If you have incomplete information on a batch of specimens, you may add that batch as a work in progress. This will save the batch in a format similar to the add specimen expert templates. All Works in Progress appear at the bottom of the templates list and allow you to later add the missing information. Once the missing information has been added and the specimens from the work in progress are added to the database, the work in progress will be deleted. (It will only be used once, instead of multiple times like templates.) Works in Progress can store placeholders for batches of specimens when the information is still incomplete. Other users within your group have access to Work in Progress records and can finish the batch process if needed. Works in Progress will be locked to the first person that begins editing the Work in Progress. To unlock the Work in Progress and allow another user to edit information, select a different template or close the Add Specimen Expert window.

To save a work in progress batch:

• Start with the incomplete batch you wish to save as a Work in Progress. See Adding a Batch of Specimens Using the Add Specimen Expert Tool for instructions on how to start the batch and enter information.
• Enter a unique name for the Work in Progress in the Name field in the upper left corner of the template.

• The name that appears in the Name field when you open the template is the name of the template itself. Be aware when you save your work in progress, it will replace any other Work in Progress with the same name.

• Click on the Save as Work in Progress button in the lower right corner of the Add Specimen Expert window. The work will be saved and will appear in the bottom part of the Templates list under Work In Progress. See Finishing a Work in Progress Batch for instructions on how to access the work in progress to finish adding information to the batch of specimens.