Utilities - Data Extracts

Table of Contents

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.

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.

Users can define extract templates to store a predefined set of columns which will be included within the data extract. Each type of data extract can store multiple extract templates which can be defined and saved before generating the data extract.

When performing extracts for Activity and Sample Tracking records, you have a couple of extract options available to you. If you select a single type of form, you will be presented two Extract Type options.

Extract Type	Description
Standard	Displays a list of fields configured in the Search / Results Display settings in Admin to select from
User-Configured	Displays a list of all fields associated with that single form to select from

If you select multiple forms to extract data from, you can only select fields configured in Admin in the Search Results / Display settings for each type of extract (Activity, Sample / Specimen, Test).

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.

If a record is billed by mistake, it can be marked as Unbilled by using the Unbill button.

Subsection Specific Notes

Subsection	Notes
Scheduling & Dispatch	Times associated with a work order will display according to the Project Time Zone setting. You can add the Project Time Zone to the extract as a field to help you interpret times across multiple time zones and projects.
Activity	Filter panel is configurable. Results grid is configurable. Data can only be extracted for like forms. Extract columns can't be saved for future use. See the Extract Type options in the Data Extract Buttons section above. Extract fields for multi-form extracts must be configured in Administration in the Search / Display Results settings.
Safety	Filter panel is configurable. Results grid is configurable. Data can only be extracted for like forms. Extract columns can't be saved for future use. See the Extract Type options in the Data Extract Buttons section above. Extract fields for multi-form extracts must be configured in Administration in the Search / Display Results settings.
Nuclear Gauges	Manual Count gauges / data are not available for extract since it is assumed these records are maintained outside of MetaField.
Density Testing	Extracts must be filtered to a specific Test Type.
Concrete / Grout / Mortar	Two data views exist - Sample and Specimen. Billing a Sample record will mark all of the underlying Specimen records as billed. Concrete and Grout Field Tests and Batch Logs can only be extraced and billed from the sample extract.
Sample Tracking	Two data views exist - Sample / Specimen and Test Billing a Sample / Specimen record does NOT bill a Test record. Billing a Test record does not bill a Sample / Specimen record. Filter panel is configurable. Results grid is configurable. See the Extract Type options in the Data Extract Buttons section above. Extract fields for multi-form extracts must be configured in Administration in the Search / Display Results settings.
Billing Costs	Extract Fields Bill Export Date Field Cost ID Project Number Project Name Client Name Work Item Date Cost Type Cost Type Code Lab # Lab Cost Unit Unit Cost Units Total Cost Cost Notes Selection of fields / columns is not an option in this data extract.
Soil Proctor	Extract Fields Bill Export Date Project ID Project Number Project Name Client Name Proctor ID Selection of fields / columns is not an option in this data extract.
Bituminous	Extract Fields Bill Export Date Project ID Project Number Project Name Client Name Sample ID Test Method Selection of fields / columns is not an option in this data extract.