Labfolder Server Release:
Labfolder is now available on the new Kubernetes via Replicated (KOTS) infrastructure. See our release notes here!
Integrate all your data directly into your records
Search and filter through full texts to find entries
Customize entries by dragging and dropping different elements
Collaborate with colleagues
Create templates and protocols for recurring workflows
Set up multiple databases to organize laboratory materials
Securely encrypted via SSL and backed up regularly
Signature workflows enable witnessing processes and full compliance
To see a full list of features, click here.
Labfolder can be used on the central installation provided by the DZNE, where all of your data will be securely stored locally. The use of Labfolder at DZNE on an individual basis is voluntary (group leaders can strongly encourage but not require its use). For any groups within which there is use of paper laboratory notebooks, the DZNE internal rule on paper lab notebooks still applies (“DZNE Standards for Recording and Archiving Research Data on Paper Format”).
Notes
Please contact the DZNE Project Team labfolder@dzne.de for more information
Our white papers section provides important information on compliance regulations and guidelines that are typically implemented in laboratories and how Labfolder helps you to comply to these.
Labfolder groups are started by the DZNE Research Group Leaders, who are responsible for organizing the notebook structure. Invite your group members to join and assign them initial access/administrative rights to become users of the shared Labfolder projects.
Research Group Leaders who wish to start Labfolder use, please complete the following form:
Once your group is set up, we kindly ask you to double check that all group settings are appropriately set. This includes by default that no content can be deleted. Additionally you should prevent users to work in private projects and you can choose to allow people to be part of multiple subgroups.
Manage > Groups and select you Labfolder group.Prevent Private Projects to ensure that all content is generated in the group space of Labfolder.
Group administrators have the capability to invite their team members, regardless of whether the team member has created their own accounts at the time of invitation. Once invited, your colleagues will receive an email providing instructions on how to register and/or join the group.
To invite your colleagues, please follow the steps below:
After joining your group, you can use your electronic laboratory notebook to collaborate with your colleagues in real-time. Together, you can add entries to common projects, create a shared repository of protocols, comment on each other’s data to improve troubleshooting, and even assign and receive tasks to improve lab efficiency.
To get yourself acquainted with Labfolder, we recommend that you take a look at our guide. Here, you will find step-by-step explanations and animations demonstrating how to use each feature.
Our website also provides a helpdesk where you can find frequently asked questions. Questions are sorted by topics, but you can also use the search bar at the top of the page to find them.
Here you can find our two video tutorial series for Labfolder and Labregister. In these videos, you learn everything you need to know to get started with our electronic lab notebook and our inventory management system.
Hi, I am Katharina. As the DZNE success manager I am supporting you with the optimal implementation of Labfolder by consulting you in individual introductory calls and providing you with training sessions.
Before joining Labforward, I worked in various biochemical as well as biotechnological laboratories. Starting out working with traditional notebooks before using ELNs myself, I am convinced that ELNs are the future for modern labs as they make daily work and collaboration so much easier.
Select one of the buttons below depending on which online training workshop you would like to select for your team or schedule a Kick-Off Session here:
In case you have any specific questions or requests, you can also contact me via katharina.marx@labforward.io.
Are you ready to begin the journey of optimizing your data, improving collaboration, effortlessly complying with laboratory standards, and generally making life in the lab easier? Then schedule a Labfolder training session to set up your ELN for success.
This training session consists of two parts:
During this interactive training session you will be able to ask any questions you might have regarding your ELN!
Every researcher works with a number of materials, such as antibodies, chemicals or plasmids. You may even wish to catalogue devices that are used in your laboratory.
Using this built-in inventory system allows you to categorize your inventory lists and manage access rights appropriately. Additionally, you will be able to link your inventory items in your lab notes which can help you to increase traceability and reproducibility of your experiments.
Interested in managing your inventory with Labregister? Then book this session.
Schedule a Labregister Training
Data integrity and compliance are among the most important topics in scientific research today. With this in mind we believe that an ELN must play a central role. Our app, Signature Workflows, streamlines the process of signing and verifying entries within collaborative projects. This is especially beneficial if you have to follow complex validation processes.
