Editing Form Fields

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Once you've added form fields to your template, you can edit their properties to fine-tune behavior and appearance. This guide covers detailed settings for each field type.

Accessing Field Settings

To edit a form field:

  1. Open your template
  2. Click Options → Customize Template
  3. In Form Builder, click the field you want to edit
  4. The field settings panel opens
  5. Make your changes
  6. Click Save

Text Field Properties

Text Field Properties

Field Name

The label displayed on the template form.

Example: "Case Number", "Patient Name", "Specimen ID"

Tips:

  • Keep names short but descriptive
  • Use terminology familiar to your staff
  • Avoid special characters

Sample Value

The example data shown in Label Builder preview.

Important: Use realistic sample data that represents actual length and format.

Good Examples:

  • Case numbers: "S23-12345-A1"
  • Names: "SMITH, JOHN"
  • Dates: "01/25/2026"

Max Length

Maximum number of characters that will print on the label.

How it works:

  • Data exceeding max length is truncated (cut off)
  • Helps prevent text from overflowing on labels
  • Set based on available label space

Example: Max Length = 15

  • Input: "S23-12345-A1-Block1"
  • Prints: "S23-12345-A1-Bl" (truncated at 15 characters)

Locked

When enabled, field data is retained between print jobs and cursor skips this field during data entry.

Use when:

  • Data rarely changes (department, technician, date)
  • Multiple labels share the same value
  • You want to speed up data entry

Repeat Last Data

When enabled, field automatically fills with the previous value after printing.

Difference from Locked:

  • Locked = can't change without unlocking
  • Repeat = auto-fills but can be changed

Best for: Fields that often repeat but occasionally change

Numeric Field Properties

Numeric Field Properties

Field Name

Label shown on the form (e.g., "Slide Number", "Block Count", "Accession")

Sample Value

Example number for preview. Should represent typical data.

Auto-Increment

Automatically increases the number by 1 after each print job.

Example:

  • Start: 1001
  • After Print: 1002
  • After Print: 1003

Perfect for:

  • Accession numbers
  • Sequential case numbers
  • Daily counters

Locked

Retains the number and cursor skips field during data entry.

Repeat Last Data

Auto-fills with the previous number (can be manually changed).

Leading Zeros

Pads numbers with zeros to reach a specific digit count.

Settings:

  • Number of Digits: Total digits to display

Examples:

  • 3 digits: 001, 002, 003
  • 4 digits: 0001, 0002, 0003
  • 5 digits: 00001, 00002, 00003

Best for: Maintaining consistent number formatting

Dropdown Settings

Field Name

Label for the dropdown (e.g., "Stain", "Department", "Technician")

Locked

Retains the selected value between print jobs.

Repeat Last Data

Auto-selects the previously chosen option.

Customizing Dropdown Options

Each dropdown option has:

Name: What appears in the dropdown menu Printed Value: What prints on the label (can be different)

Example:

  • Name: "Hematoxylin & Eosin (Full name for clarity)"
  • Printed Value: "H&E" (Abbreviated for label space)

Managing Options

Add New Selection:

  1. Click Add Option or +
  2. Enter name and printed value
  3. Save

Edit Existing:

  1. Click the selection to edit
  2. Modify name or printed value
  3. Save

Reorder Options:

  1. Click Move Up or Move Down
  2. Arrange in preferred order
  3. Most common selections at top recommended

Remove Option:

  1. Select the option
  2. Click Remove or Delete
  3. Confirm

Panels (Protocols) Properties

Panels Properties

Panel

A group of selections where each selection prints on its own label.

How it works:

  1. User selects a panel from dropdown
  2. Software prints one label for each selection in that panel
  3. Each label includes specimen data + one panel selection

Panel Selections

Individual values that print when the panel is selected.

Example - IHC Panel:

  • Panel Name: "Breast Markers"
  • Selections: ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67
  • Result: 4 labels print, one for each marker

Add New Panel

Create multiple panel groups for different workflows:

Example Configuration:

  • Panel 1: "Standard IHC" → ER, PR, HER2
  • Panel 2: "Melanoma Panel" → S100, HMB45, MelanA
  • Panel 3: "Lymphoma Panel" → CD20, CD3, CD5, CD10

Add Option

Add individual selections to a panel:

  1. Select the panel
  2. Click Add Option
  3. Enter the selection name
  4. Save

Sequential Letters Properties

Sequential Letters

Field Name

Label shown on form (e.g., "Specimen Letter", "Part Letter")

Sample Value

Starting letter for preview (typically "A")

Max Length

Maximum characters to display.

Locked

Retains the starting letter between print jobs.

Reverse Order

Prints labels in reverse order (bottom to top instead of top to bottom).

Use cases:

  • Some printers or workflows need reverse order
  • Helps with specific label organization needs

Repeat Last Data

Remembers the last starting letter used.

Sequential Numbers Properties

Sequential Numbers

Field Name

Label shown on form (e.g., "Slide Number", "Section Number")

Sample Value

Starting number for preview (typically "1")

Locked

Retains the starting number between print jobs.

Reverse Order

Prints in descending order instead of ascending.

Example:

  • Normal: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Reverse: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Repeat Last Data

Remembers the last starting number.

Leading Zeros

Pads numbers with zeros.

Example (3 digits):

  • 001, 002, 003 instead of 1, 2, 3

Reverse Print Order

Reverse Print Order

Controls the physical order labels are printed.

Field Name

Usually "Reverse Print Order" (system field)

Locked

Retains the reverse setting between print jobs.

Reverse Order

When enabled, prints labels in opposite order.

Typical Use:

  • Adjust for printer stacking behavior
  • Match lab workflow requirements
  • Ensure labels come out in the right order

Repeat Last Data

Remembers the last reverse setting.

Configuration Best Practices

Sample Values

Always use realistic samples that match:

  • Typical data length
  • Expected format
  • Actual character types

Max Length Settings

  • Test with longest expected values
  • Leave small buffer for variations
  • Consider label space carefully

Locked vs. Repeat Last Data

  • Lock = faster for truly constant data
  • Repeat Last Data = better for frequently repeated but occasionally different data

Auto-Increment Setup

  • Start at appropriate number for your workflow
  • Consider existing numbering systems
  • Test counter behavior before production use
  • Most frequent selections at top
  • Logical grouping (alphabetical or by usage)
  • Clear, unambiguous names

Testing Your Changes

After editing fields:

  1. Click Save to apply changes
  2. Return to template form
  3. Enter sample data in each field
  4. Check label preview
  5. Print test labels
  6. Verify all fields behave as expected

Next Steps

Need Help?

Questions about field settings?

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