Through this menu, you can define multiple storage system options, such as: storage method, replication storage method, tube cap colors, straw colors, plus the option to disable aliquot barcode display.

To access it, go to Admin → Storage → Manage Storage → Options. (as shown in the screenshot below).



  • Automatic/Suggestion storage method: The storage guesser feature allows you to optimize your storage usage by automatically filling any empty spaces (or "holes") in your storage grid. You can choose to turn this feature ON or OFF depending on your preferences. 

Additionally, you have the option to select the "first available position" or "last available position" filling method. The "first available position" method will fill any holes in the storage grid in the order in which they are found. The "last available position" method, on the other hand, will fill holes at the end of the storage list, ignoring any empty spaces that may be present elsewhere in the grid. The choice of filling method will affect the way the storage guesser organizes your items and may impact the overall efficiency of your storage system. (As shown in the screenshot below).



  • Replication storage mangement method: here you can control the relationship between master samples and replica samples in your storage system. Please note that by default, all actions performed on the master sample will automatically be applied to all replica samples. This means that if you move, delete, or update the master sample, the same changes will be made to all replicas. This is useful for keeping your samples organized and ensuring consistency across all replicas. 

On the other hand, "Replica samples independent to master sample" means that replica samples will only be linked to the master sample based on the first storage. This means that any further actions or modifications made to the master sample will not be automatically applied to replicas. This option might be useful if you want to have more control over the replica samples, and make changes to them without affecting the master sample. However, it may lead to discrepancies or inconsistencies between the master and replica samples over time. It's up to you to decide which one fits your use case best.



  • Manage tube cap colors: this feature allows you to easily identify and organize your samples by associating different tube cap colors for specific sample types. This feature will be displayed on the box maps, making it easy for you to quickly locate and identify your samples. For example, red for blood samples and blue for DNA samples (as shown in the screenshot below). tube cap color collection will be displayed on the box maps.


Tips / Hints

You can always define sample types under Admin → Preferences → Sample Types



  • Manage straw colors: this feature allows you to customize and organize your straws by selecting your preferred color (which can be done from a predefined color palette) and setting rules for color usage. Additionally, you can decide whether colors can be repeated in the same visotube or not. This means you can choose to have multiple straws of the same color in the same visotube. This can be useful for keeping track of multiple samples that are stored together, so you can easily differentiate between them by just looking at the color of the straws.





The colors can be selected using the tool or by typing in the color code directly. 


The text within the parentheses will be displayed on the expandable legend tab of the box view and list view (as shown below).


 

Box view showing color legend.


List view showing legend.


  • NEW! Display Aliquot Barcode: here you have the option to disable aliquot barcode display (which is located to the right of the record's name inside the module).