Would you like to learn more about the benefits and how to set up Signature Workflows? Then this session is the right one for you to book.
Schedule a Signature Workflows Training
Usually, explaining all available features or going through tutorials is a great way to get started with a new software. But sometimes the really difficult questions arise only once you have actually started using your ELN. Do not hesitate to reach out to us via the support button in the ELN. Or collect all questions that you (and your entire team) have and book a dedicated Q&A.
Our team again has carefully chosen and prepared a new round of webinars. With these live sessions, you will get the opportunity to learn more about the various aspects of Laboratory 4.0
To keep yourself up to date on any server updates, such as the functionalities that have been added to Labfolder and which bugs were fixed, please take a look at our server release notes.
Follow our most recent roadmap updates for all Labforward products here.
Labfolder’s support team is entirely composed of former scientists, understanding the struggles in the laboratory. We are happy to help you with any questions you may have about using our ELN. In order to quickly address any problems you are experiencing, we would kindly ask you to send a short description together with some screenshots to feedback@labfolder.com.
We are also the right people to contact if you have any suggestions for features that you think are missing in Labfolder. Again, please explain want functionality you are looking for and what you are trying to achieve with this.
With a local installation of Labfolder’s ELN, please refer any questions about the group registration, how data is stored locally or general IT issues to your DZNE Project Team in the IT and Scientific Strategy Office. Here, you can also request to arrange an on-site training, if needed.
Please send an email to labfolder@dzne.de.
Our website provides a helpdesk where you can find frequently asked questions. Questions are sorted by topics, but you can also use the search bar at the top of the page to find them.
How can I manage collaborative projects with other research groups?
Traditionally, research findings are recorded by the scientist in their own personal paper books. This however does not reflect on the collaborative efforts of a research team on a certain topic, nor does it provide a sustainable way for long-term research documentation. One important advantage that Labfolder’s electronic lab notebook offers is a flexible structure supporting collaborations within the DZNE, according to your needs.
To start collaborative work, please follow these guidelines: Collaboration in Labfolder
Can I reorganize entries, projects, templates or folders?
In Labfolder your research data is entered in the form of Entries. Each entry belongs to a specific Project, which resembles a notebook. If several projects work on the same topic you can organize them in Folders, making it easy to get a better structure your entire research.
Users are able to create folders at any point of time and rearrange projects using the drag&drop functionality. However, as each entry is uniquely associated to a project, users are not able to move entries across projects.
In Labfolder it is only possible to hide an entry in a ‘source’ project and create a copy in the ‘destination’ project. This however means that you will have duplicate information in the ELN. In the course of this action, it is obvious that any links created to the ‘source’ entry will continue to lead there, while the created copy received a new entry ID which has not been linked yet.
Is there a common pool of protocols or templates (PCR, cloning, transfection, etc) that I can benefit from?
Labfolder aims to provide a seamless integration of your existing protocols through the Upload + Extract of Word files. These can then easily be shared inside your Labfolder group, for everyone to access.
At this point, we do not have a common pool of protocols which could be shared across different research teams. We do acknowledge your request for this type of protocol sharing, however it is unlikely that this will be realized in the near future.
Copy/pasting destroyed my original formatting!
Labfolder provides a text and table editor similar, but not 100% identical to Word or Excel. Sometimes, in the transition to the Labfolder formattings can appear different or ‘destroyed’. We recommend to use plain format, which will be compatible with Labfolder. If you spot such a format incompatibility, please send a short description and a screenshot of the before and after to our support team (feedback@labfolder.com).
We are only able to work on formatting issues, if we know exactly what you are referring to and we are happy about your assistance on this to continuously improve our product.
Can I access the DZNE Server from outside the DZNE?
In general, a DZNE user must have the VPN Desktop Client app installed on their computer (DZNE IT would help with this). The VPN connection instructions are available on the DZNE intranet.