QEST Platform 5.2 Documentation
Applies to QESTLab

This article describes how to add and configure lists.

Overview

Well controlled reference data is core to the QEST Platform; lists are a key part of this reference data and its control. Lists of reference data allow for controlled vocabulary and permit users to complete the data entry for tests and results in a consistent and efficient manner. These can be project-specific items like approved mix designs or more general items like descriptions of weather. Drop-down menus across different data entry screens and products are populated by reference data from these lists. Lists can have local or global scope, meaning the items contained in a list are available either at all laboratories, just one laboratory or a mixture of the two with some being global items and others local.

List Permissions

List permissions are controlled through the Roles node. It is possible to grant read, edit, add and delete permissions to users.

List items can be created and modified depending on the user's Role and Lists permission.

If the option Complex List Permissions is set to Yes, read, edit, add and delete permissions can set individually for each list per laboratory.

Creating a New List item

Drop down fields used throughout the QEST Platform often reference a list, and these are populated under the List node in QESTLab. Data is added to the list once, it can then be used many times across multiple work orders and samples. Filters below the List node allow the user to see different lists applicable to different sample types or categories. (e.g. Agg/Soil, Asphalt, etc.).

The first step to adding a list item is to select the desired list in the QESTLab tree. Once the list opens in the right hand content pane, the New List Item button located on the top left toolbar should be clicked. This will prompt the user to enter a code, name and any other list specific details for the new list item.

Once all the required information is entered the OK button is used to confirm and add the entry. The new list item will now be available in the selected list type. Additional columns for reference data related to the newly added item may be available for addition in the list view, this is dependent upon the list selected.

List Options

Options for lists are controlled through the Administrator Console under Lists.

Double-clicking a list or right-clicking and selecting the Edit List Options item will allow the editing of options for the list. This will open a new window that will contain all the options available for that list item.

A short description each option is included in the table below:

Option	Description
List Type	List items can have a Type set as Global and Local, Global Only, Local Only. This controls the scope of the list and determines whether common list items are available at all laboratories, per-laboratory or a mix of the two.
Page Size	Sets the number of records that are displayed (fetched from the database) for lists with a large number of records, at any given point in time. The default recommended value is 300.
Searching	The "Searching" setting enables on-demand filtering of list dropdowns. As a user types in the list dropdown, after a small delay, the items displayed in the list will be narrowed based on the text typed.
Preferred Laboratory	Will allow the user to nominate a "preferred lab" for each global list item so that, by default, the preferred lab sees only the global items that have this nomination as opposed to the entire list. It is possible for the user to enable the entire list at any point in time.
Allow Editing of Inactive Items and Inactive Status	Allows individual list items to to marked as "Inactive". Inactive items do not appear in list dropdowns.
Allow Self Group Filtering	Enables the ability to filter/search each list by its own Name column.
Lockable Code and Name Columns	Allows the Code and Name columns to be locked in place while scrolling the list. When viewing a list with this option set to True, a button is shown at the top of the right hand content pane which allow the locking to be toggled.
Show Global List Entries in Grouping Drop-downs	Allows global entries for that list to be accessible in all the local drop down boxes on various screens in QESTLab. This setting is relevant only if the list in question has been set up as a "global and local" list type entity.
Show Inactive Items in Filters	Allows "Inactive" list items in filter.
Allow free entry of data in list (will disable auto-complete of lists)	When checked, this setting will allow the user to enter free text in all dropdowns linked to the list where the setting has been set.
Exclude Non-approved Clients from Drop-downs	When set for the Client list settings, all client dropdowns on tests screens, sample screens, filters, lists, invoices, and any other places they appear, will be restricted to clients that have been approved. Clients can be approved by ticking the 'Approved' check box on the client list.

A more detailed description of each of these options is described below.

List Type

Depending upon the selection, list items will be available for selection within a specific lab or to all labs. The differences between each list type is discussed below:

Global Lists

Are located under the global laboratory,
Specific access to this global laboratory be granted before users can modify these list items,
Entries in these lists are available in drop downs at all laboratories.

Local Lists

An instance of the list is located under each laboratory separately,
Modifying items in these lists at each laboratory is available those users who have rights for the given laboratory,
Entries in local lists are available only in the laboratory in which they exist for that list.

Global and Local Lists

A global instance of the list exists as well as an instance located under each laboratory separately
Both the global and local lists behave as described above (that is, both sets of functionality are available)

Page Size

This setting sets the number of records that are displayed (fetched from the database) for lists with a large number of records, at any given point in time. The default recommended value is 300. If a search is attempted for any item of data that is not currently being displayed, the system will query the database. This setting can help improve performance when loading of QESTLab lists by bringing in data from the database on an as-required basis.

