LDB release history 2023

Search in LDB Manual
The LDB Manual now includes a search function that allows you to search all manual entries.
See: LDB Manual

Improved Note Function and Templates
The improved note-taking feature (Markdown editor) is now also available for 8D reports, training sessions, validations, and material management, allowing you to insert text formatting, links, images, etc., into the description fields. Templates for text elements (by data type) can now also be created and reused. Additionally, there is a dedicated button for raising or lowering characters.


Validations for Billing Items
The automatic suggestion of billing items for orders—including the applicable rules—can now be added to validations with the click of a button and thus automatically checked during each validation.

Warning for Invoices
For invoices, a note or warning can now be entered that appears in red in LDB but is not displayed on the invoice itself. This allows, for example, invoices to be marked as overdue.

Warnings stored for a customer are now also displayed in the invoice and report overview.


Qualifications via Document Read Confirmation
Optionally (enabled via a checkbox for each qualification), you can now configure the system so that an employee receives the qualification upon confirming that they have read a document associated with that qualification.

Logging In with Passkey
Passkey is a new way to log in to LDB that offers enhanced security and a faster, more convenient login experience.

To log in to LDB with Passkey, you are not asked for a username or password. Instead, a Passkey is generated on a device (PC, cell phone, or security key). The Passkey consists of a key pair. A public key is transmitted to LDB and stored there, while a private key is stored on the device and is not transmitted. When logging in, you must confirm that these keys match. This can be done, for example, via fingerprint, facial scan, or by entering a PIN.

Passkey is supported by the latest versions of Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Below is a comparison of the various login options in LDB.


Critical access rights require SSO, Passkey, or MFA
Critical access rights, which allow for extensive insights (e.g., audit trail) or data modifications (e.g., editing parameters), are marked with a “ ” in access rights management and, as of January 1, 2024, require login via Single Sign-On (SSO), a passkey, or multi-factor authentication (MFA).

New Features for the Markdown Editor
In the Markdown editor (e.g., for notes, documents, etc.), you can now create and reuse templates. Additionally, it is now possible to enter superscript or subscript text (e.g.,_H2O).

New Features for Reports
Reports can be enabled for retrieval via a parameter-specific URL key, e.g., using a QR code.
When sending reports via email, stored files (e.g., signed reports) can now also be sent automatically.

ELN – Electronic Lab Notebook
LDB now has an ELN (ElectronicLabNotebook). We will present the ELN in a future post. If you are interested in the LDB ELN, please contact us.

Linking Access Rights to Employee Groups and Qualifications
Access rightscan now also be assigned directly to employee groups. Furthermore, qualifications can be linked to access rights so that only employees with a corresponding and valid qualification have access to a specific access right.

The names, grouping, and order of access rights have been updated and are now available in either German or English.

Access rights to reports are now displayed and managed in a separate section.


Tasks for Employee Groups
Tasks can now also be assigned to employee groups. If a task is overdue, all employees in the group are notified. As soon as one employee marks the task as completed, the task is marked as completed for everyone.

Reports with Export Confirmation for the “Customer” Data Type
Logging data exports with reports is now also possible for the “Customer” data type.



Sending SMS Notifications with Reports
Similar to emails, SMS notifications can now also be sent with reports. Please note that SMS sending must be enabled for your LDB instance and incurs additional costs.



Status Management for Batches, Test Equipment,andCustomers
Status management can now also be used for batches,test equipment, and customers. This allows you to assign custom status types to these data types and map out workflows.
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LDB – Dark Mode
For users who want to keep a clear view of all their lab data even at night, there is now a Dark Mode that allows you to switch the LDB layout to a dark theme.



Tasks
Working with tasks has been improved so that the new editor—with formatting, links, and file uploads—is now accessible in the overall task overview and when editing tasks retroactively.

Audit Trail
The audit trail’s data structure has been expanded, providing more options for searching and analyzing audit trail entries, and ensuring that all entries are displayed in the selected user language. Additionally, color-coding now makes it easier to see what has been changed. This is particularly helpful when changes are made to longer texts.


