SQL

Structured Query Language (SQL) is an industry standard language used to query and manipulate data in relational databases. Behind the scenes, LIMS uses SQL extensively. When you query data using the queryby-example (QBE) controls, LIMS...

The LIMS’ query-by-example (QBE) controls provide a powerful method to retrieve sample data for viewing, editing or report generation. The QBE controls appear throughout the system wherever sample querying is supported. The “Additional”...

In any lab, there is a lot of useful information lying within the LIMS database. For example, one commercial lab wanted to glean some important information about their customers from LimsData. For a given date range they wanted a count o...

Solutions: There are several possibilities permission issues for this error.

“How can I query the most recent 16 samples for a customer?”

As one user noticed, sample status is not included in the query-by-example (QBE) controls, which is a situation we will correct in an upcoming version. In the meantime, there is a simple solution if you need to use a sample status criter...

Q: “Is there a way to build an expression that queries all the samples entered today? I have tried many different syntax, but I can’t figure out how to put a variable as today’s date.”

If you are running LIMS version 5.0 you are probably aware that it uses a SQL Server backend database. If you work for a larger organization, you may have an IT department that manages your SQL Server installation and takes care of all d...

“There must be a way to set up a query to search for samples where the only incomplete analyte is “Approved.” (All the other analytes are complete.) How can I do this?”

“Is there a faster/easier way to query all the samples for [multiple batches]? First I tried to enter a SQL to select 2 sample batches:

If yours is a commercial lab you likely work primarily with sample batches in LIMS. You log samples by batch, even for single-sample batches. You report results by batch so that one final report has results for all samples in a single ba...

“If I wanted to generate a report based on number of samples/analytes completed by each individual what is the best way to execute? … Something that simply gives the Tech name and a summation of the analytes they have run over the time f...

Verify or try the following steps to allow other workstations to connect to a SQL Server instance. Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to test the connection between a workstation and SQL Server after each step below until the connec...

SOLUTION: It is possible you are experiencing index fragmentation in the SQL Server database. It is worth trying a

https://nolongerset.com/sql-server-express-backups

Q: Is there an existing excel export template or could you create one to do the following:

LIMS includes a standard sample query dialog that is used throughout the system wherever samples may be queried. This dialog uses a simple query-by-example interface to locate samples of interest. While this method is both simple and pow...

LIMS assigns costs to a sample’s analyses at the time the sample is completed. Analyses with no assigned costs can result in completed samples with no analysis cost. Use the techniques in this article to locate samples with missing costs.

With LIMS’ integrated Excel interface you can quickly export the data from any LIMS report to Excel. When the data you need cannot be easily gathered using an existing report, the LIMS Data Query workbook is the solution. With this gener...

Check out this article from one of our developers to help troubleshoot SQL Server connection errors: https://nolongerset.com/troubleshooting-sql-server-connections

In the event you are locked out of your SQL Server, here is an article that explains how to regain access:

To migrate your existing LIMS database to a new server, we suggest following these steps. These steps are to minimize downtime for your organization and are the steps that we use as well.

How to create a .bak backup file of your SQL Server database and compress it into a ZIP file to send to support for review.