Searching

The Searching setting enables on-demand filtering of list dropdowns. As a user types in the list dropdown, after a small delay, the items displayed in the list will be narrowed based on the text typed.

Preferred Laboratory

The Preferred Laboratory setting is used in conjunction with Global lists. When there is a large global list, this setting can be applied such that each local lab can only view subsets of this entire list. A preferred lab can be nominated for each global list item. Once complete, users in each laboratory will see only the items that have their current laboratory set as the preferred lab by default as opposed to the entire list.

Allow Editing of Inactive Items and Inactive Status

This setting allows individual list items to to marked as Inactive. Inactive items do not appear in list drop-downs throughout QEST Platform. For example, if an individual project were set Inactive, it cannot be selected on any new work orders. Existing work orders with the inactive project will continue to load without issue.

An inactive item is not deleted, can be altered via the list and re-activated at anytime.

An inactive items appear grayed out in lists and the data filter allows exclusion of inactive items.

Allow Self Group Filtering

Enables the ability to filter/search each list by its own Name column.

The image below shows the Agg/Soil Material list with this option set to False, the user can only filter by Supplier and Source.

The image below shows the Agg/Soil Material list with this option set to True, in addition to filtering by Supplier and Source, the user can also filter by the material name.

Lockable Code and Name Columns

This setting allows Code and Name column locking for the selected lists. When viewing a list with this setting selected, a button is shown at the top which allows the locking to be toggled while scrolling, as shown in the screenshot below.

When locked, the Name and Code columns (if they are the left-most columns of the list) become locked and hence fixed when scrolling across wide lists. This allows users to see the code and name that identify a list item lined up against the value they wish to edit when needing to scroll across to find it.

Show Global List Entries in Grouping Drop-downs

Checking the box for this setting allows global entries for the list to be accessible in all the local drop down boxes on various screens in QESTLab. This setting is relevant only if the list in question has been set up as a "global and local" list type.

Show Inactive Items in Filters

This setting allows 'Inactive" list items in filters. See 1144160820 for more information regarding the Inactive list items.

Allow free entry of data in list (will disable auto-complete of lists)

This setting, when checked, will allow the user to enter free text in all drop-downs linked to the list. For example if the setting is checked for the client list, all client drop-downs would allow free text entry. This allows users to enter data that doesn't actually exist in the list.

Exceptions

There are exceptions to this rule where lists are inter-dependent. For instance, if the setting is checked for the client list, this does not allow users to create a project and then enter free text in the client drop-down. Projects must still be created with a client that actually exists in the client list.

Exclude Non-approved Clients from Drop-downs

This setting is only applicable to the Client list. When checked, all client drop-downs lists on tests screens, sample screens, filters, lists, invoices, and any other places they appear, will be restricted to clients that have been approved. Clients can be approved by ticking the 'Approved' check box on the client list.

Client and Project Lists

Client and Project lists have their own special nodes in the QESTLab tree. These nodes are used to define client and project related details, these details are displayed on test reports and can also be used to determine default test report recipients.

Clients

Customer details are stored in the client list. The user can select a customer from a drop-down list when registering a work order or a sample, producing a test report or invoice and on many other screens. To manage the client list click on the Clients node in the tree. The clients for the current laboratory are displayed in the right hand window. To restrict the clients by laboratory select the laboratory in the filter area and click the Refresh button .

If the customer base is shared across all labs, a global client list should be configured. If each lab in the organization has its own set of clients that are not usually shared then local clients may be set up. A combination of local and global clients can also be set up based on the needs of the organization.

If the client list is a local or global and local list, the Client node will show up at the top of the tree for each laboratory. If the client list is a global only list, the Client node will only be visible when the laboratory is set to all or global.

Creating a New Client

To add a new client to the Client list follow these steps:

Click on the client node.
Click on the New List Item icon in the upper left on the toolbar.
Complete the fields for the information that needs to be retained and manged in QESTLab for the downstream purpose of showing client data on reports.

Projects

Creating a New Project

To add a new project to the Project list follow these steps:

Click on the project node.
Click on the New List Item icon in the upper left on the toolbar.
Complete the fields for the information that needs to be retained and manged in QESTLab for the downstream purpose of showing client data on reports.

Note

Fields that will not be used on the Client and Project screens can be locked for the purposes of data entry in the QEST Administrator Console using the Mask feature. When fields are locked, they appear in grey on the screen.

