddchoice{14}
  \groupaddchoice{15}
  \groupaddchoice{16}
  \groupaddchoice{17}
  \groupaddchoice{18}
  \groupaddchoice{19}
  \groupaddchoice{20}
  \groupaddchoice{21}
  \groupaddchoice{22}
  \groupaddchoice{23}
  \groupaddchoice{24}
  \groupaddchoice{25}
  \groupaddchoice{26}
  \groupaddchoice{27}
  \groupaddchoice{28}
  \groupaddchoice{29}
  \groupaddchoice{30}
  \groupaddchoice{31}
  % Note that the automatically assigned values match the choices.
  \question{Day}
  \question[range={...,12}]{Month}
  \question[range={2,5,...,9,28,...}]{Range}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[colsep=2pt,singlechoice]{Please select a date}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \groupaddchoice{3}
  \groupaddchoice{4}
  \groupaddchoice{5}
  \groupaddchoice{6}
  \groupaddchoice{7}
  \groupaddchoice{8}
  \groupaddchoice{9}
  \groupaddchoice{10}
  \groupaddchoice{11}
  \groupaddchoice{12}
  \groupaddchoice{13}
  \groupaddchoice{14}
  \groupaddchoice{15}
  \groupaddchoice{16}
  \groupaddchoice{17}
  \groupaddchoice{18}
  \groupaddchoice{19}
  \groupaddchoice{20}
  \groupaddchoice{21}
  \groupaddchoice{22}
  \groupaddchoice{23}
  \groupaddchoice{24}
  \groupaddchoice{25}
  \groupaddchoice{26}
  \groupaddchoice{27}
  \groupaddchoice{28}
  \groupaddchoice{29}
  \groupaddchoice{30}
  \groupaddchoice{31}
  % Note that the automatically assigned values match the choices.
  \question{Day}
  \question[range={...,12}]{Month}
  \question[range={2,5,...,9,28,...}]{Range}
\end{choicegroup}

Example of choice filtering

\begin{optiongroup} [kwargs] {text}
content
\end{optiongroup}

Alias for choicegroup which simply sets it into singlechoice mode by default.

\begin{optiongroup}{A group of questions}
  \choice{Choice 1}
  \choice{Choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{optiongroup}

\begin{optiongroup}[align=something]{Another question}
  \choice{Some choice 1}
  \choice{Some choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{optiongroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something,singlechoice]{Another group of questions which is automatically aligned to the previous}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{optiongroup}{A group of questions}
  \choice{Choice 1}
  \choice{Choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{optiongroup}

\begin{optiongroup}[align=something]{Another question}
  \choice{Some choice 1}
  \choice{Some choice 2}
  \question{Question one}
  \question{Question two}
\end{optiongroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[align=something,singlechoice]{Another group of questions which is automatically aligned to the previous}
  \groupaddchoice{1}
  \groupaddchoice{2}
  \choiceline{Question one}
  \choiceline{Question two}
\end{choicegroup}

Example of a choicegroup environment

Complex typesetting and images

SDAPS allows replacing the text which is exported for the metadata (i.e. what will show up in the report). This can make sense for convenience reasons, if shortened answers are sufficient for e.g. the report, but it also allows inserting complicated LaTeX expressions into the document without having to fear any issues.

Apart from the advantage of having a better string in the report or similar you also get the advantage that more TeX commands can be used in the document. Usually environments like verbatim or array would not work inside an SDAPS environment, but they will work if a replacement text is specified.

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated]{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice[text=choice 1]{$\left( \begin{array}{cc} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} \right) + \log{\alpha}$}
  \groupaddchoice[text=choice 2]{Choice 2 -- \LaTeX}
  \choiceline[text=question 1]{\verb^Inline verbatim^}
  \choiceline[text=question 2]{
    \begin{tabularx}{0.5\linewidth}{llX}
      cell 1 & cell 2 & tabularx over half the page width fit used as the question text. This cell is the X column filling the rest of the half page.
    \end{tabularx}%
  }
  \choiceline[text=question 3]{
\begin{verbatim}Even such things as verbatim environments work.
However, verbatim does have some weird spacing issues (which can be partially
solved by wrapping it into a vbox or similar).
\end{verbatim}
  }
  \choiceline{Question 4 ends up unmodified in the metadata}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[layouter=rotated]{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice[text=choice 1]{$\left( \begin{array}{cc} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} \right) + \log{\alpha}$}
  \groupaddchoice[text=choice 2]{Choice 2 -- \LaTeX}
  \choiceline[text=question 1]{\verb^Inline verbatim^}
  \choiceline[text=question 2]{
    \begin{tabularx}{0.5\linewidth}{llX}
      cell 1 & cell 2 & tabularx over half the page width fit used as the question text. This cell is the X column filling the rest of the half page.
    \end{tabularx}%
  }
  \choiceline[text=question 3]{
\begin{verbatim}Even such things as verbatim environments work.
However, verbatim does have some weird spacing issues (which can be partially
solved by wrapping it into a vbox or similar).
\end{verbatim}
  }
  \choiceline{Question 4 ends up unmodified in the metadata}
\end{choicegroup}

Example of using fragile content together with metadata text replacement

Variables

\begin{choicegroup}{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice[var=alice]{Choice "alice"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=eve]{Choice "eve"}
  \groupaddchoice{Unnamed choice}
  \choiceline[var=adam]{Question "adam"}
  \choiceline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}
  \choiceline{Unnamed question}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[var=flower]{A group of questions with variable "flower"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=alice]{Choice "alice"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=eve]{Choice "eve"}
  \groupaddchoice{Unnamed choice}
  \choiceline[var=adam]{Question "adam"}
  \choiceline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}
  \choiceline{Unnamed question}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}{A group of questions}
  \groupaddchoice[var=alice]{Choice "alice"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=eve]{Choice "eve"}
  \groupaddchoice{Unnamed choice}
  \choiceline[var=adam]{Question "adam"}
  \choiceline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}
  \choiceline{Unnamed question}
\end{choicegroup}

\begin{choicegroup}[var=flower]{A group of questions with variable "flower"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=alice]{Choice "alice"}
  \groupaddchoice[var=eve]{Choice "eve"}
  \groupaddchoice{Unnamed choice}
  \choiceline[var=adam]{Question "adam"}
  \choiceline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}
  \choiceline{Unnamed question}
\end{choicegroup}

A choicegroup example using variables. Notice that the boxes in the metadata have variables named e.g. "flower_adam_alice". The first group of questions does not have a common prefix. The second group of questions has the common "flowerd" prefix.

\begin{markgroup}{A group of questions}
  \markline[var=alice]{Question "alice"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Unnamed question}{lower}{upper}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[var=car]{A group of questions with variable "car"}
  \markline[var=alice]{Question "alice"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Unnamed question}{lower}{upper}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}{A group of questions}
  \markline[var=alice]{Question "alice"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Unnamed question}{lower}{upper}
\end{markgroup}

\begin{markgroup}[var=car]{A group of questions with variable "car"}
  \markline[var=alice]{Question "alice"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline[var=bob]{Question "bob"}{lower}{upper}
  \markline{Unnamed question}{lower}{upper}
\end{markgroup}

A markgroup example using variables. The variable is e.g. "car_alice" and the boxes have a value assigned to them. Grouping is handled as in the previous case, adding the prefix when given.