Available in:
SM Starter
SM Professional
LIMS Starter
LIMS Enterprise
Biologics LIMS
A
Multi-Choice field lets users select more than one value from a predefined list. It works like a Text Choice field, but supports multiple selections per row. For example, you might use it to track safety labels on a reagent (Flammable, Corrosive), diagnoses on a patient sample, or possible contaminants.
Multi-Choice fields require a PostgreSQL database. They are available in Sample Types, Data Classes, Assay Results, Lists, and Datasets. They are not available for Workflow Template fields, Assay Runs, or Assay Batches.
Set Up a Multi-Choice Field
In the field editor, select
Text Choice as the field type, then check
Allow multiple selections. Add your valid values using
Add Values. Up to 500 values can be defined, and users can select up to 10 values per row.
Converting Field Types
A single-value Text Choice field can be converted to Multi-Choice at any time. When you do, any saved filters using that field and any conditional formatting will be removed.
A Multi-Choice field can be converted back to single-value Text Choice only if every row currently has one value or fewer selected. It can also be converted to a plain Text field, which turns the stored values into a comma-separated string.
Enter and Edit Values
Click the field to open a dropdown and select one or more values. Selected values appear in alphabetical order. Click the
X next to a value to remove it.
In
bulk edit, if the selected rows have different values in a Multi-Choice field, the field shows
Mixed. Saving from bulk edit will overwrite all existing selections for those rows.
Filter and Sort
Multi-Choice fields support the following filter options in grids and Sample Finder:
- Includes All Of — rows where all selected values are present
- Includes One Of — rows where at least one selected value is present
- Does Not Include Any Of — rows where none of the selected values are present
- Includes Exactly — rows where the field contains exactly the selected values, nothing more
- Is Empty / Is Not Empty
Sorting treats the values in each cell as a single alphabetical string (uppercase before lowercase).
Import and Export
To import multi-choice values from a file, put values in a single column as a comma-separated list — for example,
Flammable,Corrosive. Values are exported in the same format.
Limitations
Multi-Choice fields cannot be used in:
- Calculated columns
- Charts
- Conditional formatting
- URL field patterns
- Default value settings
- Full-text search (Multi-Choice values are not indexed)
Audit log: Changes to Multi-Choice fields are recorded in the audit log with quotes around the values to accurately represent how they are stored — for example, changing a value from "A" to "A,B,C".
Related Topics
