Removing labware information from the inventory database

About this topic

You can remove labware information from the inventory database in one of many ways.

 

If you want to...	See...
• Unload a batch of labware from storage devices. • Remove the labware information from the database.	Running a protocol to unload labware from a storage device
Remove the information for a batch of labware from the database. Note: The labware have been removed from the storage devices previously.	Removing selected labware information from the database
• Unload a few labware from storage devices. • Remove the labware information from the database.	Removing selected labware information from the database
Remove the information for a few labware from the database. Note: The labware have been unloaded from the storage devices previously.	Removing selected labware information from the database

You can also use the plateDB and InventoryLabware JavaScript functions to remove labware information from the database. For more information, see plateDB object and InventoryLabware object.

To replace the entire inventory database with known configuration and contents, use the inventory management export and import commands. For instructions, see Exporting and importing the inventory data.

Running a protocol to unload labware from a storage device

You can run a protocol to unload a batch of labware from storage devices. During the run, the system will automatically track the labware (with or without barcodes) and update the inventory database.

To run a protocol to remove labware from a storage device:

1	Prepare one or more empty Labware Stackers before running the protocol.

2	Write a protocol that contains the following:

–	Unload task to remove the labware from the storage device.

–	Upstack task to move the labware into an available stacker.

 

For instructions on how to write protocols, see Creating a protocol: basic procedure.

3	Make sure that the Upstack task is configured to use the appropriate stacker.

 

4	In the Inventory Editor, identify the labware that you want to move:

a	Click the Unload task.

b	Click Storage Load.

c	Click the Locations tab.

d	Click Edit location groups to open the Inventory Editor.

e	Click the Inventory Management tab. Note the device, cassette and slot numbers for the labware that you want to remove.

 

5	If necessary, create a location group in the Inventory Editor that contains the labware you want to remove. See Creating and managing location groups for instructions.

Save the changes and confirm it by making sure it is listed in the Available locations area on the Locations tab of the Load Task Parameters toolbar.

6	Drag the location group into the Assigned locations area.

 

7	Compile the protocol and resolve any error messages.

8	Run the protocol (click Start).

9	In the Run Configuration dialog box that appears, specify the number of times to run the protocol. Type a number that is equal to or less than the number of labware you want to unload from the storage device.

10	Click Finish. The protocol run starts.

11	To confirm that the labware are removed from the inventory database, open the Inventory Editor. See Opening the Inventory Editor.

Removing selected labware information from the database

You can remove individual labware entries in the inventory database. Use this method if you want to remove labware entries under the following scenarios:

•	Instead of running a protocol, you can unload individual labware in the storage device by hand, and then use the Inventory Editor to update the inventory database.

•	A batch of labware was already removed from storage devices, but you need to remove the corresponding entries from the inventory database.

To remove labware entries from the database:

1	Open the Inventory Editor. See Opening the Inventory Editor.

2	Click the Inventory Management tab.

3	Select the labware entries you want to delete, and then click Delete selected entries from inventory.

If you are deleting a batch of labware entries, you can CTRL+click to select non-contiguous entries, or SHIFT+click to select contiguous entries.

 

4	Make sure you physically unload the labware from the storage device so that the storage state of the device matches the information in the database.

5	Storage devices that have their own barcode readers. To validate the changes, in the Inventory Editor Inventory Management tab, click Re-inventory selected locations. For instructions, see Reinventorying the labware inventory.

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Creating a location group	Creating and managing location groups
Creating a plate group	Creating and managing plate groups
Moving labware in and out of a storage device	• Adding labware information in the inventory database • Moving labware between storage devices
Incubating labware	Using a plate group to process labware
Exporting the database data	Exporting and importing the inventory data
Using barcode input files	• Creating a plate group with a barcode input file • VWorks Automation Control User Guide