Analysis
In analyses with predefined buttons, the buttons can now be clicked without having to reload the page after each click.

Status Management (Enterprise Cloud Feature)
In Status Management, you can now configure the system so that a record with a specific status is locked and/or hidden. This allows you to implement workflows and approval processes.

File Import
When importing files, the sample import key can now be selected from the sample’s master data, so that the imported files can be automatically assigned to the correct sample.

Material Management
If manufacturers are selected for materials, the relevant materials are now also displayed under the manufacturer.

Results Table
In the system settings, you can now select the method for calculating the standard deviation.

Note
The items in this update were also presented during our user call on September 15, 2023.
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Status Management with Access Rights
Access rights can now be assigned for selecting specific status conditions. For example, Status Management can now be configured so that the sample status “Approved” can only be selected by specific employees or employee groups.



Okta Added as an SSO Provider
Okta can now also be used as an identity provider for logging in with Single Sign-On (SSO).



More Variables for Reports
Reportscan now use up to 1,000 variables VAR0 through VAR4 ) instead of the previous 5 variables ( VAR0 through VAR999 ).

PDF Label Printing via Reports
PDF label printing for samples, orders, etc., can now be configured via reports and linked from all pages of LDB.

Connect Import Interface Form to Sample Scanner
By connecting import interface forms to the samplescanner, you can scan multiple samples at once using the sample scanner and then transfer them directly to a form to, for example, record a sample receipt.

Test EquipmentControl ChartImport: Importing Notes
When importing control values into test equipment control charts, notes associated with the control values can now also be imported.


New Parameter Formula Functions: wenns() and ifs()
With the new parameterformulafunctions wenns() and ifs(), it is easier to construct nested formulas with multiple queries.

wenns(v['pH'] < 3, 'very acidic',
v['pH'] < 6, 'acidic',
v['pH'] < 8, 'neutral',
'alkaline')

Regex for Parameter Data Types
Regex validations can now also be defined for parameter data types.
See: Data Types Guide

Example: /^([0-9]|1[0-4])$|^$/
For the pH value, only values between 0 and 14 or an empty field are allowed:

Document Control with Automatic Chapter Numbering
When creating documents in the LDB Document Control system, automatic chapter numbering can now be enabled. This automatically numbers chapters (#) and subchapters (##, ###).



Tasks for Quotes, Materials, and Batches
Tasks can now be assigned not only to customers, orders, and test equipment, but also to quotes, materials, and batches.

Tasks: Formatting with the New Editor
Tasks can now also include formatting, images, and links to customers, orders, samples, and more.



New Triggers for Reports
Report triggers—which run automatically when records are created or edited—can now be set up not only for orders and samples but also for invoices and test equipment, allowing you to configure additional automated workflows.

Batch Processing for Orders
Batch processing has been expanded so that, in addition to samples and reports, orders can now also be processed in batches.

Validations Show the Extent of Test Coverage
You can define tests for ongoing automated validation of your LDB instance. To achieve optimal test coverage, you can now see in the validation overview how well your defined settings are covered by automated tests.



Sample Import Using Standard JSON Format
A standard JSON format is now also available for the sample import interface, including all master data fields and parameters.

New Access Rights for Notes
In addition to the general “Notes Overview” access right, which grants access to all notes, you can now also grant specific access to notes in the customer, order, and test equipment views. For example, users can be granted access to the notes in the customer view without needing access to all notes. Users who have been granted access to the “Notes Overview” automatically see the notes in the customer, order, and test equipment views as well.

Sample and Order Status
The status types for samples and orders now have updated icons, and additional status types can be created as needed.

Access Rights to Notes
Access rights to the "Notes Overview" now also control access to the notes view for customers, orders, and test equipment.

Report Reissue
When a report that has already been signed is reissued, the person who created the reissued version is now also displayed and saved as the creator.
If your system settings specify that the signer cannot be the same as the creator, this is now also ensured for reissued reports. In this case, the creator of the reissued report cannot sign the newly created report themselves.

