If an index field is designated as a sticky value, the actual value is applied when you scan and index the first document. If you manually enter a value for an index field on the first document, that value is copied to all subsequent documents in the batch and does not have to be re-entered manually. You might decide to scan one document and index it manually. As a result, the sticky values are applied to any documents that follow the first one.

For example, suppose that no default value is specified for Index Field 1 in the first document of a batch, and Index Field 1 is designated as a sticky value. When you switch to Indexing mode to index the document, Index Field 1 is empty. Once you enter a value such as Patient 1 Name, that value is applied automatically to Index Field 1 in any subsequent documents that you add to the batch.

You can also update sticky values; to continue the same scenario, suppose that several subsequent documents are added to the batch. You have already specified Patient 1 Name as the value for Index Field 1 in the first document, and that value is applied to Documents 2 and 3. When you index Document 4, you might change the value to Patient 2 Name. As a result, the value of Patient 2 Name is applied to Document 4 and any subsequent documents.

Other guidelines for manual entry of sticky values:

• When you paste a document that has been cut or copied, the sticky value is not refreshed as soon as you paste the document; the sticky value associated with the original document is retained. If the sticky value is empty, the value is copied from the previous document as soon as you switch to Indexing mode to validate the index values.
• When you delete a document, the sticky values for subsequent documents are retained.
• When splitting a document, the newly created document inherits any sticky values associated with the original document.