How to Change a Sample Pick List’s Column Contents

Summary

The information in this article applies to LIMS 2.3.0 or newer.

LIMS screens that include a pick list to select a sample, list various sample characteristics in the drop down list to help the user select the sample of interest. By default, the drop down list includes five columns that show the sample’s ID, project, location, sampler, and collected date. While the sample’s ID must remain in the first column, the remaining four columns can be altered to list other sample characteristics including site-specific fields added to the Sample table through customization.

More Information

LIMS includes sample pick lists on the following screens:

• Edit Analytical Batch (QC menu)
• Container Labels (Samples menu)
• Sample Login (Samples menu)
• Results by Sample Setup (Samples menu)
• QC Results Entry Setup (QC menu)
• QC Sample Login (QC menu)

On each of the above screens, the drop down list portion of the sample pick list includes five columns to display sample characteristics. The following table shows the default properties for each column:

Column	Contents	Width
1	Sample ID	0.8″
2	Project	1.8″
3	Location	1.5″
4	Sampler (last name, first name)	1.2″
5	Collected Date (mm/dd/yy)	1.0″

Each screen uses a structured query language (SQL) SELECT statement to populate the pick list’s columns with sample data. While the FROM clause of the SELECT statement will vary by screen, the following default SELECT statement is used by all sample pick lists:

SELECT SampleID, Project.Name,
 
Location.Name, Sampler, Completed

FROM table/query;

While the sample ID must always remain in the first column (i.e. the first field name following the SELECT keyword), we can change the contents of columns two through five by using the appropriate field name in the above SQL SELECT statement. For example, the following statement replaces the Sampler’s name in column four with Customer Name:

SELECT SampleID, Project.Name,

Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed

FROM table/query;

To obtain a list of available field names, simply preview LIMS’ Sample Summary report with data for at least one sample, then use the Export to MS Excel Template toolbar button and export the report’s data to the LIMS Export Template. The resulting workbook’s LIMSData worksheet will contain a list of valid field names on row one.

To alter any sample pick list, add a record in the System Configuration screen’s Options section. Determine which LIMS screen’s pick list will be changed then complete the record as show below editing the SQL SELECT statement accordingly in the record’s Data field. Leave the record’s Value field blank and Inactive field unchecked.

Following our example above, each entry below replaces the default Sampler’s name in column four with Customer Name.

Edit Analytical Batch Screen

Option:

frmAnalyticalBatchEdit.cbxSampleID.Tag

Data:

PopulateSampleListSQL=SELECT SampleID, Project.Name, 
Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed
 
FROM qrySampleListStandard;

Container Labels Screen

Option:

frmSampleContainerLabels.cbxSampleID.Tag

Data:

PopulateSampleListSQL=SELECT SampleID, Project.Name, 
Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed

FROM qrySampleList;

Sample Login Screen

Option:

frmSampleLogin.cbxSelectForEdit.Tag

Data:

PopulateSampleListSQL=SELECT SampleID, Project.Name, 
Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed
 
FROM qrySampleListForLoginMode;

Results by Sample Setup Screen

Option:

frmSampleResultsSetup.cbxSelectForEdit.Tag

Data:

PopulateSampleListSQL=SELECT SampleID, Project.Name, 
Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed

FROM qrySampleListStandard;

QC Results Entry Setup Screen

Option:

frmSampleResultsQCSetup.cbxSelectForEdit.Tag

Data:

PopulateSampleListSQL=SELECT SampleID, Project.Name, 
Location.Name, Customer.Name, Completed

FROM qrySampleListQC;

Note that a single configuration record added for the Sample Login screen will update the pick lists for the single-sample login screens on both the Samples and QC menus. Also, the single configuration record added for the Results by Sample Setup and QC Results Entry Setup screens will also update the pick lists on the corresponding Results by Sample and QC Results Entry screens. If you encounter any errors after adding your changes, make the necessary corrections to the Data field or check the Inactive field to restore the sample pick list’s default entries.