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FAQs
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- Advanced Sample Queries Using SQL
- Finding Samples Missing Analysis Costs Using SQL
- Simplify Queries with SQL<br>Expressions
- Using Wildcard Pattern Matching in Queries
- SQL for Unique Queries
- Error: Unable to open database [LIMSdatabaseName] on [ServerName] via [ODBC Driver Name/Server Native Client] for SQL Server
- Querying the Most Recent N Samples
- Query by Sample Status
- Query Unapproved Samples
- Query Multiple Sample Batches
- How to Query Completed, Unreported, and Unapproved Batches
- Work Load Report
- Investigating Analysis Use
- Updated LIMS Data Query Workbook Now Available
- SQL Expression for Today’s Samples
- Automated Backups with SQL Server Express
- Error: "Cannot Connect To SQL Server" When Trying To Connect Other Workstations
- Error: "Microsoft Excel Is Waiting For LIMS To Complete An OLE Action"
- Creating Scheduled Backups Using SQL Server Express
- Creating A Backup Of Your LIMS SQL Database
- Access-to-SQL Server Database Migration Instructions
- MSC-LIMS v4 to SQL Server Migration Files.zip
- LIMS Upgrade Task Checklist
- Show All Articles (8) Collapse Articles
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- Error: "Undefined function 'Replace$' in expression" when Importing from Excel
- Error: "Can't Find File MS09.DLL" When Starting LIMS
- Error: Unable to Attach LIMSDATA.MDB or its Location May Have Changed
- Issue: Missing Logos on Windows 2000 Workstations
- Issue: LIMS VBA Project is Not Fully Compiled
- Creating an LIMS 4.x Edit LimsCode Shortcut
- Updating LIMS 3.x Installation for Windows 7 and Office 2010 Compatibility
- Installing LIMS under Citrix or Remote Desktop Services
- Creating an LIMS 3.x Edit LimsCode Shortcut
- Moving LIMSDATA to a New Location
- Creating a Development Version of LIMSCODE
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Optimizing Microsoft Access Performance
- Using Barcodes With Other Windows Applications
- Using a Read-Only Version of LIMSDATA
- Show All Articles (1) Collapse Articles
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- Use a Text List to Enter Special Symbols
- Simplify Queries with SQL<br>Expressions
- Using Wildcard Pattern Matching in Queries
- SQL for Unique Queries
- Copy Only Subtotals in Excel
- Quick Data Analysis with Excel
- Use a Dynamic Batch to Speed Login
- Adding a Label Number to labels
- Understanding the Hyperlink Base
- Inactive Items in Pick Lists
- Splitting One Sample Batch into Two
- Compact LimsData Regularly to<br>Improve Performance
- Sending Preliminary Reports with<br>Messaging
- Use a Project to Save Control Chart<br>Lines
- Prevent Samplers and Technicians<br>from Adding or Editing Locations
- Use Analytes to Bill for Services
- Understanding Analysis Specifications
- Values Imported from Excel
- Configuring Instrument Methods
- Create Excel Templates by Copying<br>Other Templates
- Using Customer Sample Login Options
- Verify Your Version 4.0 Setup Folder
- Using the Record Navigation Search<br>Field
- How to Move LimsData to a New Folder
- Creating Electronic Data Deliverables from a Report Template
- Find Projects with a Specific Analyte
- Delete or Inactivate a Customer
- Query Unapproved Samples
- Using the Zoom Window
- Sample Approval by Specific Users
- Keyboard Shortcuts Are Your Friend
- LIMS Users May Benefit from Thin Client Computing
- Date and Time Analyses
- Refine Queries by Selecting Samples
- Adding New Analyses in Specific Order
- Organizing Analyses
- Project vs. Analysis Costs
- Database Size Metrics
- Sample Documents
- Understanding Analysis Costs
- Clean Up your Error Log
- How Large is your Database?
- Adding or Deleting an Analysis from all Batch Samples
- Logging One-Time Customers
- Add Samples to an Existing Batch
- Query Multiple Sample Batches
- How Reliable are your Backups?
