Effective lab sample management is crucial for reliable research outcomes. At income-partners.net, we understand the importance of streamlined processes and are committed to keeping you informed about the best tools and strategies for your lab. This article addresses important updates regarding Freezerworks and guides you towards optimal solutions for your lab’s data management needs, ensuring you find the right “Redcap Partners” in your research endeavors.
Important Updates Regarding Freezerworks Support
Please be aware of crucial changes concerning Freezerworks. Research Information Science and Computing (RISC) and the Research Computing Core will no longer be accepting new labs or requests for Freezerworks in FY23. This policy applies to onboarding new users and initiating new projects within the Freezerworks system.
For our valued current users, rest assured that this change does not impact your ongoing operations. You can continue using Freezerworks as usual without any immediate alterations to your workflow. We are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition for everyone as we explore more advanced and sustainable solutions.
This decision stems from our proactive approach to identify and implement a cloud-based, vendor-supported, and scalable enterprise-oriented Lab Information Management System (LIMS). We are actively evaluating alternative systems to better serve the evolving needs of our research community and provide a robust platform for the future.
Exploring Alternatives for Lab Inventory Management
While Freezerworks will not be available for new implementations, we want to highlight readily accessible and efficient alternatives, especially for labs with specific data management requirements.
If your lab manages relatively simple data sets and deals with a small to moderate volume of data, the Inventory tool integrated within LabArchives presents a compelling option. LabArchives offers a user-friendly interface and robust features for managing lab inventories.
For labs currently utilizing Excel to track smaller sample datasets, leveraging LabArchives Office integration is highly recommended. This integration allows you to securely store backups and snapshots of your Excel data within LabArchives, enhancing data security and enabling collaborative group editing when needed.
These alternatives ensure that labs of all sizes can maintain efficient data management practices, even as we transition towards a new enterprise LIMS solution.
Optimizing Your Zebra Label Printer for Efficient Sample Tracking
Accurate and reliable labeling is paramount for sample tracking within any lab management system. For users utilizing Zebra label printers, proper setup is essential for seamless integration and optimal printing performance. While specific instructions here are tailored for Freezerworks users, these steps are generally applicable to ensure your Zebra printer functions correctly with various lab applications.
Zebra Printer Setup Guide for Windows
These instructions are designed for each computer from which you intend to print labels. It is crucial to uninstall Zebra Setup Utilities as it can interfere with printer configuration for Freezerworks and potentially cause printing issues. This utility is not necessary for setting up Zebra printers with Freezerworks.
Driver Version Importance: Ensure you are using Zebra printer driver version 8. Other driver versions are not recommended and may lead to compatibility problems. If you have a different version installed, please uninstall it and download and install version 8 directly from Zebra’s website.
Windows Configuration Steps:
- Navigate to Settings >> Printers & Scanners on your Windows computer.
- Select your ZDesigner printer from the list.
- Uncheck the box labeled “Let Windows manage my default printer”.
- Click the “Manage” button.
- Choose “Printer properties”.
- Go to the “Advanced” tab.
- Check the checkbox “Print directly to the printer”.
- Select “300 DPI ZPL” as the resolution.
- Click “Apply” to save changes.
- Close all open dialog windows and proceed to print a test page to verify the configuration. (Instructions for printing a test page are provided below.)
- Addressing Light Text Issues: If the printed text appears too light, adjust the darkness settings:
- Return to Windows Printers & Scanners >> Printer Properties.
- Click on “Preferences” (usually located near the bottom of the dialog box).
- Select the “Print Options” tab.
- Increase the “Darkness” setting to 30 (the default is 15).
- Reduce the “Speed” of printing to 4 (the default is 8).
- Click “Apply”.
- Close all dialog windows and print another test page to assess the impact of these adjustments.
Printing a Test Label in Freezerworks
To print a test label and confirm your Zebra printer setup within Freezerworks, follow these steps:
- Open Freezerworks.
- From the “Configuration” menu, select “Data entry display”.
- Choose “labels”.
- Click on any existing label (ensure you have previously created at least one label template).
- Click “Print preview”.
- Click the “printers” button.
- Select your ZD620 printer (or the specific name of your Zebra printer model).
- Check the box “Show printer settings”.
- Click “Print test label”.
Troubleshooting Label Printing Issues: Freezerbond Labels
If you are using Freezerbond labels and the test page prints upside down and backwards, the issue might be related to the selected Freezerbond label version. There are two versions available: 1-inch core and 3-inch core, which are mirror images of each other.
To resolve this, simply switch to the version you are not currently using. For example, if “1 inch core” is selected, and the printing is incorrect, change the selection to “3 inch core,” and vice versa. This adjustment should correct the label orientation.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your Zebra label printer is properly configured for accurate and efficient sample labeling, contributing to the overall integrity of your lab data management practices. As income-partners.net continues to support your research endeavors, we are committed to providing resources and information to help you navigate these transitions and optimize your lab workflows with the best possible “redcap partners” and solutions.
