Lab Request Group Types

When creating a lab request template, users can add the following group types:

Fields

Adding a “Field” group inserts a simple, unstructured block into the request, separated by a spacer, where users can add fields.

Inline

Inline groups allow for more organization compared to standard field groups. When fields are added to an inline group, they automatically create inline child groups. These child groups will appear grouped together on the lab request. In the example below, two inline groups, each containing two inline child groups, have been added to the definition.

Tab

Instead of scrolling down a long lab request, we can also add Tab groups to separate related sections into distinct pages. Constraints can also be applied to tabs to control visibility, ensuring that the right users or user groups see only the relevant information. To add tabs to a template, take the following steps.

1. Within the Add Group tab, select “Tab” for the group type.
2. Add a group name.
3. Select the new Tab group.
4. Add additional groups.

Once a Tab group has been added, any additional groups (i.e. fields, inlines, lists) added directly to the Tab group will become an individual tab. In the example below, three tabs—Main, Recipes, and Notebooks—are created within the “Parent Group” Tab group.

List

A List group embeds a listing into the lab request, allowing users to pull relevant entities into the request. Learn more about using attributes to filter list groups.

To add a List group, take the following steps.

1. Within the Add Group tab, select “List” for the group type.
2. Add a group name.
3. Select the entity type displayed in the lisiting by selecting a base type (A).
4. Set whether to disable “Create”. Doing so prevents users from adding new entities to the listing from within the lab request.
5. Add a sub scope.

Comment Thread

Adds a Comment Thread entity inline on the request template. Comments can be added and will appear directly on the lab request.

Custom

Select from a list of Custom group types, built-in on the backend. Options include:

• labMeasurements: Adds buttons to adds results, measurements, test samples, output groups, and upload data directly from the request.
• entityTimesheet: Adds a timesheet, useful for recording lab technician hours.
• entityTasks: Adds a Tasks listing to the request.
• Inventory Controls: Adds buttons to add, archive, move, and split inventory.
• Listing Filters: Adds standard listing filters to the request.

When creating a standard lab request template, it is generally recommended to include the labMeasurements Custom group type as it enables users to add and upload data directly from the request.

Embedded Entities

Embedded Entities enable you to integrate entity forms directly into your lab request form instead of linking them. Individual embedded entities are displayed as tabs and information displayed is configurable.

To add an embedded entities group type, take the following steps:

1. Within the Add Group tab, select “Embedded Entities” for the group type (A).
2. Add a group name.
3. Set the Display to “Tabs” (B).
4. For source, select either:
   1. EmbeddedEntitiesSourceField: Select entices using an id fields.
   2. EmbeddedEntitiesSourceIdSource: Select entities using id sources, allowing for more complex configurations with attributes.
5. Select entities to embed (C).

Related Entities

Adding a Related Entities group allows users to add previews of related recipes or entities as graphs directly on their request forms. To add a Related Entities group to a request template, take the following steps.

1. Within the Add Group tab, select “Embedded Entities” for the group type (A).
2. Select either “Related Recipes” or “Related Entities” (B).
3. Choose the corresponding source field (C). Note that source fields must be a fixed list multiple.

Sub-Entities

A Sub-Entities group allows you to use custom entities to add sub-requests within a parent lab request. An in-depth article covering sub-entities is coming soon.