How do I add data to the LIMS?
Preparing data for transmission to the LIMS is straightforward and you need only two things: 1) your metadata file and 2) the name/location of the transfer folder.
Generating your metadata file
The LIMS system has tools for generating metadata tools. You should/must use these tools to generate a correctly formatted metadata file! Metadata files can be produced one at a time (via the form, Fig 1) or in batches (via the batch utility, Fig 2), as shown below.
Fig 1. Metadata: form version
Fig 2. Metadata: batch version
Regardless of which method you choose, you will fill out a series of fields (using the form or batch template file) to describe the nature of the data, the instrument(s) used, the chemical species in your sample, etc. Once you have your metadata files, you're ready for the next step.
Preparing data for transfer
On each computer connected to the LIMS, there is a folder designated for LIMS transfers. This enables a user-curated submission process in which only “good” or meaningful data makes its way to the system. Consult the project scientist or lab technician in charge of the instrument of interest for information on where to find this transfer folder.
With your metadata and data files in hand, place/copy the files into the transfer folder. (Important note: make sure your data file names and file extensions match those in the metadata file(s). The LIMS system will operate under the assumption that no two metadata files share the same data files; please make sure this assumption is not broken!).
Once you've placed the metadata and data files into the transfer folder, you're done! The LIMS system and its utility scripts will take over from here, transferring the data to the system and later loading it. Depending on the instrument, file transfers take place hourly or daily. File uploads into the LIMS currently take place daily.