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State Materials Office / Administration / Laboratory Information Systems / FAQ Index / Reports

LIMS Reports

Q1: I logged a sample in LIMS into another lab, but I forgot to print the Sample Transmittal (C-22 card) report.  Now I am unable to access the sample to print the Sample Transmittal. Is there a way that I can still print the report even though I no longer have custody of the sample?

A1: Yes, you can access any sample in LIMS under the status screens. From these screens, you can print the Sample Transmittal report. If you know the LIMS Sample ID, you can use the Sample Status by Sample Id screen to locate the sample. On the top of the screen, you will see the C-22 Card icon. You can print the report from this screen. 

If you do not have the LIMS Sample ID and you logged the sample in or you know the User ID of the person who logged it in, you can user the Sample Status by Logger ID screen. You will need to enter the logger ID and a date range.  Click on the Search icon.  A list of LIMS Sample IDs will appear on the screen.  Click on the correct LIMS Sample ID, and then click on the C-22 Info icon.

Q2: After I run a report in LIMS, my computer “freezes”.  All I get is an hour glass and I can’t get LIMS to do anything else.  What’s going on?

A2: LIMS generates some reports using an internal Crystal Reports writer.  The process opens up a DOS window “C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe”. (To see example of screen, please visit: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statematerialsoffice/laboratory/lims/questions/windowsscreen.jpg)

After closing the report in LIMS, be sure to close the DOS window also.   Sometimes, the window gets minimized.  If you don’t see it on your screen, check the task bar to see if it’s been minimized and then close the window.

Q3: What does "Discrete Value" mean when I generate a report in LIMS?

A3: When LIMS asks for a discrete value it means you must type in the field exactly as it is shown in LIMS in order for LIMS to find the information. For example, if you tell LIMS you want Material ID 004f, you won't get any search results in your report because LIMS is looking for 004F.

Q4: Can the data entry personal be able to sort the sample numbers with in LIMS?

A4: FDOT Sample numbers are frequently duplicated from one project to another so they are not unique to the database.  The LIMS Sample Id is a unique identifier for each sample.  In the future, we will update LIMS to recognize the FDOT sample number for some reports.

Q5: On sample status report could the field show when the sample test results were entered?

A5: No, but you can find this information on the audit trail.