List Definitions

Miscellaneous Lists

List Name	Description
Additive Material Source	Additive material source name and associated supplier. Used on specific soil test screens to identify materials with stabilizer.
Additive Material Type	Additive material type. Used on specific soil test screens to identify materials with stabilizer.
Billable Items	Used to map a specific test within QESTLab to a billable item code. This list is used in conjunction with the Fee Schedule list.
Clients	Client records and associated details.
Contacts	Report recipients and their contact information. Contacts are associated with a project.
Contractor List	Identifying names of contractors for use on inspections and across all sample types.
Credit Reason	Only applicable if the Allow users to request Approval for an Invoice general option is set to True. When crediting an invoice, a choice must be made from items in this list as to why the invoice is being credited.
Customer Requirements	Used on the work order to identify customer requirements for a specific field density work order in Australian and New Zealand markets. E.g. Minimum Dry Density Ratio of 95% of Standard Compaction.
Daily Field: Observations and Tests	Pre-populated observations/test remark text that can be imported onto the Daily Field Inspection test and report.
Distributions	Shows a list of all contacts that have been selected as a recipient per report type per project.
Equipment Tasks	Used to describe the type of task associated with an equipment calibration and check. E.g. External Calibration, In-house calibration, etc.
External Report Identification	Used to label external reports to allow easy identification of these reports when viewing the QESTLab tree or publishing to Construction Hive. Requires External Report Identification to be enabled on the database.
Fee Schedule	Linked to Billable Items and is used to import a unit charge and minimum charge for the specific document that has been selected as a billable item.
Invoice Correction Reason	Only applicable if the Allow users to request Approval for an Invoice general option is set to True. Pre-populated remark to explain reason for requiring a correction to an invoice.
Layer/Depth/Eleven	Used to add to location descriptions on aggregate, soil and asphalt sample types. Usually contains entries such as “Fill Material”, “Base” etc.
Offset From	Description of offset from value. E.g. RHS, CL, etc.
Price List	Only applicable if the Use Approved Price Lists general option is set to True. Price lists impose additional control on fee schedule items by grouping fee schedule items together and allowing these groupings to be applied to one or more projects for billing purposes.
Projects	Project records and associated details
Qualification Tasks	Used to populate the qualification tasks drop-down in the People node. E.g. Radiation License, First-Aid License, etc.
Reason Non Standard	Entries in this list can be used to retrieve the reason for non standard result on the sample registration screen.
Report Comments	Canned comments for inclusion on test reports. A comment can be associated with a specific client, report type, project or any combination of these if desired. If no association is made then the comment is available on all reports.
Sample Preparation	Allows data entry of procedural information on individual test screens through the Test Information panel . To use this list the "Display procedural Information Data Entry" option must be enabled in the administrator console under General.
Sample Remarks	Allows entry of remarks on test screens. When enabled, a Remarks text field will appear on the Test Information panel of the test screens. To use this list the "Display Remarks Entry" option must be enabled in the administrator console under General.
Sampled By	A purely Read Only list. Displays a list of all the 'Sampled By' personnel for the selected laboratory and if they are laboratory endorsed.
Specification Note	Entries in this list can be associated with a specification limit and will be shown on the North American aggregate/soil field density test report only and used to denote the outcome of the test clearly in the body of the report.
Test Procedure	Allows data entry of procedural information on individual test screens through the Test Information panel . To use this list the "Display procedural Information Data Entry" option must be enabled in the administrator console under General.
Test Report Notes	Pre-populated notes that can be selected to appear on the test report.
Weather Conditions	Predefined set of weather conditions for use on concrete samples and other selected tests.

Agg/Soil Lists

List Name	Description
Agg/Soil Material Source	Identifying numbers and names regarding aggregate/soil material sources (e.g. pit #) - Will appear on lab test reports. Sources can be tied to a supplier. no supplier, or all suppliers.
Agg/Soil Materials	Aggregate/Soil materials description or type depending on business need. Will appear on test reports. Materials can be tied to a specific source, no source, or all sources.
Agg/Soil Sample Pickup Notes	Pre-populated pickup notes used by QESTField users when entering details for an Agg/Soil sample pickup workflow. This list is used by the field technician to convey which tests need to be completed in the laboratory. E.g. x4 Compaction Tests, x4 Moisture Content Tests, x4 CBR Tests.
Agg/Soil Sampled From	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling locations such as stockpile, aggregate stream, etc.
Agg/Soil Sampling Method	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling methods - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Agg/Soil Specimen Marks	Predefined set of Agg/Soil specimen marks for use on selected tests.
Agg/Soil Supplier List	Identifying numbers and names of suppliers of Aggregate/Soil materials - Can appear on test reports if required.
Generic Reduced Proctor Test Methods (Agg/Soil)	Allows the user to define a number of Proctor Test Methods to be used as the method on the reduced screen 'Proctor Test' (110121)

