Release Notes: 23.7 (July 2023)

2024-03-28

Here are the full release notes for version 23.7 (July 2023).

LabKey Server

Samples

  • Sample types have additional default system fields including storage and aliquot information. (docs)
  • Provide storage amounts and units during the addition of new samples to the system. (docs)

Studies

  • Demographic datasets in continuous and date-based studies no longer require a date value to be provided. (docs)

Assays

  • Assay Results grids can be modified to show who created and/or modified individual result rows and when. (docs)
  • Luminex Levey-Jennings reports show an improved data grid. (docs) Also available in version 23.3.3.

Integrations

  • Import study data in CDISC ODM XML files using a filewatcher. (docs)
  • Integration with Oracle databases has been greatly improved with extensive testing on more recent versions (e.g., Oracle 19c and 23c), and support for more data types and features. (docs)

Panorama

  • Use a Calendar View to easily visualize performance and utilization of instruments over time. (docs) Also available in version 23.3.6
  • Improved outlier indicators make it easier to see the severity of an issue at a glance. (docs) Also available in version 23.3.6

Administration

  • Permissions for an existing user can be updated to match those of another user account. (docs)
  • Export a folder archive containing metadata-only by excluding all data. (docs)
  • List archive exports can include lists from the parent or /Shared project, with sufficient permissions. (docs)
  • Site administrators can test external data sources to help diagnose possible issues. (docs)
  • View the estimated execution plan in the query profiler to assist in diagnosing possible inefficencies. (docs)
  • Administrators can configure the retention time for audit log events. (docs)
  • LDAP User/Group Synchronization now works with a larger number of LDAP server implementations, adding support for OpenLDAP, Apache Directory Server, and others. (docs)
  • LDAP Authentication can now support using attributes, specifically to provide RStudio with an alternative login ID. (docs)

Premium Resources

Distribution Changes and Upgrade Notes

  • RStudio is changing its name to Posit. The LabKey interface will be updated to reflect this rebranding and any necessary changes in a future release. (learn more)
Note: All users are encouraged to upgrade regularly to the current release in order to take advantage of all improvements and fixes.

Our hotfix support policy is to only provide fixes to the current release. We will allow a reasonable grace period for clients to be able to upgrade after each major release. For Enterprise Edition clients, we will consider backporting hotfixes to up to two more past major releases. Contact your Account Manager if you have questions. (docs)

Potential Backwards Compatibility Issues

  • Changes to the exp.materials and inventory tables will add additional reserved fields and ensure future development in important areas.
    • Users who have coincidentally using field names that become "reserved" for system purposes may need to make changes prior to upgrading. These are not commonly used names, so issues are unlikely to impact many users.
    • The inventory.item.volume field was migrated to exp.materials.StoredAmount
    • The inventory.item.volumeUnits field was migrated to exp.material.Units
    • The inventory.item.initialVolume field was removed. Note that if you have been using a custom field by this name, any of its data will be deleted. Rename any such custom fields prior to upgrading.

Sample Manager

The Sample Manager Release Notes list features by monthly version.
  • Define locations for storage systems within the app. (docs)
  • Create new freezer hierarchy during sample import. (docs)
  • Updated interface for adding new samples and sources to the system, supporting the ability to import samples of multiple sample types at the same time. (docs)
  • Administrators have the ability to do the actions of the Storage Editor role. (docs)
  • Improved options for bulk populating editable grids, including better "drag-fill" behavior and multi-cell cut and paste. (docs | docs)
  • Enhanced security by removing access or identifiers to data in different projects in lineage, sample timeline and ELNs. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements:
    • The mechanism for referencing something from an ELN has changed to be @ instead of /. (docs)
    • Autocompletion makes finding objects to reference easier. (docs)
  • Move Samples, Sources, Assay Runs, and Notebooks between Projects. (docs | docs)
  • See an indicator in the UI when a sample is expired. (docs)
  • When only one Sample Type is included in a grid that supports multiple Sample Types, default to that tab instead of to the general "All Samples" tab. (docs)
  • Track the edit history of Notebooks. (docs)
  • Control which data structures and storage systems are visible in which Projects. (docs)
  • Project menu includes quick links to settings and the dashboard for that Project. (docs)
  • Assay Results grids can be modified to show who created and/or modified individual result rows and when. (docs)
  • BarTender templates can only be defined in the home Project. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements: Pagination controls are available at the bottom of the ELN dashboard. (docs)
  • A new "My Tracked Jobs" option helps users follow workflow tasks of interest, even when they are not assigned tasks. (docs)
  • Add the sample amount during sample registration to better align with laboratory processes. (docs | docs)
    • StoredAmount, Units, RawAmount, and RawUnits field names are now reserved. (docs)
    • Users with a significant number of samples in storage may see slower than usual upgrade times due to migrating these fields. Any users with existing custom fields for providing amount or units during sample registration are encouraged to migrate to the new fields prior to upgrading.
  • Use the Sample Finder to find samples by sample properties, as well as by parent and source properties. (docs)
  • Built in Sample Finder reports help you track expiring samples and those with low aliquot counts. (docs)
  • Text search result pages are more responsive and easier to use. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements: View archived notebooks. (docs)
  • Sample Status values can only be defined in the home project. Existing unused custom status values in sub-projects will be deleted and if you were using projects and custom status values prior to this upgrade, you may need to contact us for assistance. (docs)

