Overview
A “Multi-Page COA” is a single-lot COA document where the data continues onto a second page. This differs from a multi-lot COA, where one page contains data for multiple lots. For more information on multi-lot COAs, see "Creating & Editing Multi-Lot OCR Templates".
For multi-page setups, create a separate import template for each page. Each page must be connected using identical Primary Keys. Common Primary Keys include:
- PO Number
- MFG Date
- Supplier Lot ID
Use the exact same Primary Keys on every page, and include at least 2 of the 3 keys to properly link the pages together.
It is recommended to create a new OCR template for each page, enable the Attach Source File toggle, and include the page number in the template name. For example:
Item123_SupplierABC_Page 1
Item123_SupplierABC_Page 2
This naming convention makes troubleshooting and error resolution easier.
If a previously one-page COA begins arriving as a multi-page COA, keep the original template in place, as the supplier may revert to the previous format. To process the new version, create a new OCR template, enable Attach Source File, include the page number in the template name, and zone the document as normal.
First Steps
Step 1: Hover over the Configuration Icon and select Import Templates.
Step 2: Confirm whether there is an existing OCR template for the supplier/item combination by filtering by Item ID and Supplier ID.
Step 3:
- If you find a result, click the edit icon
and select 'OCR Templates'.
- If no results appear, click 'New' and select 'OCR Template'.
Building Page One
Step 1: Process Type: Click the down arrow in the Process Type box and choose 'COA, CAR, or PO Data' (choose this every time you would like to create an OCR Template).
Step 2: Toggle 'Attach Source File': For COA's that spans across multiple pages, and you would like those additional pages in the COA record.
The additional pages will not be zoned or scraped for data, this merely attaches the multi-page PDF to the COA record on your COA tab. You will have to zone each page as we describe below.
Step 3: Template Name: We recommend Including the Item ID, the Supplier ID, and Page number in the name of each template.
- For example: ItemID_SupplierID_Page1
Step 4: Supplier and Item ID- Search for and select the Supplier/Item ID from the dropdown.
Important: YOU MUST SELECT THE MATCHING ITEM/SUPPLIER FROM THE DROPDOWN. Simply typing it is not enough.
Step 5: Click 'Zone File Editor.'
Step 6: Click 'Browse' and select a COA file to upload.
Step 7: Once it has loaded, if the COA information is not on page one, click 'Page' and select the correct page number to zone it.
Step 8: Click the 'Key Phrases' dropdown to reveal the "add phrase..." box.
Step 9: Click 'Text' at the top center of the page to analyze the uploaded document and generate a text-based image containing all detected words.
Step 10: Copy the EXACT TEXT you want to use as a Key Phrase. Try not to include any spaces at the beginning or end of your marked phrases/words.
- Partial words or numbers are OK to use.
Step 11: Paste your copied word/phrase into the "add phrase..." box and click 'Add' or hit Enter to add the string to your Key Phrases list.
Step 12: Repeat steps 10 and 11 to add additional key phrases.
Capture:
- 3-6 key phrases (multi-pages may have fewer)
- 1-2 phrases for Supplier/Brokers/Distributors.
- 1-2 phrases for an Item
- 1-2 phrases for document type
Start Zoning
Step 1: Click the Zoned Attributes' dropdown on the left pane.
Step 2: Select the 'Draw' tool near the top left.
Step 3: Draw a box around a value you would like to capture (NOT its name/title). Make the Zone box as large as possible to leave room for error or longer values. If you need to adjust the size or placement of a box, click the box once to show re-sizing handles.
Start with the Primary Keys. The default in every customer site to PO Number, Supplier Lot ID, and MFG Date. You must have at least 2 out of 3 of the primary keys. They must be the same two on each page you are zoning, do not mix and match.
Step 4: Once you have added all the zone boxes and attributes to map, click Save.
Step 5: Click Back to return to the Manage OCR Template page.
Step 6: Click Save.
Zone the Next Page
Step 1: Click 'Current Templates' and select the template that you just saved.
Step 2: After clicking the current template you just made/saved, click Zone File Editor.