Asphalt & Bitumen Lists

List Name	Description
Asphalt Binders	Identifying the type of asphalt binder used in the asphalt mix.
Asphalt Mix to Project Mapping	Only applicable if the Enable Mixes Mapping to Projects general option is set to True. Allows the definition of a relationship between asphalt mixes and projects.
Asphalt Mixes	Identifying the asphalt mixes. Each asphalt mix needs to be linked to a source at the time of creation.
Asphalt Plant	Identifying the asphalt plants.
Asphalt Sample Pickup Notes	Pre-populated pickup notes used by QESTField users when entering details for an asphalt sample pickup workflow. This list is used by the field technician to convey which tests need to be completed in the laboratory.
Asphalt Sampled From	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling locations such as stockpile, aggregate stream, etc.
Asphalt Sampling Method	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling methods - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Asphalt Supplier List	Identifying numbers and names of suppliers of Asphalt materials - Can appear on test reports if required.
Bitumen Container Type	The type of container used to store the asphalt.
Bitumen Location	Identifying the field location in which the Bitumen was obtained from.
Bitumen Material Source	Identifying the source of the bitumen.
Bitumen Materials	Bitumen materials description or type depending on business need. Will appear on test reports. Materials can be tied to a specific source or no source
Bitumen Sampled From	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling locations such as stockpile, aggregate stream, etc.
Bitumen Sampling Method	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling methods - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Bitumen Supplier List	Identifying numbers and names of suppliers of Bitumen materials - Can appear on test reports if required.

Concrete Lists

List Name	Description
Concrete Compaction Method	Allows the definition of a shorthand, the type of concrete the compaction is applied to, and a longer description for each required type of compaction completed on plastic state concrete. Used on Australian concrete test report(s).
Concrete Failure Mode	Failure mode identifier that is used to describe the failure type of a concrete specimen.
Concrete Mix Code	Identifying concrete mixes by code.
Concrete Mix to Project Mapping	Only applicable if the Enable Mixes Mapping to Projects general option is set to True. Allows the definition of a relationship between concrete mixes and projects.
Concrete Mixes	Identifying the concrete mixes. Each concrete mix needs to be linked to a source at the time of creation.
Concrete Plant	Identifying the concrete plants.
Concrete Remarks	Only applicable to the Australian Concrete Sample Entries in this list can be used to retrieve the remark on the concrete sample screen.
Concrete Sampling Procedures	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling procedures - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Concrete Specimen Marks	Predefined set of Concrete specimen marks for use on concrete specimen grid.
Concrete Supplier List	Identifying the concrete supplier.
Concrete Test Groups	Test Groups allow the user to define a group that best represents the specimens to be cast or fabricated. Test Groups will generate specimens in QESTField or QESTLab when selected and speed up the data entry process.
Concrete Test Method Notes	Predefined test method notes that can be selected to be shown on the test report.

Masonry Lists

List Name	Description
Masonry Sampling Method	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling methods - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Masonry Test Groups	Test Groups allow the user to define a group that best represents the specimens to be cast or fabricated. Test Groups will generate specimens in QESTField or QESTLab when selected and speeds up the data entry process.
Masonry Test Method Notes	Predefined test method notes that can be selected on the masonry sample in the Product Details tab.
Masonry Unit Type	Predefined Masonry unit type that can be selected on the masonry sample in the Product Details tab.
Masonry Units Plant	List of supplier plants that can be selected on the masonry sample in the Job Information tab.
Masonry Units Supplier List	List of suppliers that can be selected on the masonry sample in the Job Information tab.
Mortar/Grout Mixes (Masonry)	Identifying the Motor/Grout mixes. The motor/grout mix can be selected on the masonry sample in the Mix and Field Data tab.

Other Lists

List Name	Description
Other Material Source	Identifying numbers and names regarding other material sources (e.g. pit #) - Will appear on lab test reports. Sources can be tied to a supplier or no supplier.
Other Materials	Other materials description or type depending on business need. Will appear on test reports. Materials can be tied to a specific source or no source.
Other Sample Location	Identifying the field location in which the Other material type was obtained from.
Other Sample Packing Type	Identifying packing type, selected on the Other sample test screen.
Other Sample Type	Identifying sample type, selected on the Other sample test screen.
Other Sampled From	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling locations such as stockpile, aggregate stream, etc.
Other Sampling Method	Allows the user to define a number of predetermined sampling methods - this is usually tied to a standard number.
Other Supplier	Identifying numbers and names of suppliers of Other materials - Can appear on test reports if required.

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