- Compact Routinely
- Result Value Formatting for Custom Numbers
- How to Use Location-Specific Analyses
- Database Maintenance and Performance
- Speed Data Entry with Text Lists
- Use the Ditto Keyboard Shortcut
- Integrating LIMS and ERP Systems
- How to Use Default Sample Descriptions
- Entering Results with Scientific Notation
- Sample Schedules
- Linking a Document to a Sample
- Custom Bar Code Not Printing
- Computer Configurations When No Domain Active Directory Present
- Analysis Values "H", "L", and "BDL"
- Creating Scheduled Backups Using SQL Server Express
- Creating A Backup Of Your LIMS SQL Database
- Configuring A New Profile For Messaging
- Access-to-SQL Server Database Migration Instructions
- MSC-LIMS v4 to SQL Server Migration Files.zip
- LIMS Upgrade Task Checklist
- Using Windows Authentication to Connect to SQL Server from Outside the Domain
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
- Removing Users From LIMS
- Show All Articles (55) Collapse Articles
- Use a Text List to Enter Special Symbols
- Error: "Undefined function 'Replace$' in expression" when Importing from Excel
- Error: "Can't Find File MS09.DLL" When Starting LIMS
- Error: Unable to Attach LIMSDATA.MDB or its Location May Have Changed
- Issue: Missing Logos on Windows 2000 Workstations
- Issue: LIMS VBA Project is Not Fully Compiled
- Creating an LIMS 4.x Edit LimsCode Shortcut
- Updating LIMS 3.x Installation for Windows 7 and Office 2010 Compatibility
- Installing LIMS under Citrix or Remote Desktop Services
- Creating an LIMS 3.x Edit LimsCode Shortcut
- Moving LIMSDATA to a New Location
- Creating a Development Version of LIMSCODE
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Optimizing Microsoft Access Performance
- Using Barcodes With Other Windows Applications
- Using a Read-Only Version of LIMSDATA
- Advanced Sample Queries Using SQL
- Finding Samples Missing Analysis Costs Using SQL
- Reducing Lock Conflicts With NetWare
- Reducing Multiuser Database Lock Conflicts
- Creating a New Excel Template Message Style in LIMS Messaging
- Timed Shutdown of LIMS Messaging
- Ctrl-; (semicolon) Keyboard Shortcut Does Not Work in Date Fields
- Entering Dates Using Keyboard Shortcuts
- Populating Sample Pick Lists
- Results by Analyte Display Column
- Result High and Low Warning Flags
- Add an Analysis to Many Projects
- Graph a Single Analyte
- Internal Data Analytes
- Reporting Specific Analytes for Multiple Samples
- When to First Archive Your LIMS Database
- Results by Analyte ‘Display’ Field
- Sampler vs. Employee
- Compact LimsData without LIMS
- Emailing Preliminary Results
- Using Barcode Hardware
- Conclusions Field Character Limit
- Report Results to more Decimal Places
- Synchronize Workstation Configuration Settings
- Incomplete Analyses Organized by Analyst
- Can We Rename The LIMS Database?
- Analysis Values "H", "L", and "BDL"
- Creating Scheduled Backups Using SQL Server Express
- Creating A Backup Of Your LIMS SQL Database
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
- Show All Articles (32) Collapse Articles
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Error Messages
- Error: "Can't Find File MS09.DLL" When Starting LIMS
- Error: "Undefined function 'Replace$' in expression" when Importing from Excel
- Error: Unable to Attach LIMSDATA.MDB or its Location May Have Changed
- Error: "Error running LIMSDATA .AfterTransferFromLIMS procedure in template… Type mismatch"
- Error: "in LoadWorkstation Configuration"
- Error: "The expression you entered has a function name that microsoft access can't find..."
- Error: Unable to open database [LIMSdatabaseName] on [ServerName] via [ODBC Driver Name/Server Native Client] for SQL Server
- Error: "The database cannot be opened because the VBA project…"
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Installing LIMS 2.x on a Machine with Access 2000
- Error: New User Login Account Fails
- LimsCode Size Warning
- Error with a Period in Messaging<br>Attachment File Name
- Error in GetCurrentUsers:<br>Unrecognized database format
- Unwanted MIN and MAX Warnings
- View Current Users Fails
- Messaging’s Email Subjects
- Understanding the LimsCode Size Warning
- Startup Errors
- Error: in CopyRecordsetToWorksheet
- Error in FrmSetupUsers.Form_Open
- Error Querying Samples: "DateTime2"
- Error: "Date And Time Entered Is Earlier Than The Sample's Collected Date And Time"
- Error: "A Runtime Error Has Occurred. "Contact Your LIMS AdministratorError: LoadWorkstationConfiguration"
- Error: "ErrorRunning LIMSDATA.AfterTransferFromLIMS"...
