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Purpose
The Utilities module provides data extract and billing management tools for the various modules within MetaField.
This subsections of Utilities will allow you to view data and create .csv data extract files for both analysis and billing purposes.
Utilities Interface
All subsections of the Utilities module share similar controls to find data, extract data and create billing extract files. Generally speaking, the screens consist of:
- Filter Panel
- Results Grid
- Data Extract Buttons
- Billing Buttons
Users who have access to use the Utilities module will have access to all project data, regardless of their data firewall settings that may restrict access to certain projects. Bear this in mind when assigning rights to the Utilities module.
Filter Panel
The filter panel will appear at the top of the screen. Like other filter panels, it allows you to search / narrow your data according to the filter criteria you supply.
Filter panels for the Activity and Sample Tracking subsections will contain both fixed filter controls and configurable filter controls. Configurable filter controls can be managed in the Activity - Search / Results Display for Activity and LIMS - Search / Results Display for Sample Tracking.
Results Grid
The results gird displays data meeting your filter search criteria.
Results grid columns for Activity and Sample Tracking subsections can be configured using the the respective Search / Results Display settings - Activity - Search / Results Display for Activity and LIMS - Search / Results Display for Sample Tracking.
Data Extract Buttons
Basic data extracts are performed using the Extract Selected Records or Extract All Records buttons. Clicking one of these buttons will display a pop up that allows you to select the fields you want on your extract. A .csv file will be generated with the columns you have selected. In some cases (Activity and Sample Tracking), some additional columns will be included in your extract that you did not select. This allows for non-configurable fields (i.e. Project Number, Project Name, Client Name, etc...) to be included in extracts based on configurable forms.
When performing extracts for Activity and Sample Tracking records, you are only allowed to perform an extract for like forms (Activity records, Sample Records, Test Records). When you are presented with the list of field options, the fields available to you will be common to that particular configurable form.
The Extract All Records option is useful when you need to extract a large set of data that spans multiple screen pages.
Billing Buttons
Billing data extracts are performed using the Bill Selected... and Bill All... buttons. Similar to the data extract process, you will select the columns you want to be part of your billing data extract. Once extracted, the underlying record will be considered billed. Billing extract files generate a .csv file also.
Administrators can control who has access to create billing extracts. Granular permissions exist to control this capability for each subsection.
Previous Billing Extracts
Previous billing data extracts can be accessed by clicking the Previous Billing Extracts button. A simple filter panel and grid will appear. Supply a date range to filter the underlying billing files. Select the needed records and click the Download button to download a copy of a previous billing extract file.
