Tips & Techniques

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...

If you have ever used Excel’s subtotals feature (Data | Subtotals) you know how handy it can be to summarize data. For example, LIMS’ example sample tracking templates use subtotals to create a concise sample backlog report.

Exporting LIMS data to Excel for further analysis is a technique many LIMS users employ. LIMS’ integrated Excel interface can make the job easy. Understanding how data can be exported to Excel will help simplify your data analysis tasks...

By now you know that LIMS provides two methods for logging samples: single sample and batch login. Batch login first appeared in version 1.7 back in 1998. When introduced, batch login was designed to speed login of repetitive samples usi...

Recently, a LIMS user submitted this technical support question:

If you use any of the hyperlinked document fields available in LIMS, it is important to understand the purpose of the Hyperlink Base field on the Workstation Configuration screen. Hyperlinked document fields allow linking external docume...

The following technical support email raises an important issue:

“Is it possible to separate items within a batch to form separate batches? I have a couple of shelf life studies going that involve multiple products. I put them into the same batch a while back and the reports are messy now that the tes...

Q: Is it possible to add samples to a batch after it has been logged in? There have been a couple of instances where our clients have left samples at their office or what not and want to have everything reported together.

Is there a way to query two batches at the same time?

A good backup strategy is important with any information system. It is simple enough to reinstall software from the original distribution media. However, the data we entered is not easily recovered without a good backup.

Remember to compact your LimsData database routinely to improve system performance. We recommend you compact LimsData at least once a month but preferably once a week. In addition to minimizing the size of the LimsData database, compacti...

The Report Format field on the Analyses setup screen enables formatting analysis results with various options including decimal place and significant figure rounding. However, the formatting options available are not limited to the field...

A LIMS project defines the analyses to be performed for samples logged for the project. Project default analyses are those added to the project without a location so they may apply to any sample collection location. Location-specific pro...

Your LimsData database steadily increases in size over time as you continue to add new data. You can improve overall system performance by regularly compacting the database. We recommend you compact LimsData at least once a month but pre...

A user sending final reports to customers automatically with LIMS Messaging recently asked:

Recently, we received the following question:

“One of my analysts has been overwriting locations when she goes to add a new location in LIMS, and I just realized it today when a customer asked for some 2012 data. … Is there a way to allow her to log in the samples, but not to add or...

Like any business striving to remain competitive, a lab’s range of services may change over time. For example, a lab may decide to provide sample pickup services or offer various consulting services. Of course, the lab must bill their cu...

An effective LIMS implementation will restrict data entry for analysis results to values appropriate for the analyte. Highlighting result values above or below expected limits is also important. In LIMS, these tasks are accomplished usin...

Whether you are running LIMS version 4.x with its back end Access database or version 5.x + with a SQL Server database, periodic database maintenance will help ensure optimum database performance.

If you frequently enter the same phrases, sentences, or other text or you want to standardize certain data entry in text fields, you will find LIMS’ Text Lists feature helpful.

Q: “Is there a way to get the Location to auto populate when setting up a project? Currently we have to select/enter the location for each analyte. Can it be set to where once the location is selected on the first analyte it auto populat...

Several Full System licensees are using LIMS’ customization framework to integrate LIMS data with their corporate enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in real time. Manufacturing companies are keenly aware that isolated databases or...

Available during sample login, the sample Description field will accept up to 255 alphanumeric characters. The Description field is often used to record useful descriptive information about the sample and is frequently displayed on Excel...

Q: How do I enter a result value of 5 x 10 -9 ?

Q: “I had a question regarding the Notebook: Sample Schedules within the LIMS. I was wondering how the sample schedule becomes completed or closed so it appears in the Schedule History. I want to get a better understanding of how this fu...

“The results reported in my excel spreadsheet and those imported into LIMS don’t seem to be matching up. The problem seems to be caused by that value being produced by an equation. When I delete the equation and just enter in a number it...

Variations of the following question are common from users just beginning their implementation:

Unless you are proficient with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros in Excel you should only create new Excel templates used with LIMS by copying an existing template file. All Excel templates used with LIMS must be in Excel 97-200...

In a busy lab processing a large volume of samples for many customers, LIMS sample login can be time consuming. Any technique to reduce the time required for sample login is helpful. Consider using customer[1]specific sample login option...

All LIMS version 4.0 installations should maintain a current Setup folder, which contains all files required to install LIMS on a workstation. Maintaining a proper Setup folder allows easy installation repair, installation on new worksta...

The record navigation search field is a little known but very useful feature in LIMS. Adjacent to the record navigation controls and highlighted in the screen excerpt below, use the Search field to find any data in the current screen.

Whether you have an LIMS multi-user installation or a single-user installation, there may come a time when your LimsData database must be moved to a new location. For example, with a single-user installation you may decide to move the da...

LIMS includes two example electronic data deliverable (EDD) templates that you can copy and modify to create your own templates to supply electronic data. You will find the example EDD templates in folder C:\LIMS\Examples\Excel Export Te...

“I would like to be able to generate reports that can tell me what projects have a specific analysis or projects that have an analysis with specifications within a certain range.”

“Is it possible to delete a customer out of LIMS? I see you can make them inactive.”

“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?”