- Error: The Microsoft Access database engine could not find the object 'MSysDb'
- Error: "Cannot Connect To SQL Server" When Trying To Connect Other Workstations
- Error: "Microsoft Excel Is Waiting For LIMS To Complete An OLE Action"
- LIMS Messaging: Clicking Start Causes The Application To Close
- Users Missing From Admin>User Screen in LIMS
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
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Troubleshooting
- Error: "Undefined function 'Replace$' in expression" when Importing from Excel
- Error: "Can't Find File MS09.DLL" When Starting LIMS
- Error: Unable to Attach LIMSDATA.MDB or its Location May Have Changed
- Issue: Missing Logos on Windows 2000 Workstations
- Issue: LIMS VBA Project is Not Fully Compiled
- Issue: Excel Cell Formats Change After Copying Data From LIMSData Worksheet
- Incomplete Samples with All Results
- Who Deleted Samples and When
- Results by Analyte Display Column
- Results Entry Inserting Login Name Instead of Initials
- Understanding the LimsCode Size Warning
- Troubleshoot Network Problems with a Local LimsData
- Cannot Log In After New Workstation Install
- Error: "Cannot Connect To SQL Server" When Trying To Connect Other Workstations
- Computer Configurations When No Domain Active Directory Present
- Issue: Receiving Flagged Results After Changing Analysis Specs
- Analysis Values "H", "L", and "BDL"
- Creating A Backup Of Your LIMS SQL Database
- Users Missing From Admin>User Screen in LIMS
- Using Windows Authentication to Connect to SQL Server from Outside the Domain
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
- Show All Articles (6) Collapse Articles
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User Defined Reports
- Developing and Testing a UDR Without Requerying Data
- Hiding a UDR Column
- Issue: UDR Summary Statistics Do Not Work On Columns With Expressions
- UDR Formula and Expression Dependency Rules
- Create an Invoice Summary Report
- Save LIMS Reports to PDF Files
- Automated Final Report Footnotes in<br>Excel
- Calculate Sample Turnaround with a UDR
- Sample Turnaroun
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File Library
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Downloads & Documentation Library
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- LIMS Installation Guide v6
- LIMS User Guide v6
- Computer Configurations When No Domain Active Directory Present
- Downloads
- LIMS Release Notes v6
- LIMS Programmer's Guide v6
- LIMS Messaging Guide v6
- INSTALLING J STREET LIMS v6 ON YOUR WORKSTATIONS - Step By Step Guide
- Updating Messaging v6 ODBC Driver and Database Connection
- Access-to-SQL Server Database Migration Instructions
- MSC-LIMS v4 to SQL Server Migration Files.zip
- LIMS Upgrade Task Checklist
- Instructions for Updating Custom LIMS Excel Templates
- J Street LIMS v6 System Requirements Addendum
- Using Windows Authentication to Connect to SQL Server from Outside the Domain
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
- Show All Articles (1) Collapse Articles
- LIMS User Guide v5
- LIMS Messaging Guide v5
- LIMS Release Notes v5
- LIMS Annual Maintenance & Support Policy
- Add LIMS Analyses
- Add LIMS Customers
- CofA Example by Requirement
- LIMS User Guide v6
- LIMS Installation Guide v6
- View Index Fragmentation
- Downloads
- Computer Configurations When No Domain Active Directory Present
- LIMS Release Notes v6
- LIMS Programmer's Guide v6
- LIMS Messaging Guide v6
- Installing Existing LIMS v4 On A New Workstation
- INSTALLING J STREET LIMS v6 ON YOUR WORKSTATIONS - Step By Step Guide
- Access-to-SQL Server Database Migration Instructions
- MSC-LIMS v4 to SQL Server Migration Files.zip
- LIMS Upgrade Task Checklist
- Instructions for Updating Custom LIMS Excel Templates
- Error: "Unable to open database" Troubleshooting Guide
- Show All Articles (7) Collapse Articles
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Bench Sheets
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QuickBooks
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Excel Interface
- Issue: Excel Cell Formats Change After Copying Data From LIMSData Worksheet
- Interface BAX Instrument with LIMS Software
- How to Display Sample Characteristics in an Import by Sample Template
- How to Read the Contents of a LIMS Report Control from Excel
- How to Remove a Template's LIMS Infrastructure
- How to Update Template References for LIMS 3.x
- How to Use Customer and Outside Lab Lists in a MS Word Mail Merge
- Query Data with the LIMS Data Query Workbook
- Importing formatted analysis results<br>from Excel
- Current Example Excel Export Templates
- Creating a Basic Excel Export Template
- Create Custom Container Labels with Excel
- Values Imported from Excel
- Create Excel Templates by Copying<br>Other Templates
- Using Excel’s Formula Evaluator
- Accessing Excel’s Name Manager
- Significant Figure Rounding in Excel
- Importing Result Types from Excel
- Excel Template’s ‘LIMS Access Version’ Setting
- Date and Time of Results Imported from Excel