Step 3: When you click Zone File Editor, you enter the zoning screen. Click on the white 'Browse' button and select the saved COA file from your computer.
Step 4: Once it has loaded, if the COA info is not on page one, then click 'Page' and select the correct page number to zone it. For example, you can proceed to page 2.
Step 1: Click 'Current Templates' and select the template that you just saved. This will populate the current fields with the values from your new template.
Step 2: Click 'Zone File Editor'.
Step 3: Click the 'Browse...' button near the top and select the saved COA file from your computer. If the COA info is not on the first page, then click the 'Page' dropdown to the right of the 'Browse...' button and select which page to load.
Step 4: Click 'Key Phrases' from the navbar on the left of the screen.
Step 5: Click the 'Text' button near the top of the screen underneath the 'Browse...' button.
Step 6: Copy and paste your key phrase from the COA into the 'add phrase' field and then click 'Add'. Grab the phrases from the page number you are zoning as they may be different from the first page.
Step 7: Repeat step 6 to add additional key phrases.
Step 8: Now you're ready to start zoning! Click 'Zoned Attributes' from the navbar on the left of the screen.
Step 9: Click 'Draw' near the top of the screen underneath the 'Browse...' button.
You must have at least 2 out of 3 of the primary keys. They must be the same two on each page you are zoning, do not mix and match.
Step 10: Once you have added all the zone boxes and attributes to map, click 'Save'.
Step 11: Click 'Back' to return to the Manage OCR Template page.
Step 12: Click 'Save.'
Repeat for all pages of the Multi-Page COA. Test to make sure it works!
You will receive error messages for these types of templates in the COA mailbox if required attributes span across multiple pages. This is normal and expected. You may disregard these messages as long as the COA record on the COA tab reads 'Accepted.'
Normalization Scripts
Step 1: if you have micro results, you will need to add a normalization script. Click the blue edit gear to the right of the zoned attribute.
Step 2: Enter the value on the COA for the related field and verify that the script will return your desired value by clicking the checkmark.
If you have required attributes that span across multiple pages, you will always receive error messages in the email logs. This is because TG will expect everything to be on one page. However, this is to be expected. You should receive a success message in the email logs after the following pages come through and are combined into one COA record on the COA grid. If you do not see the success message after the error message, you may need to troubleshoot further.
Step 3: Click 'Save Normalization Script', then back, and then save again.
Step 4: Test in template tester. If successful, then send in as a final test that results come through as expected.
Adding More Pages to Existing COAs
Step 1: For this second example, let's say you have an existing OCR Template that you use for a certain Item's one-page COAs, but you know that your Supplier is going to go to two pages soon.
Step 2: When your Supplier has settled on their new multi-page COA format for the Item, obtain a digital sample from them.
Step 3: Go to Configuration > Import Templates, filter for the Supplier/Item combination involved Click that row's edit icon and select 'OCR Templates' to open its "New OCR Template" page. Click the Current Templates drop-down and select the OCR Template you need to alter. The page-heading will change to "Manage OCR Template", and various fields will fill in. At the bottom of the page, you should be on the "Key Phrases" tab - MAKE NO CHANGES there!
Step 4: Go into the Zone File Editor and find and load the Supplier's new multi-page COA sample. You'll be on the COA's Page 1 at first. In the Zone File box select "1" to overlay the existing Zone file (designed for only one Page) onto Page 1.
Step 5: CHECK CAREFULLY that every Zone on Page 1 is still placed correctly over its data. Click and move any that are not, but DO NOT alter which box goes with which data. Delete any Zones whose data has been moved to Page 2. You'll re-Zone them there.
Step 6: Change the Zone File box entry to ** Create New **, since now you'll be adding a second Zone file to the Template. The Zone boxes for Page 1 will disappear and the checkmarks in the "Mapped Attributes" List will reset to arrow rectangles.
Step 7: From the Page drop-down, select Page 2. Now perform Steps 3 & 4 from the "Each Subsequent Page" section, above, on each Attribute you want to collect.