Q: “Is there any way to associate a scanned SDS (or other digital document) with a logged-in sample? I’m hoping we could query based on sample ID and then access the scanned document via a clickable link somehow.”

A custom created Excel barcode does not print

You may often find that screen fields, such as Notes and Conclusions, contain more data than can be displayed in the field’s dimensions. While you can click in the field and scroll to read the data, the Zoom window offers a handy alterna...

Many labs need the ability to approve sample results. Some will need a record of who approved the results and when. And labs using LIMS Messaging to automatically email sample results need to ensure the results are approved before sendin...

Client has Office365 accounts, but not connected to a domain active directory (this means that when you view the Users in SSMS>[Database]>Security>Users and in LIMS>Admin>Users the primary user (will look like this: “AzureAD\Username” vs...

Changing or Disabling High, Low, and BDL Result Formats When formatting results for reports, LIMS will append a space and “H” for high or “L” for low if a result value is above or below the warning limits configured for the analysis. If...

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

Your LIMS Users Guide contains a lengthy list of keyboard and mouse techniques.

Many LIMS users with multi-user licenses run the system using traditional client/server architecture. That is, the LIMS front end software is installed locally on each LIMS workstation, while sharing the back end database from a shared f...

What do you do when you need to report specific dates and times along with analytical results and the existing sample date and time fields don’t suffice?

LIMS query by example (QBE) controls are power[1]ful tools for querying LIMS samples. When a query can not be accomplished easily with the QBE controls, a structured query language (SQL) expression can often be used. Constructing an SQL...

Q: I need to add “extra” analytes to a requirement list. How do I “insert” these analytes between existing ones in the list? We add new compounds as we identify them in test samples and I need to be able to alter the Requirements list as...

Q: I was wondering if there was a way in [MSC-]LIMS to make a sub-folder within a batch of analyses? I’m looking for an easier way to organize so I can find all my metals and/or sugars from one batch quickly versus looking through all th...

There may be a time when you wish to use a different profile for your Messaging component. In most cases you likely only have 1 profile set up on your computer that runs Messaging.

Q: Can I remove Users/Employees/Samplers from LIMS? Will the data they have entered into LIMS still be identified with their usernames?

To pin your J Street LIMS program to your taskbar, follow the instructions below:

Q: How do we get to invoice properly if we charge more for all tests individually? For instance, our water package includes over 10 individual tests. How do we set the price for the whole package as right now it appears to be summing up...

Database Size Metrics We frequently receive both pre-sales and post-sales technical support questions regarding the sample processing volume guidelines listed in the Frequently Asked Questions on our web site.

Q: What is the “Document” section for in MSC-LIMS that is beneath the “Notes” section in sample login and results by sample? It has a picture of a globe and a link – could you give me a couple of examples of how this is used? And does th...

If your lab bills customers for its services, you can maintain analysis costs (i.e. prices) within LIMS and generate sample invoices using one of the example Excel invoice templates. Understanding when and how analysis costs are assigned...

LIMS’ error log maintains a record of all system error messages along with the current user and workstation at the time of the message, and the date and time the error occurred. The error log helps the LIMS administrator and technical su...

Excluding user login account names and passwords, your LimsData database is the repository for all data entered in LIMS. Each time you add new data to the LIMS, LimsData will increase in size. In standalone installations the size of Lims...

A user recently called with a simple question. After forgetting to delete an analysis from the first sample in the Batch Login screen then copying the sample 19 times to create a 20-sample batch, he wanted to know if there was a way to d...

Q: We conduct business with homeowners who want to test their well water. Do we need to add each individual homeowner as a customer even though they may never return to submit another sample?

LIMS’ Text Lists feature offers a convenient method to enter frequently used text in any LIMS text field. This article shows how you can create your own text list of special symbols, such as the degree or micro sign, so that any LIMS use...

With J Street LIMS v6.0.1.7 and later versions, there is a useful update for those that rely on Remote Desktop for their team’s LIMS access.

Follow these steps to delete samples from your database. Please note that you will need to have the appropriate user role to perform these actions:

If you find that you need to edit an existing samples data(for example, the description of a sample, etc.) this can be done by following these steps:

*Please note that this viewing option will not allow you to import any edited information back in to LIMS. This method is only for viewing selected query data in pop-up windows in a full screen, with full functionality of Excel. *

To update your LIMS v6 license key follow these steps. Please note that if you have multiple workstations, these steps only need to be completed on one workstation. This will update the database, which will in turn update other workstati...

Q: Main Menu → Setup → Data Entry/Inquiry → Analyses Tab While documenting the Detection Limit is helpful, the Reporting Limit (MRL) is far more critical for our clients. It needs to appear on the final report so customers can easily det...

Q: Main Menu → Samples → Data Entry/Inquiry → Sample Login In addition to the Collected and Received Date/Time fields, we need fields for the Start Date/Time and End Date/Time of the analysis. This is essential for drinking water microor...

Q: Final Report – Chain of Custody Number We also need a field to enter the Chain of Custody (COC) number in the final report. Clients rely on this for tracking and frequently request it. I recall this was discussed previously and a plac...

Q: Final Report – EPA Hazardous Waste Codes EPA Hazardous Waste Codes—specifically the D-codes and F-codes—need to be included in the final report, aligned next to the analyte they’re associated with. For example, Benzene carries both D0...

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

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.