General questions
What file types can LabArchives store?
LabArchives is compatible with ALL file types. LabArchives can load and store any type of file within pages of notebooks. LabArchives has built in file viewers for some common file types (e.g. MS-Office, PDF, Txt, picture files etc), that enable the User to view file content within LabArchives. The limitation is that each individual file must not exceed 250MB. For files larger than 250MB, consider creating links from LabArchives to these locally stored large data files.
Does LabArchives integrate with Microsoft Office?
LabArchives has built in viewers for Office file types. LabArchvices also integrates directly with Office applications through plugins for Office, Powerpoint and Excel. These plugins allow Office applications to open and save files directly into a LabArchives Notebook.
Does LabArchives integrate with GraphPad Prism?
GraphPad Prism includes a direct interface to LabArchives. Prism Users have the ability to save a file directly to LabArchives and/or to open files from LabArchives within Prism.
Does LabArchives support an offline working mode?
No. Users can download an offline HTML version of their Notebook(s), but it is not possible to upload and re-sync with the online Notebook. You may also create an offline PDF as a copy of your Notebook. We have noted this offline feature for future development.
Is the LabArchives App used on mobile devices working offline?
No. The Notebook displayed in the mobile App is not a "local' or "offline" copy, but simply a different view into the online Notebook. Without an internet connection, it is not possible to access a Notebook via the mobile App.
Should I do my own backups?
All LabArchives content is stored and securely backed-up in both the primary and backup data centres located in Sydney (Australia). Some Users export their Notebooks to PDF files on a regular basis and we suggest all Notebook owners create a local backup strategy and copy material to a secure repository within Monash's infrastructure.
What happens if the network drops out or I lose my mobile connection?
Loss of content while editing entries is minimised by an auto-save feature that automatically saves an entry after 5 seconds of inactivity such as would occur if the network dropped out. So even though you haven't clicked Save data loss will be minimal.
Can LabArchives be linked to Dropbox?
LabArchives has not integrated with Dropbox, however this is in their development roadmap for 2017. Please be mindful when storages such as Dropbox and iCloud. eSolutions does not recommend using Dropbox as a means of storing and sharing data. Any use of Dropbox is via an agreement with you the individual and Dropbox. Contrast that with Google Drive where the agreement is between the University and Google protected by a Safe Harbour agreement with guarantees on where data is stored and how it's protected. In the case of Dropbox you've no knowledge of where the cloud based data is stored nor who else may have access to it. Similar issues apply to using iCloud in the same manner. Most importantly using services like Dropbox or iCloud are likely to place you in breech of your agreements with funding bodies like the NHMRC and ARC.
Will LabArchives support QR code scanning for record entries or tagging?
This is not currently an active item for development. It would be helpful to gather more information on the type of functionality envisioned for this feature request.
Can LabArchives support FileMaker as an embedded application?
LabArchives has an API, and our widget platform, that developers can use to create an integration between another application (if this application has this functionality). It would be helpful to get a bit more information on the specific work flow that is currently being used for FileMaker and LabArchives,so we can provide additional feedback.
Is the email being sent to the Australian instance of LabArchives at inbox@au.labarchives.com rather than the US instance?
Email sent to the LabArchives inbox must come from the email account used by the User in LabArchives.
Can active URL links to other reference sites be embedded in the LabArchives notes?
Yes, this is possible to do. There are two options for this:
- In a Rich Text entry, you can use the link button in the toolbar and embed a link to another site within text or even as part of an image (though the former is usually much more intuitive). This will open separate tab or browser window depending on the configuration of the User's browser.
- Users can add links to a saved entry, by editing the entry and accessing the "Edit Links" link which is in the far-right area of the entry. This feature allows Users to link to another entry (page or folder) in the current Notebook OR to link to any external URL (which is the use case described in your question).In addition, you can specify the version of the page to which you are linking when creating a link to another page in the Notebook.
Will LabArchives provide an auto-fill or pull-down list of previously created tags when tagging new objects in future?
As you add tags throughout the Notebook, you will see the list of tags that currently exist and select an existing tag or add new ones.
How are accounts created?
There are two ways for an account to be created and in both cases it begins with a "holding account" that must be activated.
- First, a User creates his/her own account. As part of the account creation process, the User's email address is reserved so that no other account can be created using this email address. The User must then activate the account from an email that the LabArchives system sends to the User's email address. If you cannot find that activation email, please check your email Spam folder.
- Second, when someone is added to a Notebook via sharing, the person will receive an email letting them know that they have been given access to a Notebook. If the User already has an account the access to the new Notebook is added to their existing account. If they do not have an account, they are sent to an account activation email so they can access the shared Notebook. In some cases the system generated email to complete activation of the account, can be filtered into the User's Spam Folder.
I didn't receive my account activation email. Why?
In some instances the activation email can be mistaken for SPAM by the email client and directed to the SPAM folder. You may wish to examine your SPAM folder of your email account for the activation email. If you still unable to locate the email, please contact eln-support@monash.edu.
How much data storage does each account have?
Nominally, 100GB but there is effectively no limit currently with the Monash enterprise license.
What is the maximum size of files (drag and drop, attachment) that we can store on LabArchives?
Currently that is 250MB per file. For large files (GBs), you should consider creating links from within you LabArchives Notebook to the local storage where the large data files are stored.
Do I get notifications every time data is added to the Notebook or a change/update is made?
No, not automatically. You will have to check this using the Revisions tool. This feature is in the LabArchives future development 2017 and Users will be notified of this feature when it is available for use.
What happens to my LabArchives account when I leave a Monash position?
You will be unable to access it using your Monash Authcate details. You may set up a new account using your new Institution's email address and can transfer your Notebook over from your Monash account. Please check with your Faculty's policies around this.
What browser should I use to access LabArchives?
Firefox is the preferred browser for using LabArchives. Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome may exhibit aberrant behaviour.
Who can own a Notebook?
Anyone with a LabArchives account. This includes people without Monash Authcate credentials.
Who can transfer Ownership of a Notebook?
Only the owner of a Notebook can transfer Ownership of a Notebook.
Who can Ownership of a Notebook be transferred to?
Anyone with a Monash LabArchives account. This includes people without Monash Authcate credentials.
How many Owners can a Notebook have?
There can be only one Owner per Notebook.
A researcher has left Monash and transferred Ownership of their Notebook(s) to themselves elsewhere. How do I get the Notebook back?
Contact your Faculty, who will have processes in place for the retrieval process. This will include disabling the departing researcher's accounts while an investigation is undertaken.
Who can confer access to a notebook?
The Owner, or the Notebook Administrator(s).
I am a Head of a Research Group at a Research Institute and I don't have a Monash Authcate account or email. How do I get access to LabArchives?
Email the the Owner of a Notebook in your research group and ask them to add you to a Notebook. Once they add you to a Notebook (you will receive a confirmation email). Once complete (choose the "I am visiting Monash"), you will be able to be added to or given Ownership of Notebook (contact the Owner). You will also be able to create your own Notebooks.