New Editor for Notes
With our new editor, you can now format the text in your notes and insert images directly using drag-and-drop or copy-and-paste. You can also use "@" to mention colleagues, which automatically notifies them of the new note, and use "#" to create links to customers, orders, samples, and more.



Creating Documents
In Document Management, you can now create documents directly in LDB. With the new document editor, you can create formatted text, insert images via drag-and-drop or copy-and-paste, and link to employees or LDB records (as with notes, see above).
This allows you to create, version, and then review or approve extensive documents in LDB.
When creating new document versions, LDB also shows you exactly which changes were made compared to the previous version.



Import Interface for Measurement Value ID
For importing measurement data, you can now reference the ID of an existing measurement value directly in the import mapping to update it specifically via an import.

Thumbnails for TIF and BMP Files
LDB’s image preview has been improved so that a thumbnail is now generated for TIF andBMPimages as well.

Processing Online Analysis Requests
Onlineanalysis requests that have not yet been confirmed by your customers remain stored in the customer portal, and your customer can still edit and confirm them at a later time.

Sorting of Billing Items
The sorting of billing items in quotes, orders, and invoices has been corrected.

File Import for Batches
For the "File Import" import interface type, you can now configure the system so that the imported file is automatically linked to material batches based on the file name. The file name must match the batch number (regardless of the file extension).

Document Control System Settings
In the system settings for document control, you can now specify how many days before the validity check expires a warning message should appear (default: 30 days).
Additionally, you can configure the system so that the creator, reviewer, and approver must be different individuals.

Order Confirmation Email with SQL Variables
When sending order confirmation emails, you can now set up SQL variables for the suggested email content. If you send order confirmation emails and would like additional data to be automatically populated here, please contact your account manager.

Order Scanner
Similar to the Sample Scanner, you can now set up an Order Scanner in the system settings. This provides you with an interface where you can scan any number of orders and execute predefined steps.

Database Cluster Upgrade
The LDB database cluster was upgraded from MySQL 5.7 to MySQL 8 on Saturday, March 4, 2023, between 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM.

Configurable Input Forms for LDB and the Customer Zone
Your account managers can now design custom input forms within your LDB instance or Customer Zone, so that your employees or customers are guided through the process of filling out specific fields with explanatory text, images, or videos.
The data entered is captured via import interfaces, thereby creating or updating records.
For example, you can create custom pages for sample receipt confirmation or for your customers to record on-site measurements.

Document Control: Confirm Extended Validity
In Document Control, the validity of a document version can now be confirmed at specified intervals without having to create a new version.

Select Multiple Parameter Types During Evaluation
When defining evaluations for parameters in the sample view, you can now select multiple parameters per evaluation.

Expanded search filter for stored files
The search filter forstoredfiles now includes additional filter criteria for employees, samples, orders, and parameter types.



Improved frame layout in the results table
The frame layout in the header of the results table now more clearly shows which parameter column corresponds to which parameter.




Data Security
- There is now a direct logout button in the navigation bar at the top right.
- When you change your password, you will receive a confirmation email.

Create a ZIP archive of selected files
In the file overview, you can now select multiple files and download them together as a ZIP archive. This feature is helpful if you want to download a large number of stored files at once.

New parameter data type: material_type=X
The new parameter data type material_type=X is now available for recording material batches for samples. X can be used to define a material category, allowing you to select a batch from all materials in that category.

Highlight Clicked Links in Tables
When working through long lists, entries that have already been clicked are highlighted in color.

Billing Items in Quotes and Invoices Can Be Copied
Quotes and invoices now feature a dedicated button for copying billing items.


Configurable warning when signing reports
Whensigningone or more reports, rules can be checked and notes or warnings can be displayed. The rules are managed in the system settings.

Data Security
- New access right: “View All Reports” (without editing)
- Password encryption for SFTP backup and SMTP account
- After a successful login, the time of the last login is displayed