- Getting Started with Excel Template Reports
- Improve Excel Reports with Conditional Formatting
- Introduction to LIMS’ Excel VBA Macros
- Creating a Basic Excel Import Template
- Using Date and Time Analyses
- How to Copy and Open an Excel Template
- Export Analysis Results to Excel
- Importing Dates from Excel
- Check your Excel Template’s LIMSAccessVersion
- AnalysisResultFormatted and AnalysisResult Fields in Excel
- Create a Tabular Report with an EDD Template
- How to Debug an Excel Template Macro
- Creating Protected Excel Workbooks
- Round or use Excel’s “Precision as<br>Displayed”
- Changing a Sample Pick List’s Column Contents
- Log Samples from Excel
- Export a Customer List
- How to Evaluate Excel Formulas Incrementally
- Quick Data Export to Excel
- Selecting Excel Template Folders
- Excel Template Report Disclaimers
- Excel Template Folders in Version 5.x
- Showing LIMSData Sheet Data in an Excel Template
- Custom Bar Code Not Printing
- Show All Articles (29) Collapse Articles
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Labels
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Table/Field Names
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Newsletters
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- January 2004: Newsletter
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User Roles
Use a Dynamic Batch to Speed Login
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 using predefined named lists of samples. For example, if a water treatment plant routinely collects the same 25 samples throughout the plant every weekday morning, the LIMS administrator can define a single “Weekday Morning Plant Samples” login batch with the static sample characteristics for all 25 samples. Using batch login, the user selects the batch then enters any sample characteristics such as the collected date to apply to all batch samples.
Any sample-specific data can be entered in the batch login screen before completing the login. Using batch login for such repetitive samples is obviously faster than single sample login.
When you frequently log a group of samples that are not routine to warrant a predefined login batch but still have similar characteristics, batch login may still offer advantages. In this case, you can use batch login to dynamically build the batch of samples and log the samples faster than using single sample login.
To use dynamic batch login you must first create an empty login batch used for this purpose. Open the Login Batches screen on the Setup menu and enter only a name and optional notes. Do not define any samples in this batch. The screen below shows our example empty “Dynamic Batch.”
With an empty login batch we are ready to use batch login to dynamically build a list of samples to log. Select the Batch Login option on the Samples menu then choose your empty dynamic batch. Note that when selecting an empty batch, the sample characteristics listed under “Apply to all Samples” will be disabled since there are no pre-defined samples to which the characteristics can be applied. Click the OK button to proceed.
Enter the sample characteristics for the first sample in the Batch Login screen. After you have completed the first sample, click the save record toolbar button to enable the Copy Current Sample button. Now enter the number of times to copy the sample then click the Copy Current Sample button. In the example below (see next page) we are copying the sample four times to create a batch of five samples.
To change any field across samples simply place the cursor in the field and make the change then use either the Page Up/Page Down keys or the buttons in the lower left to navigate between samples. Alternatively, you can click the Summary View button to open a datasheet view of the samples.
In our example five-sample batch, the only field that differs between samples is the sample’s description. The Summary View screen below shows how easy it is to make these changes. Note that you can also copy and delete samples in the Summary View as well.
To complete the batch login, close the Summary View screen and click the [OK] button on the Batch Login screen. You will see that all of the samples in the batch are assigned a single sequential batch number, which you can use later to quickly query all of the samples in the batch for results entry or reporting. You may also find it efficient to use the batch number as a report number on your own custom Excel final reports.
You can also use the Copy Current Sample button to build your batch incrementally. For example, if we had a batch of 10 samples to log where the first five samples were similar and the last five samples were similar but differed from the first five, you can build the batch in steps. Complete the first sample and copy it four times as we did above. Now navigate to a new sample using Records | Go To | New Record or the navigation button. Complete the sixth sample and copy it four times.
If you haven’t already done so, explore the advantages of dynamic batch login and you may speed your sample login process.