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LIMS Technology - System Integration

One of the key benefits identified by our customers is the ability to interface Aspen LIMS to other systems within the company. Telecation has an excellent track record of successful bi-directional interfaces, both to other vendor solutions as well as to in-house systems.

We have integrated to a wide range of process control systems, plant operations, MRP, planning, accounting packages, mail systems and productivity packages. Many of these systems are proprietary in-house systems that need integrating into the LIMS environment.

Some of the features that facilitate system-to-system communication are:

• Import/export - A standard import/export utility allows exchange of information from external systems. This utility uses XML, HTML, MS Exchange, Lotus, Excel, Outlook and CSV file formats and can be easily configured.
• Aspen LIMS can read and write to the databases of external applications, so in many cases it is not necessary to do much configuration on the other applications' side.
• Scheduled events, such as reports, sample login and other LIMS routines can be predefined and then run based on a schedule.

Aspen LIMS provides extensive interfacing capabilities with other systems to allow for information to be shared between systems and not have to be manually re-entered.

The capabilities that can be utilized for interfacing include the following:

• Files (XML, CSV, etc.)
• Database Tables
• Dynamic Data Exchange
• Mail Messages
• RS-232 Serial Communications
• Import/Export Files
• Dynamic Link Library
• External Program Execution
• FTP
• TCP/IP Sockets
• OLE Automation, ActiveX

Microsoft Office products - Aspen LIMS can create native Microsoft Word documents and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, without going through an interim format such as RTF and CSV files. It is also possible to create reports by opening Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel and "tagging in" the desired Aspen LIMS data.

Microsoft Exchange, GroupWise and Lotus Notes - Aspen LIMS provides full compliance to the MAPI and VIM standards, and hence can be used to automatically e-mail reports, as well as warn appropriate users of Out of Specification results.

Integration with other devices in the field or laboratory can be addressed with Aspen. These include:

Data Collection Devices

Field data loggers
Handheld units such as PDA's
Barcode scanners

Analytical Laboratory Equipment

Chromatography Systems including GC, GC-MS, LC, LC-MS, etc.
Spectrophotometers - AA's, ICP's, ICP-MS
Automated titrators, autoanalyzers
Physical testing equipment
RS-232 devices such as meters, balances, probes
TCP/IP devices
Other laboratory instrumentation