Preparing the CSV

Online example CSV

For Bika Cannabis, use this one

As Google sheet. Please make copies for your own use. A template for examples, their formats and validation rules

In the template, date and time formatting are applied on ensure adherence to the format expected by the importer

The first sheet must be populated and exported as CSV

To speed up spreadsheet completion, maintain secondary sheets with data from the LIMS for Clients, Contacts Sample Points and Sample Types, Profiles, Analysis Services etc. Then use them for validation lookups on the first sheet to ensure correct entries, literally like that on the DB, are captured

Preparing the CSV

Client and Batch information

Using the example, on the first sheet complete the Client information on Row 2, then that of the Batch on row 4

To add Samples to existing Batches, its Client Batch ID must be provided. If the ID is not found, a new Batch with the information provided is created

Sample Information

Then proceed all the information per Sample in the table below the header, 1 row per Sample, Client Sample ID, Date and Time Sampled, Sampler, Sample Point, Sample Type, Container

NB Column A on the Sample rows must be maintained

E.g. Sample 1, Sample 2, Sample 3... Also don't leave a Sample # in column A and the rest of te row empty

Analysis Profiles and Services

The last columns, complete the header row with the Analysis Profiles and individual Analyses that can be requested - be sure no to include any typos, it must literally be the same as in the LIMS

Check the cells corresponding to the Sample ID with a '1' to include the Analyses in the Samples' registration

Save the file as CSV, and proceed to import it

Maintaining Lookup Tables

Maintain a second sheet form where you can do lookups for fields like Sample Points

These lists can be exported from The LIMS form time to time to update these tables

Then add validation rules for the fields on the import sheet

Saving the CSV

Be sure you save the CSV encoded in Unicode (UTF-8) encoding. Google Sheets and LibreOffice do so by default. The former is recommended for staying in your browser, saving clicks and time

Make copies per Client and save as bookmarks

In Google Sheets' File menu: Download as, Comma-Separated-File:

The CSV will be saved to the folder configured for downloads in your browser and reported in its downloads bar