The Add Specimen Expert tool provides a table-based interface for entering collection data for multiple specimens at the same time. The template can be customized to hide unnecessary columns. Only fields that apply to the specimens being entered will be displayed. Before attempting to customize a template, it is important to have a good understanding of the basic overall process for adding specimens — see Adding a Single Specimen Using the Add Specimen Wizard. To create a template for the Add Specimen Expert Tool:

• Select Edit > Add Specimens > Add Specimen Expert from the menu bar at the top of the itBioPath application window. The Add Specimen Expert window will open.

• Shared templates and Works in Progress will be visible in the new window. To create a new template click the add button. A new template will be created with all of the columns visible. *To copy an existing template, select the template from the list and click the copy icon.

• The Owner folder will appear with the new template. Name the new template by clicking in the name field and typing. Enter a description for the template in the Description field. Descriptions are helpful for shared templates. Other users can quickly identify the function of the template. Check the Share option to share the template. A template that is shared is visible to everyone.

• The lock icon and name at the top of the template indicates the current user. The template is only editable by the first user to open the template. Other users can view the template, but any changes will not be saved. To unlock the template click close or the X.

• The Add Specimen Expert includes many different columns for data entry. All templates may not use every column. Choose which columns are visible by navigating to Template > Show/Hide Columns. A new window will appear.

• To hide the columns that are unnecessary for your template, select a column header from the list in the Show grid. Once selected, click the arrow to move the header to the Hide grid. It will no longer appear in the template. Once hidden, a header can be shown by moving it back to the Show grid. Select the header from the list in the Hide grid and click the arrow.

• Once the column headers have been adjusted, click the X. The settings will now be reflected in the template.

• Click add to add a number of specimens that represents a typical number of specimens collected during the collection process.

• Enter the default values for the specimens added during the collection. (For example, if the template will always be used to enter specimens collected under the same protocol, select the protocol in each specimen row. This ensures the specimens added using the template will always be associated to correct protocol.
• Save your template by selecting File-Save Template from the menu at the top of the window or hitting Ctrl+S. Once the template is saved, every time you use the template, it will load exactly as it appeared when you saved it as a starting point for adding new specimens.