Missing Sample Information on Soil Test Reports

Many users have asked the following question: "Why doesn't the sample source print on my soil test report?"

The answer is: Since the reports don't have enough room to print both the sample location and the sample source, if you've entered a "Location" for the sample then the program assumes that the "Location" field COMPLETELY describes the sample's origin.  Hardcopy reports will always print "Location" if it is entered; "Source", etc. will not print if "Location" entered.

As an aside, the inclusion of "Location" on version 1.0 Data Manager's Sample Data dialog was basically a design error — if you've placed the sample into a particular "material sources" folder, the "material source" is obviously the sample's location and the "Location" field is redundant. Future versions of the software, now in development, will drop the "Location" field unless the sample was entered into the "No Source Specified" folder.

• Current Data Manager versions include an option to include "Location" on all sample cards ("Options" > "Setup General Options", then click on "Laboratory Test Modules" in the left-hand navigation panel) — this option should be turned off to avoid confusion.