Biologics

The Biologics release notes list features by monthly version.
  • Define locations for storage systems within the app. (docs)
  • Create new freezer hierarchy during sample import. (docs)
  • Updated interface for adding new samples and registry sources to the system, supporting the ability to import samples of multiple sample types at the same time. (docs)
  • Administrators have the ability to do actions of the Storage Editor role. (docs)
  • Improved options for bulk populating editable grids, including better "drag-fill" behavior and multi-cell cut and paste. (docs | docs)
  • Enhanced security by removing access or identifiers to data in different projects in lineage, sample timeline and ELNs. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements:
    • The mechanism for referencing something from an ELN has changed to be @ instead of /. (docs)
    • Autocompletion makes finding objects to reference easier. (docs)
  • Move Samples, Sources, Assay Runs, and Notebooks between Projects. (docs | docs)
  • See an indicator in the UI when a sample is expired. (docs)
  • When only one Sample Type is included in a grid that supports multiple Sample Types, default to that tab instead of to the general "All Samples" tab. (docs)
  • Track the edit history of Notebooks. (docs)
  • Control which data structures are visible in which Projects. (docs)
  • Project menu includes quick links to settings and the dashboard for that Project. (docs)
  • Assay Results grids can be modified to show who created and/or modified individual result rows and when. (docs)
  • BarTender templates can only be defined in the home Project. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements: Pagination controls are available at the bottom of the ELN dashboard. (docs)
  • A new "My Tracked Jobs" option helps users follow workflow tasks of interest. (docs)
  • Molecular Physical Property Calculator is available for confirming and updating Molecule variations. (docs)
  • Lineage relationships among custom registry sources can be represented. (docs)
  • Administrators can specify a default BarTender template. (docs)
  • Add the sample amount during sample registration to better align with laboratory processes. (docs | docs)
    • StoredAmount, Units, RawAmount, and RawUnits field names are now reserved. (docs)
    • Users with a significant number of samples in storage may see slower than usual upgrade times due to migrating these fields. Any users with existing custom fields for providing amount or units during sample registration are encouraged to migrate to the new fields prior to upgrading.
  • Users of the Enterprise Edition can track amounts and units for raw materials and mixture batches. (docs | docs)
  • Use the Sample Finder to find samples by sample properties, as well as by parent and source properties. (docs)
  • Built in Sample Finder reports help you track expiring samples and those with low aliquot counts. (docs)
  • Text search result pages are more responsive and easier to use. (docs)
  • ELN Improvements: View archived notebooks. (docs)
  • Sample Status values can only be defined in the home project. Existing unused custom status values in sub-projects will be deleted and if you were using projects and custom status values prior to this upgrade, you may need to contact us for migration assistance. (docs)

Client APIs and Development Notes

  • Artifactory has deprecated the use of API keys, so Premium Edition developers will need to switch to using an Identity Token instead. (learn more)
  • Rename folders with the JavaScript client API. (docs)
  • API Resources

New Developer Resources


The symbol indicates a feature available in a Premium Edition of LabKey Server, Sample Manager, or Biologics LIMS.

Previous Release Notes: Version 23.3